Bare Essentials: Naughty, But Nice

“Well…” Roxy glanced at the door, a worried look on her face. “I know people like to whisper about her behind her back, talk about her like she was the wild child from hell all those years ago…”

“And?”

“And I think it was just that…talk. I think she’s got guts, coming back here. She holds her head up like it doesn’t matter what people say, but…”

He sighed, because Roxy was always like this, always had to be coaxed out of her stories. “But?”

“But she’s scared, Sheriff. A woman like that, who’s been through so much…she doesn’t get scared easily. And yet she is.”

Tag thought about that as he changed out of his uniform. As he promised himself pizza and a beer. But then the funniest thing happened.

His car drove to the lake, just as the sun took its final dip beneath the horizon. Bypassing the popular swimming hole, he drove around to the east side, where a quiet bay surrounded by trees and growth made a more private area.

It was where he’d kissed Cassie only a few nights before.

He parked next to the only other car around, a sunshine-yellow Porsche.

It was open and unlocked, and he shook his head. She should be more careful. He stopped to stroke Miss Priss, who stretched, purred, and went right back to sleep on the passenger seat. “If only your mistress was as easy to please,” he said, then headed off on the trail down to the beach.

The night was a dark one already, with just a few silvery clouds. The heat from the day hadn’t begun to fade, which was why the sound of the water hitting the shore in gentle waves made him yearn to dive in.

The small bay was deserted—unless he counted the sexy mermaid playing around in the water. She popped up about twenty feet out, her back to him. Her long wet hair clung to her shoulders, which gleamed in the meager light. Tipping her head back to the night sky, her eyes were closed, and on her face was an expression he’d never seen before.

Contentment.

Then she bent to dive deep. For a second he had the magnificent view of her backside, and the small patch of wet material dividing the most perfect set of buns he’d ever seen.

Then she was gone.

He stared at the water, waiting for her to surface, and she didn’t disappoint. She came up only about five feet out now, and facing him. “I already ate the picnic,” she said, treading water.

“I’m not hungry.” For food, that is.

Still treading water, she studied him, only her elegant neck and face showing. “You coming in?”

And have that long, sleek, wet body within reach? Slowly he shook his head. “That would be a bad idea.”

“No bathing suit, huh?”

“No.”

“That can be fixed.” She reached behind her back for a moment, then flung something that landed at his feet.

He scooped up two tiny triangles and some string, dangled it from his fingers. Her bikini top.

His mouth went dry.

Then something equally wet hit him in the chest. Catching it with his other hand, he held up…her bottoms. This time it wasn’t just his mouth that reacted. “What are you doing?”

“Treading water. Naked.” She smiled the smile of an angel.

And if he could have, he would have laughed. “Cassie.”

“You sure say my name a lot. Don’t worry, slick. Your virtue is safe with me. I just thought I’d put us on even playing ground. You can strip down and come in now.”

Hallelujah, cried his body.

Holy shit, cried his mind.

Good thing his mind was in control, barely. “You want me to come in. Without my clothes.”

“Unless you want to get them wet.”

“I want to talk about your visit to the station. What the hell is going on?”

Instead of answering, she floated on her back for a moment before executing a perfect back somersault. At the flash of generous breasts, then flat belly, then…he nearly swallowed his tongue. Tan lines. She had lots of tan lines.

He loved tan lines. Christ, just shoot him now.

“Are you coming?” she asked when she surfaced.

Nearly in his pants. “About the restraining order—”

“I’m tired of shouting.”

“So you’ll talk to me if I come in.”

“You’re quick, Tag.”

“Uh-huh.” He didn’t believe her. “Why are you being…nice?”

She blinked at that.

“Is it because I’m not in my uniform?”

Now those eyes chilled and she dipped down to her chin. “Your uniform has nothing to do with this.”

“Really?” Ripping his T-shirt over his head, his hands went to the buttons on his Levi’s. To hell with being stoic. To hell with restraint. To hell with not taking what he wanted when it was being offered to him. “Then why do you only talk to me when I’m out of it?”

“Because I don’t like it?”

He undid his first button, watching her watch him very closely, the desire unmistakable. Good. She wanted him, too. They could scratch this itch and get it the hell out of their way. But he wanted to hear her say it, wanted to hear that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

“You look hot.” She splashed him, just a little.

And he opened another button. “You want to watch what you start, Cassie.”

“Oh, I’m watching.” And she was. She hit him with another splash.