Guarding Raine Part 55

He was no longer able to fool himself that he could withstand the lure

Raine held for him.

But he wasn't going to take a risk with her again, and that vow had made this stop necessary.

"Sir?"

His head snapped to the clerk.

She repeated the price for his purchase, and he quickly extracted a bill from his wallet and handed it to her.

Shoving his change into his pocket, he slipped his wallet in place.

Grabbing the sack in one hand and Raine's elbow in the other, he

growled softly in her ear, "Let's go."

They made one more stop, for a bucket of fried chicken and fixings, and then headed toward the coast.

For the duration of the trip, Raine remained shaky from the silent,

heated exchange.

She usually lamented over how hard Macauley was to read.

But in the drugstore his thoughts had been erotically clear.

When they finally stopped, she hopped out of the truck, eager to enjoy

the spectacular view.

Belatedly remembering that she had left him with everything to carry, she hurried back.

He handed her her beach bag, stacked the food on the cooler and climbed

out of the truck.

"~Mac, there's a sign that says this is private property,"

she told him worriedly.

"It a job for the His long legs kept moving. is. I just finished

owner last month."

She had to trot to keep up with him.

"He said you could use it?"

One corner of his mouth went up when he thought of the owner, and of

Mark Rayburn's grat.i.tude when the job had been completed successfully on time.

"He was... grateful,"

Mac acknowledged laconically.

Access to the prime beachfront property was the least of what he'd offered Mac.

He'd also been willing to introduce him to his daughter.

Mac had accepted the first offer and declined the second.

"He's rarely here to use it himself. He has six other houses, I

think."

Raine scrambled down the dunes of sand, which had formed from the constant breeze off the ocean.

"It's beautiful,"

she said, her voice hushed.

Huge craggy rocks jutted up from the water.

The waves crashed over them, sending splintered sprays of foam racing

to the sh.o.r.e.

More rocks dotted the beach, combining with the dunes to create an isolated, private paradise.

"I can't believe your client needs so many homes when he has one with a

view like this."

Mac set down his load and extracted two soft drinks from the cooler.

When he turned back, his mouth went as dry as the sand beneath his

feet.

Raine had taken off her coverup to reveal a fairly modest bright blue one-piece suit.

It was cut high on the thighs, showing off her slim legs to

advantage.

Other than that, there was nothing the least bit daring about it.

Mac was used to his female companions showing quite a bit more skin at

the beach, either in a thong bikini or in nothing at all.

He couldn't remember any of them eliciting this kind of reaction from him.

He watched her slim hips move as she took two large beach towels from

her bag and spread them out on the sand.

He went over and dropped down on one.

"You like it here?"

he asked.

"It's gorgeous,"

she said sincerely.

"I adore the water. There's something so calming in watching the

rhythm of the tide. If my finances had allowed it, beachfront wouldhave been my choice when I bought my property, But the first time I sawmy house, I felt that same kind of peace. It was a good choice forme."

He'd been thinking about this all last night, and again this morning.

But now, broaching the subject with her, he felt as though he waspicking his way through a mine field. "What I mean is, if you like it here, you could stay for a while. We both could. It would just take one phone call to the owner. Just until this whole thing is over."

She grew still as his meaning became clear.

"You mean hide here."

Her voice was flat.

"No. I mean make sure you aren't a target anymore. Keep a low profile.

After the fire last night that should appeal to you."