In Emmylou's Hands

“Yeah. I’m sorry about your nose—”

“Oh. That. Yeah, it doesn’t help my looks any.” She heard him draw a long breath. “So if you’re home, I’ll bring the key by.”

“I am. Out by the pool,” she lied, but it wouldn’t be a lie for long. She headed for her closet. “Just pull on around to the end of the drive, and you won’t even have to get out.” She had it all planned. He’d get an eyeful as she walked from the pool to his truck, and Bentley wouldn’t have a chance to hump his bad leg again.

“Be there in a minute,” came the gruff reply.

All she had to do was slip into her gold bikini and run to dive into the pool. She’d known Sol would be dropping by sometime today, so she’d done her waterproof makeup first thing after her shower. Her hair was pulled back into a cute, calculated bun that would keep its shape when wet.

On the way to the pool, she called Bentley, who came running from somewhere upstairs, as she grabbed the thermal glass of iced tea from the fridge and the magazines from the island.

She arranged everything around the chaise and then dove from the diving board to gain that sun-kissed glisten. Bentley jumped in from the side and dog-paddled to the steps. He shook himself and sprawled out on the warm concrete while she settled into the chaise and thumbed leisurely through the magazine. By the time she heard Sol’s truck in her driveway, she was confident she and her canine companion looked as though they’d been out there all day.

Her timing was a tad off. As she rose from her chair, Sol was getting out of his truck, so he missed the beginning of her entrance. And with him standing outside his truck, she wouldn’t get to lean over toward his driver’s side window. Oh well. She started her slow, seductive walk.