She stepped into the tub first. The water was warm, lapping against her skin. He stepped in behind her and settled in. She sat in front of him, her back to him.

“Wait a minute,” she complained. “This isn’t going to work.”

“It’s going to work just fine,” he whispered against her skin. “Trust me.”

He pressed his lips to the skin at the nape of her neck. At the same time, he brought his hands around her body and cupped her breasts. The curves were buoyant in the water, her body more sensitized to his touch.

She closed her eyes and let herself relax against him. Tucker was strong enough to support her, she thought hazily, pleased by the feel of his large erection pressing into her back. Smart enough to know what to do next and plenty willing to take them both on a ride. Very nice qualities in a man.

He continued to stroke her breasts, paying particular attention to her nipples. Fire licked through her, moving to all the best parts of her body, heating her, causing her to squirm slightly and want just a little bit more. As if he could read her mind, he moved one hand lower, sliding deliberately down her belly until he found his way between her thighs.

She was already swollen, excited, halfway there. He rediscovered her most sensitive spot, rubbing it with his fingers. She parted her legs and gave herself up to the experience. As he caressed her rhythmically, her breathing quickened. Pleasure grew, muscles tensed.

“Come for me.”

He breathed the words in her ear. They were an unexpected jolt that caused her to open her eyes.

Through the frothy layer of bubbles, she saw his hand pleasing her. Felt what he was doing at the same time. His skin was darker than hers, tanned by his hours outdoors. His hands were large, so masculine—and what he did to her.

As she watched, her muscles clenched and she knew she was getting closer. He moved faster, drawing her further along. Involuntarily, her eyes closed as she gave herself up to the moment.

Closer, she thought, focused entirely on the movements between her legs, on the pressure building, the insistent hammering of her heart. Closer. She could see it, right there. Just out of reach. So close…

She parted her legs a little more and leaned back into him, at the same time pulsing her h*ps toward his hand. And then she was coming, her release rippling through her, claiming her, making her gasp and cry out.

“Like that,” he breathed. “Just like that.”

She shuddered once as the last of her satisfaction faded. But she didn’t relax and enjoy the moment. Instead she sat up, then turned to face him.

He was grinning.

“You think you’re redeemed,” she said, still flushed from her orgasm.

“I know I am.”

“We’ll see about that.”

She knelt over him, then eased herself onto his arousal. The angle was different from the last time they’d done this, but he went in just as deep. He filled her, stretching her, making her groan.

She watched his eyes dilate, felt his breath catch. Then he drew her closer and kissed her, his tongue mimicking the movements of their lovemaking.

She settled her hands on the back of the tub, bracing herself so she could continue to move up and down. Want filled her again, this time more powerful than before. She wanted, needed and was determined to have. She lost herself in the deepness of their kiss, the pushing, filling satisfaction of him inside of her. When he moved his hands to her br**sts and touched her there as well, she didn’t know how long she could hold out.

She wanted more, she thought desperately, nipping at his lips before pushing her tongue into his mouth. This time she wanted all of it. She went faster, deeper, the water sloshing over the edge of the tub.

More, she thought frantically, her breath coming in gasps. Up and down, each thrust finding that one place inside, rubbing it, drawing her closer.

Tucker hissed, dropping his hands to her hips. “You’re killing me,” he said, his voice strangled.

Their eyes locked. He was close. She could see it and feel it. But he was doing his best to hang on.

“Just a second more,” she begged, still moving up and down, faster and faster until—

Her release ripped through her like a tornado. She rode him, taking everything he had, all while it seemed that she’d been flung into the universe and swirled around and around. She was vaguely aware of him coming, of his hold on her tightening, then she was looking at him again. Exposing all of herself and staring into the welcoming lightness of Tucker’s soul.

LATER, AFTER THEY’D USED TOWELS to clean up the water that had poured over the side of the tub and retreated to her bedroom with wine and cupcakes, they sat next to each other on her bed.

Nevada was doing her best to act normal, as if she became some kind of sex animal all the time and it was no big deal. In truth she felt a little embarrassed by her unrestrained behavior. As if she should explain or apologize. In her head, she knew neither act was required, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what she was supposed to say.

Tucker handed her a chocolate cupcake, then pulled it back at the last second.

“You risk your life by playing games with a cupcake,” she told him.

Instead of smiling, he became more serious, his dark eyes staring into hers.

“You are unexpected.”

Before she could react to the touching words, he kissed her. A light kiss that seemed to say something more. Something she couldn’t quite decipher.

He handed her the cupcake, then poured more wine into their glasses.

“I’m staying the night.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Are you asking or telling?”

“Telling.”

“Figures.”

But she wasn’t complaining, she thought, as they shifted to lean against the headboard. Somehow this all felt right.

He reached for the remote and clicked on the TV. “Because I’m such a swell guy, I’ll let you pick.”

She thought about torturing him with home shopping, but decided the state of her still quivery body deserved a reward.

“The USC game should still be on,” she told him.

He turned to her and smiled. “The perfect woman.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I DIDN’T KNOW there were this many bridal magazines,” Nevada murmured, fingering the stack on the coffee table.

“Talk about a fascinating industry,” Montana said. “I’ve decided that planning a wedding in four months is going to be a whole lot easier than taking the year all the experts suggest. There’s a lot less time to agonize over every decision.”

They were in their mother’s family room, with Dakota sprawled on the sofa, Nevada and Montana on the floor and their mother in the wing chair.

“There are still choices to be made,” Denise announced. “You two need to pick out your dresses. With the location reserved, that’s the next priority.”

Dakota patted her relatively tiny bump. “I don’t know how huge I’m going to be. Maybe I should wait until after the baby is born. Isn’t being pregnant at my own wedding a little tacky?”

“No,” Montana told her. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”

Denise put down her pad of paper. “If you want to wait, you can. We can use the lodge for Montana’s wedding and plan something else for you in the spring.” She glanced at Nevada and raised her eyebrows. “Maybe it can be a different double wedding.”

Nevada raised both her hands. “Don’t even think about it. The closest relationship I have these days is with Cat.”

While the statement wasn’t completely true, there was no way she was discussing her confusing and apparently ongoing liaison with Tucker.

They’d had a great time the previous night. Not just the sex, she thought wistfully. The conversation had been just as fun. He made her laugh, which she liked, and when she was around him, she could be herself. Some men were intimidated by what she did for a living—especially when they saw her on a construction site. But Tucker wasn’t like that.

He’d stayed the night, they’d made breakfast together, then had used her shower in a very interesting way. Then she’d had to leave to come here for the “girls only” family meeting. Leaving him had been harder than she would have thought.

“I met Cat,” Denise said. “I’ve never known a famous artist before. She’s very elegant and more friendly than I’d expected. I went and looked at a few of her pieces online. They’re…” She paused, as if searching for the right word. “Large.”

“Cat does enjoy making a statement.” Nevada sat up and stretched her legs in front of her. “In life and in art. I can’t imagine what she’s finding to do in a town this small. I did see her talking with Cody the other day. I hope she doesn’t take things too far with him.”

“Who’s Cody?” Dakota asked.

“One of the guys renting from me. He’s in college. Very talented—a computer science major. I don’t think he usually gets the girl. Being with Cat would be way too much for him.”

“A problem every college-age guy would love,” Montana said with a laugh.

True enough, Nevada thought, remembering how Tucker had been mesmerized by Cat all those years ago.

“Back to the wedding, girls,” Denise said firmly. “We have decisions to make.”

“Sure you don’t want to make this a triple wedding?” Montana asked with a grin. “Come on, Mom. You’re a grandmother. Are you really not going to marry Max?”

“I’d rather not.” Denise’s voice was prim. “However, if you three and the boys think I should, then I’ll consider it. Or if you think it would be better for the grandchildren.”

“I’m not going there,” Nevada said quickly. “It’s your decision, Mom.”

Her sisters nodded their agreement.

Denise sighed. “I prefer to have your father be my only husband. Having said that, Max and I are in love and together.”

Nevada shifted on the floor and fought against the need to cover her ears and hum.

“No details, please,” Dakota inserted quickly, flipping through the bridal magazine on her lap. “Remember?”

Denise grinned. “No details. However, I will warn you that Max is going to be moving in here.”

“Oh, good.” Nevada relaxed a little, now that the threat of sex talk was over. “I thought you might want to move in with him and then sell this house. Which would be okay,” she added quickly. “It’s your house.”

“No.” Her mother shook her head. “It’s the family home and I don’t want to lose it. We have so many memories here. I want Hannah to have her first Christmas with us in this house.”

“What happens to Max’s place?” Dakota asked. “Doesn’t someone have to be there for the dogs?”

Max lived on the same property his business occupied. K9Rx provided therapy dogs to the community.

“We have staff who stay with the dogs at night,” Montana said. “Eventually Max will need to figure out what to do with the main house, but for now Simon and I are going to rent it while we decide what we want to do. Build, buy or remodel. We’re not sure. So this gives us time to make the right choice.”

“You have it all planned out,” Nevada said, wondering when all these decisions had been made. She felt as if she’d been gone a month and the whole world had changed while she was away. But that wasn’t exactly true, she told herself. She hadn’t really been out of touch at all.

“Does Max work?” Dakota asked. “Except for the dogs, I mean? How does he pay for everything?”

Denise smiled smugly. “Max was in Seattle during the eighties. He met Bill Gates and bought Microsoft at the initial public offering.”

Nevada blinked. That would explain a lot, she thought.

“So he’s rich?” Dakota asked.

“Very.”

Montana laughed. “And here I’ve been worried about buying dog food on sale.”

“You can probably let that go,” Nevada told her.

Dakota held up her magazine. “What about this?” she asked.

The wedding gown had an empire waist and long sleeves.

“It’s beautiful,” her mother said. “We really need to go try on dresses. This week, girls. As it is, there are going to be limitations. We don’t have months and months to wait for something to be made.”

“What size are samples?” Montana asked.

“Usually ten or twelve.”

“Then that would work.”

Montana joined her sister on the sofa and they flipped through the magazines, looking at dresses.

“We’re going to have to figure out if we’re having bridesmaids,” Dakota said absently. “Nevada, you’re going to be our mutual maid of honor, right?”

“Sure.”

She’d assumed she would be part of the wedding, although she hadn’t known as what. Her chest tightened a little as she thought of her sisters both getting married while she stood by and watched.

They were both so happy, she reminded herself. They deserved this and she wanted them to have perfect weddings. But every now and then she wanted that for herself, too. A happy ending, love, children. Someone to be in her life.

Not surprisingly, her thoughts drifted to Tucker and the night she’d shared.

Not him, she thought sadly. He believed love was a trap. Convincing him otherwise was unlikely. Unfortunately, he was the first guy in a long time who had captured her interest. She would have to make sure he didn’t capture her heart.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN