She shivered. “Less looking, more doing.”

He dripped through the small boathouse, pulling her into the bedroom. When he battled with his pants, which were just as stubborn coming off wet as his socks had been, Dakota was laughing and crawling to the middle of the bed.

Walt kicked free of his pants and grabbed at her firm ass, pulling her under him. They laughed, kissed, and laughed even more. Then he found a spot between her clavicle and her neck that stopped all laughter and made her moan.

Dakota made love with her whole body, her nails sent chills over his already sensitive skin, her leg draped over his, opening for him to settle between them.

Their wet bodies dried as they rolled on the comforter. Walt wasn’t sure who removed her bra, but he lavished her breasts and ignored his rock-hard erection, which demanded attention. That was until Dakota took hold of him.

He felt the first rush as she stroked him, her thumb rolling over his tip.

She lifted her hips as he guided her panties down her thighs.

When he sought her with his hand, she lost her grip. “Don’t make me wait,” she pleaded.

Heat pushed against his hand, made him groan.

When he moved away, her leg clamped tight, her eyes found his and held.

“Condom,” he managed.

She loosened her hold and he found his pants. One pocket held his ruined cell phone. He looked at it, looked at Dakota, and tossed it across the room.

While she laughed he retrieved his wallet, unearthed a condom.

She helped him roll it on, leaned back against the pillows, and guided him close.

He kissed away her laughter and took his time when he pushed inside of her.

“Yes,” she said with a sigh, her hips welcomed him, her legs tangled with his. “Glad that cold water didn’t stop this.”

“You and me both.” He started to move and let his body claim the woman in his bed.

Her unladylike moans kept a smile on his face, kept his hands and lips moving over her as he brought on her first climax. All the tension of the day melted from her face when she came. The way she called his name made him hold back his own release to give her more.

Before her tremors receded, he grasped her hands and held them above her head, and moved faster. They made love without words, her eyes telling him she loved what he was doing.

He kissed her when she came the second time, released her hands when he emptied and collapsed on top of her.

Walt slipped away, found the comforter at the end of the bed, and pulled it on top of them.

She’d never laughed so hard while making love, didn’t know it could be so wonderful, sensual, and comical all at the same time.

With her head resting on Walt’s chest, the sun streaming in from the windows in the room, she wondered if the warmth in her chest was simply endorphins or something much more powerful.

“I didn’t plan that,” Walt said against her hair.

She giggled. “Yet you had a condom in your wallet.”

His chest moved with a quiet laugh. “OK. I hoped . . . wanted.”

“We’re both adults, attracted, and spending the weekend together. I think we both hoped and wanted.”

“I like your honesty, Dakota. So many women play games, pretend they want something they don’t or—”

“I don’t like games.” She looked into his eyes, noticed them darken, and his smile fell before he kissed her.

When they broke apart, she rested against him again. “For the record, I’ve been on the pill since high school. In case your supply of condoms ended up in the lake with my shoe.”

He laughed. “My phone is toast.”

“You started it.”

“Doesn’t work well up here anyway.”

“Trying to convince yourself it’s OK you killed your phone?”

“You killed it.”

“Good excuse to get a new one.”

He agreed with a sigh. “I hate to say this, but—”

“We should probably shower . . .” she finished his sentence.

He nodded. “Before someone comes looking for us.”

“Your parents will come down here?”

“Probably not. But when my sister and her husband get here, Brenda will be dying to meet you.”

Dakota glanced around the room, noticed their clothes everywhere. Probably not the best first impression to make.

Pushing back the blanket, she rolled out of bed, felt Walt’s eyes on her as she moved to the bathroom.

Chapter Nine

Brenda showed up while Walt was in the shower.

When Dakota opened the door, she thought she was looking at JoAnne’s younger sister. Both women had elegant lines in their faces with high cheekbones and bright eyes . . . only Brenda’s eyes had one thing in spades that JoAnne’s didn’t. Kindness.

“You must be Brenda,” Dakota said as she kicked the wet clothes from the front door, hoping Brenda didn’t notice.

Brenda looked behind her, probably searching for her brother. “Uhm, yeah . . .”

“Walt is in the shower.”

Brenda’s eyes traveled to the floor where standing water tickled Dakota’s bare toes.

“We, ah . . . accidently fell in the lake.”

Walt’s sister had dimples.

“I’m Dakota.”

Brenda shook her hand, laughed. “Fell?”

“I might have pushed him.”

They both laughed. “Knowing my brother, he probably deserved it.”

“He did.” Looked like Dakota had a friend among the Eddy family.