Clear as Day Read Online Free PDF Page B

first of several surprises for you. Second surprise—drum roll please—the gang’s all here over at Spider Camp.”
    Hurt swept over Kay, followed by the need to escape. She sat up. “Lloyd, JoAnn—they lied to me! Said they couldn’t make it this year.” And why had JoAnn lied? And why hadn’t they at least let her know their changing plans?
    Nate caught her arm, staying her. “They really couldn’t, but I made them reschedule. Collusion, browbeating, and blackmail are always effective.” He gave a boyish smile and pressed a soothing kiss to her cheek. “Truthfully? Everything came together at the very last second.”
    Somewhat mollified by Nate’s explanation, she settled beside him, curling one arm under her head. “Who all came?”
    “The usual crew and some newbies.” He paused for a moment and counted on his fingers as he ran off names, “Lloyd and JoAnn, Dave, of course—damn, but he has a sweet new Mastercraft. I have serious boat lust going on. It’s got—” Warm chuckles rolled from him. “I’ll spare you the specs, but I can’t wait to get behind it on a ski. He got the full two weeks with us for a change. Scott and Patti. Christopher and Margie—wait until you meet her, how that old fart Christopher landed such a sweetie, I don’t know. Mark, Rich, Chuck and Pippa, but Pippa doesn’t come in until tomorrow. She’s bringing a friend, April. Then there’s R.J. and Olivia Harper from Florida. Most everybody fit into Spider Camp, but a few took High Water. It’s a fish fry or hamburgers for supper, depending on the success of Lloyd and Chuck’s talents. Wait until you see the surprise Ann has for you.”
    Just like old times again. “So what’s her surprise?”
    “You’ll never guess and I’ll never tell.” He had that impossible, pleased-with-himself grin on his face. “I am sworn to secrecy.”
    “You’re going to leave me hanging?”
    “Yep.” He smirked and then rolled over, giving her a distracting view of his backside.
    Oh, yes, he had a very fine rear end. She sighed and savored the firm flex of muscle and bone as he tugged his backpack over and fished out a film canister from the side pocket.
    Nate rolled back to face her, his expression hungry and tender. “You haven’t changed. So beautiful.” He ran his hand over her belly and up to caress her breast. “Same charming state of undress. Eyes bluer than the lake. Those gold and red strands in your lovely brown hair. Same scent of sunscreen. You’re even wearing the silver earrings I always picture you in.” He fingered one turquoise and silver drop. “Your freckles on your cute nose and everywhere else.” He proceeded to kiss most of them until she curled up in a fit of giggles.
    Giving in to her laughing pleas for mercy, he leaned over her, brushing lazy kisses over her mouth.
    She trailed her fingers over the strong contours of his tanned arms and shoulders. Oh, yes, she’d missed him. Capturing his face between her hands, she drew him down to a long, slow kiss. Peace stole into her muscles. They separated from the kiss on a relaxed sigh.
    He stayed leaning over her, his beautiful eyes gazing deep into her.
    “What would you say to going to Oregon?”
    Vacation with him beyond their usual two weeks? She felt so good; the idea was tempting. “Oregon? It would be a nice place to take a vacation.” She’d always enjoyed his stories of growing up there.
    An odd tension gripped him, and his next words tumbled in an enthused rush. “I don’t mean just a vacation. I’ve bought a house on the coast. I’m moving there at the end of August. I’m done with the traveling. I want to be with you more than a couple of weeks here and there. Come live there with me. The place is old, but big. Enough room for a studio for you and darkroom for me. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the place for us.”
    “What?” Her mind tripped, struggling to string together his meaning. Oregon. House. Us?
    “Live with me. Us