“Its disgusting. Looks just like chicken fat.

“Would you ever have it done?

“In a second. Would you?

Delaney looked at her friend as she thought about it. “I dont think so, but Ill probably have my breasts lifted when they start to sag past my belly button. Hopefully, that wont be for twenty more years. Delaneys statement drew Lisas attention to her chest.

“You always did have pretty good boobs. I never had great boobs, but I have a really nice butt.

The two women switched their attention to Lisas behind.

“Better than mine, Delaney admitted, then returned her gaze to Nick and the three women making their way across the beach toward the bottom of the stairs leading to the deck. “So, which one is his girlfriend?

“I dont know.

“Probably all three.

“Probably, Lisa agreed.

“None of them, spoke Louie from behind.

Delaney did a mental groan and closed her eyes.

Shed been caught gossiping about Nick. Worse, shed been caught by Louie. She wondered how long hed been standing there. She wondered if hed heard her talking about getting her breasts lifted, but she didnt dare ask. Slowly she turned to face him, racking her brain for something to say.

Thankfully, Lisa didnt have the same problem. “Are you sure he isnt dating the twins?

“No, he answered, then announced with a completely serious look on his face, “Nick is a one-woman man.

Delaney glanced at Lisa and the two of them burst into laughter.

“Whats so funny? Louie wanted to know. He crossed his arms over his chest, and his dark brows formed one prominent line across his forehead.

“You, Lisa answered and kissed his firm mouth. “Youre crazy, but thats what I love about you.

Louie put an arm around Lisas waist and pulled her tight. “I love you, too, alu gozo .

No one had ever whispered exotic endearments to Delaney—unless she counted “Do me, baby. No man had ever loved her the way Louie obviously loved Lisa. And no man was likely to, either, as long as she was stuck in Truly with nothing to do but walk dogs. There had to be something better than picking up dog poop. “Do you know who owns the building next to you?

“You do now. Louie shrugged. “Maybe your mother. I guess it depends on how everything shakes out in your fathers will.

“I do? As she absorbed the news a big smile parted her lips.

“Yep. Henry owned that whole block.

“Your offices, too?

“Yep.

She had a lot to think about and took a step backward. “Well, thanks for having me, she said, fully intending to beat a retreat before she got within spitting distance of Nick.

“You just got here, Lisa pointed out. “Stay until after the fireworks. Louie, tell her we want her to stay.

“Why dont you stay? Louie said and took the bota he had hanging from his shoulder and held it toward her.

Great, now shed look like a baby if she left. She took the pigskin bag from him and asked, “Whats in this?

“ Txakoli . When she didnt drink, he added, “Red wine. Its for special occasions and holidays.

Delaney lifted the bag and hit her chin with a thin stream of wine before raising it to her mouth. The wine was sweet and very potent, and when she lowered it again, she got wine on her throat. “I guess I should stick to a glass, she joked and wiped her chin and neck.

From behind, the bota was plucked from her hand. She turned and stared at a wide chest and faded green cotton. Her stomach twisted like a pretzel as she slowly raised her gaze past Nicks lips to his gray eyes. The Allegrezza boys had a habit of sneaking up on her from behind.

“Open up, he said.

She tilted her head to one side and stared at him.

“Open up, he repeated and raised the bota to within several inches of her face.

“What are you going to do if I dont? Squirt wine all over me?

He smiled, slow and sensual. “Yes.

She didnt doubt him for a moment. The second her mouth opened, wine shot between her parted lips. She watched helpless as Lisa and Louie walked away. She would have followed if she hadnt been forced to stand very still. Then the stream of wine was gone without leaving so much as a drop anywhere. She swallowed and licked the corner of her mouth. She didnt say a word.

“Youre welcome.

The breeze carried the scent of his skin and tossed strands of his thick dark hair about his bare shoulders. He smelled like clean mountain air and dark sensual man. “I didnt ask for your help.

“No, but you need a lot of txakoli to kill that bug up your butt. He leaned back slightly and raised the bota. A red arc filled his mouth, and his throat worked as he swallowed. Fine black hair shadowed his armpit, and for the first time, Delaney noticed the tattoo circling his right biceps. It was a thin wreath of thorns, and the twists and barbs of black ink looked remarkably real against his smooth tan skin. He lowered the bag and sucked a bead of wine from his lower lip. “Were you going to run me over the other day, wild thing?

She tried not to react. “Dont call me that, please.

“What? Wild thing?

“Yes.

“Why not?

“Because I dont like it.

Nick didnt give a damn what she liked. Shed tried to run him over, no doubt about it. He slid his gaze down the curves of her body as he screwed the cap onto the spout of the bota. “I guess thats too bad. The second hed stepped foot on the deck, hed noticed her, and not just because she wore a turtleneck and green leather vest when everyone else had dressed for summer. It was her hair. The setting sun caught all those different shades of red and set them ablaze.

“Then I guess the next time I see you in a crosswalk, I wont put on the brake.

Nick stepped forward until she had to tilt her head back to look up at him. His gaze moved over her flawless porcelain cheeks to her pink lips. The last time hed been this close to her, shed been naked. “Give it your best shot. White and pink. Thats what he remembered about her most. Soft pink mouth and tongue. Firm white breasts and tight pink nipples. Silky white thighs.

She opened her mouth to say something, but whatever she meant to say was silenced by Gails approach.

“There you are, Gail said as she wove her arm through Nicks. “Lets hurry and get a place on the beach before the show starts.

Nick stared into Delaneys big brown eyes and felt a tightening in his groin that had nothing to do with the willing woman by his side. He stepped back and turned his attention to Gail. “If youre in a hurry, go ahead without me.

“No, Ill wait. Gail turned her gaze from Nick to Delaney. Her grip on his arm tightened. “Hello, Delaney. I hear youve moved back.

“For a while.

“The last time I talked to your mother, she told me you were a flight attendant with United.

A slight frown wrinkled Delaneys brow and she glanced around as if she were desperately looking for a reason to escape. “That was five years ago, and I was a baggage handler, not a flight attendant, she said and took a step backward. “Well, it was nice to see you again, Gail. Ive got to go. I told Lisa Id help her... ah ... do something. Without a glance in Nicks direction, she turned and walked away.

“Whats going on between the two of you? Gail asked.

“Nothing. He didnt want to talk about Delaney, especially not with Gail. He didnt even want to think about her. She was trouble for him. She always had been. Since the first time hed looked into her big brown eyes.

“When I walked up it certainly looked like something.

“Drop it. He shook free of Gails grasp and moved into the house. Earlier, when hed gone to his own house to get the fireworks hed promised Sophie, Gail and the twins had been knocking on his front door. He didnt like women dropping by his house. It gave them unrealistic ideas of his involvement with them. But it was a holiday, and hed decided to overlook the intrusion this one time and had invited them to Louies. Now he wished he hadnt. He recognized that determined look in Gails eyes. She wasnt about to drop anything.