Chapter 18 #2
He was waiting for her at the bow. Giving her time to catch up with him. She lurched for his head, thrust her knees against
his chest, and tried to drag him under. He complied, but on the way down, he pulled her against him.
They wrestled in the water. She grabbed whatever she could. He went for her butt.
“Still wearing that thong?” he asked, when their heads were above the water.
“You’ll never know!” She took him down again.
Eventually, her strength wore out, but not her mouth. She flipped to her back to rest. “You’re such a jerk. Here I am, getting
out of bed at the crack of dawn to protect your sorry ass, and what do I get in return?”
He flipped to his back next to her. “A little fun?”
“This is not fun!”
“Sure it is. You’re mad because you got conned.”
“I can’t believe I fell for it,” she grumbled. “I’m used to better behavior from you.”
“I learned a little bit about acting when I was doing all those auto insurance commercials,” he said smugly.
“You might have let me know about that sooner.”
“Yeah, I probably should have.”
They floated comfortably next to each other. Finally he broke the silence. “Are you really mad?”
“Furious.”
“You don’t sound furious.”
“Once we’re on land, you’ll feel the full extent of my righteous wrath.”
He laughed. “Are you okay here for a few minutes while I swim after the kayak?”
It was floating away, carried by the current toward the north end of the lake. “Sure. Go ahead.”
For the first time he looked concerned. “Maybe we should swim back to the dock together. I can take the Bowrider out later
and get it.”
“Awww . . .” she cooed. “You’re afraid I’ll drown here all by myself. How sweet.” She smacked him on top of his hard head. “Go catch the boat! And good luck if you get a real cramp!”
He laughed and took off, but he kept looking back at her to make sure she was all right.
It was annoying. And nice.
As much as Dancy loved exploring Lucinda’s character and working out the dynamics between her and Tom, the deal needed to
be sealed. After she’d showered and dressed, she called her agent and brought him up to date on her work sessions with Roth.
Sebastian had a reputation for trying to squeeze the last dollar out of any contract negotiation, and she wanted to make certain
he wouldn’t screw her up.
“This project means everything to me,” she said. “I’ll do it for free if that’s what it takes.”
“Words no agent ever wants to hear.”
“Don’t play hardball. Accept whatever they offer. I need this.” She hung up before he could argue with her.
She was looking for Watch’s leash when Clint’s mommy came to visit. Watch liked her, and it took a while before he settled
down. Kristin looked around at the caboose. “You’ve made quite a difference here.”
“It’s given me something to do when I’m not destroying your son’s life.”
Kristin took in the rug and lamps. “Clint says I’m being a bitch.”
“I seriously doubt your princely son called you a bitch.”
“Close enough. He said I was judgmental, overprotective, and I have no respect for boundaries.”
“All true.” Dancy considered offering Kristin coffee but decided against it.
Kristin studied the primitive landscapes over the couch. “I worry about him.”
“I guess worry is a mother’s prerogative, but your son is an extremely competent man.”
“Who’s also a perfectionist and puts too much pressure on himself.”
“He does seem to go overboard.”
“He’s not the best judge of women, either, and I don’t mean that the way it sounds.”
“I think you mean it exactly the way it sounds.”
“You never met Ashley Hart. She was an old-fashioned gold digger.”
“That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about with me, although—full disclosure—I’m not the multi-multi-millionaire I could
have been.”
Kristin brushed that aside. “He needs to date someone steady.”
“Define steady.”
“Someone who loves him for the man he is. Not for his money or for his career. Not for his looks or his fame. Just for being
himself.”
Kristin was right. This was exactly what Clint needed. And what he deserved.
“I only want him to be happy,” Kristin said. “You weren’t around after Ashley broke up with him. He’d given her his heart,
and he was devastated.” Her expression hardened. “Or, for that matter, what he went through as a kid after you cheated on
him.”
Dancy was about to let that pass when something stopped her. A need to honor the foolish teenage girl who hadn’t deserved what had happened to her. “I didn’t cheat on Clint. I was raped.”
Kristin drew in her breath. “Dancy . . .” Her face softened with pity.
Dancy strode to the door and opened it. “Good talk.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”
“You can go now.” Dancy had no obligation to share the details of that night.
Kristin hesitated, but she must have seen something in Dancy’s expression that warned her not to say more.
After she left, Dancy sank into the couch and examined herself for internal bruises, but the shame that had gripped her for
so many years had turned into ash blown away by the breeze. She cuddled Watch for a bit, then traded her sandals for sneakers,
clipped on his leash, and headed out for a walk.