When Love Strikes Read online

  Angie gave Mia a quick hug before hugging Sean, who had Natalie attached to him in a baby carrier. After dropping a kiss on her niece’s head, she sat on the bench near Mia.

  “Angie, you’ve met Sean’s brother-in-law, Jake, but I don’t know if you have, Dakota,” Mia continued.

  Like the man seated across the table needed an introduction. Jake Sherbrooke, the only biological son of President Warren Sherbrooke, had appeared on more tabloid covers and internet sites than she had, and that was saying a lot. Once dubbed Prince Charming, the media had portrayed him as a carefree playboy who did nothing but spend his family’s money and sleep around. Angie knew how much the media loved to make up stories, so she had her doubts about whether or not any of it was true. Even if all the stories had been accurate, since Jake’s marriage to Sean’s sister and the birth of his son, the media spent much less time on him.

  “And the handsome guy sitting next to Jake is his son, Garrett,” Mia said.

  The young boy looked just like his too-handsome-for-words father. It really was no wonder the paparazzi had loved photographing Jake. In sixteen or seventeen years, they’d love taking pictures of his son too.

  At least from the way Mia spoke, Jake and Charlie rarely traveled apart. “Is Charlie here tonight?” The last time she saw Charlie had been at Mia’s baby shower, and she wouldn’t mind catching up with her.

  “She went over to say hello to Mrs. Mitchell,” Jake answered as he handed his son a covered plastic cup.

  If Charlie was over talking to Mrs. Mitchell, it might be a long time before she returned. According to both Mia and Sean, the older widow loved to chat.

  Sean raised his bottle of water to his lips but paused. “Hey, how did it go with the interior designer yesterday?”

  After swallowing her mouthful of food, she wiped her mouth with a napkin. “I approved his designs for the kitchen and all the bathrooms. I should’ve sent him the pictures of your house sooner. Maybe they could’ve already started the work. As for the rest of the house, I’ve decided to leave everything as is and just have someone come in and paint.” The longer she lived in the house, the more she loved it just the way it was—with the exception of the outdated kitchen and bathrooms.

  “Did you buy a house in town?” Jake asked.

  “Last month, but I only moved in about two weeks ago.” Only two weeks might have passed, but she already considered North Salem home.

  Jake broke his donut into several smaller pieces and added them to the paper plate in front of his son. “My cousin, Brett, moved to town a couple of weeks ago too. He’s dancing with his girlfriend, but he’ll be back at some point.”

  Charlie joined them moments before Jake’s cousin and his cousin’s date returned to the table. Unlike Jake and several of his other cousins, Brett Sherbrooke never showed up on the covers of tabloid magazines. And while most of the Sherbrooke cousins shared a strong family resemblance, no one would immediately recognize Brett as a member of the wealthy family. The only reason she recognized him tonight was because he was running in the special election to fill the empty Senate seat in Washington. And since his last name was Sherbrooke, his campaign was getting a huge amount of media attention.

  Jake appeared ready to make introductions, but his cousin spoke first.

  “Nice to see you again, Dakota.” Brett extended his hand in Dakota’s direction as he and his girlfriend sat.

  “You’ve met?” Jake glanced from Brett to Dakota and then to his cousin again.

  Brett put his arm affectionately over the shoulder of the attractive strawberry-blonde woman next to him. “Dakota lives across the street from me. He helped Mack and me get rid of the tree that came down during the storm.”

  One of the many newspaper articles she’d read about the campaign mentioned Brett was a North Salem resident, but she hadn’t realized he was also Dakota’s neighbor.

  Jake sighed loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. “My condolences, Dakota, for having him as a neighbor. Actually, I should probably put something in the local paper offering the whole town my condolences.”

  Like a good political candidate, Brett ignored the barb and introduced Dakota and her to his girlfriend, Jennifer.

  A friendly and sometimes boisterous conversation, one Natalie somehow managed to sleep through, continued for the next hour. Eventually, though, Mia slipped the backpack she used as a diaper bag over her shoulder and gave Angie a hug.

  “Are you sure you guys don’t want to come back to our house for a little while?”

  Everyone else at the table was going back to Mia and Sean’s house. While she loved spending time with her sister, brother-in-law, and especially her niece, she wanted some time alone with Dakota.

  Perhaps she should get Dakota’s opinion on the matter, but she wasn’t going to. “Positive.”

  After a round of goodbyes, the three couples walked away, leaving them alone.

  “If you wanted to go visit, I wouldn’t have minded.”

  “I can spend time with Mia sometime next week.” She trailed her fingertips over his hand and along the long white scar that stretched from his wrist to the middle of his forearm. “For the rest of the night, I just want to be with you. And unless you want to stay here, I’m ready to leave.”

  Chapter Ten

  Although he never got a chance to send Drew into the water, when Angie said she was ready to leave, he didn’t complain. As enjoyable as it’d been visiting with Sean and everyone else, during much of the conversation he kept envisioning Angie dressed in whatever swimsuit she’d packed, soaking wet. While he had a fantastic imagination, he knew the real deal would be so much better.

  Dakota switched on the kitchen lights and tossed his keys and cell phone on the table. “Are you still leaning toward the hot tub, or would you rather go for a swim? It really doesn’t matter to me.”

  Angie grabbed the oversized bag she’d left on the kitchen floor earlier and slipped the straps over her shoulder. “A swim sounds nice, but I think I’d rather relax in the hot tub tonight.”

  “Hot tub it is.”

  While she disappeared into the small bathroom off the hallway, he took the steps upstairs two at a time. With a little luck, he could beat her outside and be in the hot tub before she got out there, because no bathing suit was going to hide the erection his untucked T-shirt was covering at the moment.

  As a general rule, he liked his house kept neat and tidy. Tonight he left his clothes in a pile on the bedroom floor before turning off the light and heading back downstairs. The bathroom door was still closed, and he knocked on it rather than walk by. “I’ll meet you outside.”

  The previous owners had installed both bright spotlights in the backyard as well as softer lights designed to provide a relaxing atmosphere rather than light up an entire city block. He usually opted for the brighter lights when he was out back. Tonight, he turned on the other ones instead. After uncovering the hot tub, he switched on the jets and stepped inside.

  Tipping his head back, he studied the star-filled sky. He’d never been good at identifying the constellations. Usually the only two he could find were Orion’s Belt and the Big Dipper. Tonight he didn’t recognize any, but it was still a beautiful sight.

  But nothing like the sight he caught when he looked over toward the door. He’d known the vision provided by his imagination wouldn’t do Angie justice, but he hadn’t realized just how lacking it would be. Swallowing, he wondered if there was any steam coming from his ears as he watched her walk his way.

  The doll clothes he’d seen in stores contained more fabric than the dark purple string bikini Angie wore. When she’d worn the snug tank top earlier in the week, he judged her breasts to be about a C cup. The barely there top revealed he’d been off by a size.

  Dakota tore his eyes away from her breasts for the moment and let them travel lower. An amethyst stud glittered in her navel, but the gemstone wasn’t what really caught his attention. Nope, the exotic-looking flower tattoo to
the right and slightly lower than her navel did. Her bikini bottoms covered part of it, and he wondered just how much farther down it went.

  She took her time stepping into the hot tub and lowering herself into the water next to him. “The water’s perfect.”

  He disagreed. Before she’d come outside, it’d been great; now he felt like was sitting in a pot of boiling water.

  Under the water, she took his hand and held it against her thigh. “I’m glad we went to the party. I had fun.” She kissed the side of his neck. “But I’ve been looking forward to this since you picked me up.”

  Releasing his hand, she ran her finger across his thigh until she reached the junction of his leg and torso.

  Actions spoke louder than words, so rather than share his thoughts, Dakota set about showing her. When his lips came down on hers, he didn’t need to tease them apart. They opened willingly, her tongue tangling with his.

  While their mouths made love, he reached out, intent on putting his arms around her. She didn’t give him the chance. In one swift motion, she straddled his lap and moved against him, sending pleasure like he’d never experienced through his entire body.

  Only when he needed air did he pull his mouth away and switch his attention to the pulse in her neck. After kissing it, he moved his lips across her shoulder until they met the thin bikini strap. Dakota hooked a finger under the fabric and pushed it away. Once the strap was no longer in his way, he pressed his lips against her bare skin and made a trail back toward her neck. Then he transferred his attention to her other side, intending to repeat what he’d just done.

  Angie stopped him before he could.

  The hands that had been caressing his upper back under the water stopped, and she leaned back, putting a few inches between them. She didn’t say a word. Instead, she met his eyes and reached behind her for the bikini’s strings. No longer tied around her, the top floated up as she slipped both arms out of it.

  He didn’t require any further permission. Cupping her breasts, he flicked his thumb against an already taut nipple.

  With a groan, she moved against him one more time before raising herself enough so his lips could replace his thumb. Her skin was warm and wet from the water, and he lavished one breast with attention. Ready to treat the other to the same, he switched sides. Dakota licked away the water clinging to her nipple and then closed his lips around it. Angie didn’t give him a chance to linger. Instead, she pulled away and settled herself back on the bench next to him before he could do anything more.

  Momentarily confused, he started to ask if something was wrong. The hand sliding past his waistband and touching him stopped the question from exiting his mouth.

  “Hell yeah.”

  Her smile told him he’d spoken the words aloud. The hand not giving him pleasure reached for his. She brought it to her chest before moving it lower over her breast and stomach, all while touching him. The stud in her navel brushed against his palm, and he stopped breathing as he waited, wondering if she’d continue the path south.

  He didn’t have to wonder for long. Angie moved his hand under the fabric and didn’t stop again until his fingers settled between her open legs. Much like when she took off her top, he got the message loud and clear.

  Dakota took his time teasing her, and she certainly repaid the favor.

  “Did you bring any protection out with you?” She sounded like she’d not only run the Boston Marathon but also set a new record while doing it.

  Damn, he wished he had. “Nope.” He didn’t sound much better.

  “We’ll both have to remember for next time.” Angie’s hand released him and moved up toward his torso. “Do you have any inside? If not, I have some in my bag.”

  He didn’t have a lot, but he had one or two condoms in his room. “Upstairs.”

  ***

  Angie watched Dakota walk back in the kitchen and switch off the lights outside. He’d gone out to cover the hot tub and turn off the jets, two things they’d been far too preoccupied to do earlier.

  Her eyes followed him as he crossed to the refrigerator. Before coming downstairs, he’d pulled on his jeans but hadn’t bothered with a T-shirt. He’d been in the hot tub already when she’d gone outside, so she hadn’t gotten a great view of what his T-shirts covered. For the trip upstairs, her lips were locked with his, and once in Dakota’s bedroom, he hadn’t bothered to turn the lights on before they landed on his bed. They hadn’t bothered to pull the blankets back either.

  But now in the well-lit kitchen, she could enjoy the view of him shirtless.

  “We’ve got pistachio, cookie dough, vanilla bean, Dutch chocolate, strawberry, and peanut butter cup.” After listing the ice cream flavors in the freezer, he glanced over at her.

  “Either you’re running an ice cream parlor out of your house, or you have an ice cream problem.”

  “Ice cream is a weakness of mine. Especially when I’m sick.” Although she hadn’t answered him, he took each of the containers from the freezer and placed them on the table. “About three weeks ago, I was sick as a dog with a nasty cold and strep. Even missed two days of work. For four or five days, I ate nothing but ice cream and pizza.”

  If ice cream was something he indulged in often, it certainly didn’t show. “Carbs are my biggest weakness. It doesn’t matter what kind. If I could get everything I needed from them, I’d never eat another vegetable or piece of meat.”

  Back at the refrigerator, he grabbed a can of whipped cream and a jar of hot fudge. After popping the jar into the microwave, he came back to the table with a couple of bowls, two spoons, and a stack of napkins. “It won’t be the same as homemade donuts, but we have everything to make sundaes except for walnuts. I finished the bag the other morning.”

  Although it’d been their intention to get donuts, they never made it back to the food tables before leaving the block party. “I’m not a fan of walnuts anyway.” She’d tolerate them in brownies and banana bread if she had to, but they never got added to anything else she ate, including sundaes.

  Angie added a few scoops of both chocolate and vanilla ice cream to a bowl. “I’m sorry you didn’t get a chance to dunk Drew before we left.”

  He piled a little of each flavor into his bowl and then poured some of the hot fudge over the ice cream. “Judging by all the cheering, plenty of other people sent him into the water. I’ll just clean out his wallet next time he shows up for a poker game instead. I’ll enjoy doing that even more than I would’ve enjoyed sending him into the water.”

  Once she’d covered her ice cream with a generous helping of hot fudge and whipped cream, she took her first spoonful. Whether it was because it’d been so long since she last ate ice cream or what, the flavors tasted amazing. “Where did you get this?” There was no brand name on the containers; only the flavor inside was printed on the labels.

  “Drummonds. It’s a small place in Marblehead. They make all their own ice cream. If I can’t make it over there, I settle for what’s at the store, but I was out that way right before I got sick and stocked up.” A sundae twice the size of hers sat in front of him, but Dakota didn’t dig in. “I’m going to put this away so it doesn’t melt, but if you want more, let me know.”

  When she finished what was in her bowl, she wanted more of something, but it wasn’t ice cream. They’d used the two condoms in his bedroom, but she had two more in her bag. She intended on using at least one of them tonight, which was why she’d only bothered to pull on her T-shirt before they came down.

  Back at the table, he dug into his dessert, and neither said anything for a few minutes. Honestly, Angie didn’t mind. It gave her a chance to indulge her sweet tooth and study her dessert companion more.

  “Have you met Ella and Striker?” He paused in the process of scooping up more of his sundae.

  “Only Ella. She was at Mia’s baby shower.”

  “Next weekend they’re getting married. It’s short notice, but will you come with me?”

  She’d gon
e to Mia and Sean’s wedding because it was her sister, but these days she tended to avoid weddings unless they were for celebrities. She’d even skipped her aunt’s last year. It wasn’t because she considered herself too good for them. Rather, it was because she remembered all too well what happened at her older cousin John’s wedding six years ago. John and his fiancée spent two years planning their wedding and invited everyone, even the youngest members of their families. Somehow the media got wind of the fact that Mia Troy would be attending a wedding at the First Congregational Church in Woodlawn, Massachusetts. Photographers and TV crews descended on the small town and turned their cousin’s wedding into a circus. Mia had felt terrible afterward. John and his wife hadn’t been too pleased either.

  Rather than cause a similar incident, Angie stopped attending family events such as weddings and retirement parties after landing her first major movie role.

  But it might be safe to attend this wedding. She’d been in town for two weeks already, and she hadn’t seen a single photographer. “They won’t mind a last-minute guest?” The facility where Mia and Sean held their reception had required a final guest count long before the day of the event.

  “When I mailed in my RSVP, I planned on bringing a friend. Christine works on my squad. Last year she needed a date to a wedding and I went with her. But she canceled on me last month after she started seeing Nadine, an analyst in the building. Nadine’s parents are celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary this month, and she wants Christine to come to the surprise party planned for them next weekend.” Dakota ate another spoonful of his sundae, but this time a little whipped cream got left behind on his mouth.

  “Then count me in.” Leaning closer, she licked the cream off his lips before giving him a kiss intended to let him know she’d had enough dessert for now and was ready for something else.

  Catching on quickly, Dakota tugged her to her feet and slipped his hands under her Dartmouth College T-shirt as they started down the hall.