Sunset Thunder (10 page)

“I guess having a can of corn is like she’s here with me,” Ryder added and if Violet hadn’t already contemplated there was more to Ryder than she knew, that comment would have easily altered her mind. Now, it convinced her there was more than he let people see and he’d let her in.

Ryder looked at Violet abruptly. As he took her in, she watched the happiness erase and darkness shadow his eyes. His face tightened, like he forgot who he was talking to.
Violet Caliendo. Joel’s ex-wife.

Ryder suddenly shut down from Violet, the way she recognized and had mastered herself. To be honest, it didn’t feel nice to be on the other side of this door. 

“Anyway, here you go,” he finished up and handed her the pole.

When she took it, he made sure their hands did not touch, did not graze and he did not send her a wink, smile or even the slightest grin. His attention had turned back solely to digging a worm out for his own bait. 

Violet stood up with her pole, not exactly sure what she was supposed to do with it.

How hard was it to throw the line in the water?
Her children could do it...but her children went fishing more than she did.

Violet didn’t like the rising wrench in her gut that Ryder didn’t want to talk to her. Was he embarrassed? Or was it because of who she was?

“Ryder?” she said, standing in front of him and looking down at his hunched over, tensed shoulders. 

Ryder looked up and their eyes locked...for a long moment. The same way they locked in the lobby bathroom at the resort. The same way they locked on the dock only a short hour earlier. It was a simple lock-down of everything in their region. They just stared at each other.

Why? Why did this keep happening to them? Why was she attracted to him? Why was he attracted to her?

It had to be the sex...the sex was good...real good.

But Violet knew differently.

This stare was deeper, she could feel it. The attraction was there and the lust was like lava bubbling into the surface of a volcano between them, but at the very moment, it felt like each of them was ineffectively attempting to figure out the other.

What do you want from me? What do I want from you?
Was there really anything possible between them?

Violet had to break the contact. She dropped her eyes to the floor and took a deep breath. Yes, she took a deep breath in front of Ryder. She had to get her boundaries collected. Everything about them screamed no. She was a mother, he was a traveler. She had sworn off falling in love and him...he probably didn’t even know what love was.
And you do?
  

Violet forced herself to look back at Ryder and found his eyes hadn’t strayed like hers. He was, no doubt, trying to determine why hers had moved in the first place.
Because you drive me hot and wild and thinking about love. Love? Love!

Violet needed distance.
Now.

“It is very sweet of you Ryder, to bring along a reminder of your mom,” she said. “Even if it seems silly, like a can of corn. It shows how much she meant to you. The way you talk about her is beautiful.”

Violet smiled.

She wanted to reach out and touch his hand, but thought better of it.

Would he touch her back? Would he rise to his feet and kiss her? Did men actually do things like that?
Just rise to their feet and kiss someone because of a look passing between them?

It sounded like horny teenagers again. She wanted him to act like a horny teenager, but knew she couldn’t.

Violet walked to her children, ruffling Parker’s hair and kissing the top of Sophia’s head. They smelled like coconut from a nice coating of the all-natural sun block she’d purchased at the Old Town Soap Store that Kate’s sisters had opened last year.

“How are you two doing?” Violet asked.

“Nothing yet,” Parker said and his tone lacked disappointment. Then he added. “But with fishing you need patience. You have to wait for the fish to bite. It could take hours, or it could take only minutes. Sometimes when we fish, we don’t catch any fish.”

Violet held her lure out between her kids. “I have corn,” she said, watching both heads turn, laugh and tease their mom. She loved these two. 

Violet being the amateur fisherman she was, moved to the rear of the boat.

She passed Ryder, but didn’t look at him. If she had a book, she’d sprawl out across one of the loungers and escape to a world written without Ryder Carlex. Sprawling across the lounger and Ryder Carlex in the same thought caused her neck to break out in a sweat.

Violet climbed on the swim platform and balanced the pole behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure the hook wasn’t near anything, than aimed in the water, a guideline she was sure she wouldn’t get anywhere close, and swung the pole above her head...just like she’d watched Parker and Sophia do. 

The baited hook dangled in the air directly in front of her, nowhere near the water. 

What had she done wrong? 

She did it again and ended up with the same result. 

Well, this was ridiculous.

Violet had a broken pole. Sunbathing and reading were looking better by the second. Ryder had given her a broken pole and left her only two options. She could stand here and stare out at the water until lunch or she was going to have to face Ryder again.

Violet turned.

She caught Ryder leaning against the side of the boat behind her. His legs were crossed at his ankles and his arms crossed covering his chest...good because that gave her eyes a reason to find his.

Ryder was smirking at her, obviously entertained by her attempt to fish with a broken pole, that
he’d
given her. Had he known the pole was broken? The grin on his face sure said he did.

Violet mustered up the words to talk to him. “I have a broken pole,” she stated and his widened smirk made her wonder exactly what he knew that she didn’t. 

RYDER WAS GOING to bust a gut laughing. He couldn’t help it. Watching Violet attempt to cast her line, without pressing the release button, was priceless.
Twice.
Not once, but
twice
and the confusion that danced across her face was precious.

These were the moments in life that his mother had always talked about. The moments when work escaped your thoughts and worry was temporarily pushed away, leaving you with only the now. And right now...was perfect.

Not only was Violet sensitive about harming worms, like his mother, but she fished as badly as his mother too.

When Violet’s blazers and makeup, another quality she shared with his mother, were stripped away, there was the foundation of the real Violet. And apparently the real Violet didn’t know how to fish. His guess was she’d never done it a day in her life.

Laughter was on the tip of Ryder’s tongue. He grasped at every ounce of strength not to laugh, afraid it would send that confused and accusing look across her face into a fit of anger.

“Are you going to get me another pole or stare at me all afternoon with that dim-witted look across your face?”

Her question was an insult, but damned if he found it as attractive as the rest of her. Ryder had to admit, he’d never had a bossy girlfriend before.

Girlfriend? Girlfriend!

Violet was not his girlfriend. Violet wasn’t even girlfriend material. And, furthermore, Ryder was not looking for a girlfriend. His life was too full now that his mother was gone, his dad’s sanity was gone, and he was re-constructing the Carlex chain of stores. That left no room for a girlfriend. There was no room left in his broken heart for a girlfriend.

Ryder pushed up to his feet, but didn’t walk to her. “Am I getting this straight?” he asked, unable to keep from teasing her.

Teasing her was better than the alternative...kissing her, touching her, staring at her like a fool looking for love. He was not looking for love.

“
Thee
Violet Caliendo, has never been fishing?” It was beyond obvious.

Violet didn’t say anything. She simply stared.

Stared!

He was finished staring with Violet.

“And now, Violet Caliendo is speechless,” he teased further. Teasing was good.

“I am not speechless,” she said right away. “I am trying to figure you out.”

He wasn’t expecting that type of honesty in her. And she wasn’t the only one. He was trying his damndest to figure her out too and at the same time himself, while everything else was telling him not to.

“And what is with this
Violet Caliendo
? And the tone when you say my name?” she asked.

It was because her actions, her words, everything about her continued to surprise him...and he was enjoying it.

“It’s okay to be speechless,” he said instead of saying the truth. 

“I didn’t say it wasn’t okay to be speechless.”

Ryder stepped onto the swim platform and took the fishing pole from her. The fishing pole that was in perfect working condition, but this woman had no idea how to use it.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist,” he told her, leaning the pole against the back of the boat.

“Who says that?
Don’t get your panties in a twist
?” She lowered her voice to mimic him and it took everything not to laugh.

“Who doesn’t know how to use a fishing pole?” he asked instead.

He unsnapped her life jacket.

“What are you doing?” she demanded, her hands grabbing each edge of her lifejacket and landing directly on top of his.

He was planning on teaching her how to cast a line...without her life jacket.

“What are you doing?” she repeated.

Wasn’t it obvious?
“Taking off your lifesaver.”

“Why? Are you planning on pushing me overboard?” He liked this snappy temper of hers he was bringing out.

The thought of pushing her in the water made him grin. “Do you really think I would?” The idea was playing on his mind.

“No,” she said, but it lacked conviction.

There was no way Ryder would ever push Violet Caliendo into the water not wearing a life jacket. He didn’t even know if she could swim. But he liked the idea.

Ryder snapped her buckle back together.

Violet’s eyes fell down to where her hands still covered his. Her eyebrows drew together and he took the distraction as an opportunity to slip his hand away and remove her sunglasses.

“Hey!” she cried reaching for them, but he put them on the top of his head and she didn’t dare reach for them.

Violet glared at him. “What are you doing?” She was an attentive person, and the fact that she suspected he was going to push her off the swim platform and into the water...which was almost accurate...was written across her face...with a pinch of amusement.
Amusement.
It suited her.

“Do you know how to swim?” he asked, snapping the next buckle together.

The fingers of one of her hands that remained on his, tightened. The richest, bluest, fullest eyes stared back at him. “Do
you
know how to swim?” she retorted.

Of course Ryder knew how to swim. His family were avid boaters.

In one quick motion, Ryder pulled her glasses off his head, and his from his eyes, tossing them onto the towel behind them, and then his arms wrapped around Violet and her bulky lifejacket.

Violet surprised him with a laugh.

He lifted her up, for a split second wishing he did know whether she could swim or not, preferring her body pressed against his, and jumped in the water. She screamed his name, following them as they were engulfed by the cool water. He let her go underwater, but her arms wrapped around his neck, they swam to the surface together.

Violet’s laughter bounced off the water as they broke the surface and she didn’t let go. His arm automatically went around her, under the life jacket, rubbing against the top of her derriere, as they bobbed.

“I can’t believe you actually did that,” she laughed.

Ryder wouldn’t admit it, but he was surprised he’d done it too. The impulsiveness and the fun reminded him of what he was like before his family started to deplete.

When his mother had died, Ryder and Donald had each other, but when Donald began to forget things, Ryder was left alone. He hadn’t found anything or anyone worth being impulsive or fun with...until now.

“You don’t even have a life jacket on,” Violet said. “You could drown.”

“That’s why I’m holding onto you. I trust you.” Ryder meant for it to come out in a teasing tone, however it came out deep, low and in an unmistakable bedroom voice that Violet caught. Her laughter faltered, dragging her smile down, but the glimmer of temptation that washed over her face was superior.

“Ryder...” The whisper of his name was pleading him not to go down this road, but the passion in her eyes was begging him to go for it.

Sophia and Parker’s shouts came rushing to the rear of the boat and Violet pushed off Ryder.

“What happened?” Sophia asked.

“Was it a big fish?” Parker inquired, searching the water.

Droplets of water were running down Violet’s face. “We fell in,” she lied.

We fell in.
Ryder laughed before splashing Violet. He swam to the platform, climbing aboard. “We didn’t fall in,” he corrected, scooping Parker up first. “I threw your mom in.”

Parker laughed hysterically as Ryder lifted him high in the air. “Are you ready?” he asked, but it was more a warning.

“Yes!” Parker exclaimed, and Ryder left him barely enough time to get the word out, before Ryder tossed him overboard. Parker’s laughter overtook him before he hit the water.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ryder caught Sophia taking off and reached his hand out, lightly grasping her arm. She turned, laughing and tugging her arm free. “Forget it!” she laughed and ran to the edge of platform. She jumped into the water, wrapping her arms around her legs, causing a cannon ball splash.

Once she surfaced, Ryder followed. His splash was much larger and when he emerged, all three of the Caliendos were splashing him.

“Tag team!” Ryder pleaded.

He sliced the water with his hands spraying them all and enjoying their laughter, objections and threats to get him back.

He soon found himself laughing so hard his stomach hurt. A laugh he’d thought was lost with his parents and the losses in his life. Right now, he wasn’t living in the regret, sadness, the feelings that were a constant part of his life. Twice in one week, when he hadn’t been ready, he found the feelings removed from him leaving room for happiness to develop. And both times it was in the presence of Violet Caliendo.

If anything, he should thank this woman for drawing him out of the shell he’d been living in the last two years and for reminding him how wonderful life felt when it was lived.

***

VIOLET ABANDONED THE soaking wet lifejacket on the bow of the boat, to dry out, after their refreshing dip in the lake.

It was like the water had washed away all her earlier feelings...well, the pessimistic, nervous, and anxious ones anyway. After splashing around in the water with Ryder and her kids, Violet’s other feelings for Ryder amplified.

Amplified? That couldn’t be good. Could it?
It felt good.

Parker and Sophia also shed their lifejackets, promising to stay on deck, and avoid the swim board or the bow. Alternatively, they both decided there was a bag of chips, right before lunch, that were calling their names and they settled under deck.

Violet had the growing suspicion they’d settled with their iPad’s. They were too quiet, being too good and that typically meant their heads were tucked behind an electronic device. Normally, she would yank the iPads out of their hands in order for them to appreciate the day, and their surroundings...however, Ryder offered to show her how to fish. She didn’t want to be rude and pass that up.

Ryder stood less than half a foot away from her, on the bow of the boat.

“Alright, so there is a magic button on this reel,” he explained, as if she was going to be able to concentrate on anything else besides their closeness.

Why were they always so close to each other?

She could literally lean her bare arm across to feel the muscle wall of this man.

And why did she find her face couldn’t help but smile? The entire time. At Ryder.

The actions of an adolescent...or a happy person.

Ryder clicked the button back and forth, demonstrating for Violet, in a smart-ass way, like she was supposed to have known that little secret.

She loved the smirk he sent her.

Alright, so, apparently she didn’t have a broken fishing pole, she just didn’t know how to use it. Beginner’s downfall.

“You’re sure I’m safe here...with you?” she teased.

Teased. Teased!

Violet could have laughed out loud at finding herself teasing with Ryder Carlex. It must be the effect of heat stroke.

“Maybe I should strap into my lifejacket.”

Ryder leaned closer.
Closer. Closer!

Her teasing caught in her chest, as the delicious smell of him circled around her like a twister.

“I promise not to throw you in,” he said in a low whisper. “Besides loving the opportunity to look at you without a lifejacket on...”

Violet swallowed hard.

He was a constant charmer, hitting on her, teasing her, making her insides feel alive like never before. “...besides I like your kids too much to leave them motherless.” He chuckled. “Have you met Missy? She’s sweet, but she thinks deep fried pickles are eating vegetables.” 

Was that his indirect way of giving her a compliment that wasn’t sexual?

Violet couldn’t help but smile. “I like deep fried pickles.”

Ryder made a face of dislike.

“Have you tried them?” she asked.

He shook his head.

“Do you like pickles?”

“I do and I can’t see why you have to go and ruin a good thing.”

Violet laughed. “You can’t judge them until you’ve tried them and tasted the juicy battered coating and thick pickle inside.”

“That’s called grease.”

Violet licked her lips. “It’s called deliciousness that you are missing out on. The first one I tried was when I was pregnant with Sophia. One of the food huts at the beach was advertising them and that was the beginning of my love for deep fried pickles. I was hooked.”

“I guess, I will have to try them...someday...maybe.” He looked skeptical.

“I order them from The Bamboo Lounge, one of the restaurants at the resort,” she explained. “On the rare occasion, when the kids aren’t feeling like eating their veggies,” she added, surprised to find how easy it was to joke with Ryder.

“Is that an offer?”
Yes, it is.
“I’m sure Missy cannot cook like
Violet Caliendo
.” The way Ryder said it again, irked her. It was judgement. He had been evaluating her from the moment she stepped on the boat, but until he said her name like that, she didn’t sense it. It was quite the opposite.