Rising Tides
Page 29

"Oh, well." Mortified, she snatched up her cleaning rag, twisted it in her hands. "I was just… finishing up in here."
"You always were a pretty dancer." He'd promised himself he would put things back the way they'd been between them, so he smiled at her as he would a friend. "You always dance around the bathroom after you clean it?"
"Doesn't everyone?" She did her best to answer his smile, but the heat continued to sting her cheeks. "I thought I'd be done before y'all got back. I guess the floors took longer than I figured on."
"They look nice. Foolish already had a slide. Surprised you didn't hear it."
"I was daydreaming. I thought I'd—" Then she managed to clear her brain and get a good look at him. He was filthy, covered with sweat and grime and God knew what. "You're not thinking of taking a shower in here?"
Ethan lifted a brow. "It crossed my mind."
"No, you can't."
He shifted back because she'd taken a step forward. He had a good idea just how he smelled at the moment. That was reason enough to keep his distance, but worse, she looked so fresh and pretty. He'd taken a solemn vow not to touch her again, and he meant to keep it.
"Why?"
"Because I don't have time to clean it up again after you, or the bath downstairs, either. I still have to fry the chicken. I thought I'd make that and a bowl of potato salad so you wouldn't have to worry about heating anything up when Cam and Anna get home. I have to deal with the kitchen after, so I just don't have time, Ethan."
"I've been known to mop up a bathroom after I've used one."
"It's not the same. You just can't use it."
Flustered, he took off his cap, dragged a hand through his hair. "Well, then, that's a problem because we've got three men here who need to scrape off a few layers of dirt."
"There's a bay right outside your door."
"But—"
"Here." She opened the cabinet under the sink for a fresh bar of soap. Damned if she'd have them use the pretty guest soaps she set out in a dish. "I'll get you towels and some fresh clothes."
"But—"
"Go on now, Ethan, and tell the others what I said." She shoved the soap into his hand. "You're already scattering dust everywhere."
He scowled at the soap, then at her. "You'd think the Royal Family was dropping by for a visit. Damn it, Grace, I'm not stripping down to my skin and jumping off the dock."
"Oh, like you've never done it before."
"Not with a female around."
"I've seen naked men a time or two, and I'm going to be too busy to take Polaroids of you and your brothers.
Ethan, I've just spent the best part of my day getting this house to shine. You're not spreading your dirt around."
Disgusted, because in his experience arguing with a woman's made-up mind was as painful and fruitless as banging your head against a brick wall, he shoved the soap in his pocket. "I'll get the damn towels."
"No, you won't. Your hands are filthy. I'll bring them out." Muttering to himself, he went downstairs. Phillip's reaction to the bathing arrangements was a shrug. Seth's was pure glee. He darted outside, calling for the dogs to follow, and sent shoes, socks, shirt, scattering as he raced for the dock.
"He'll probably never want to take a regular bath again," Phillip commented. He sat on the dock to remove his shoes.
Ethan remained standing. He wasn't taking off a blessed thing until Grace delivered the towels and clothes and was back in the house. "What are you doing?" he demanded when Phillip pulled his sweat-stained T-shirt over his head.
"I'm taking off my shirt."
"Well, put it back on. Grace is coming out."
Phillip glanced up, saw that his brother was perfectly serious, and laughed. "Get a grip, Ethan. Even the sight of my amazing and manly chest isn't likely to send her over the edge." To prove it, he rose and shot Grace a grin as she crossed the lawn. "I heard something about fried chicken," he called out.
"I'm about to get to it." When she reached the dock, she set the towels and clean clothes in neat piles. Then she straightened, smiling out to where Seth and the dogs splashed. She imagined they'd scared every bird and fish away for two miles. "This arrangement suits them just fine."
"Why don't you take a dip with us?" Phillip suggested and swore he heard Ethan's jaw crack. "You can scrub my back."
She laughed and picked up the clothes that had already been discarded. "It's been a while since I've gone skinny-dipping, and as appealing as it sounds, I've got too much to do to play right now. You give me the rest of your clothes, I'll get them washed before I go."
"Appreciate it." But when Phillip reached for his belt buckle, Ethan jabbed an elbow into his ribs.
"You can wash them later if you're set on it. Go in the house."
"He's shy." Phillip wiggled his brows. "I'm not." Grace only laughed again, but she headed back to the house to give them privacy.
"You shouldn't tease her that way," Ethan muttered.
"I've been teasing her that way for years." Phillip peeled himself out of his work-stained jeans, delighted to be rid of them.
"Now it's different."
"Why?" Phillip started to slip out of his silk boxers, then caught the look in Ethan's eye. "Oh. Well, well. Why didn't you say so?"
"I got nothing to say." Because Grace was in the house now and he couldn't imagine her pressing her nose to the window, he pulled off his shirt.
"It's her voice that always got me."
"Huh?"
"That throaty sound," Phillip continued, pleased to be able to rile Ethan about something. "Low and smooth and sexy."
Gritting his teeth, Ethan pried off his work boots. "Maybe you shouldn't listen so hard." "What can I do? Can I help it if I have perfect hearing? Perfect eyesight, too," he added, judging the distance between them. "And as far as I can see, there's nothing wrong with the rest of her either. Her mouth's particularly attractive. Full, shapely, unpainted. Looks tasty to me." Ethan took two slow breaths as he tugged off his jeans. "Are you trying to irritate me?"