a glass of chardonnay for each of them and climbed back up to the deck, settling in the seat next to Adam. “Do you get to take this out often?”
He shook his head. “My brothers get more use out of it than I do. I haven’t been on the boat in a couple of years.”
So scratch the idea of taking a tumble under the covers below.
The boat glided through the water at a calm speed as Adam pointed out some of his neighbors’ homes and the different landmarks. The stars were twinkling above them by the time he turned around and started back to the house. “Sorry to sound like a tour guide.”
“Don’t apologize. It’s a nice cruise.” She didn’t know if it was the wine or the fact she’d just spent half an hour in his company without any of the sexual tension they’d had before, but she had finally become comfortable with Adam Kelly.
He stared straight ahead at the water. “So are you seeing anyone?”
“No. I’m too busy with my restaurant. I’m there every night, which leaves me no time for dating.” Dear God, did that really sound as pathetic as I think it did?
“I totally understand. Work keeps me pretty busy, too.”
At least I’m not the only one so obsessed with work to the point of having no social life . “What kind of work do you do?”
“I manage some properties my father built. When he died, I had to step into his shoes.”
“And is that what you wanted to do?”
He shrugged again. “I’m the eldest. It was what I was expected to do.”
“So? My mom expected me to get married right out of college and give her half a dozen grandkids by now, but you see I haven’t done that. What’s your excuse?”
The moonlight flashed off his white teeth as he grinned. “Okay, you got me. I enjoy the business. It’s always a challenge to take what my father left and turn it into something better. For example, I’m trying to get Amadeus Schlittler to open a restaurant in one of my buildings downtown.”
Her eyes widened. “ The Amadeus Schlittler?”
“The one and same.”
She let out a low whistle. “If you can get him to do that, you’d be set. I heard his New York restaurant is booked out a year in advance.”
“Bingo. And it will help increase revenue to the other business in the building, which in turn would allow me to increase their rent, which in turn would increase my profit.”
“Sounds like you have it all planned out. You’d be a fool to let this opportunity slip through your fingers.”
“Well, it’s still up in the air. I have a place that might do for him, but there are a few matters I have to take care of first.”
“I hope it all goes according to plan.”
A gust of wind whipped across the lake, tearing through the thin fabric of her shirt and covering her skin with gooseflesh. She shivered and crossed her arms over her chest.
Adam stopped the engines. “Let me get you a blanket.” He returned from the galley moment later and draped a fleece throw around her shoulders. “I forgot how chilly the nights can be out on the water, even though it’s almost summer.”
She pulled the blanket tighter around her. “Thank you.”
He knelt in front of her and rubbed her arms, his motions getting slower with each pass. He grew still and stared at her. “You know, I still haven’t gotten what I wanted tonight.”
She braced herself for the grand overture that would involve a request for sex, but instead, Adam simply leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers in the softest of kisses. A wave of heat rushed through her, starting at her mouth and flowing to the tips of her fingers. She forgot about the cold during those few seconds.
“Now I’ve gotten what I wanted,” he said, his voice husky with restraint.
“And is that all you wanted?” The words slipped out before she knew what she was saying, but his kiss left her hungry for more. She wanted his lips against hers again, his arms around her, his body pressed against hers while he kissed her until she