Far North: Hide Your Heart Part 13

That earned her a crooked smile. "Right. Having a photojournalist move next door-one who plans to bring the hounds of h.e.l.l right to your doorstep-I understand why you didn't tell me about your past. I understand, but it still p.i.s.ses me off because I wonder if you were ever going to tell me."

She leaned back into the seat and ma.s.saged her temple. "I didn't trust you, at first...and then it was too late to say, 'Hey, you know that skinny blonde model that disappeared? That was me.' I didn't know you then like I know you now. I didn't know at the beginning you were one of the good guys."

He snorted dismissively, but the tense line of his broad shoulders relaxed a little. Part of her wanted to lean across and cover his hand, to draw his tense fingers off the steering wheel and twine them with hers.

Instead, she tucked her fists between her knees and continued. "I've kept a low profile for his sake. I don't want Drew growing up with the stigma of having other people know that Alexandra and Jonathan Knight are his mother and father. Together, we sucked at parenting. Drew's much better off with plain Lauren Taylor as his mum."

"This low profile means isolating yourself from everyone other than your family, doesn't it?"

"My family knows the real me."

"I'd like to think I know the real you, at least some of the real you." He peeled a hand from the steering wheel and draped it over the backrest of her chair. He lightly stroked her shoulder. "I don't give a d.a.m.n about who you used to be."

A shiver trembled through her at his touch. "Well." She sucked in a deep breath. "Most people wouldn't get past the ex-model, ex-celebrity factor."

"I did-took all of two minutes. Alexandra Knight doesn't exist anymore; you do. I bet if you'd give people a chance the novelty that you used to wear fancy clothes for snooty New York designers would wear off just as quickly."

"You're a pain in the b.u.t.t, you know that?"

"Why? Because I tell the truth without sugar-coating it?"

"No, because you're too d.a.m.n attractive, too d.a.m.n intuitive and too d.a.m.n complicating."

"You think I'm attractive." His s.e.xy grin stretched across his face as he tugged on a lock of her hair.

She pulled back, trying to look indignant, rather than like a woman who badly wanted to press herself against his hand like a dog searching for affection. "In a scruffy sort of way-don't go getting a big head."

"And how am I complicating?"

"By just being you-and for making me break my rule of not getting involved with anyone."

"Ah. So we are involved, then?" He twisted in his seat, giving her an inscrutable look.

Why the heck had she admitted that? Had anything really changed? His words rang in her head. I don't know how to do the family thing and I've no desire to learn.

"We're something, I guess. I'm not sure what."

"Me either." Nate sighed and started the car. "But while we think on it, how about we eat our lunch at the beach?"

"I'd like that."

"On the condition you lose the ugly hat. It's ruining my appet.i.te."

"Fine." She tossed the hat into the back seat.

The return trip was a lot quieter than the ride to town. They did talk about the weather, because every other topic seemed loaded with landmines.

"The water looks tempting," she said as they approached a side road leading down to Bounty Bay's beach, one of the only beaches in the area where vehicles were permitted to drive on the hard-packed sand. They drove off the concrete ramp, the Range Rover wallowing briefly as the tires left the solid surface.

The tide was out, and in the distance, kids rode boogie-boards in the gentle surf. Many vehicles were parked on the wide expanse of sand between the dunes and the water, and people sprawled on towels while teenagers idly tossed rugby b.a.l.l.s to and fro.

"We could drive a bit farther around the coast. Get away from the holiday crowds."

He shrugged and joined the line of vehicles at the foot of a scrubby hill, headed toward the rocky reef ledge exposed by the low tide. The Range Rover b.u.mped and jolted across the low rocks that made up the drivable ledge. They stopped and waited for a pickup loaded with surfboards and wetsuit-clad teenagers to edge past.

"Those girls at the restaurant today..." She hesitated, unwilling to stir things up again, but trying to understand. "They recognized you, too-you know it'll be all over the social networking sites by this evening. Don't you mind?"

"I won't live my life in hiding."

The words p.r.i.c.kled like an accusation, and she tucked herself deeper into the sun-warmed leather seat.

"I've done nothing I'm ashamed of," he added.

He felt no remorse for brawling with Savannah Payne's husband? No shame at fooling around with another man's wife? No-she didn't believe that. There must be some other explanation. Now would be the time to ask, if she could garner the courage to pry. But the words jammed her throat shut. Even the persistent jab of curiosity couldn't blot out the knowledge that questioning his relationship with the actress would mean admitting the significance of her interest. That over the last couple of weeks she'd developed an invested interest in him.

"The next bay has a nice swimming beach and some rock pools."

Nate grunted noncommittally, and they rounded another cl.u.s.ter of rocks, the scrubby hill changing into a steep mountain of golden sand dunes stretching to the sky. The contrast and beauty of this area still managed to send a visceral thrill of pleasure through her.

He brought the car to a slow stop and parked. "Will this do?"

"Yes. This is great." She slipped off her sandals and stepped out, relishing the gritty sand beneath her toes.

Nate found an old blanket in the back and spread it a short distance from the car. They sat and ate, throwing the odd piece of bread to a small group of jostling gulls.

Once the last of their lunch had been dispersed to the greedy birds, Nate stood and collected their empty paper bags. "Think I'll go for a swim."

He opened the Range Rover's back door and offered her a towel. "You coming?"

She waved it away. "Oh, no. I won't swim. I'll just paddle my feet to cool down."

He raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. After hauling off his shirt, he tossed it into the car and then draped the towel she'd rejected around his neck. The shorts clung low on his hips, the towel highlighting more of his toned flesh than it covered.

Always aware of his masculinity on some level, she could usually keep the just-friends illusion around Todd and Kathy while Nate remained fully clothed. Now, her unwilling gaze was drawn to the breadth of his shoulders and the smooth ripple of muscle bracing his torso as he toed off his sandshoes.

Lauren walked to the water's edge, her mouth papery and pulse skittering in erratic leaps. The height of a cl.u.s.ter of rock pools near the sh.o.r.eline concealed her from the traffic farther along the beach. Perfect if she'd been alone, but with Nate close behind her, privacy wasn't the safest option. She inhaled great gulps of salty air, trying to wrangle her heartbeat under control. She needed to stop this silly infatuation, these school-girlish blushes every time he got within touching distance.

Nate arrived beside her, hands on hips, his brow furrowed. "Are you still worried about those girls? Or maybe that I'm going to start calling you s.e.xy Lexy?"

She shook her head, gazing at the small waves encircling her feet.

"Why is it whenever we're alone, you rarely smile?"

Lauren dragged her gaze up to meet his. No hostility glittered there, just a flicker of bewildered hurt.

Because I'm scared. She kept her lips st.i.tched shut. I'm scared that if I let you in, if I trust you with the real me it won't be enough-that I won't be enough, and you'll try to change me like he did.

And G.o.d help her, she didn't want to make the same mistake twice.

"That's not true. I smile a lot," she said.

Nate rolled his shoulders, trying to force the tension out of his muscles. "Just not at me. You don't have anything to fear from me, Lauren."

Was she still scared that he'd reach for his cellphone to contact the tabloids? He'd told her the truth earlier when he said he didn't care who she'd been, but he hadn't told her the whole truth. Because the whole truth was he cared about who she was now. He cared more than a guy leaving in a few short weeks should.

She nodded, but her eyes skipped away to the horizon. Maybe he needed to take her mind off worrying.

"When did you last do something spontaneous, something fun?"

"I have lots of fun." She thrust out her chin. "Why, the other day Drew and I-"

"Without Drew. Just you, or you with another"-he paused and grinned down at her-"adult."

"I think you and I have different definitions of fun."

A sea breeze flicked hair across her face, and a strand caught in the corner of her mouth. Before rationality censored the move, his hand reached out. Like the softest wisp of combed silk, Lauren's hair slid over his finger as he tucked the lock behind her ear.

"Maybe not so different."

His hand lingered at the curve of her jaw and a tremor ran through her. Her lips parted slightly, moist with invitation. One step and he'd take her, crush his mouth to hers. He'd mold those killer curves into the shape of his body, cranking up the l.u.s.t that'd driven him half mad. But make the move now, when she was still so tense he could almost see her muscles contorting?

Not quite yet. He had a better plan.

He swooped, gathering her into his arms before the dazed expression left her face. By the time she reacted, struggling, pushing against his chest and finally, giggling, he'd splashed knee deep into the ocean.

"Nate! Put me down!" She squirmed and punched his shoulder.

"Okay."

He made a move to drop her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck in a strangle hold. He bit back a grin. So far, the plan was working well.

"No, no! I don't have a bathing suit on."

"What about a birthday suit?" He continued to wade into deeper water.

Instead of blushing, a belly laugh burst out of her. "Nice try. Now take me back to the beach."

"You know..." Another wave rose up and swept past him, and he swayed, the side of her body brushing with delicious friction against his chest. "I don't think I will."

He looked down at her upturned face, the crinkle of laugh lines around her eyes as she squinted up at him. It fired off an inexplicable chain reaction in his heart to see her smile.

She hissed out a breath as a large wave approached. "You wouldn't dare."

They watched the roll of pristine blue curl in a roiling spill of white. "Now there's a challenge I can't resist."

Before she screamed, he turned his back on the breaker, and still cradling her in his arms, fell into the surf. Cool water bubbled over his skin, and an elbow jabbed into his ribs. Nate struggled to his feet, hauling a spluttering, mad-as-h.e.l.l woman with him.

While he debated the wisdom of an apology, Lauren planted both hands on his chest, and something jerked against the back of his ankle. With a shocked, "Hey!" he toppled back under the waves. Thrashing upright, he coughed what felt like a gallon of salt water from his lungs.

"Hah!" Lauren sneered, planted in front of him triumphant and Amazonian-like. "Serves you right."

A sopping tee shirt hugged the heaving swell of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and her shorts clung to her thighs. An ear-to-ear grin threatened to split his face in two.

Oh, yeah. Definitely one of his better plans.

"I spent summers at the beach with Todd and his mates, all of whom thought it good sport to pick on his little sister."

"I bet you showed them, huh?" He splashed toward her, swiping water droplets from his face.

Her eyes tapered to slits, and she adjusted her posture so her weight spread evenly over the shifting sand. "I totally did. I'll show you, too, by putting you back under if you try to dunk me again."

"You got lucky. Caught me off guard."

Her gaze darted left to a spot behind him. Like a sucker, he took his eyes off her, his head turning a fraction. But as she lunged to trip him, he was ready. Wrapping his fingers around her wrists, he reeled her in, using his heavier weight to stop them both from falling. The impact of her body colliding with his and her b.r.e.a.s.t.s squishing against his chest with only a thin layer of cotton between them, set every part of his body on high alert.

Waves eddied and rolled, buffeting them with a sensual rocking motion, pushing her hips into his rigid length. Eyes hooded, her gaze revealed what she didn't say out loud. That neither of them controlled this game that was no longer a game.

"Truce?" Her voice came out husky and breathless.

"No." His lips traced a lingering trail from her cheekbone to the corner of her mouth. "I play to win."

He released his grip on her wrists and cradled her jaw in his palms. This time, he didn't kiss her gently. He offered no apology, didn't spare her the intensity of igniting desire. There was only heat-building, flowing, combusting, overwhelming.

He deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with confidence. He craved more. Her palms slid down his chest and around to splay against his back. She melted into him, until he couldn't separate one heartbeat from another.

Fisting a handful of her hair, Nate tore his mouth from hers with a groan and licked the taste of her off his lips in drugged delight. G.o.d, she was the sweetest opiate, dulling his restlessness in a pleasurable haze, twining around his heart with a grip of velvet-covered steel. He should pull back, but the incoming tide swept his willpower away.

"So beautiful," he whispered against her salty skin, the tip of his tongue following a path along her collarbone. His hand slid under the wet folds of her top, touching the cool flesh beneath.

"Please." Her nails dug into his spine.

He marveled at the sleekness of her skin, the rapid movement of her ribcage as she gasped for breath. He wanted her. Desperately. But he intended to make love to her with the respect she deserved. Not ravish her in a semi-public place like a hormone-fuelled teenager with no sense of propriety.

Nate peeled her hands from his waist, held them in his and kissed the back of her knuckles.

"Nate?"

Her dark pupils, wide enough to drown in, mirrored a combination of desire and confusion.

"If we keep kissing like that, we'll end up becoming a public spectacle."

"Oh. Right."

The agreement sounded wrenched from her, but maybe that was wishful thinking on his part. She stepped backward and shivered as another wave swept past, dropping her gaze to their still-linked hands. Already, her carefully constructed armor was slotting back into place, guarding her actions, keeping him at a safe distance. Only he wouldn't let her push him away any longer.

"Lauren."