Читать книгу Swept Away - Kristina Mathews - Страница 8

Carson leaned against the counter and watched Lily sip her tea nervously. She was obviously still rattled. “Are you all right?” It really wasn’t any of his business. He shouldn’t get involved. Yet, here he was, involved. Wanting to help. Caring about her.

“Sure, I’m fine.” Lily opened the door of the old refrigerator. “You sure you guys don’t want something to drink?”

“That would be great.” Cody would accept her offer. “Can I use your bathroom?”

“Be my guest.” She swept her arm in the direction she’d just come from, fresh from the shower. Carson wondered if it was still steamy.

“This is a sweet old fridge.” Carson tried to shake off the image of her in the shower. Naked. “Classic.”

“Thanks.” Lily pulled out a couple bottles of beer and shoved the door closed with her hip. “I’m sure it’s horribly inefficient, but it reminds me of the good old days.”

“Our Granny had one just like it.” Warm memories flooded him. She’d always kept it stocked with gallons of milk for two growing boys. Plenty of fresh fruit they could help themselves to. And a bottle of sticky, red grenadine for those special occasions when Granny made them Shirley Temples while she enjoyed a glass of wine with Granddad. They had taken the boys home from the hospital and had done everything they could to give them the life their daughter couldn’t have.

Lily handed him a beer and reached around him for a bottle opener. Her right breast grazed his arm.

“Sorry.” He pulled his arm away. She must really think he was some kind of jerk.

“It’s okay.” Lily laughed—a crystal-clear sound, like the deepest pool on the river. “It’s not like it was the first time.”

“No. Sorry about that too.” Carson felt his cheeks warm. He’d really hoped she hadn’t noticed.

“Hey, no big deal.” Lily struggled with the bottle opener, a blush creeping across her cheeks.

Carson took the bottle and the opener from her, setting both on the counter. “You don’t have to entertain us.”

“I don’t mind. Really. Entertaining is one of the things I’m good at.” There it was again. Her vulnerability tugged at his heart, making it impossible for him to just walk away.

“Oh hey, Sierra Nevada.” Cody returned from the bathroom, making himself at home by prying the caps off both the bottles. “One of my favorites.”

“Sit down.” Lily indicated the heavy oak chairs at her kitchen table. “If you won’t stay for dinner, let me at least put out some snacks. I think I have some chips and salsa.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Carson was on edge.

“Great.” Cody sat back and took a nice long pull on his beer. He seemed to have no intention of going anywhere anytime soon. Not unless Carson dragged him out of there by his ankles.

What had gotten into him? He’d just met Lily, and he was ready to club his own brother for just looking at her. He’d never reacted to a woman like this before.

Sure, he’d been with his fair share of women. He enjoyed their company. Liked to be able to please them. Give them what they needed. Some women just needed someone to talk to. He was a damn good listener. Others needed someone to hold them, a warm body to keep them from feeling the chill of loneliness. Then there were the women who needed to be touched. To have him stroke both body and ego, letting them know just how incredible and powerful and sexy they were.

But with Lily? He didn’t have a clue. He didn’t know what she needed or what he wanted from her. It was like heading down an unfamiliar stream in the dark, without a map, or even a paddle.

* * * *

“So tell me more about your rafting company.” Lily put a dish of salsa and a basket of tortilla chips on the table.

“We run several one- or two-day trips a week from April to October.” Carson spoke with enthusiasm. “We take kids as young as eight and as old as eighty. We take families, scout troops—”

“Singles groups and honeymooners.” Cody chimed in. “And we have a campground that’s open year-round.”

“We got a late start this year, though.” Carson’s tone took on a more serious note. “The late storms, while great for the water reserves, put a damper our business. But things are picking up. Come Memorial Day we’ll be booked pretty solid.”

“Isn’t all that rain good for business? In the long run?” Lily was curious about their way of life. So different than the life she’d led. So much more relaxed. So much more real.

“The American River is dam controlled.” Carson leaned forward with a sparkle in his eye as he talked about the river he called home. “The first few weeks the river is higher from the runoff, but mostly it’s pretty consistent.”

“Except for drought years,” Cody added. “Some years there’s barely enough water to release. But every season is slightly different—the rapids change with higher or lower water, the river changes course, and we’re always meeting new people.”

“The tributaries, like Hidden Creek, are much more affected by the heavy snowpack,” Carson informed her.

“Tell me about it.” Lily had learned that the hard way. She’d come here, hoping to start over, to stand on her own two feet, to be the strong woman she knew she could be. If it wasn’t for these two, she wouldn’t be standing at all. “I’ll be sure to steer clear of the river from now on.”

“That would be a shame.” Carson glanced over at her, trapping her in his gaze. The sensation of being pulled under was stronger than it had been in the river.

“Yeah,” Cody added. “The river is life.”

They talked for a while, the guys becoming more and more animated as they discussed their lives on the water. Their passion for their jobs and the outdoors was clear. They had been shaped by the river. Not just their bodies—those sculpted arms, shoulders, and abs certainly didn’t come from a gym—but who they were on the inside was a result of the years spent guiding.

“You should come rafting with us,” Cody suggested.

“No, that’s okay.” Lily shivered at the thought of being on the river. “I think I’ll stay away from the water for some time.”

“Don’t give in to the fear.” There was something in Carson’s voice that reeled her in. “I’d hate for you to miss out on one of life’s great pleasures.”

“You’re that good?” Lily finished off her tea, wishing she could forget the feel of Carson pressed against her. His hand on her breast. His strength completely enveloping her.

“Honey, we’re the best,” Cody joined in, lightening the mood. His flirting, she could deal with. He made her feel feminine and attractive, but she knew he didn’t mean anything serious.

“I’ll think about it.” They were right, of course. But still, she was afraid. Of the river, sure, but she was more afraid of spending too much time with the Swift brothers.

* * * *

They had a problem. Carson gripped the steering wheel of his truck as he backed down the long driveway. Lily was safe and warm in her cabin. She’d showered, dressed, and finished her tea. After playing hostess, offering them drinks and snacks, she no longer seemed dazed or confused as she’d been when Carson had first pulled her out of the river.

But he was confused. Not about why he and Cody both found her attractive. That was perfectly understandable. No. What he couldn’t figure out was why he felt such a strong need to protect her. He was looking for less responsibility, not more. Yet some instinct rose inside him. It was almost primal.

And it made him want to spar with the other male competing for her attention.

“You went a little overboard with the come-ons in there.” Carson wasn’t sure if he was more jealous or embarrassed by Cody’s blatant flirtation. “I mean, ‘We can light your fire?’ Who says that?”

“I was just trying to be helpful.” Cody had that innocent, “Who me?” tone in his voice.

“It was too much, even for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” As if he didn’t know.

“Helpful would be maybe waiting until she dried off before trying to get her into bed.”

“You’re the one who felt her up on the side of the river.” Cody sounded a little defensive.

“I was trying to keep her warm. Hypothermia can be a real danger, especially this time of year when the water is still barely above freezing.”

“Listen to Mr. Boy Scout.” Cody chuckled. “You want her and you know it.”

Carson didn’t respond. There was no use arguing, so he concentrated on the road. On putting distance between him and Lily.

“So if I said I saw her first…” Cody wouldn’t drop it.

“I went in after her,” Carson reminded him.

“I like her. I really like her.”

“You like every attractive woman you meet.” They’d had this conversation too many times. “Until you get them into bed.”

“Lily’s different.” Cody almost sounded sincere.

“Leave Lily alone”

“I don’t think so. I’m not going to step aside just so you can have her.”

“She’s not a prize to be won.” Carson couldn’t help himself. He was protective of her. A little possessive, even.

“Afraid of losing?”

“No.” Carson had learned a long time ago that it was easier to let Cody win. But not this time. “It’s just that I’d hate to see her added to the tailings of your pathetic love life.”

“The tailings of my love life?” Cody choked out a laugh. Maybe Carson’s words hit a little close to home.

“Yeah, all those women you just tossed aside. After you dropped your shaft, you couldn’t care less about the destruction you left behind.”

“Hey, my shaft is bigger than yours.” Wow. A penis metaphor. There was something new.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Carson gripped the steering wheel tighter. “You can’t treat women that way.”

“Hey, I let them know up front what they’re getting into.”

This wasn’t just about Lily. It was a conversation they should have had years ago. They weren’t twenty-two anymore.

“Yeah, and you think they actually believe you.” Carson couldn’t believe his brother didn’t know the difference.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Sure, they agree—no strings, no worries,” Carson said the words through a clenched jaw. “But most of them tend to think that maybe, just maybe, they’re special. That they might be the one woman who can tame the raging beast inside you.”

“Lily could be that woman. Give me a little credit, will you?” Cody cranked the volume on the radio, tuning his brother out.

They were traveling in uncharted territory. Amazing that they hadn’t ever both been interested in the same woman before. Or maybe Carson had stopped being interested in the kind of women Cody lured into his bed and sent out the back door the next morning because he didn’t care enough to walk them to their car.

Maybe Carson was ready for something more. Something that didn’t involve Cody.

“So not everyone stays friends with the women he sleeps with,” Cody said after several minutes of silence between them.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Carson kept his eyes on the road ahead. They were almost to the highway.

“I mean, you manage to stay on speaking terms with every woman you bring home.” Cody’s voice held a note of contempt, and maybe a little bit of wonder. “Hell, some of them even invited you to their weddings. What’s up with that?”

“I didn’t sleep with all of them,” Carson admitted. But he wasn’t sure if he was proud of the fact or not. “Some were just friends. That’s why they stayed friends.”

“So you’re saying you never slept with any of those women?” Cody’s voice rose an octave.

“No. I’m just saying I haven’t slept with every woman I’ve brought home.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Cody wondered aloud.

“Nothing’s wrong with me.” Carson shook his head, still not looking at his brother. “I just don’t have to prove anything to anyone by sleeping with every woman I meet.”

“You know they have pills for that now,” Cody teased. As always. It was starting to wear on him. No. It had grown old years ago. It was just now he had a way out. A plan to make a life of his own.

Carson fiddled with the radio, switching from music to sports talk radio. The Giants had lost their game earlier and the callers were demanding drastic measures. A trade. Bringing up that prospect. Dumping the guy who’d been the big hero last year.

Was that what Carson really wanted? A major shake-up?

“I know I’ve always been kind of a catch and release guy.” Cody wouldn’t let it go.

“You’re bummed we didn’t get a chance to fish.” Carson couldn’t help but get in one more jab. “I kind of thought it was worth it.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say, asshole.” Cody raised his voice, acting like a spoiled child. “I never hung on to a woman because I never met a woman worth hanging on to.”

“Until Lily.” Carson sighed.

“Lily’s not like any woman I ever met.” Cody sounded like he actually meant it. “She’s like coming home. Just not any home we ever knew.”

“What are you, Tom Hanks?” Carson quipped. “No, that’s right, you’ve never sat through a chick flick for a woman.”

“What are you talking about?” Cody sounded beyond irritated.

“So you really feel something for her?” Carson said, all teasing gone from his voice.

“Yeah.” Cody leaned back into the seat. “I just wish the hell I knew what to do about it. I mean if it’s just sex, that’s easy. But maybe I want something more.”

“Really?” Carson was skeptical. He knew Cody all too well. “Since when?”

“Since I realized it’s time for us to grow up,” Cody grumbled. “I can’t take another summer doing the same old thing.”

“The same old thing, as in a different woman every weekend?” Carson wasn’t going to make this easy on him. “You’re ready to try something different? The same woman every night?”

“If Lily’s that woman, you bet.”

“Nah, I don’t like to take bets with you. You tend to get stupid lucky.”

“So that’s it, you’re just going to step aside?” Cody sounded skeptical. “I don’t think so. I think we both take our best shots. Let Lily decide who she wants.”

“What if she doesn’t pick either of us?” That would be the best thing. For everyone.