As they made their way off the dance floor, Holly appeared out of the crowd.

“Hey, sweetie. We're about to leave. You're not supposed to be staying at Missy and Dan's are you? I doubt they'll want any company tonight. I just wanted to check that you're all set.”

Laura smiled as Holly eyed Smoke. “I'm good, thanks. I'm staying at the resort.” She had to laugh at the way Holly’s eyes widened.

“Oh! I see.” Holly looked back at Smoke. “Well, you two have fun. We'll all be out here for breakfast...if you're not too busy,” she added with a saucy grin.

Laura shook her head. Holly was terrible! “My plan was to stay out here to get some alone time. I need a break.”

“Yeah, alone time, right! I think you'll find Summer Lake has this weird effect on people's plans. Just ask Pete! I'll see you when I see you, sweetie. Call me though. I need to talk to you about the plaza.”

“Will do. Good night.”

As Holly turned away, Jack and Emma came pushing their way through the crowd. Laura looked at Smoke. “So much for making a quick exit.”

He made her knees go weak with the heat of the look he gave her. “We've waited for months. I can stand another few minutes, but not much longer.”

“Are you sure you want to stay here?” asked Jack when he reached them. He gave Smoke a dark look before turning back to Laura. “Why don't you come up to North Cove with us?”

She had to laugh. “Because, Jack, you're my cousin, not my dad! And besides, my plan in coming here was to get some me-time. Things have been crazy the last few weeks and I need to just chill out. You of all people know how that feels.”

Jack's glare softened. “Okay then.” He looked at Smoke. “Sorry, bro. Make sure she gets to her room safe though, huh?”

Smoke nodded. “You can count on it.”

“And breakfast? Here? Around ten?”

Laura rolled her eyes. “Maybe.”

“Only if you want to,” said Emma. “Come on, Jack. “I'm tired. I want to go home.”

At that Jack seemed to forget everything but taking care of his wife. As he led her away, Emma looked back and winked at them.

Smoke laughed. “She certainly knows how to handle him!”

“She does. I think I need her to give me lessons. I swear he thinks he's my dad sometimes. I wouldn't mind, but he's only a year older than me.”

“He's just looking out for you. You've got to respect that.”

***

Smoke was glad when they finally got out of the Boathouse. “Are you all checked in?” he asked.

“Yes. Ben took care of it and had my bag sent down, too.”

As they crossed the square, Ben came down the steps from the lodge. He nodded at them. “It was a good night, huh, guys?”

“Great,” said Laura. “I'm so happy for Dan and Missy.”

“Me too,” said Ben. “And you're happy with your cabin?” He raised his eyebrows.

Ben seemed to be acting strange. Smoke liked him, but he still wasn't sure about him and Laura. They'd been paired together in Jack's wedding and seemed to have become friends. Smoke wasn't convinced there wasn't more to it than that.”

“I haven't been out there yet,” said Laura. “But thanks again. It's really good of you.”

“Oh,” Ben gave Smoke a smile he didn't understand. “I hope you'll think so,” he said. “Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow. I need to get back to it. Good night guys.”

“Good night.”

Smoke frowned to himself. He didn't know what Ben was trying to get at, but he didn't think he liked it. He shrugged. He had more pressing matters to get to. Like getting Laura safely home—and into bed. He put an arm around her waist as they walked on.

“So, where is your cabin?” he asked.

She laughed. “Down by the water somewhere. I don't even know.” She opened her purse and took out an envelope. Opening it, she took out a little map and a key. The tag on the key read 11B. Smoke had to bite back a laugh. Now he understood Ben's weird smile. He said nothing as Laura held up the map and tapped it.

“Wonderful,” she exclaimed. “Cabin Eleven is down on that little beach in the pines.” She smiled at him. “Come on. Let's go see.”

They followed the road through the resort and down to the lakeshore. Laura gasped when the road rounded a bend and she saw the cabin in the pines, the moonlight reflecting off the water behind it. “Isn't this perfect?”

Smoke nodded. It couldn't be more perfect as far as he was concerned. He laughed as she ran the rest of the way to the cabin, then stopped dead.

She turned back to him, disappointment etched on her face. “Look,” she whispered once he'd caught up to her. “I have neighbors!” The cabin was a duplex, one door at either end of the building. “I thought I was going to have this whole beach to myself.” Her disappointment was almost comical.

“You don't need to whisper.”

“I don't want to wake them up!”

He laughed. “You won't.”

“How do you know?” she hissed.

He took the key from her hand and unlocked the door. “Trust me, you won't.”

She eyed him suspiciously as he ushered her inside.

“Come on. I promised Jack I'd see you safely to your room. My job isn't done until you're inside.”

She smiled and stepped past him. He closed the door behind him and followed her into the great room. A stone fireplace was set into a wall of windows looking out onto the lake. Smoke stood close behind her and put a hand on her shoulder as she looked out at the lake.

“Alone at last.”

She stepped quickly away from him. “Finally we get chance to get to know each other,” she said, once she was on the other side of the room.

Smoke nodded. They could play this however she wanted. He reckoned they'd know each other pretty well by morning. “Are you going to offer me a drink, then?” he asked. She looked flustered. This was going to be fun.

“I didn't bring anything.”

“Let's check the kitchen shall we?”

He wasn't surprised when she found a bottle of champagne with a bow on it in the fridge. He'd stayed at the resort often enough to know that was standard.

“Look!” she held it up with a grin.

“Great.” He took it from her and popped the cork while she went through the cupboards and returned with two glasses.

“Want to take these out on the deck?” he asked. “It's a beautiful night.”

She hesitated. “I'd love to, but I really don't want to disturb whoever is next door. I know there must be someone staying there. Ben said the resort is full this weekend.”

“I told you,” he grinned. “You will not disturb your neighbor.”

“How do you know?”

Smoke couldn't keep it to himself any longer. “Because I am your neighbor. That place next door is my temporary digs ’til I figure out where I'm going to be living.”

She threw her head back and laughed. “So that's what Ben was acting so smug about!”

“Apparently. I couldn't figure out what he was up to. I'd never have guessed he'd thought to put you out here.”

She bit her lip and smiled at him. That was so damned sexy. It made Smoke want to bite her lip himself.

“What?” he asked. She was evidently quite happy about something. “Are you glad he put you out here for the night?”

“He didn't.”

Smoke didn't get it. “No?”

“No. He put me out here for the week!”

This was getting better and better! “You're staying the whole week?”

“Yep. I wanted to get some peace and quiet. Spend some time relaxing while I start work on this new line of jewelry.”

She was leaning back against the kitchen counter as she spoke. Smoke came to stand in front of her. He put his hands on the counter either side of her, caging her in. He leaned his weight against her, satisfied to feel her tremble as she looked up at him.

“It is peaceful out here, and it's really quiet.”

She nodded and moistened her lips with her tongue.

Damn, she made him hard. “I think I can probably help relax you a little, too.” He thrust his hips against her, making perfectly clear what he had in mind. He smiled as her arms came up around his neck.

“And how might you do that, Smoke?”

He lowered his head. “Like this,” he murmured before brushing his lips over hers. “Open up for me, Laura.”

She lifted her lips to him. He covered her mouth with his, slowly at first, exploring gently. Once she was eagerly returning his kiss, he stepped his feet between hers. He edged his knee between her thighs and pushed out, spreading her legs as he thrust against her heat. It wasn't just her lips he wanted her to open up and let him inside. He kissed her deeply as he ran his hands down her sides. Her body was perfect, just the way he liked his women, long and lean. When his hands reached the hem of her angel costume he pushed it up around her waist. She was still clinging to his neck, lost in his kiss. He pushed her panties down and found her heat. She pressed herself against his fingers. She moaned when he slipped a finger inside her, and bit his lip as he slid it deeper. He needn't have worried if she was ready for him, she was hot and wet—and so damned tight.

He withdrew his hand and unbuckled his jeans. Her hands joined his. He moved fast, grabbing the foil package he'd had ready in his pocket, while she unzipped him and pushed his pants down. Seeing the condom she arched a brow while he put it on.

“Confident I was a sure thing?”

He smiled. “The day we met, lady. I told you I want it, and I will take it.”

“We'll see about that.”

She closed her fingers around him, guiding him towards her. He looked down to watch as she stroked herself with the very tip of him. This was driving him crazy; he needed to be inside her. He looked into her eyes and closed his hands around her ass, pulling her away from the counter and onto him. He buried himself deep inside her.

“Oh, God, Smoke!” she gasped. She began to move with him. He thrust hard and fast. She was so tight, he was losing his mind as he lost himself in her.

“Wait!” She was pushing him away.

Damn! What was she doing?

Her neck and cheeks were flushed, she was breathing hard. He needed to be back inside her. She pulled the costume up and over her head. “I'm obviously no angel,” she said with a smile. “I want to get naked with you.”

No way would he argue with that! He kicked out of his pants and unbuttoned his shirt without taking his eyes off her. She was fabulous! Her panties were gone and she unfastened her bra, pushing the cups to the sides before she slid the straps off her shoulders. He shrugged out of his shirt and reached for her, needing to feel her slender body under him, needing to taste her small, round breasts. She smiled as she put a hand to his shoulder to stop him.

“Take a seat, Smoke.”

He frowned, puzzled.

She pulled out one of the dining chairs and pushed him back to sit in it. His cock strained to be back inside her as she stood beautifully naked before him. He grabbed her hips as she straddled him and thrust up as she lowered herself onto him.

“Smoke!” she moaned as he pulled her down and thrust deeper. He clamped her to him as he rocked his hips. Seemed she wanted to be in charge. Well, she needed to know that this was his show. He slid down so he could fill her more deeply. She grasped the chair either side of his head. He knew she was hanging on, trying not to lose it, but she had exposed another weakness—he could tease her nipples with his lips and tongue.

Now he was losing it. He had to come, and he had to take her with him. He firmed his grip on her ass and filled her determinedly as he got closer and closer to the edge. She tightened around him.

“Oh, God, Smoke!”

He could feel her orgasm take her. It took him too as their bodies melted into one. A blinding rush of pleasure swept through him and he crushed her to his chest as it exploded deep inside her. Her body strained with his, flying high together. Her hands had dropped from the chair to his shoulders, clinging desperately to him as she rode him hard, clenching around him.

When they finally slumped together, he held her slender body to him as he recovered. “Jesus!” he breathed against her shoulder. She quivered in his arms, clinging to him as she returned to earth. Jesus! She was good!

She lifted her head and smiled down at him.

“How's that for a start?” he asked.

“At making me relax, or getting to know each other?”

He chuckled. “Both.”

Her smile was gorgeous, blue eyes full of fun. “It'll do for starters,” she said and slid off him.

***

Laura sat on the deck, sipping her champagne. It was a beautiful evening, if a little chilly. She snuggled under the blanket Smoke had brought out for them. He was quite something! She'd told herself she wasn't going to sleep with him tonight. This was the first time they'd been out together. But when it came down to it, she hadn't been able to resist him. He was so incredibly sexy! And anyway, it wasn't like they'd just met. She'd known him for months, and the chemistry between them had been obvious from the get-go. She didn't regret having sex with him this quickly. In fact, it had been so good her only regret was that they hadn't found a way to do it sooner! She smiled. She had a feeling they might be making up for lost time this week. Ben was a superstar for putting her in this cabin, with Smoke on her doorstep and no one else around. For a whole week!

Smoke stepped back out onto the deck. She took a deep breath as she ran her gaze over him. That was some man. She may have never been into muscly guys, but Smoke was making her rethink that one. He was a wall of muscle. He was quite a bit taller than her, which must put him well over six feet. Broad shoulders, broad chest, huge arms, narrow waist, muscled thighs...wow! She slowly lifted her gaze when she realized she'd been staring. That was one confident, cocky smile. He knew just how gorgeous he was. Whether it was in his pilot's uniform for work, a cowboy outfit for the party, or best of all, completely naked like right now, he was panty-dropping gorgeous—and he damned well knew it.

He smirked at her. “I was going to ask if you wanted some more.” He waved the champagne bottle in the air, “Of this. But maybe,” he turned around and wiggled his ass, “you'd sooner have some more of this?”

She laughed. “And here I thought you were the shy, serious type.”

He came and joined her under the blanket, snuggling up on the big wicker sofa. “Maybe you're right. Maybe I am shy and serious and you bring out the best in me. Or maybe....” He wrapped his arms tighter around her and nibbled her neck. “Maybe, it's just because you've never seen me out of the uniform before.” He ran his hand down to her waist and drew her closer. “I'm never going to be shy, but we can get down to serious if you're ready.” He walked his fingers down over her stomach ’til his hand was between her legs, stroking, drawing a little sigh from her.

She pulled herself, and her legs together. “We've already figured out we're seriously good at that. How about you tell me about yourself. I'd like to know more about the guy who just screwed my brains out.”

He chuckled. Such a sexy sound. “I think, technically, you just screwed my brains out, lady. Tied me to the chair and then climbed all over my stuff!”

She laughed. “I did not tie you to the chair!”

He winked. “No, but maybe next time?” He rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb. “If I'm a really bad boy?”

“Smoke! Be serious.”

His hands were wandering all over her now. “I'm trying to.” His gray eyes bored into her as his fingers found their way back between her legs and began to work her.

Oh, God! His lips came down on hers. Her arms came up around his neck. She'd hoped to feel his capable hands on her, now they were she was completely at his mercy. Somehow he'd maneuvered her underneath him. He was still stroking her. Still kissing her. Using his knees to spread her legs. How the hell had he done it? She'd wanted him to talk. She put her hands against his chest.

“Smoke!”

“Yes?”

She tried to bring her legs together. She liked to be in charge in bed; she decided when.

He grinned at her, keeping her legs spread with his knees. His cock was hot and hard, and despite her protests, she wanted him inside her.

“What, Laura?” The glint in his eyes told her he knew damned well what.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm doing what you want me to do. I'm showing you what it's like when a man takes charge.” He rocked his hips against her, throbbing at her opening.

“What makes you think I want that?” she breathed.

“The look in your eyes. The way say you want to just talk, but you're hot and wet for me. The way you took charge in the kitchen. You're used to pushing men around in bed, aren't you, lady?”

She swallowed and nodded.

“You wouldn't normally sleep with a guy like me, would you?”

She shook her head now. How the hell did he know that? She hadn't even been fully aware of it herself until this moment!

He rolled off her and sat up, drawing her into his arms. “I wouldn't normally sleep with a woman like you, either.”

She turned to look up at him, but his face was giving nothing away. He reached for the champagne and poured two fresh glasses. “So,” he said with a smile, “what do you want to know about me?”

It was as if the moment had never happened. But it had, and it had wormed its way into Laura's mind. Why didn't she like a man who took charge in bed? Why had she panicked when Smoke had been about to? And why was she so disappointed that he had respected her and stopped? He had stopped though.

He was still smiling at her. “Go on, ask away.”

She asked the question that was burning in her mind. “Why wouldn't you normally sleep with a woman like me? And what does that even mean?”

His chuckle was a low, deep rumble. “You are trouble, lady. That's what it means. You're damned hot—and you know it. You don't need a man. And when you take one it's on your terms only.”

She stared at him. He certainly had her figured out. “But that doesn't answer my question, why wouldn't you normally sleep with a woman like me?”

“It does answer the question. Like I said, you are trouble. Trouble with a capital T.” He was caressing her thigh, making it hard to concentrate on his words.

“And you don't like trouble?”

His lips curved up in a sexy smile as his hand worked its way up her inner thigh. “I want to be in trouble.”

His hands really were so very capable. She pushed him back against the cushions. “Have you got a condom ready?” He was so damned cocky, she wasn't at all surprised when he fished one out from under the cushions and handed it to her. She shook her head. “When did you stash that?” she asked as she rolled it onto him.

He just smiled as he lay back. She closed her fingers around him and watched him close his eyes. He thought he could tease her? Now he was at her mercy. She knelt above him, enjoying the pleasure on his face as she stroked him. He was growing harder in her hands, she needed to feel him. She lowered herself on to him, slowly. God he was so hard. She rocked her hips, gasping as he slid deeper. He opened his eyes and grasped her hips as he thrust up.

“Is this where you want me?”

She bit her lip and nodded as she rode him.

His smile was sinful. “You're the boss.”

Damn, he was right. She'd taken charge again. Oh, so what? He was enjoying it. She lowered her breasts to his face and moaned as he mouthed her nipple and thrust deeper. She knew how to take them both over the edge. And she did. She felt him tense and grow bigger; she clenched around him, holding him deep as she felt the heat build and explode, tearing through her in an orgasm that had her gasping. His release carried her away as they strained together. God he was so good. She slumped down onto his chest and lay there, spent.

Eventually his hands came up to stroke her hair. “That's two to zero now.”

She lifted her head to look at him. “Huh?”

“Twice you've taken me and we've done it your way. Zero times you've let me take you.”

She shrugged. “You can't tell me you didn't enjoy it.”

“No, but I can tell you you'll enjoy it even more when I take you.” He closed his arms around her. “And I will take you.”

She shuddered in anticipation. He was so sure of himself. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

There was that gleam in his eye again. “Both.”

“Really? And when do you plan on doing that?”

“Whenever I want to.” His lazy smile gave her the impression that they were already doing everything his way.