Letters from Peaceful Lane (New Americana 3)

“Bad?”

“Just a little. Not too much.”

“Here?” His hand moved higher, pushing back the loose-fitting leg of her pajamas. His touch sent electric tingles up her thighs. She stifled a moan that had nothing to do with pain. He had to know what was happening—and what might happen if he continued.

Was it too soon? Should she stop him? Could she?

She sensed the slight quickening of his breath as he moved again, higher up the inside of her calf. “What about here?”

Her lips parted. “I think . . .”

“You think what?” His voice was husky.

At that instant, a bitter smell penetrated her nostrils. “I think the bacon’s burning!” she exclaimed.

With a muttered oath, Burke lunged toward the stove and moved the smoking skillet off the burner. He gazed down at the charred remains of the bacon. “Would you settle for coffee and toast?” he asked.

At least they could still laugh together.

* * *

Half an hour later, they were in Allison’s Honda Civic with Burke driving. She could tell he was in some pain, but she knew better than to mention it. Burke’s pride wouldn’t let him admit he was hurting.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“You’ll see. It isn’t far. It feels good to be driving again. I was beginning to feel like a prisoner.”

“Now you need to get a car.”

“I’m working on it. I didn’t get a great settlement for the Porsche—the word vintage translates as old to an insurance company. I might be driving around in some clunker—or better yet, maybe I can get a motorcycle, grow my hair long, and pal around with Brianna’s new boyfriend, what’s-his-name.”

“It’s Liam, and he seems like a decent guy. He deserves a chance to show you who he is before you judge him.”

Burke sighed. “Yes, I remember what I promised Brianna. But she’s too young to know her own mind. And I didn’t raise my daughter to be a damned biker chick. Look what’s happening with her. She never got arrested till she met him!”

“For your information, Liam doesn’t drink at all. And he wasn’t even around when she had those beers with her friends and tried to drive home. All your daughter is asking is that you meet him before you jump to conclusions.”

“I said I would, didn’t I?” Burke turned off the main road at a sign with an arrow that said MARINA.

“We’re going to see your boat?”

“That’s right. Brianna got me thinking last night. We could still have a few weeks of good weather left. The Lady Brianna deserves better than to end her days with us in dry dock. If there’s a chance I’ll have to sell her later, why not take her out on the water and enjoy her—even if it’s only one last time?”

“Oh! Brianna would love that!” Allison said. “So would I. I’ve never been out on a boat! Could we fish? I don’t know if I could catch one, but I’d love to watch.”

Burke pulled into the marina parking lot and turned to look at her. “You’d really like to go out in the boat? You never said a thing. I always assumed you wouldn’t want to.”

“And I always assumed you didn’t want to take me,” Allison said. “All the time I’ve lived here, I’ve heard how much Kate loved that boat. Now, all those memories . . . Won’t it be hard for you?”

“Maybe. But not so much if it makes Brianna happy—and you. Come on. Today I need to inspect the hull and make sure she’s shipshape. If nothing needs fixing, we can talk to Brianna and make some plans. I know she’ll want to take her boyfriend if he can come for a visit. But we can work that out.”

He got out of the car and came around to let Allison out. She handed him the cane she’d brought along. He’d refused to take it into the bank. But on the uneven ground here, he was going to need it. Allison had wrapped her ankle before leaving the house and had no trouble walking.

He took the cane without comment and led her to a long, open-sided shelter where the dry-docked boats were kept. There were about fifteen in storage here, most of them mounted on small trailers.

Allison recognized the Lady Brianna from the name painted on the hull. Sleek and white as a gull, it was a beautiful boat. Burke stood back looking at it for a long moment. Allison kept still, thinking of the memories tha

t must be going through his mind—Kate and Brianna with their friends and the dog, the fish they’d caught and the fun they’d had.