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“You cannot know that.”
He sighed, a forlorn sound from a man who was most generally upbeat. He tossed the washcloth to the floor and then placed his still warm hand over my heart.
“I was going to say that I can know that, but we’re not doing bullshit or bluster here today, something some folks say I excel at.”
“Only some?”
He pinched my nipple softly, making me squawk. Then he bent down to kiss it better. Some big tough hockey player.
“Only some. A few hundred is some, right?” I had to acknowledge that as true. “Anyway, yeah, I don’t know that I won’t never hurt you. I might say something stupid, something that some folks also say I excel at and don’t mimic that back to me.” I snickered softly. His fingers moved over my chest in a fluttery, inquisitive dance that eased me. “But I do know that I won’t hurt you on purpose. That ain’t me and if Ma ever found out I did something like that she would tan my ass with a sandal.”
“Has she ever?” I asked and got a nod.
“Just once she threatened. When she found me and my cousin Oscar sneaking communion wine before services one morning. Man, she was mad. Told us that God knew we had stolen the blood of his child. You want to talk about being scared? Shit, I didn’t say boo to no one for two months because I was sure God had a magnifying glass out and was sighting me in like I was an ant on the sidewalk. To this day, my cousin Oscar can’t drink wine of any kind because he knows God will fry him like a burger on a grill if he touches the stuff.”
“You have lived a colorful life,” I had to concede.
“Yeah, it’s been a good one, and now it’s getting better since I found out you’re not as stuck-up as I thought.”
“Still prissy, though?”
“Oh yeah, so prissy. But it looks good on you.” He stretched out beside me, tucking my longer frame into his side, his beefy bicep serving as my pillow. “So this is a vow I make to you, and it means a lot. Ask any of the guys on the team. When Phil Greco says he is going to do something, he does it. I promise I won’t never hurt you intentionally. Also, I promise that when your eyes get bad and you can’t drive or read, I’ll do them things for you. I’ll be retired by then and we’ll be old duffs, anyways.”
“You’re talking about a future that is years away, Philip,” I said, lifting my eyes from the steady pulse in his throat. “This is all well and good now, but soon you’ll be moving out, hockey season will start and you’ll be on the road.”
His gaze met mine. He looked affronted. “So what, we can’t keep a good thing going during the season?”
“No, of course that is not at all what I meant, but I just…” I sat up, shoving my fingers into my hair to comb out the tangled thoughts. If only it were that easy. He pushed up as well, his thigh resting against mine, our ankles touching. I’d always loved the sight of male feet side-by-side in a rumpled bed. His feet were wider but smaller than mine. One pinkie toe was crooked. “What happened to your toe?”
“Got broke in a shinny game,” he replied casually, wiggling around to face me. “Don’t use my toe to change the subject. Do you think I won’t be faithful to you when I’m on the road because if that’s your worry, all I can say in reply is that the last girl I was serious with called me a Saint Bernard because I’m so loyal. Also, I drool in my sleep but you probably already know that.”
“Not a clue but duly noted,” I replied, smiling at the man despite my reservations. “I am sorry for questioning your honor and loyalty. I’m not accustomed to…my past relationships have not been so great. But, and I do not mean to be cruel, do a few amazing moments in bed constitute a relationship?”
“It can if we want it to, but I can see that you’re nervous. Only thing I can do is show you what a good boyfriend I can be,” he announced, leaning over to kiss me on the mouth. Any time his lips were on mine, all my concerns flew out the window. Like now. “Damn, I like kissing you,” he whispered when the kiss broke. Then his eyes rounded. “Hey! I ain’t even thinking about the lake no more. I bet I’m cured!”
With a hoot, he bolted from the bed, raced up the short stairs, and then returned looking pale and stricken.
“Oh dear…” I said when he flopped face down on the bed.
“The lake is still out there, and so are other people on other sailboats. I think I just flashed an elderly sailing couple.”
I chuckled softly, rubbed his backside, and went to fetch his life jacket from the floor. And our clothes as well. He lay on the bed, mumbling into the tangled sheets, as I stepped into my shorts. My phone began to vibrate. After tugging up my fly, I fished out my cell, saw fourteen texts all from Barnaby and had a moment of panic. Was the chalet on fire?! Had someone cut down all the grapes?! Did the locals decide they did not want a French person living among them?!
“…old gal saw my pecker,” Philip was saying into the bedding as I scoured the texts and found nothing but comments about being besieged. When I tried to reply, the message wouldn’t send. I took note of the lack of bars. Ugh, this was why we needed more infrastructure. Or perhaps I should look into a more reliable carrier.
“We’re going back to shore. Something is wrong at the chalet,” I told him as I threw my clothes back on.
“Okay, baby,” I heard him saying as I raced topside to crank in the anchor. The skies had cleared a bit and the glint off the water was making my eyes water even with my darkest sunglasses. Even with that discomfort, this sail had been one that had forever changed my life. Down in the hold, trying to dress as we raced across Seneca Lake, was a man who seemed to be totally ready to commit to me and a future that we could share, something that I’d not allowed myself to entertain. My stomach felt off. Perhaps it was the ice wine, but I suspected it was more the man slowly coming to sit at my side, his eyes narrowing as we neared the Gaudion dock at a good clip.
“I see no smoke,” I commented as we closed the distance to land. At least the winery or my home wasn’t on fire.
“No, me either. What did Barney say exactly?” he asked, tapping my arm. “There’s all kinds of people on the dock. Are they here for a paddle boat ride or something?”
“No, that is not ready yet, and any tours are handled by my employees,” I steered closer to the dock, worry now thick in my breast. Had my staff and workers all walked out to strike?
“Oh hey, I think that’s…” Philip stood up. We hit a small breaker. He cursed and then sat back down in a rush. “Damn, that was close.”
Notifications burst to life as we neared the dock. Ping after ping after ping. None that I could look at right now as I was focused on not ramming the FLEURINE into my costly new dock.
