When Bri climbed out, the disappointment was sharp enough to make her moan softly. Still, she forced a smile as Bri rapped on the door.

“Come in,” Tory called, turning back to Reggie, who was making impatient noises. “We’re about done with lunch and then I have to take her over to Kate’s.”

“Are you working today?” Bri tossed her hat onto the counter, followed by her keys.

Tory watched the familiar action, thinking of how many times she’d seen Reese do exactly the same thing. Bri, with her thick, jet black hair, brilliant blue eyes, and confident walk, seemed more like Reese every day. Tory was glad to see her, but on some irrational level, it hurt.

“I’m due in the clinic in about five minutes.”

Bri looked at Reggie, who was eagerly reaching for the next spoonful of baby food. “Want me to finish that so you can get ready?”

“Are you on your lunch break?”

“Yeah.”

“I’d love for you to take her, but I’m warning you right now, you’ll probably end up with carrots on your uniform.”

Bri shrugged. “No problem.”

Tory smiled, knowing that Bri was every bit as particular about the appearance of her uniform as Reese was. God, could they be any more alike? She touched Bri’s shoulder lightly on her way to wash her hands. “Thank you.”

“Uh, Tory?”

“Mmm?”

“Have you heard from Reese?”

Tory dried her hands and folded the towel with more care than necessary. “I had an e-mail two days ago. She said she was about to ship out, and that it would be a while before she could contact me again. You?”

Bri shook her head. “I got an e-mail then too. She said everything was okay, that she was really busy, and wanted to know if everything was okay here.”

“Here, here?” Tory asked quietly. “Meaning me?”

“She didn’t say, exactly,” Bri said, looking uncomfortable. She adroitly avoided Reggie’s flailing hands and guided a spoonful of baby food into Reggie’s mouth. “She probably just meant work.”

“Probably.” Tory slid her arm around Bri’s shoulders. “I’m really glad that you came by. I’ve been going a little crazy just talking to Reggie, although it is nice that she never argues or contradicts me.”

Bri laughed. “So how are things.”

“I’m doing okay. You can tell her that, okay?” Tory rested her cheek against the top of Bri’s head for a second. “I really miss her, though.”

“Me too.”

“Are things all right with her gone and the busy season coming?”

“My dad rearranged the schedule some. It’ll be okay until Reese gets back. She won’t be gone that long.”

Tory gave Bri a squeeze. “I’m going to change, honey. Can you stay with her a few more minutes?”

“I can take her to Kate’s, if you want. She loves to ride in the cruiser.” Bri blushed. “The baby seat’s in the trunk.”

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re incredibly sweet?”

Bri grinned that cocky grin that had had her breaking hearts since she was sixteen years old. “Caroline does. Now and then.”

“I’ll just bet she does.” Laughing, feeling lighter at heart than she had since Reese left, Tory lifted Reggie from her high chair. “I’ll get her things together while you fix the car seat. And Bri? Thanks.”

“You know, I was sort of screwed up when I first met Reese, but she trusted me anyhow. Then the two of you took me in when Caroline and I had that bad spot last year,” Bri said quietly. “I think I might have been in trouble if you hadn’t.” She settled her hat low on her brows. “That makes us family, right?”

“Oh honey,” Tory whispered, kissing her cheek. “Yes, it does.”

Carter slid behind Rica on the beach blanket, extending her legs outside of Rica’s thighs, and wrapped her arms loosely around Rica’s waist. She nuzzled Rica’s neck just below her ear. “You’re shivering.”

Rica settled back against Carter’s shoulder, turned her head, and kissed Carter’s throat. “I’m not cold.”

“Sure?” Carter leaned to one side and retrieved the champagne bottle that she had propped up in the sand while they ate the sandwiches she’d picked up earlier. She refilled Rica’s plastic cup and then her own.

“Mmm.” Rica grasped Carter’s forearms and drew them securely around her middle. “The tide’s going out.”

Carter eased forward until her breasts and abdomen were tight to Rica’s back. “We’ve got a little bit of time.”

Rica tilted her head to see Carter’s face. “Do we? Funny, it doesn’t feel that way.”

“I do have to go back to the mainland for a while.” Carter had been wondering how to bring up the subject of her leaving, but now that the opening had arisen, she didn’t want to talk about it. She didn’t want to think about it.

“For how long?” Rica’s voice was steady, almost emotionless.

“A few weeks. There are some important meetings I’ve been putting off, and now they’ve caught up with me.” She slowly caressed Rica’s stomach with one hand, stopping just below her breasts. “But it’s close enough for a visit now and then.”

“What is it that you do for my father?”

Carter sucked in a breath. “What happened to our deal?”

“The rules have changed.” Rica shifted around in Carter’s arms, drawing her legs up over Carter’s thighs as if she were sitting sideways in a chair, her torso nestled against Carter’s chest. Her eyes were wide and serious.

“Have they?” Carter asked, brushing her mouth over Rica’s.

“I’m afraid so.”

“Why?”

“Because we’ve been here for over an hour, and you’ve asked me about my work, and where I went to school, and what I like to do to relax.” Rica ran her tongue along the pulse that beat in Carter’s neck. “And because I told you.”

“Were they secrets?” Carter lifted the lower edge of Rica’s sweater and slipped her hand underneath. Her camisole was silk and glided beneath Carter’s fingers. Carter was grateful for the thin barrier that kept her from touching the firm, warm flesh beneath it. If she had been able to run her palm over Rica’s skin, she wouldn’t have been able to stop until she held Rica’s breast in her hand. Even as the muscles in her thighs trembled and twitched, she contented herself with pressing her mouth to the hollow at the base of Rica’s throat. “I just want to know you.”

“Why?” Rica didn’t ask accusingly, but more curiously. She covered Carter’s hand, placing hers outside the sweater, and guided Carter’s fingers upward to her breast. She arched her back at the first touch. “Isn’t this enough?”

When Rica’s nipple tightened into a knot beneath Carter’s fingertips, the sensation was like a fist in her midsection. Carter groaned softly. “It’s wonderful.” She rubbed her hand in a gentle circle over Rica’s breast and then back down her abdomen, breathing deeply until she could think again. “You must know I want you.”

“I do. It’s been in your eyes since the first time you looked at me.” Rica hooked her nails on the edge of the seam along the inside of Carter’s thigh and dragged her fingers up until they rested in the vee of Carter’s crotch.

“Jesus, Rica.” The sun was starting to go down and the wind had picked up. “We can’t make love out here.”

“I know. We should’ve slept together already, and we haven’t.” Rica squeezed the denim gently in her hand and rocked her wrist in a slow, steady circle. “I could make you come like this, though, couldn’t I?”

A muscle jumped along the edge of Carter’s jaw. “Yes.”

“Do you want me to?” Rica’s mouth hovered above Carter’s, her eyes so intense Carter felt feverish from the heat.

“Yes,” Carter gasped. “No. I mean, not…”

Rica relinquished the pressure. Her breasts were tight-nippled and distended beneath the cotton of her sweater. “That’s what I mean,” she said breathlessly. “You keep holding back. You want me, but you keep holding back.”

“It’s just…”

“I swore I’d never get involved with someone who worked for my father.” Rica gently removed Carter’s hand from beneath her sweater and eased back until her hips were no longer cradled against Carter’s crotch. “You make me forget things I shouldn’t.”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with that.” Carter knew she should let it go. That she should let Rica go now, but she couldn’t. “This is personal. It has nothing to do with your family.”

“It has everything to do with it, Carter. My whole life…everything I do…it all comes back to who my father is.”

“It doesn’t have to.”

“You know that’s not true.”

“It’s true if we say it’s true.” Carter didn’t know what she was talking about anymore. Rica’s father, her own job, the untruths between them…they all merged into one confusing tangle. She didn’t know which thread, if tugged even gently, would unravel the entire tapestry of secrets and lies. “Please, Rica, it’s just us here.”

“We should get back.” Rica stood and walked a few feet away, gazing out to the ocean, her arms wrapped tightly around her midsection.

“Damn it, Rica. Just talk to me.”

“About what?” Rica asked, her back still turned.

“Anything. Everything.” Carter stood, feeling helpless and frustrated. She wanted to make Rica understand things she didn’t understand herself. “I want to know who you are…every damn thing from the time you took your first breath.”

Rica laughed. “There’s nothing to tell.”

“Tell me about the first girl you ever kissed.”

“I was seventeen and she was in college. And we didn’t kiss…we fucked in the bathroom at a friend’s wedding. You?”

“I was twenty and so was she. I was so nervous I bit her lip and she bled on my shirt. I didn’t wash it for a month.”

“You’re not nervous when you kiss me.”

“Yes, I am.” Carter raked her hands through her hair, cursing herself for not being able to control her body. Not wanting to. She went to Rica, gently encircling her from behind again. She kissed the nape of Rica’s neck where the wind blew her hair away from her shoulders. “I don’t do anything for your father.”