Barbara Dunlop - Dan All Over Again - Dan All Over Again / The Mountie Steals A Wife

He heard the bells again. Barking penetrated his consciousness, and then a little furball jumping up and down. With a sigh, he finished the kiss. “I see Samuel still barks when we kiss.” He’d done it since the first time he’d kissed Cassie in front of the little pipsqueak, and every time thereafter. And now he had Thor joining in.

She looked dazed, reminding him of the way she looked after they made love. She blinked, wavering a little before catching her balance.

“I…could have given you a new one,” she said in a light voice.

He positioned the ring on the tip of his tongue and stuck it out to show her. “I wanted thith one.”

She shifted her gaze to Samuel, who was jumping up and down between them. But her gaze went back to the front of his shorts, and a look of sheepish embarrassment washed away the daze. “Oh, my.”

“Well, Cass, you just do that to me.”

She lifted an eyebrow at him, trying hard to hide a grin. “I think you’d better look.”

The front of his shorts was covered in white sunblock. And at the same level, gripped in her fisted hands, was the incriminating bottle. As he’d kissed her, she’d been squeezing the bottle.

“Oops,” she said.

“Oops. Is that all you can say?”

“Sorry?” she offered with a shrug. “I didn’t mean to. I didn’t even realize I was doing it.”

He glanced around. A few of the guys were watching their little display, getting their chuckles at Dan’s expense. Great. Just great. When he turned back to her, she was staring at the white blob that at least camouflaged the effect of his desire. The only thing that mollified him was that she’d been so swept away by their kiss, she’d involuntarily squeezed the tube. She set the sunblock on the side of the boat and gave it a little pat.

Then she shook her head. “Dan, what are you—we doing?”

“Marveling at the condition of my crotch?”

“No! The other thing.”

“The kiss, you mean. Can’t you even say what it was?”

“All right, the kiss.”

“What about it?”

Her eyes grew wide. “It, er…I forgot what I was going to say.” She gave him a nudge. “That’s what I’m talking about. What are we doing here? This is crazy.”

“What’s your point?”

She gave him an exasperated look. “What are we doing?”

“If you mean right now, we’re standing here analyzing our current activity. If you’re talking about a minute ago, we were, uh, let’s see.” He moved closer and kissed her again, murmuring, “Ah yes, this is what we were doing. Had to refresh my memory.”

It felt just as wonderful the second time, even better when she sighed in surrender. He held her face in his hands, tilting it just right.

He heard bells again. Then Sammy’s yapping intruded, and little paws pushed against his legs. Dan nudged the pipsqueak away with his foot.

He blinked, feeling as though he’d just downed a six-pack of beer. “Maybe we should get some fresh air.”

“That’s all we’re getting.”

“Oh. Yeah.” He gave Sammy a pet on his head. “Does Sammy—Samuel bark when you kiss other guys?” He didn’t really want to know, but the question had popped out anyway.

She picked up the dog and nuzzled his head with her nose, looking at Dan through his hair. “He growls at the other guys.”

He wasn’t comfortable at all thinking about her kissing anyone else. Though he liked the growling part. He suddenly felt restless, and then remembered he’d been feeling that way before Cassie arrived. Since then, he hadn’t had that unnerving feeling he’d forgotten something. “Wanna go for a spin? We can stop at Biff’s Waterside Store and get you what you need for tonight.” And he’d pick up some condoms, just in case.

“Sure.”

“But first I’d better change into another pair of shorts. At this rate, I’m going to be naked by tomorrow morning.” He enjoyed her look of surprise before disappearing into the cabin.

A few minutes later, they were cruising. She watched all of the contestants studiously casting and reeling, but her thoughts were still back when Dan had kissed her something silly. She stole a glance at him, his hair slicked back from the wind, his gaze trained forward. Thornton was in position next to his captain, head up in the same way. Sammy twisted in her hold, and she put him down. He took a place next to Thornton and Dan, his head also poised. The blast of wind and thump of the waves beneath them coincided with the emotions twisting inside her.

She fought the desire to touch her fingers to her lips. Kissing Dan had always been nice, but now…wow. Maybe it was because she hadn’t been kissed like that for a long time. But it couldn’t happen again. And she still had that massage to give him. Good grief, why had she agreed to that, anyway? How was she supposed to maintain distance when she’d be touching his body? She’d lost her mind just putting sunblock on him.

They stopped at the little store on the water, where she picked up some necessary items. “Let me drive back to the island,” she said, feeling restless. At his questioning look, she added, “I know not to hit the pilings or go too close to the shoreline. What could happen?” Okay, it was impulsive, she knew that. Something about Dan brought that out in her.

He still looked skeptical, but nodded toward the keys in the ignition. She rubbed her hands together and turned it, then put the boat in reverse.

“Wait!”

He needn’t have mentioned it. The boat jerked to a stop, pulling the rope tethering it to the dock taut. He flailed his arms to keep his balance, which he barely managed.

“Okay, one little mistake. So shoot me. I promise I’ll be careful.”

He untied the boat and she continued backing up, mindful of the motor and proximity of the shoreline that harbored Australian pines. Several pelicans sat precariously on the thin branches. Dan stayed up by the bow, keeping a careful eye on the dock and pilings. She veered closer to the trees so he wouldn’t worry.

It couldn’t possibly be her fault that a pelican decided at that moment to get rid of its dinner. While Dan was beneath it. Could it?

White, watery stuff covered his bare shoulder and sprayed the side of the boat. She cut the motor and covered her mouth. “Oops.”

He didn’t move.

“At least it missed your hair.”

Mouth in a tight line, he finally met her gaze.

She put her hands on her hips. “Oh, and I suppose you think this is my fault?”

The boat drifted into the open water, caught in the current. He walked stiffly toward her. She put out her hands as he neared her.

“Come on, Dan. I didn’t mean for that to happen. You can’t think I did!”

He kept advancing.

“Ew, you smell like…fish. Don’t come near me. I’m warning you. I’m warning you…”

As she backed away from him, the boat came to a sudden stop. She didn’t have to warn him anymore; he’d gone sailing over the side of the boat.

“Dan!” She ran to the edge and saw not water, but sandy beach. The boat had run aground. He lay splayed out on the beach, waves washing up over him.

She jumped over the side and crouched beside him. He was staring up into the sky. “Dan, are you all right? Say something. Anything.”

He reached out and clamped onto her chin, pulling her closer. In a pained voice, he tried to speak. “You…”

“What? Tell me you’re all right. Say something.”

“You…are a lousy captain.”

Unable to hold her weight anymore, she found herself straddling his waist. He must be all right, she assured herself, or he wouldn’t be so mad at her.

“Actually, I’m an excellent captain.”

She used his surprise to get to her feet.