“But isn't the owner your friend? Won't he be upset that we're making such a mess and with those?” My nose wrinkled from the smell, though it was not nearly as bad as the name suggested.

“Yeah, a good friend, so he won't mind. Besides, we've gotten really quick at cleaning up after these forays.”

How do you reply to that? “Okay.”

“Thatta girl.” Gwen said.

“You guys ready?” Saffron asked.

“Yep.”

We moved in through the kitchen and when we walked out into the bar, we were still not visible to Bastian and the others. Saffron looked giddy, excitement turning her cheeks all rosy. I was all for bonding moments with Saffron, but she was just a bit left of center. The fact that I found the trait endearing and not disturbing probably meant something.

Saffron pressed the funnel cake into my palm and the weight of it surprised me. I couldn't imagine eating one, really didn't understand how something so gross could ever have been thought up, but now was not the time to ponder it.

We walked further into the bar and stopped just outside the pool room. It only took a moment for Bastian's head to lift. I kept my hands behind my back as I strolled into the room, Gwen right behind me. Bastian moved from his spot at the table toward me as a smile spread over his face.

“Hey beautiful.”

“Hi Bastian.” I held his gaze a moment before I took in the other men. Understanding swept across Logan's face right before he turned his attention to someone just behind me.

Saffron screamed, “Now!” I lost sight of Bastian briefly in the shower of funnel cakes and I laughed at the look on his face when he came back into view. He had had no idea what was going on, so he didn't react fast enough to block the funnel cake that nailed him right on the nose, or the two others that followed just after the first. His eyes narrowed and I gulped before I turned and fled. I made it out of the bar and about two hundred yards from it before Bastian's strong arms came around me and lifted me right off the ground. He pulled me back against him and sucked on the skin of my neck, right at the curve where it met the shoulder. “You shouldn't have done that.”

“It was Saffron's idea.”

His lips brushed over my ear, capturing my lobe in his teeth, before his tongue licked the small point of pain. My bones melted.

“You nailed me with a funnel cake.”

“I did—several times in fact.” There were still some remnants of the cakes in his hair.

His voice sounded so soft and sexy. “And how should I punish you for that?”

Desire burned through me at his tone. He must have sensed the change in me when he dropped me to the ground and turned me into him, his mouth fusing to mine as he trapped me up against a tree. His hands pulled through my hair as he tilted my head and kissed me so thoroughly that there was not a single spot in my mouth he didn't explore.

“Lark! You okay?” Saffron called, no doubt because she had brought me here and wanted to make sure I was with Bastian before she left.

Bastian pulled his mouth from mine, but his eyes had turned so dark and filled with so many sinfully delicious promises that I felt myself getting lightheaded.

“We're going home right now.” He kissed me quick and hard.

“Yes, home, I like that idea.” I called to Saffron. “Yes, I'm okay.”

“Okay, see you in the morning. Night, Bastian.”

“Good night.” Seconds later, we were roaring down the road on his bike. Once Bastian parked, he grabbed for me and said. “Run.”

My eyes grew wide and I did just that, but I didn't even make it to the door before Bastian grabbed me and lifted me up over his shoulder.

“Bastian!”

As soon as we were locked in the house he carried me down the hall to the bedroom where he tossed me onto the bed. I couldn't even catch my breath before he was on top of me. His body covered mine. His eyes burned like fire as his lips turned up on the one side. And then he meted out my punishment. He kissed every inch of my body as he slowly removed my clothes. He stripped and I watched as he rolled the condom on before he covered my naked body with his own. Feeling the hard muscles of his body pressed against the soft curves of mine had lust coiling in my belly. I grabbed his ass just as he rolled his hips and entered me in one, long smooth motion. As soon as his hips started to move, my lips sealed over his as we moved together finding that perfect rhythm. Yep, I definitely needed to be bad more often.

***

The previous night, after Bastian and I returned home, had been incredible. In fact I was so eager to have a repeat performance that I had tried to convince Bastian to play hooky with me, but he couldn't because his specs were due to the woodcrafter. It was just as well, I had a painting to work on.

My cell buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. When I saw it was my uncle, a smile spread over my face. “Hey, Uncle Eddie.”

“Lark, how are you?”

He sounded distracted or upset. “I'm fine. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, is everything good with you?”

“Better than good. I'm learning a lot and this town: the people are crazy but a lot of fun.” I wanted to tell him about Logan being my dad but I wasn't sure that was news one shared over the phone. My mom had been the love of Uncle Eddie's life. He already knew she shared a child with a stranger, but now having a face and a name for that stranger, that might be news best shared in person.

“That's wonderful. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying yourself.” Again I felt as if he was distracted.

“Are you sure everything's okay?”

“Yeah, but if your Aunt should call you, would you please call me immediately?”

“Is something wrong?”

“I don't think so, please don't worry yourself. It's just that I haven't heard from her in a few days, but I think that's because she's coming to terms with our separation. Anyway, if you hear from her, I'd really like to know.”

“Sure.”

“How's Bastian?”

“He's great. He's working too, restoring an old house right here in Harrington. The place is amazing.”

“Maybe he could take some pictures, I'd love to see the progress.”

Surprised and touched by his request, I immediately replied, “I'm sure he'd love to share it with you. So, how are the girls?”

The tension in his tone eased with the mentioning of the twins. And for the next half an hour, he caught me up with what was going on in their lives.

Chapter Nineteen

The following morning I was at the lighthouse in Logan's studio finishing my sketch of him. Logan had called earlier suggesting he and I work on a sculpting piece. To have the opportunity to watch a man of his talent working a slab of marble was not something I could pass up, not to mention we needed to discuss the mural that Broderick wanted us to paint. So while Logan retrieved his supplies from his shed, I finished his sketch.

I stood near the window working and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed movement below. Hunter walked alone down the floating dock: the sight caused my heart to still in my chest. The water wasn't so rough that the dock shook, but one misstep and he could pitch over the side into the water. Saffron was out shopping, but she’d gotten a sitter for Hunter. Where was the girl?

I dropped my pencil and ran out of the room calling for his sitter as I flew down the stairs, but my frantic calls were met with silence. Logan's shed was on the other side of the property, so I wasn't even sure he'd hear me if I screamed for help. I wasn't about to waste the time on a detour, but as I ran outside, it all became moot. The dock shook enough with Hunter’s footsteps to cause his little unsteady legs to lose their balance. He tumbled over into the water.

“Logan! Logan!” I screamed as I ran to the dock; my legs pumping as fast as they could. Even though everything happened so quickly, there was a moment when it felt as if time stopped. The memory came in a flash, the heart-to-heart I had had with my uncle when he shared his past with me and the conviction that I had felt that had I a family, I would do anything to keep them safe, even at the risk of my own life. Easy to say when you didn't have a family, but as I dove into that dark, cold water I knew it was true. My eyes were open and still I could barely see. I stayed under reaching and grabbing desperately until it felt as if my lungs were going to explode. I came up gulping for air and dove again. I swam under the dock feeling around the underside for his little body. Something silky brushed along my fingertips and I grabbed it and pulled it to me. It was a motionless Hunter. I held him tightly as I kicked to surface and when I broke it, I forced Hunter's head out of the water and whacked him hard on the back. He started coughing: sea water pouring from his little mouth. When his lungs were clear, he started to cry: deep, heart-wrenching wails. Relief flooded me just as the sitter came running down the dock. Hunter was beginning to flail in my arms which, along with my legs, were growing really tired.