Every Move She Makes Page 5

  “It certainly doesn’t look like we’re going to starve while we’re here.” Rachel sat down with her loaded plate.

  Jade swallowed a mouthful of macaroni salad. “It’s really yummy, almost as good as Grandma’s.”

  “Don’t let your grandmother hear you say that. You’re right, though. It’s very tasty.”

  “Ozzie is one heck of a cook. We’ve been eating like kings since we got here.”

  Rachel turned around and smiled at the speaker, a young man in his late twenties with long hair pulled back in a ponytail and a scraggly beard. His friend had short, dark hair under a Chicago Cubs baseball cap and brown eyes. They introduced themselves as Chip and Bob.

  “Did you just arrive?” Chip asked.

  Rachel nodded, wondering how he could possibly eat the Dagwood sandwich without half of it ending up in his beard. “We’re staying for a week. Have you been here long?”

  “This is our second day. The place is great. We hiked fifteen miles yesterday, so today we’re taking it easy with a little fishing and lazing around at the lake.”

  “We’ll probably go down to the beach after lunch.”

  “Mom, that lady over there is staring at you.” Ivy tugged on her arm. “I think she’s trying to get your attention.”

  Rachel’s gaze followed Ivy’s pointing finger. A woman who looked to be in her mid-forties with shoulder-length brown hair and an eager expression sat at a table with a man and two teenaged kids. She spoke to them in a low voice before coming over.

  “I’m sorry to bother you.” Her smile was uncertain. “I’ve been going mad with curiosity. Were you by any chance on a soap opera a dozen years ago?”

  “I was, but I’m surprised you recognized me. I was a lot younger and better dressed at the time.”

  The woman shook her head. “Maybe better dressed, but you’re still just as beautiful as you were then.” She stuck out her hand. “I’m Mimi Andrews, and that’s my husband, Greg, with our kids, Kevin and Lauren. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ll admit I watched you religiously back when the children were still in diapers.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Rachel took the offered hand. “These are my girls, Lark, Jade and Ivy.”

  “You’re all as pretty as your mother. I’ll leave you to finish your lunch. Maybe we’ll see each other down at the lake later.”

  Rachel picked up her sandwich after Mimi left. “She seems like a nice woman.”

  Lark rolled her eyes. “Another fan?”

  Ivy frowned at her sister. “Mom was famous. You’re just jealous because no one knows you were on the show.”

  “She was only in a couple of episodes.” Rachel reached for a chip.

  “And I was a tiny baby. You’re such a dork, Ivy.”

  Jade poked her younger sister. “Hurry up and eat your sandwich. I want to go swimming.”

  Rachel frowned. “The lake is probably pretty cold.”

  “Who cares? Can I go change into my bathing suit?”

  “If you’re finished eating, you may.”

  Jade dumped her paper plate in the trashcan and hurried off with Ivy right behind her.

  “Don’t you want to go swimming?” Rachel glanced over at Lark.

  “Maybe later. Can I go talk to that girl over there? She looks like she’s my age, and if I’m going to be stuck here for a week, I may as well make friends.”

  “Do you mean Mimi Andrews’s daughter?”

  Lark nodded. “Her mom said her name’s Lauren.”

  “That’s right, Lauren and Kevin. Sure, go introduce yourself. I want you to have fun this week.”

  “Don’t push it, Mom.”

  Rachel grinned. “A mother can dream, can’t she?” She dropped her plate in the trash. “I’ll be down at the lake with your sisters if you need me. And please don’t wander off without checking with me first. I don’t want you to get lost.”

  “Or eaten by a bear or kidnapped by an escaped lunatic. I know the drill. See you later.” She hurried off to catch up with the other two kids before they left the picnic area.

  The boy was tall and good-looking like his father. Rachel had a feeling he was the attraction, not his sister. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Anyone who could distract Lark from her crush on Rose’s brother earned a gold star in Rachel’s book. Leaving her eldest to her own devices, Rachel headed back to the cabin where she changed into a bathing suit and wrap. She grabbed a towel and a book, put Daisy on a leash and headed out at a fast clip. As they approached the lake, the dog lifted her nose to sniff the air then tugged even harder.

  It was warm for mid-June. With the sun riding high in the sky, a quick dip in the lake would be refreshing after their earlier hike. As Rachel neared the dock, Jade jumped in with a splash and came up gasping.

  “It’s freezing.” Her teeth chattered. “Don’t be a chicken, Ivy. Just close your eyes and jump.”

  Ivy did, then screamed and flailed. Rachel smiled. Maybe she’d skip the swim and settle for a bit of sunbathing. She spread her towel in a patch of sand between two boulders. A perfect spot with a towering pine creating just enough shade to keep her cool, and a spectacular view of the lake shimmering beneath the afternoon sun. The girls jumped in again, their laughter ringing across the water. Rachel sighed. It had been far too long since her last vacation. She could only think of one thing that would make it better.

  “Would you like a cold drink?”

  Shading her eyes, she glanced up as a shadow loomed over her. Anticipation. Excitement. Delight. A conflux of emotions swirled inside her. Settle down, Rachel. With an effort, she composed her voice, afraid she’d sound like a school girl with a mad crush.

  “I’d love one.”

  Kane sat on the boulder next to her and opened a small ice chest. “Cola or beer?”

  “Cola, please.” She took the cold can then offered a smile.

  He opened a beer with a hiss and took a swig. “I recognized you from the trail above. Nobody else has hair quite that color of red. I was afraid I was imagining things.”

  “Should I take that as a compliment?”

  “Definitely. When did you decide to come up here?”

  “Last week. I wanted to get away for a while, so I looked the place up online like you suggested. It appears I made a good choice. My girls are having a great time.”

  “Are those two yours?” He pointed toward the dock.

  Both her daughters bent at the waist. Simultaneously they dived into the water and came up screaming.

  “The taller one is Jade, and the blonde is Ivy. I have a feeling they’re going to disturb the peace around here.”

  “That’s okay. Kids should be able to make noise when they’re outside.”

  Rachel smiled. “Let’s hope the rest of the guests feel that way.”

  “And who is this?” He scratched Daisy behind one ear.

  The dog moaned in delight then leaned against him.

  “Apparently, your new best friend. Her name’s Daisy.”

  “Why isn’t she swimming with the girls?”

  “She’s not a big fan of the water.” Rachel stroked the dog’s silky coat. “She has a few hang-ups, but she’s very sweet.”

  “I thought you had three daughters.”

  His eyes were a clear, beautiful blue as he held her gaze. Her stomach fluttered.

  “I do. Lark’s up at camp with a couple of other kids.”

  “Blond hair with pink streaks, but still pretty?”

  Rachel laughed. “That’s a very good description.”

  “I saw her before I came down. She and the Andrews kids were talking to Jed about taking out a canoe.”

  “I’m glad she’s found someone her own age to hang out with. My oldest wasn’t exactly looking forward to this trip.”

  “You didn’t want to leave her home alone?”

  “Not a chance. She got a tattoo a couple of weeks ago along with that awful hairc
ut.”

  Kane choked on his beer. “Now I remember why I wasn’t in a rush to have kids when I was married.”

  “They’ve given me more than my fair share of headaches, but the rewards are worth it. How can you resist those happy faces?”

  Jade and Ivy ran up, their curious gazes on Kane. Water dripped from their hair and bathing suits to form a couple of growing puddles.

  “Can we swim out to that big rock and back?” Jade asked.

  The rock in question was probably more than a hundred yards from shore.

  Rachel frowned. “You can go, but I’m not so sure about Ivy. That’s an awfully long way for you to swim, honey.”

  “I can do it. I’m much better than I used to be. Please.”

  “I don’t know. If you got into trouble, it would take me too long to reach you. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “That’s not fair!”

  Kane touched her knee. “Would you let her go if I swam with them? I came down here to cool off, anyway.”

  She glanced over at him and smiled. “Girls, this is Kane Lafferty. You met his brother, Jed, earlier. Are you sure you don’t mind? I imagine the water’s pretty cold.”

  “It is, but cold doesn’t bother me. Is that a yes?”

  She waved her hand. “Have fun. I’ll watch you from my nice warm spot on shore.”

  “Last one in’s a rotten egg!” Ivy took off laughing with Jade close behind.

  “Guess I’d better get a move on.” Setting down his beer, Kane followed close behind the girls as they all hit the water.

  His head bobbed next to Ivy’s small one while Jade swam ahead in a strong crawl.

  Lark made brief eye contact as she came down to the shore with her two new friends. They strapped on life vests and climbed into a canoe, which rocked precariously as they shoved off. Greg and Mimi Andrews settled under a beach umbrella a short distance away, and Rachel gave them a smile and nod. The two young men she’d met at lunch walked by carrying fishing gear. They called out a greeting as they passed. She waved in return then covered a yawn. It was that sort of afternoon. Apparently, Daisy agreed. She flopped down in a patch of shade and let out a groan.

  Relaxing under a warm sun, Rachel closed her eyes as she drifted in a languid state between sleep and wakefulness. When a quiver of unease shot through her, she sat up to look around, wondering what had disturbed her. Kane and the girls were swimming back, and Lark was still out in the canoe. Mimi stood knee-deep at the edge of the lake while her husband read a magazine. The two fishermen had disappeared from sight. A scuffling noise sounded behind her. She turned her head as a young boy tore down the path toward the lake. He was followed by a man wearing walking shorts and a tan camp shirt. Rachel frowned. He looked familiar.

  Jade and Ivy swam ashore. Shivering, they ran to her, looking for towels.

  “Didn’t you bring them down with you?” She twisted and inched sideways to see behind them.

  As Kane swam back toward the rock, his strong arms cleaved the water in graceful strokes.

  “We forgot.” Jade’s teeth chattered as Ivy huddled close to her.

  Rachel returned her attention to the girls and levered to her feet. “The two of you can share mine while I go get a couple from the cabin.”

  She hurried up the path. A squirrel chirped at her from the protection of a bush, and a blue jay squawked on an overhead tree branch. Reaching the cabin, she paused to look around. The breeze blew lightly. Nearby, a rock clattered. Rachel peered around the side of the structure. Something moved in the trees up the hillside.

  Another camper or an animal—squirrel or bear?

  A shiver worked down her spine. Grabbing the towels from the cabin, she headed back to the lake. “Here you go.”

  Jade took the towels. “Thanks. We’re going to go lie on the dock and warm up.”

  Kane walked up from the water and stopped beside them.

  Ivy peeked at him from behind dripping bangs. “Thanks for swimming with me. Maybe we could do it again tomorrow.”

  He smiled back. “Any time you like.”

  “That was nice of you.” Rachel sat down on her damp towel. “I appreciate it.”

  “Swimming with your daughter wasn’t exactly a chore.” He stretched out beside her. “I even swam a couple of extra laps.”

  Rachel tried hard not to stare and failed. Kane’s broad, tanned shoulders glistened with moisture. Droplets of water clung to the dusting of hair covering his chest, which narrowed to a damp trail that disappeared inside his shorts. She licked dry lips and took a sip of her lukewarm cola. “I appreciate it anyway.”

  “Did you take a nap while we were gone?”

  “I was almost asleep when something disturbed me.”

  “What woke you?”

  “Um, probably a squirrel.”

  “You seem a little distracted.” His eyes were bright with amusement as he studied her.

  “I noticed your scar.” It was a lame attempt to excuse her fascination with his chest. “Grace told me you’d been shot.”

  He ran a finger over the ridge of puckered flesh below his collar bone. “Does it bother you?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not exactly disfiguring. Is it painful?”

  “Not anymore.”

  Kane stretched, and Rachel’s choked on her drink.

  He glanced her way. “I should probably head back up to see if Jed needs any help.”

  “Will I see you around later?”

  “Count on it. We’re planning a bonfire for this evening. I’ll be sure to look for you there. Dress warm. It gets cold as soon as the sun goes down.”

  Rachel nodded. “Thanks again for swimming with the girls.”

  “I enjoyed it.” A smile tilted his lips. “Maybe next time you’ll shed that cover-up and join us.”

  He left before she could answer, and Rachel let out a deep breath. The man was lethal. She fanned herself with her book. His sex appeal quotient was off the charts, and she felt like a walking hormone, which was ridiculous. She was thirty-five and the mother of three, not a sex-starved teenager. She had more than enough on her plate dealing with the girls. Getting worked up over a man was just plain foolish.

  Maybe she would take a swim. After her conversation with Kane, a dip in icy water was just what she needed to cool off. Scrambling to her feet, she ran down to the lake and jumped in.

  Chapter 5

  “Make sure you put on a warm jacket.” Rachel zipped her coat. “Don’t forget a flashlight. It’s going to be dark when we come back.”

  Jade sorted through her suitcase. “I can’t find one. Where did you put them?”

  “They’re in the bag with the extra towels. Lark, are you ready to go?”

  Lark nodded, an actual smile curving her lips as she tugged a knit hat over her hair. “Can I bring my guitar? Lauren has a flute, and she wants us to play something together.”

  “Of course you can, honey. Where the heck is Daisy’s leash? I thought I left it on the table when I tied her up before dinner.”

  “Here it is.” Ivy came out from under the table. “The leash must have fallen off when I set the water bottles down earlier.”

  “You do tend to meet yourself coming and going in this place.” Rachel looked around their cramped quarters. “It seemed bigger when we first got here.”

  “That’s because Jade hadn’t spread her stuff all over the place yet.” Lark edged toward the door.

  “Your sister has a point.” Rachel eyed Jade’s scattered clothes. “You’re going to have to keep your stuff cleaned up. There isn’t room to swing a cat in here.”

  “I will when we get back. Let’s go.”

  Pleased that her daughters—all her daughters—seemed eager to get down to the campfire, Rachel shut the door, clipped Daisy’s leash to her collar then followed them down the trail toward the southern end of the lake where a huge bonfire burned brightly against the darkening sky. T
he last few rays of light glimmered on the mountain peaks as the sun sank below the horizon. Other campers were leaving their cabins. A little boy broke loose from his father and ran full tilt into Lark, knocking them both to the ground. Rachel hurried forward as Lark scrambled to her feet.

  “I’m so sorry.” The father lifted his son off the ground. “Rex, you need to apologize to this girl. You could have hurt her.”

  “I’m fine.” Lark brushed off her jeans. She retrieved her guitar case and looked up at the man. Her eyes widened. “Mr. Olmstead, is that you?”

  “My goodness, Lark, I didn’t recognize you in the dark. Fancy meeting you up here. Hello, Mrs. Carpenter. Hi, girls.”

  “Please call me Rachel. Now I know why you looked so familiar when I saw you down by the lake earlier. I wasn’t expecting to see a face from home.”

  “Is this your little boy?” Lark glanced down at the pint-sized dynamo covered in dirt.

  “Yes, this is Rex, and I’m Dennis. No ‘Mr. Olmstead’ while we’re here. It makes me feel like I’m back in school.”

  “Are you vacationing with your family?” Rachel tugged Daisy away from the boy.

  “Just with Rex. I’m divorced. Oops, there he goes again. I’d better catch him before he gets into more trouble.” He smiled, making his ordinary features more attractive. “Maybe we can talk again later.” He sprinted after his son.

  Lark rolled her eyes. “I think Mr. Olmstead likes you, Mom. Believe me, he was never that animated when I had him for seventh grade math.”

  “He’s probably lonely. He sounded sad when he said he was divorced, and he obviously has his hands full with Rex.”

  “I bet he bored his wife into a stupor. He used to go on and on about the dumbest stuff.”

  “That’s not very nice, Lark. Just because math isn’t your favorite subject doesn’t mean it’s dumb.”

  “I know, I know—if you can’t say something nice...” She turned away. “Hey, there’s Kevin and Lauren. Can I go sit with them?”

  “I guess so, but find us when you’re ready to leave. I don’t want you walking back to the cabin alone in the dark.”