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  He responded to her on many levels. He appreciated the kindness she’d shown Leo. He liked her smile, her elegance, her sense of humor. Yesterday at the lake, he’d admired her daring while also recognizing her vulnerability. She inspired his protective instincts. Plus, she looked hot in a bikini. “Are you seeing anyone?”

  Her lips parted in surprise. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  She glanced across the river, as if searching for an answer.

  “I’m making you uncomfortable.”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “You’re a beautiful woman,” he said, digging himself in deeper.

  She seemed embarrassed by the attention. Instead of answering, she fingered the damp tendrils of hair at her nape. Damn. He’d struck out already. Maybe she didn’t like superficial compliments. Maybe she thought he was a moron.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, meeting his gaze. “It’s been a long time since I...did this.”

  “Fended off a come-on?”

  “Accepted a compliment.”

  That was a shame. She was either avoiding men, or talking to the wrong ones. “None of your strip poker friends get fresh?”

  “They have bad eyesight.”

  “I don’t.”

  “I’m not dating anyone,” she said finally.

  “I assumed you weren’t, based on Brooke’s attempts to throw you at me.”

  She laughed, covering her forehead. “You noticed?”

  “She’s not subtle.”

  “I was involved with someone at work until recently.”

  “A resident?” he joked.

  “No,” she said in a chiding tone. “A physical therapist.”

  “What happened?”

  “I decided to break it off. It wasn’t going anywhere.”

  “Why not?”

  “It was just that kind of arrangement. Neither of us wanted a committed relationship. He was newly divorced and spent weekends with his kids. We weren’t exclusive.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He saw other women.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “No.”

  “You didn’t mind?”

  “I preferred it. His honesty was refreshing.”

  “You don’t think men are capable of being faithful,” he said.

  “Some are. I just don’t trust myself to pick one who is.”

  His chest tightened at those words, spoken sincerely. He’d been betrayed, like her. The difference was that he felt responsible for his failed marriage. Abby’s only mistake was in giving her heart to the wrong man. “Did you care about this guy?”

  “I liked him as a friend. That’s one of the reasons I ended it. I thought he’d meet someone else if I wasn’t in the picture.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Don’t you want to meet a man you can fall in love with?” When she didn’t answer, he pressed on. “How old are you...thirty-five? There are plenty of women your age who are just now getting married and starting families.”

  “I’m thirty-six. And thank you for letting me know I still have value due to my youth and childbearing capabilities.”

  “Anytime,” he said, aware that he’d annoyed her. “You’re hot, too. Don’t forget the most important part.”

  She gripped his arm to steady it and punched him in the shoulder. It was his bad shoulder, but he didn’t mind. He liked the contact, the hard slap of flesh against his and the way her breasts jiggled enticingly. “Why aren’t you dating anyone?” she asked, turning the tables on him. “You’re young and hot and capable of fathering children, I imagine. Plenty of men your age are starting their second families.”

  Ouch.

  “I dated a lot of different women after the divorce,” he said.

  “You mean you slept with them.”

  He inclined his head. “In rehab, I took a vow of abstinence.”

  “For how long?”

  “A year.”

  “Did you make it?”

  “No. Six months after I got out, my father died. I drove to a bar. I wanted to drink. Instead, I nursed a club soda and went home with a woman.” She’d been tipsy and distant, participating with the feigned enthusiasm of a prostitute. Nathan had rushed to the finish and left. “It wasn’t good.”

  She smiled at the understatement. “But you stayed clean.”

  “Yes.”

  “Was the next time better?”

  “There hasn’t been a next time.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t sleep with strangers anymore. The bar scene is a trigger for me. I don’t want to hang out at clubs or meet women for cocktails.”

  “You could date a nondrinker.”

  “I could.”

  “Why haven’t you?”

  He shrugged, unsure of the reason. He’d been focused on managing the Toros and repairing the rift with Leo. Casual sex was out. Real relationships required work. He hadn’t met anyone who tempted him to take on another challenge. Until now.

  But just because he wanted to, didn’t mean he should. Their kids were stepsiblings. He might screw up and hurt her. She should find a nice guy to have babies with. She deserved that. The perfect little family she’d always dreamed of.

  As much as he’d like to have her, Nathan couldn’t give her what she needed. Starting over and having more kids wasn’t in the cards for him.

  Movement in the woods caught his attention. He put his hand on Abby’s arm, his heart racing. Then he saw a flash of blond hair and realized it was Brooke, ducking behind a tree. “I think your daughter is spying on us.”

  Abby groaned, glancing in that direction. “She’s relentless.”

  “We should just make out. Then she can tell Ray and Lydia we hooked up.”

  She chuckled at the suggestion. “Okay.”

  Okay? He’d been kidding.

  “But we have to really go for it, with lots of groping and tongues.”

  Nathan couldn’t bring himself to say no. If she wanted to get groped, he’d grope her. “You’re on.”

  She turned toward him, resting her hand on his shoulder. They were only pretending, so he didn’t have to worry about making it special or impressing her with his seduction technique. Even so, he didn’t feel right about moving too fast. Despite his promise to “really go for it,” he eased in, brushing his lips over hers.

  She laughed at his chaste kiss. Making a scolding sound, she threaded her fingers through his hair and opened her mouth for him.

  Nathan had no choice but to pick up the gauntlet. He braced one hand on the edge of the pool and slid the other around her waist, bringing her body closer to his. Her breasts settled against his chest, plump and warm. Already aroused, he dipped his tongue into her mouth and got down to business.

  She was sweet, hot, acquiescent. Her lips were soft. Water lapped between them, urging him to delve deeper. He switched angles and explored the recesses of her mouth. She moaned in encouragement, tangling her tongue with his.

  Twenty seconds ago, he’d worried about being too aggressive. Now he was ready to peel off her swimsuit and bury his face in her breasts. Her response to him didn’t seem feigned. He hoped Brooke would go away and give them some privacy.

  Abby made a breathy little sound that went straight to his cock, swelling him to full mast. He couldn’t get on top of her in the shallow pool. With a low groan, he pulled her over his lap. She gasped at the contact, digging her fingernails into his shoulders. When he raised a hand to her breast, squeezing her soft flesh, she squeaked a protest.

  Tearing his mouth from hers, he glanced into the woods. He didn’t see Brooke or Leo lurking in the trees, to his relief. He returned h
is attention to Abby. Her cheeks were flushed with arousal, her eyes smoky and half-lidded. Did she want him to stop or keep going? She wasn’t shying away, so he didn’t move an inch. His hand was still glued to her breast, his erection nudging the cleft of her thighs.

  She covered his hand with hers. “They’re not real.”

  He stared at her stupidly for a moment, his brain sluggish. Her breasts weren’t real? Huh. “I can’t tell.”

  “You can’t?”

  He shook his head, testing their pliancy again. She felt natural to him, not that he cared either way. She wasn’t lumpy or oversize. Heart racing, he brushed his thumb over her hardened nipple.

  A pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. She removed his hand and eased off his lap, returning to the other side of the pool. “Ray didn’t do them. I went to a female plastic surgeon after the divorce.”

  He smiled at this confession, shared with an impish grin. It didn’t matter to him, but it clearly mattered to her. He was glad she didn’t have to carry around a physical reminder of Ray. He liked her style. The chemistry between them was off the charts. She might not be the one-night-stand type, but damn.

  He wanted her.

  Before he could decide what to do next, Leo and Brooke appeared at the edge of the trail. Nathan didn’t know if they’d seen anything, but Abby looked embarrassed. The encounter hadn’t gone as planned. They hadn’t been pretending.

  “Sorry for cock-blocking,” Brooke said with a wink.

  Nathan smothered a laugh at her graphic language. There was something funny about an angel-faced girl with a mouth like a sailor. Leo climbed into the middle tub and leaned back, resting his arms on the rim. He didn’t appear sorry in the least. Brooke perched on the side of the pool with Abby, swishing her long legs in the water.

  “You have mud in your hair,” Abby said to Brooke.

  She inspected the damp tangles. “Still?”

  “We had a mud fight,” Leo said.

  “Who won?” Nathan asked.

  Brooke and Leo exchanged a weighted glance.

  “Nobody did,” Leo said flatly.

  After an awkward silence, Abby launched into a conversation with Leo about foreign languages. She seemed genuinely impressed with his knowledge. Nathan admired her communication skills. She had a way of making Leo feel comfortable and smoothing things over. It would have been easy for her to snub him or make catty remarks about Lydia. Instead, she’d placed blame where it was due, on Ray. She’d pointed out Nathan’s mistakes, but she hadn’t judged him for making them. He would never forget that.

  They stayed in the hot springs for about thirty more minutes, until the sun went down. Then they returned to camp. No longer concerned about the thieves, he collected wood for a roaring fire. They shared a hearty meal of chicken and rice with vegetables. Brooke made instant pudding for dessert. When Nathan complimented her on the dish, she thanked him and sat down. She was quiet for a long time. He didn’t realize she’d been crying until she got up, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

  Abby followed her away from the fire.

  “What did I say?” Nathan asked Leo.

  “Nothing,” Leo replied. “You were nice. Her dad isn’t.”

  “He’s mean to her?”

  “No, he just never has time for her. He checks his messages during dinner and skips dessert.”

  It dawned on Nathan that Leo was Brooke’s only male family member, besides Ray. Leo had the power to give her the love and attention she craved. Going beyond that would probably reinforce any negative feelings she had about men. Leo’s responsibility toward her was more serious than Nathan realized.

  Brooke and Abby returned a few minutes later. Leo teased Brooke into serenading him by the campfire, as promised. She agreed to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” Her voice was terrible, scratchy and off-key.

  “You sing like an angel,” Leo said when she was finished.

  “Shut up,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “I mean it. You should try out for American Idol. Wasn’t she great, Dad?”

  Nathan couldn’t come up with a polite answer. Brooke elbowed Leo in the ribs, but she was smiling. His joke had lightened the mood.

  Before they went to bed, Brooke exacted her revenge. She pointed at Leo’s shoulder, claiming she saw a huge, hairy spider crawling on him. When he jumped up and took off his shirt, throwing it on the ground, she laughed so hard she fell over the log.

  Nathan laughed along with her, enjoying the moment. It was the best day he’d had in a long time. He was making progress with Leo and getting to know Abby. They were all healthy and happy. Coming on this trip had changed his life.

  He crawled into the tent, exhausted but hopeful, wondering what tomorrow held.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  ABBY WOKE WITH a start, her pulse racing.

  She’d been dreaming about Nathan, not earthquakes. Well, maybe little earthquakes. Sexual earthquakes. They’d been naked in the hot springs at night, mouths melded together, skin slick with moisture.

  Whew.

  Suppressing a moan, she stretched her arms over her head. Need throbbed between her legs and every muscle in her body ached. The light outside the tent indicated that the sun was already up, but the sky was overcast and it smelled like rain. Once again, Brooke wasn’t in the sleeping bag beside her.

  Abby slid her hand down her stomach. She remembered the feel of Nathan’s hard body against hers, his strong arms and seeking tongue. His erection, straining the fabric of his swim trunks. God.

  She cupped one breast, mimicking his firm grip. Her implants were on the small side, but she could feel them. She’d only been with a few men since the surgery. It wasn’t a secret. She assumed they’d noticed, though no one had complained.

  She wasn’t sure why she’d blurted it out to Nathan. He’d probably seen more fake breasts than real ones. She felt silly for bringing it up.

  Brooke had grilled her mercilessly about Nathan after they’d gone to bed. Abby had been tempted to confess to the ruse. Had it been a ruse, or runaway hormones? She didn’t know what had possessed her to make out with him, but she couldn’t do it again. He had heartbreaker written all over him. Which was a shame, because he also had an irresistible personality and great hands. He kissed like a champ. Although he’d joked about not measuring up to Jakov, she didn’t think size was an issue for him. He’d felt big and deliciously stiff against her.

  Groaning, she crawled out of the sleeping bag. She put on her fleece pullover and hiking shoes at the front of the tent. Nathan and Leo were standing by the fire pit. There was no outhouse at this site, so she ducked into the woods and found a bush to squat behind. Before she joined the others for breakfast, she rinsed her hands, brushed her teeth and washed her face. Abby didn’t want to share her morning breath with Nathan. She considered taking a quick glance in a mirror, but she was afraid the sight would kill her confidence. Brooke had promised they could wash their hair today, so she left it down.

  Tugging on her hat, she approached the guys. Nathan was wearing dark trousers with a gray T-shirt and checkered flannel. His stubble was thick, his hair disheveled. Leo was teenage-dream scruffy in a hooded sweatshirt and skinny jeans.

  “Morning,” Nathan said, giving her a crooked smile. “How did you sleep?”

  She flushed at the memory of their kiss. “Fine. You?”

  “Good. Better than the night before.”

  He looked relaxed, well-rested and ready to satisfy her womanly desires. Tension sizzled between them. Abby had to remind herself that last night hadn’t meant anything. She couldn’t seriously consider dating him. He was too dangerous to her peace of mind. The only place they’d be having sex was in her dreams.

  Leo had fired up the propane stove. He was reading the directions on a packet of oatmeal, as if unsu
re how to prepare it.

  Abby glanced around. “Where’s Brooke?”

  Nathan’s brows rose at the question. “She’s not in the tent?”

  “No.”

  “We haven’t seen her,” Leo said.

  “How long have you been up?”

  “Thirty minutes.”

  She wondered if Brooke had ducked into the woods to use the bathroom. Abby strolled around the perimeter of the campsite, but she didn’t see Brooke. She wasn’t at the hot springs. She wasn’t within yelling distance.

  Abby took deep breaths, trying not to panic. Where was her daughter? She hadn’t heard Brooke leave the tent this morning.

  When Abby came back from the search empty-handed, Nathan and Leo abandoned the attempt to make breakfast to help her look. “She did this yesterday,” Leo said. “She was playing around and hiding in the woods. I called out and she didn’t answer.”

  That sounded like Brooke. “Where was this?”

  “Upriver a few hundred feet. I’ll take you there.”

  A horrible idea occurred to Abby, chilling her blood. “What if she fell in?”

  “I’m sure she’s fine,” Nathan said, but he started walking faster.

  They were all worried.

  Leo guided them to a fishing hole not far from camp. It was quiet and serene, with water rushing under a fallen log.

  “Brooke,” Nathan yelled, cupping his hands around his face. “Brooke!”

  Only the chirping birds and rustling leaves answered.

  The articles Abby had read about drowning victims and missing girls swam in her mind. She was about to jump in the water and start dredging its depths when Leo walked across the fallen log. There was a muddy bank on the other side of the river. As he inspected the ground, his forehead crumpled. Abby hurried toward him, with Nathan’s help.

  “Brooke and I were barefoot yesterday,” Leo said, crouching down by the mud.

  The surface area showed signs of a wrestling match, as well as something far more disturbing: fresh footprints. It appeared that two sets of boots had trampled through here as recently as early this morning.

  “Oh my God,” Abby said. Her empty stomach pitched with nausea.