No Strings Attached.

Kate Angell.

Alicia Condon, my editor. I appreciate you.

Hallie Flack, my friend since elementary school. You inspired Sophie Saunders.

My go-to ladies who support me when I'm writing: Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Jina Bacarr, Marion Brown, Debbie Roome, and Kelly Callahan. I thank you.

At the beach the rule is no shirt, no shoes . . .

NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

One.

"Blonde, metallic blue bikini, left side of the pier near the boogie board rental," Mac James said in a low voice as he handed Dune a twenty-ounce cup of black coffee from Brews Brothers. The scent of Bakehouse doughnuts rose from a bakery box. "I'm betting Brazilian wax. She's definitely a two-nighter."

Dune Cates raised an eyebrow. "Brazilian?"

Mac blew on his coffee to cool it. "Women discuss boxers, briefs, or commando on a man. I debate waxing."

Dune shook his head. Mac was his partner on the professional beach volleyball tour. On court, they were as close as brothers and in each other's heads. Off court, their lifestyles differed greatly. Mac was up for anything at any given time. Dune, on the other hand, was more conservative. He had foresight and weighed the pros and cons. He knew when and where to draw the line, whereas Mac had no boundaries. He saw life as a free-for-all.

Mac had dated more women than Dune could count. He'd recently parted ways with a waxing technician at VaDazzle Salon in Los Angeles. The salon was known for its pubic hair designs. Mac now played his V-games with the eye of an expert.

Dune had pretty much seen it all. His bed partners shaped their pubes into lightning bolts, hearts, and initials. One female surfer dyed her pubic hair pink. Another was striped like a zebra. His most fascinating lover had been shaved and decorated with stick-on crystals. She'd sparkled like a disco ball.

His preference was, and always had been, a light bikini wax or totally natural. He didn't need creative techniques to turn him on.

He leaned his forearms against the bright blue pipe railing that separated the boardwalk from the beach. He took a deep sip of his coffee. It was midmorning and the sun warmed his back right between his shoulder blades. The heat never bothered him. He'd grown up at the beach. The sand and shoreline were home to him. It was where he earned his living.

He looked toward the boogie boards. The blonde stood out. She was definitely Mac's type. His partner loved long hair and legs that went from here to eternity. The woman's hair skimmed nearly to her waist and her legs were sleek and toned.

Dune read women well. He knew who liked him as a person and who only wanted a piece of his action. He recognized the blonde as a woman who enticed men and enjoyed their attention. She made a theatrical production of laying out her towel, then rubbing on suntan oil. She was soon slick. Her entire body glistened.

Beside him, Mac opened the bakery box and offered Dune first choice. He selected a glazed doughnut. Mac chose one with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.

"Sweet cheeks near the volleyball net," Mac said between bites. "Red one-piece, black hair, French wax. Nice walk. I'd follow her anywhere."

Sweet cheeks was tall and slender, Dune noted. She moved with the slow, sensuous grace of a woman who knew her body well and owned the moment. The lady was hot.

Mac squinted against the sun. "Tattooed chick in a fringed camo thong bikini, third in line at the concession stand," he said. "Is that a tat of a rattler coiled on her stomach?"

Dune checked her out. "Looks like one."

She was a walking advertisement for a tattoo parlor. He saw just how much she liked snakes when she widened her stance. A python wrapped her left leg; its split tongue darted out as if licking her inner thigh.

"Snakebite, Dude," Mac said. "Woman's got venom. I bet her pubes are shaved and tattooed with a cobra."

"She's definitely into reptiles."

Mac reached for a second doughnut topped with cinnamon sugar. "Sex and snakes don't mix. I'd go soft if I heard hissing or a rattle."

"Major mood killer," Dune agreed.

They drank their coffee and ate their doughnuts in companionable silence. All along the coastline, sunbathers sought their own private space. That space was limited. The expanding crowd was an improvement from the previous summer when the economy tanked and one person had the entire beach to himself. It felt good to see his hometown thrive.

Mac nudged him, pointed right. "Check out the desert nomad at water's edge."

The woman was easy to spot. She was short and overdressed for the beach. She wore all white. White reflected the sun. A Gilligan bucket hat covered her hair. Her sunglasses were enormous, hiding her face. A rain poncho capped her shoulders, and she wore waterproof pants tucked into rubber boots.

She walked slowly along the compact sand, only to retreat when a splash of foam chased her. It appeared she didn't want to get wet. She bent down once, touched the water, then quickly shook the drops from her hand.

She played tag with the Gulf for several minutes before turning toward the boardwalk. She tripped over her feet and nearly fell near the lifeguard station. The guard on duty left his female admirers and took her by the arm. He smiled down at her. She dipped her head, embarrassed.

The lifeguard gave her an encouraging pat on her shoulder and sent her on her way. Her rubber boots seemed overly large, and she stumbled two more times on her way to the wooden ramp. Sunbathers scooted out of her way.

The closer the woman came, the slower Dune breathed.

His heart gave a surprising squeeze. Sophie Saunders. He was sure of it. No one else would dress so warmly on a summer day. And Sophie was naturally clumsy.

Ten months had passed since he'd last seen her, although he'd thought about her often. They'd come together for a worthy cause: to boost the Barefoot William economy.

His younger sister Shaye had organized a local pro/am volleyball tournament to keep their town alive. He'd provided the professional players. The pros were auctioned to amateur athletes. Sophie had bid ten thousand dollars to be his partner. She wasn't good at sports, but she had the heart of a champion.

Sophie, with her brown hair and evergreen eyes, had a high IQ but low self-esteem. She was a bookworm, shy and afraid of her own shadow. She feared crowds and the ocean, yet she'd powered through the sports event and made a decent showing. He wondered if she'd ever learned to swim.

Her image had stuck with him. He remembered things about her that he'd rather have forgotten. She had amazing skin, fair, smooth, and soft. Her scent was light and powdery: vanilla and innocence. Her hair smelled like baby shampoo. She hid her curves beneath layers of clothing, yet her body gave off a woman's heat.

She'd bought her very first swimsuit for the tournament. He could close his eyes and still picture her in the cobalt blue tankini. He could hear the male fans on the outdoor bleachers applaud and whistle their appreciation. Sweet Sophie had an amazing body.

Their team had fought hard during the event. He'd tried to shield her when they'd battled through the loser's bracket. His best attempts hadn't saved her, not by a long shot.

Sophie wasn't the least bit athletic and had taken a beating. Opponents nailed her with the ball time and again. She'd gotten sunburned, bruised her knees, and eaten sand. Yet she'd never complained. Not once.

To this day he regretted not telling her good-bye when the weekend ended. Instead he'd watched her walk away. It had been for the best. She was a Saunders, and he was a Cates. A century-old feud had separated the families back then.

The lines of hostility had blurred when Shaye married Sophie's brother Trace. Both sides had eventually accepted their marriage. Only his Grandfather Frank had yet to come around. He was old-Florida, opinionated and stubborn, and set in his ways.

Dune figured everyone would forgive and forget once Shaye became pregnant. She and Trace wanted to start a family. Dune anticipated her announcement any day now. No one would want to miss the birth of the couple's first child.

He absently rubbed his wrist. He'd played a big part in Barefoot William's financial recovery, only to suffer for it later. Tendonitis was a bitch. Freak accidents occurred in all sports. Some were career-ending.

He'd taken a dive at the South Beach Open and fallen on his outstretched hand prior to his hometown tournament. He'd suffered a scaphoid fracture.

His orthopedist put him in a short, supportive cast and recommended that he not take part in the event. Dune refused to let his family down. He managed to serve and spike with one hand as well as others could with two. He'd played through the pain.

In retrospect, he shouldn't have participated. He'd aggravated his fracture further. Despite additional surgery and extensive therapy, he never regained full strength in his fingers and wrist.

He was a man of quick decisions, yet the thought of retirement left him feeling restless, indecisive, and old.

Sophie was so young. She was twenty-five to his thirty-six. Their age difference concerned him. He'd dated sweet young things, all worldly and experienced. But Sophie was unlike any woman he'd ever met. She was sensitive and vulnerable, and made him want to protect her.

He preferred no strings attached.

Here she was now twenty feet from him, her head down, watching her steps so she didn't fall. She made it onto the boardwalk without mishap and visibly relaxed. Her sigh and small smile indicated she'd accomplished a great feat and was proud of herself.

Mac stared at her, too. "It's Sophie. Damn, she's cute. Let's go talk to her."

Dune hesitated. "Let's see where she's headed first."

He removed his Suncats, a brand of sunglasses he'd recently endorsed on the tour. The lenses were small and oval with a dark olive tint. The sporty frame never slipped down his nose, even when he sweat or wore sunscreen. He hooked the sunglasses at the neck of his white polo.

Sophie was slow to move. It took her several minutes to catch her breath. Once she had, she entered Crabby Abby's General Store. The cherry red door caught on her rubber boot heel. She shook her foot until it released.

"Let's follow her," Mac said, tossing his coffee cup and the bakery box into a trash receptacle. "I need my Sophie fix."

Still Dune held back. "She's working."

Mac looked skeptical. "In that outfit?"

"She has a change of clothes inside," he said. "Abby's employees all wear shorts and a tank top."

"What's she doing on your boardwalk?" Mac asked. "Padding her trust fund?"

Dune shook his head. "She doesn't need the money. According to my sister, Sophie's trying to find her niche in the working world."

"Her niche wasn't Saunders Shores?"

"Not from what I understand." Dune then shared what Shaye had told him. "Sophie's shy and has struggled to fit in. She spent time at Trace's office, the Sandcastle Hotel, several boutiques and bistros, but nothing appealed to her. She's yet to settle on a career."

Shaye had further mentioned that the elite businesses overwhelmed Sophie, a fact Dune chose not to share with Mac. Sophie was quiet, reserved, and avoided crowds whenever possible. She was drawn to couture, but found it difficult to outfit upscale clientele.

Food service was not her strong suit, either. She'd messed up orders and dropped trays. She hadn't been fired, but the owners were relieved when her ventures took her elsewhere.

Dune ran a hand along the back of his neck, blew out a breath. "My sister's taken a special interest in Sophie," he said. "Shaye suggested she explore job opportunities on our boardwalk. Sophie refuses to be paid, so she's volunteering."

"She may like Barefoot William so much she decides to stay," said Mac.

Sophie as a permanent fixture on his boardwalk made Dune uneasy. He hoped that wasn't the case. He wasn't certain he wanted her here full-time. She was too nice, too naive, and too in need of a keeper. She'd prove distracting.

He wasn't in town long enough to watch over her. Nor did he have anyone in mind to appoint to the task. No one he'd trust, anyway.

He could easily understand her fascination with his hometown. The Cates's northern cement boardwalk linked to a wooden pier that catered to fishermen, sun worshippers, water sport enthusiasts, and tourists who didn't wear a watch on vacation.

Amusement arcades and carnival rides drew large crowds. The specialty shops sold everything from Florida T-shirts to ice cream, sunglasses to sharks' teeth, and shells to Hula-Hoops.

A century-old carousel whirled within a weatherproof enclosure. Its walls of windows overlooked the Gulf. The whir of the Ferris wheel was soothing, while the swing ride that whipped out and over the waves sent pulses racing.

Neon lights flashed at night and music poured from many of the shops. People danced down the boardwalk, free and uninhibited. Many played blacklight volleyball on the beach. Glow-in-the-dark Frisbees were tossed along the shoreline. A few tourists skinny-dipped near the pier after midnight. Barefoot William was as honky-tonk as Saunders Shores was high-profile.

Waterfront mansions welcomed the rich and retired in Sophie's world. Yachts the size of cruise ships lined the waterways. Private airstrips replaced commercial travel. The wealthy were a community unto themselves. Forbes listed Saunders Shores as the wealthiest resort community in the country.

"So?" Max nudged Dune with his elbow. "Do we surprise Sophie or not?"

He shrugged, still reluctant.

Mac rolled his eyes.

Dune scanned the beach. A NO LITTERING sign caught his attention. He'd played Big Word, Little Words as a kid, a game where the player made shorter words out of the letters of the longer one. He did so now to distract himself from the matter at hand. Littering: Let, get, ring, in, gin, it.

"You never told her good-bye and you regretted it," Mac persisted, interrupting his game. "It might be nice to say hello. You're home for a month. You're bound to bump into her." He paused. "You know you want to see her."

Dune was conflicted. He and Mac could go together or Mac would go alone. A part of him didn't want his partner alone with her. Mac had a soft spot for Sophie. He used to tease her until her whole body blushed. She blushed more than any woman Dune had ever known. Mac could easily turn his teasing into hitting on her. That bothered Dune a lot.

"I'm in," he finally agreed.

Mac grinned.

"What are you smiling about?" asked Dune.

"You know what I'm smiling about."

Mac knew him as well as his own brothers. Dune had always considered Mac family. Mac was the bat-shit crazy cousin who pushed everyone's buttons. And got away with it.

Approaching Sophie now gave Dune the opportunity to establish boundaries. He didn't want hero worship or fan girl from her, only a friendship. Keeping her at arm's length worked best.

He braced himself as he walked the few feet to the general store. He hated the fact Sophie threw off his breathing. His chest hitched just as it always did right before the first serve in a volleyball game.

Anticipation wound him tight.

Sophie Saunders was on her hands and knees on the hardwood floor when Dune Cates and his partner Mac James pushed through the door. Dune. Her stomach dipped and her body went soft. The Windex spray bottle and cleaning cloth she was using to wipe down the glass shelves of the pharmacy counter slipped through her fingers. The bottle hit the floor and rolled just out of her reach.

She pushed her orange half-frame reading glasses higher on her nose, then peeked through the crack of the small wooden doors and watched the two men approach. She knew them both, but hadn't seen either one since the previous summer when she'd partnered with Dune for the pro/am volleyball tournament to raise money for Barefoot William.

It had been the best three days of her life. They'd scored the winner's trophy in the loser's bracket. She cherished the small trophy, designed with a silver volleyball on a block of polished wood. It sat in a place of honor on the top shelf of her antique glass-front barrister's bookcase between her clothbound first editions of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and Augusta Jane Evann's St. Elmo.

The trophy was visible from all angles in her library. She would look up from reading, see the award, and smile. The trophy made her feel like a winner. It gave her strength and contentment.

Her inner peace vanished the moment she saw Dune. He made her jumpy and edgy and nervous. Gossip on the boardwalk had him coming home in June. But it was only the middle of May. Sophie hadn't expected him today.