Page 26 of Waiting For A Girl Like You (Haven House #4)

“A what now?” Emmett called out as he neared. “Hold up. I can’t hear you.”

Reaching the edge of the dock, Emmett Watson stood above them, and Jamison felt Liam’s toe nudge her thigh, meaning he wanted her to take the lead.

Wonderful.

“Hi! I’m McKenzie, and this is my boyfriend, Rick,” she chirped. “We’re lookin’ for the rainbow swamps I saw online?” She tossed her shoulders in a casual shrug that conveniently jiggled her breasts. “And, like… we’re totally lost.”

Emmett took his time to answer, enjoying the show she was putting on. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard of a rainbow swamp. ”

“We read about them before coming down here on vacation,” Liam said, pulling her back into his lap so she was stretched out against his chest. It was a calculated move—one that displayed her torso and bikini top in full glory.

Emmett visibly paled, his tongue darting out to swipe the corner of his mouth.

“They’re really pretty,” Jamison purred. “At least in the pictures.”

“She’s been dying to see one,” Liam added. “And what this woman wants, she always gets.”

On cue, Jamison giggled like a moron. While they inflated the kayak, Liam had explained that Emmett was big into porn and loved to watch it all day long.

And the guy was definitely watching now. Playing into the moment, she opened her legs a little while Liam’s hand stroked her stomach, his fingers dipping dangerously low. “Don’t you, baby?”

Jamison let out another sugar-coated giggle. “Always.”

“Mother of God,” Emmett exhaled, his chest rising and falling a little too fast, his eyes locked on the popped top button of her denim shorts. “I might, uh , have some maps in the house. Miss, you can come inside and take a look while your friend waits in this here, uh … floatie thing.”

There was no way in hell she was walking into the Little Shack of Probable Horrors.

Judging by the way Emmett was hard-eye-fucking her from ten feet up, Jamison would’ve bet her left ovary that fish weren’t the only thing he filleted in there.

The guy had unhinged written all over him in Comic Sans, and her gaze swept the yard, half expecting to spot fresh mounds of dirt from where he buried his victims.

“We’d love to, but we only have a few minutes to explore.” Jamison bit down on her bottom lip. “Our guide boat is parked just around the bend.”

“It won’t take but a minute.” Emmett adjusted himself—right there in her face—and she tried not to gag. “You look like you’ve been cooped up in that little dingy for too long and need a good stretch.”

Calling on every ounce of acting ability she had, Jamison held Emmett’s stare. “Is it just you back here?” she asked, dialing her accent up to an eleven and adding a sultry back arch for good measure. “In this little slice of quiet paradise?”

“Yeah, just me.” Emmett puffed his chest with pride. “Ain’t nobody else out here for miles.”

“You mean you’re the only one with a spot on the water?” She gestured west toward Port Michaelson with an exaggerated flourish. “All the way to that city over yonder? Nobody else has a house and a dock like this?”

“That’s right. Ain’t another dock ‘til the marina in Port Michaelson.”

Jamison batted her lashes like a Disney princess.

Simone had taught her years ago that appealing to a man’s ego would get you almost anything.

She had called them simple creatures with simple needs, who would roll over and tell you all their secrets, but only if you discovered exactly which part of their self-confidence to stroke.

“Oh, my.” She sat up off Liam’s chest with a breathy gasp. “Secluded waterfront property? I can’t even imagine. We live in a boring ol’ apartment up in Tennessee. It’s so cold this time of year, and there’s not much to do.”

Emmett sneered at Liam over her shoulder, and Jamison would’ve paid good money to see his expression right then. He was playing his role like a pro, but the man had a temper and he was armed. If Emmett didn’t dial it down, this little field trip could easily turn into a justifiable homicide.

“I take you places,” Liam said in a convincingly annoyed grumble. “I brought you on this vacation, didn’t I?”

Emmett’s attention slid right back to her, and Jamison hit him with another big, shiny smile. “I guess.”

“Sometimes a woman needs more than a vacation,” Emmett drawled in a low voice that was about as seductive as a clogged garbage disposal. “Sometimes she needs the heat all year long.”

Dear God, make it stop. Drawing in a breath, she pretended to look around, focusing on the patch of forest leading east and straight to Haven House. “What’s down there?”

The flirtatious glint in Emmett’s eyes dimmed. “Don’t go down there.”

“Are there alligators?” Jamison clutched her imaginary pearls. “Are there alligators around here ?”

“Oh, come on now. Gators don’t hurt nobody.” The darkness in Emmett’s gaze faded at her question, his smirk deepening as he directed his words at Liam. “Except maybe dumb fuckers who bring their girls out in a stupid inflatable floatie ‘cause they can’t afford no real kayak. ”

Oh, yeah. This man was just looking to get shot.

“You know, we should get going. That guide boat will leave us.” Liam shifted behind her, preparing to shove away from the dock. “And we wouldn’t want to interrupt your company.”

Jamison hadn’t noticed the truck pulling up to the shack, and by the way Emmett’s head whirled around to watch it arrive, he was just as surprised.

The old thing looked half-rusted like someone had almost driven it out of the swamp, and when it stopped in front of the shack, the brakes whined in protest.

“Yeah, we better go. Come on… Rick .” She winced, realizing she’d forgotten the fake names they had decided on. “I don’t want to be left.”

Liam gave the dock a sharp push with his paddle, sending them drifting back into the water. They weren’t far from the main boat, but she doubted they’d be returning to it yet. Knowing Liam, they were heading right back to their hiding spot to watch.

“Give him a goodbye wave,” Liam murmured, “and try to see who’s in that truck.”

Twisting in her seat, Jamison mustered another cheery wave and scanned the scene. “Goodbye! Thank you for your time!” she called, smiling too hard and too wide. “Maybe we’ll meet again once I finally get to see those rainbow swamps!”

Emmett cupped a hand to his mouth. “Hey, man! Ain’t you gonna find her that rainbow swamp? A woman like that deserves better!”

“Please don’t shoot him,” Jamison hissed as she faced forward, her posture tight with unease. “ Rick is a pacifist, and shooting him would really mess with McKenzie ’s moral code.”

“Rick and McKenzie need to get the fuck over it, and Emmett needs one of these paddles jammed straight up his ass,” Liam snarled, his strokes quick and rough as they glided out of sight. “Could you see who was in the truck?”

“Two men.” She wanted to look again, but couldn’t risk it. “They parked in a shaded spot, so I can’t see their faces through the windshield.”

“I’m going to take us out and then double back so we can watch safely from the trees.”

She perked up. “Does that mean I can paddle now?”

“Hell, no.”