"You've been concerned about her.

"Yeah," Dune admitted. "Sophie's special."

Mac finished off his juice and stood up. "I'd ask her out if you weren't seeing her," he said. "I still might once you leave town."

"You're such an ass." Dune pushed to his feet, then stepped off the bleachers. "You need to fix things with Jen."

"I will eventually," Mac conceded.

"I need your A-game at Huntington."

"Don't worry. I'll bring it."

Sophie Saunders brought a pair of goggles, a nose clip, hand paddles, flippers, a snorkel, a kickboard, and a waist strap with foam blocks to her first swim lesson.

She answered the door in her blue tankini and full aquatic gear. Dune couldn't help staring. "You've been shopping," he noted.

"I got outfitted at Diver Dan's."

She'd gotten the works. He was surprised the salesclerk hadn't sold her a wet suit, air tank, and speargun. "All you need is me, Sophie."

She deflated. "Think I overdid it?"

He didn't want to hurt her feelings. "Maybe just a little," he said. "The items you purchased are for swimming in the Gulf. We'll be in the shallow end of your pool, where you can stand."

"I'm scared," she confessed.

"You jumped in twice."

"Both times without thinking."

Dune evaluated their situation. She'd been excited about her swim lesson earlier in the day, yet she'd had hours to dwell on her decision. She'd worked herself up and he needed to calm her down.

He dropped his athletic bag on the aqua marble floor and drew her close. He wanted to feel her against him. Six inches of foam block kept them apart. The lifebelt dug into his groin. He sucked air. Shifted his stance.

Despite their separation, Sophie stretched and wrapped her arms about his waist. She slapped him on the back with her hand paddles. Her flippers tromped his bare feet. Her eyes looked twice their size behind the goggles. The nose clip forced her to breathe through her mouth. She puffed air.

Dune gently set her back. "Let's strip down to the basics," he suggested. "Swimsuits only."

He helped her remove her goggles. She blinked up at him. Her expression reflected her every emotion. She was self-conscious in her swimsuit and deathly afraid of the pool. Color drained from her face. She needed reassurance.

He brushed her hair out of her eyes.

She leaned her cheek into his palm.

He kissed her lightly.

She managed a small smile.

He wanted her relaxed. He soothed her further. He skimmed his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. Her skin was as soft as living silk. "It's going to be fine, Sophie, trust me."

She nodded, and he removed her nose clip. She inhaled deeply and tried to rub her nostrils. She nearly poked her eye out with the end of a hand paddle. Dune massaged the bridge of her nose until the red marks faded.

Off came the foam block belt and paddles. He then knelt down and helped her remove the flippers. They fit her feet tightly. Her toes were pinched. He noticed she'd changed the color of her toenail polish from purple to a glossy red. He smiled to himself. She was going for sexy.

She stood before him now in only her suit. He could sense her apprehension as she fought her nerves. Dune had never been afraid of anything in his entire life. He wanted to infuse that kind of confidence into Sophie.

He took her by the hand and led her down the hallway. She dragged her feet. He caught sight of the hamsters. Sophie had purchased them a new plastic ball. They cornered the kitchen and rolled straight toward them. The girls appeared to have grown overnight.

Sophie perked up. "I named the darker of the two Scarlett," she said, "as in Scarlett O'Hara. I love Gone with the Wind and think Scarlett is a brave name."

Dune agreed. "She looks like a Scarlett."

"I want you to name the other."

The honor carried a huge responsibility. He gave it some thought. "How about Glinda," he said, "after the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz." He figured the movie would appeal to her.

And it did. "Glinda is perfect!" She seemed pleased.

The Dwarfies did a U-turn and followed them all the way to the sliding glass doors. Their little legs were churning fast. Dune and Sophie slipped out before the girls could follow them. He then secured the sliders. The hamsters reversed their direction. There'd be no repeat of the ball in the pool incident.

He drew Sophie across the pool deck to the shallow end. The night was quiet, the air calm. The inside lights reflected outward. The glow was both intimate and private.

Dune tugged on her hand, hoping she'd take the stairs down into the water alongside him. Instead, she held back. He scooped a handful of water and splashed her.

She glared at him.

He laughed at her.

"Ease up, Sophie," he teased. "The pool is as warm as bathwater."

She gripped his hand tightly. He was her lifeline. One step down and an inch of water covered her ankles. He was sure she'd hyperventilate.

"Take deep breaths," he instructed her.

Her eyes were wide. She trembled.

He continued down the stairs ahead of her. He now stood on the floor of the pool. Their clutched hands and outstretched arms connected them. He squeezed her fingers.

"I want to kiss you," he enticed her.

"Come back to the steps."

"No, you come to me."

Her expression nearly did him in. She wanted him, would do anything for him, yet fear paralyzed her.

"Three steps, Sophie," he encouraged her. "You can do this."

She blinked and a tear escaped.

He felt awful.

She probably felt worse.

Her breathing deepened as she gathered her courage. The stairs were forgotten as she took a wild leap. She landed in his arms. He collected her to him. She buried her face in his neck and her heartbeat raced against his chest. Her thighs tightened like a vise at his waist. She wasn't ready to be kissed. Her full concentration was centered on not drowning.

He ran his hands down her back and cupped her bottom. He needed to distract her. He shifted the conversation from the pool to her pedicab tours. He rested his forehead against hers and asked, "Any soreness from pedaling?"

She leaned back slightly. "Shaye limited my tours. I only did three. She mentioned buying a trolley so I could ride easily and reach more tourists."

"That's my sister, the businesswoman. She's always thinking of ways to benefit our town," he said as he eased the two of them beyond the stairs. He hoped Sophie wouldn't notice. She didn't. Not yet anyway.

"I made sixty dollars in tips," Sophie said. "I plan to give the money to the animal shelter."

"They'll appreciate every dime."

"I stopped by Three Shirts and paid Randy before I left the boardwalk. He bought his sunglasses and a T-shirt for his sister. He plans to purchase something for his father with his next paycheck."

"Speaking of his dad," Dune began. She'd given him the perfect opening to convey his conversation with the mayor. "My uncle wanted me to pass on a message." He laid out James's plans for the museum.

Sophie had loosened her death grip on him by the time he finished. She was wide-eyed and interested. "Barefoot William deserves a museum," she agreed. "I'm honored James thought of me for the curator."

"Stop by his office for the details," Dune said.

"I will tomorrow."

Water sloshed between them. She looked around. "No deeper, Dune."

Busted. He kissed her at that moment to take her mind off the depth of the water. Her breath was sweet and moist. For all her fears, Sophie liked kissing. She slipped him her tongue. Dune let her tease and taste. She took pleasure in his mouth.

He slowly broke their kiss. "Back to your swimming lesson," he said. "It's time for you to stand on your own."

"How deep are we?"

"The water will reach your chest."

She glanced down on her breasts. "I'm not feeling very buoyant."

Dune chuckled. Sophie had a quirky sense of humor. She'd begun to relax. He released her, and she slid down his body. The slide was pure torment. Every inch of her brushed and bumped and he became as hard as her kickboard. He pushed back a step.

Panic flashed in her eyes. "Don't leave me, Dune."

"I won't," he assured her. "It's time for you to bounce a little, get a feel for the water."

Her bounces were controlled. He figured most of the ripples were caused by the shakiness of her body. It was slow going, but Dune had all night. He'd stick it out until Sophie learned the basics and she could survive in the pool on her own.

She was receptive and did her best to follow his instructions. Dune credited her for all she attempted. He taught her breathing techniques and how to float. She struggled through the arm strokes and kicking and developed her own style of swimming.

He finally stood off to the side and let her go it alone. Sophie couldn't swim a straight line. She zigzagged back and forth across the shallow end. She kicked like a champion, but she had little momentum.

She wore herself out. She clung to the side of the pool, hung her head, and exhaled. "I'm tired," she said.

He'd grown weary just watching her. "Let's call it a night."

She scooted her hands along the edge toward the handrail. She was halfway there when he saw her face contort. She hunched over as if she were in pain. What had happened?

He made a mad splash through the water to reach her. "Sophie, are you okay?" He didn't wait for her to answer. He circled her waist and lifted her up onto the side of the pool. "Where does it hurt?" he asked.

"A cramp. My left calf." Her voice shook.

He ran his hands from her knee to her ankle, kneading, palming, and seeking the knot. He made several attempts to find it, but he felt nothing but her smooth skin.

"Flex your foot up, then straighten it."

She did. "It hurts." She closed her eyes, moaned.

Dune studied her. Something was off. Her moan didn't sound real. It seemed forced and robotic. What the hell? He caught her squint and knew instantly she was playing him.

He ran one hand down his face. "You got me good," was all he could say.

She bent her knee, placed her foot on his chest, and shoved. He flopped back and flailed his arms for effect. She grinned. "When you prank someone, chances are good they'll prank you back." She tossed his words back in his face.

He'd started it and she'd finished it. He'd fooled her when he'd pretended to drown, but Sweet Sophie now pulled her own practical joke. He liked this side of her. She seemed quite pleased with herself, too.

She inched toward the handrail and started up the steps. Dune caught her from behind and dragged her back into the pool. She slipped underwater. She came up sputtering. He tucked her into his body. She squirmed, then settled against his chest, her legs wrapped around his hips. He shifted his stance and she went suddenly still.

"You poked me," she said.

"No, I didn't."

Then he realized he had. Sophie turned him on and his dick was rigid. The head of his penis now bumped her sex. She was fascinated by their fit in the water. It wouldn't take much to slip off her bikini bottoms, drop his board shorts, and slip inside her.

That would be too quick.

He wanted their first time to be as close to perfect as he could make it. She deserved a lot of foreplay.

"That's just the nature of the beast," he said ruefully. "I want you, and my body gives me away."

He'd expected her to blush, but she surprised him. "I like a sure sign in a man," she said softly. "There's no mistaking your need."

He looked down on her. Her pulse quickened at the base of her throat and her nipples puckered. Female instinct rocked her hips. She was as ready for him as he was for her.

The time was now.

"Your bedroom?" he asked.

"Follow the hamster ball," she said. "I just saw their shadows pass the sliders."