Page 25 of Country Winds (King Creek Cowboys #9)
He turned his attention back to the guys. “What all do you do on these vacations?”
“We find a private cove and hang out there for a week.” Hoss tipped his beer and took a swallow.
Tucker looked out into the vast expanse of the lake before turning his attention back to the guys. “You can find places that aren’t crowded?”
Jace chimed in. “Lake Havasu has long stretches of beaches and hidden coves that can only be accessed by boat. We have a favorite, and Tanner will take us there first, to see if it’s available. It usually is.”
Tucker settled back in his lounge chair. “I’ve been on lakes around the Phoenix area, but they’re usually crowded.”
“That’s one reason why we come to Lake Havasu instead.” Jace pulled off his T-shirt to take in some sun. “We go snorkeling, take the Jet Skis out, shoot some skeet, go fishing, swim, and whatever else we can come up with.”
They continued shooting the breeze, talking about the previous summer’s activities and what they planned to do this summer.
Tucker had to focus on the conversation and not think about Ellie. The woman he loved filled his thoughts so often that sometimes it was an effort to turn his attention elsewhere.
He enjoyed talking with her brothers and dad. They were good guys, and he’d only ever heard positive things about the family. The siblings’ parents had raised them right.
The boat slowed, and Tanner guided it at a slow idle speed into a small cove with a long stretch of sandy beach.
He positioned the boat at a ninety-degree angle to the shoreline.
Tucker helped the McLeod brothers expertly secure the boat with main and land-based anchors, and they placed an old tire under the bow to protect the shore.
Ellie joined Tucker on the shore when the boat had been secured.
She now wore only her bathing suit, having taken off her cover and water shoes.
He tried not to stare at her figure, the tops of her breasts looking full and tempting above the neckline of her suit.
His hands itched to touch her, to trace his fingers over the curves of her breasts and down the sides to her waist. The cut of her swimsuit made her legs look even longer.
He swallowed, hoping his swim trunks were baggy enough to hide the reaction he was having just looking at her.
She stood close and tipped her face up to his. “Let’s walk on the beach a bit.”
He removed his water shoes and carried them while grasping her hand. It felt warm in his, and her smile was like sunshine as she looked up at him as they walked, his bare feet sinking into the warm sand. “Did that bunch overdo the protective brother act?”
Tucker smiled. “My brothers and I would do the same when it comes to Maddee. We’re just as protective of her as your brothers are of you.”
“At least you can relate to them.” She shook her head. “They chased off a few of the guys I dated when I was young, and I was none too happy about it.” She shrugged. “They had pretty good bullshit radar, which I didn’t at the time. Still made me mad as hell.”
“Maddee could tell you similar stories.” He smiled down at her.
The way Tucker looked at her made Ellie feel as if she were made of sunlight, bright and radiant.
They walked down the beach, holding hands and talking. After a while, they returned to the houseboat, and her brothers were preparing to drive their sit-down Jet Skis.
“Tucker has never driven a Jet Ski.” Ellie stood at the shore and addressed her brothers. “I want to take him out and show him the ropes.”
“You can drive mine.” Jace gestured to a pile of life jackets on the beach. “Put on your PFD and climb on board.”
Ellie and Tucker put on their life jackets and water shoes. When they were ready, she moved to the craft’s stern, grabbed the handle on the back of the seat, and hoisted herself onto the boarding platform. Tucker followed suit and scooted behind her on the seat.
She secured the key on its cord around her wrist, turned on the ignition switch, and slowly pushed the throttle, instructing Tucker with each step.
“Hold on.” She kept the vehicle’s speed at five mph, increasing to ten, until they were safely away from the shoreline. “Are you ready for a fun ride?”
“You bet.”
Ellie gradually increased her speed until her hair was flying out behind her, likely in Tucker’s face. She told Tucker to lean with the craft as she executed a turn. He leaned too far, and the next thing she knew, the Jet Ski capsized, throwing them into the water.
The key jerked from the ignition by the kill switch cord as Ellie flew off. She went beneath the surface, then rose, sputtering and laughing, and whipped her hair out of her face.
Tucker bobbed up as she did, his face splitting into a grin. “You know how to show a guy a good time.”
She laughed and pushed the Jet Ski over, Tucker joining in. They hoisted themselves up from the stern into the seat. She gave him a few tips, drove him around, and they flipped over again.
They mounted the craft, and when they were both secure, Ellie said, “Hold on tight.”
She opened the throttle, and they flew over the lake’s surface, heading further away from shore. Ellie laughed with sheer delight, her hair flying around her face.
Exhilarated, she had a hard time slowing down so that Tucker could have a turn at driving the Jet Ski. She drove the vehicle back in the direction of the shore.
She looked over her shoulder. “Ready to take the driver’s seat?”
Tucker nodded. “I think I have the feel of it.”
Ellie slowed the craft to a stop. She turned the key over to him, and he slipped the cord over his wrist. They dismounted, and when they climbed on again, Tucker settled into the driver’s seat.
“Take it nice and slow.” Ellie had to lean to look around him. “Have you driven a motorcycle?”
He nodded. “One of my brothers got one when he was sixteen, and we all learned to ride it.”
“Consider this the motorcycle of water crafts.” Ellie slid her arms around his taut abs. “When you feel comfortable, open the throttle a little at a time.”
Tucker did so, and he kept the Jet Ski at a slow rate of speed, gradually increasing. He took a turn too tightly, causing them to capsize.
Once they were back on the craft, they rode around a while longer. Tucker glanced over his shoulder. “We should get the Jet Ski back to Jace.”
“He’s probably been sharing with the others.” Ellie settled her chin on his shoulder. “This was fun.”
He nodded, keeping the craft at a moderate speed, slowing to five mph as they got closer to the shore.
They dismounted and returned the craft to Jace, then removed their life jackets and put them in a chest on the lower deck at the stern.
“I’ve worked up an appetite,” Ellie said as they headed up the stairs to the upper deck.
Tucker’s stomach audibly rumbled. “You and me both.”
She tipped her chin and breathed deeply. “Dad’s grilling burgers.” She smiled over her shoulder at him. “Let’s get there before the boys so they don’t eat everything before we get a chance at our share.”
Dinner was relaxing and fun as they sat around the table on the upper deck.
They ate grilled burgers and hot dogs, along with all the fixings, as well as BBQ-flavored potato chips, salt-and-vinegar chips, and tortilla chips.
They drank beer and margaritas, and Hoss told a few tall tales during the meal.
Ellie had used sunscreen earlier, but she felt well-toasted. She was grateful she didn’t have a sunburn, given how much time they’d spent in the water.
After dinner, Greta brought out two authentic German black forest cakes that she’d made the night before. She was great at packing her desserts, and the cakes arrived at the houseboat with them just fine, looking as beautiful as they had when she made them.
Jace followed with a big tub of vanilla ice cream and a scoop, and Braxton brought the dessert plates and forks.
“Tanner’s and my favorite birthday cake.” Ellie found the twenty-eight candles flickering on top of each cake mesmerizing in the dim light. “Mom makes the best German pastries.”
“Happy Birthday, Sis.” Tanner put his arm around her shoulders and gave her an affectionate squeeze.
“Happy Birthday, Brother,” she responded as the family began to sing Happy Birthday to them.
Jace counted to three, and they each blew out the candles on their own cake at the same time.
“Make your wishes,” Greta said.
Ellie thought about it. She had everything she could want in life. She hoped with all her heart that it could continue just as it was.
She and Tanner each received a pile of gifts as usual. The McLeods always gave each other presents.
Tucker handed Ellie a small, wrapped gift. She tore off the paper, opened the chocolate-brown velvet box, and her eyes widened in surprise. A pair of gold earrings with chocolate diamonds sparkled against the cream satin of the box.
She smiled up at him. “You remembered that I love chocolate diamonds. Thank you.”
He rested his hand beneath the table on her thigh and gave her a light squeeze. “Happy birthday, Ellie.”
She hugged him, then gave him a soft kiss.
After they enjoyed cake and ice cream, then cleaned up, Levi brought out several board and card games to choose from. Greta and Hoss played cards, while the other six of them settled on the classic edition of Trivial Pursuit.
Tucker, Ellie, and her brothers had a highly competitive game with Ellie winning by a whisker. They each had different strengths and were all good at Trivial Pursuit. They decided on another round, and this time Levi won.
It was late when they finally went to their cabins, and Ellie fell into an exhausted sleep, spooning with the man she loved.
Ellie and Tucker stayed until Monday afternoon. Ellie had to fly to L.A. on Tuesday morning, and Tucker needed to return to his ranch.
They’d had a great time shooting skeet, swimming, fishing, and taking the Jet Skis out. They played games in the evenings, taking pleasure in the cool night air.
Ellie wished they didn’t have to leave—it felt like they hadn’t stayed long enough. But she was working on a new anime project and having fun with it.
The hardest part of going out of town was not seeing Tucker as much as she used to. But eventually it would slow. She needed to take advantage of the attention she’d gotten due to her work on Myth Hunter .
When they got back to her townhouse, they dropped her gear from the trip on the floor.
“Stay the night.” She placed her palms on his chest. “My flight doesn’t leave until early afternoon.”
He kissed her and brushed her hair behind her ear. “I’d like that.”
“Oh, good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body to his. “We can start with a nice, warm shower. Then a little something to eat before we go to bed.”
He slid his hands down to her bottom and brought her even closer to him. “I’m ready for that shower.” The hard ridge between them let her know he was thinking the same thing as she was.
She smiled, took his hand, and led him up to her bedroom.