Fletch wasn’t surprised by her answer, just disappointed.

“How did we get on this subject anyway?”

“Just making conversation.”

Tanna swung her leg over his. “Maybe we should be doin’ something else with our mouths instead of talking. Make love while the sun shines and all that jazz . . . or should I say all that jizz.”

He burst out laughing. “Goddamn, I love your total lack of a filter.”

“You bring out my raunchy side. So whatdya say?”

“What if get slivers in my ass?”

“I’ll kiss it and make it better.” She placed a kiss on his neck. “Please say yes. I just have this . . . need to feel you wrapped around me.”

Sometimes this woman undid him completely. Fletch stood and helped her to her feet. Somehow between the long, slow kisses and the tender caresses, they managed to get their clothes off and he remembered the condom he’d stashed in his pocket, just in case.

He herded her to the end of the dock where he spread out the towel. He sat on it, with his legs hanging over the edge of the dock, and patted his lap.

Tanna bit her lip. “You promise in a moment of abandon we won’t plunge into the water?”

“I promise. But that means you’ll be doin’ all the work.”

She perched on her knees over his crotch and slowly lowered onto him. Her br**sts were cool against his sun-warmed chest. Her mouth avid against his.

Fletch leaned back on his elbows, entirely focused on the sexy way she moved. Rolling her hips. Tightening her cunt around the tip of his c**k before sliding the shaft inside her wet channel.

The sun beat down but a light breeze blew off the lake. It was a surreal experience, making love outside in the middle of the day. But it was damn close to perfect too.

When her movements picked up speed, he sat up and gripped her ass, helping her ride him.

Tanna broke the kiss and started to arch back, but he caught her before she tipped them too far forward.

He planted kisses on the curve of her throat and pumped his pelvis up. “Go over. Go over and take me with you.”

She cried out and her pu**y clamped around his cock. The contractions of her body launched his orgasm and he rode the wave with her to the very end.

He stretched out on the towel and she followed him down, sprawling on his chest and keeping their bodies connected. His fingertips drifted up and down her spine. Fletch decided he could die a happy man in this moment. At the same time he feared he didn’t have many more of these left with her.

The rest of their time at the lake passed in a blur of fun and laughter, despite that they had no luck fishing. They swam, played cards, stargazed and indulged in spontaneous bouts of sex that were sweet, raunchy, intense and poignant.

In one of his favorite moments yet, they were curled up in bed listening to the sounds of the night drifting through the screened windows.

“What are your plans for next week?”

“Selling clothes, pulling taps. Right after I lock the doors Tuesday, I’m headed to Eli’s to work with the girls on horseback. Meaning they’re on horseback and I lead them around the barrels. Sometimes I wish I could just cut them loose and let them try it on their own, but until I’m sure Sparky won’t balk, we have to go slow and steady.”

“I meant, how’s it goin’ for you?”

“Oh. I’m riding. I can even go around the barrels. Slow but I have picked up some speed.”

“Don’t you trust yourself to go faster? Or is it the horse?”

“A combination. Then I wonder why I’m even bothering to call this training and that doesn’t help my mind-set to get back in the game.”

“So, getting back into training hasn’t made the nightmares worse?”

“No. I still have that bad dream. But I don’t wake up screaming . . .” She poked him in the chest. “As you well know, bein’s I’ve been in your bed most nights.”

“Don’t remind me.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m gonna miss that.”

“Me too. Are you looking forward to seeing your dad tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Be interesting to see if he actually took pictures with the camera he had to buy.”

“Will it be weird between you and Cora? You said you had no idea they were together before they went on this trip.”

“Oh, she’ll be as bossy as ever. I doubt my dad will show up for a nooner, then again . . . I’m hardly ever around at noon so it could happen.”

She laughed.

Just ask her. “Would you wanna meet my dad sometime?”

“Absolutely, if he’s as good-lookin’ and charming as you.”

He released the breath he’d been holding. “He’d claim I was a chip off the old block.”

Tanna didn’t say anything else and he realized she’d fallen asleep.

But sleep didn’t come for him so easily. Fletch didn’t know how he’d survive when this woman walked out of his life.

He showed up at his dad’s on Sunday afternoon after dropping Tanna off early in the morning at Eli’s. He had returned to the Split Rock to load everything from the trailer and hauled it back to his place, then opted to come back for the bed another day. Hauling it out now made his leaving seem so final.

His dad waited in the doorframe, smiling at him.

“If it isn’t the world traveler.” Fletch pulled him into a big hug and held on for longer than usual. “I missed you, old man.”