He raised his head and locked gazes with her. His blue eyes darkened; possessive and searing. His breathing became desperate.

A craving took hold of her and she began to unravel.

Time went away and her orgasm stretched to the breaking point. She moaned, stiffened. Shattered.

He came a second after her, his expression going from pain to pleasure. His ripping-hard climax drove her to a second orgasm. The aftershocks shook them both. They lay tangled and spent. The scent of sex lingered on the rumpled sheets.

Silence followed their sexual high. Neither one moved, neither one spoke. Neither chose to break their intimate truce.

He held her for a long, long time. She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his shoulder. They shared space. Breathed the same air.

It was then she realized her best friend Bree had been right. Every woman deserved a lover like Mac in her life.

Even for one night.

Fourteen.

Everyone deserved a birthday party like Sophie Saunders's, Dune thought as he leaned against the sliding glass doors that separated the kitchen from the pool deck. The day was golden. Bright and sparkling. The sky was as tropical blue as the water in the pool. The air vibrated with excitement and celebration.

He'd kept one eye on Sophie throughout the afternoon. He liked knowing where she was and what she was doing at any given time. She presently sat on the side of the pool, talking to Nicole Archer from The Jewelry Box. Sophie was animated and happy. So were all the people around her.

The crowd continued to grow as the afternoon wore on. His initial plans for her party had been intimate and low-key, but word soon spread, going viral. His friends and relatives crossed Center Street to make her day memorable. No one mentioned the century-old feud. The Cateses loved Sophie and wanted to take part in her special day.

Sophie wasn't shy today. She was comfortable with his family. She greeted her guests with smiles and hugs. Dune frowned when Mac kissed her on the mouth. His partner pushed his buttons. He could be a prick sometimes.

He glanced at all those gathered around the pool. Many lounged on the patio furniture and a few sat in the Jacuzzi. Several couples floated on double-wide air mattresses. Jenna Cates stretched out on a floating green sea turtle.

The young boys, Randy and Chuck, jumped off the diving board. Their cannonballs sprayed like geysers. No one cared. Everyone was in swimsuits.

Soon they had so many partiers, Dune and the other men set up buffet tables around the perimeters of the pool to accommodate everyone. Food in abundance was spread out everywhere, from picnic basics to gourmet dishes.

The Cates family grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. They'd brought baked beans, macaroni and cheese, corn on the cob, a variety of salads, and three-fruit Jell-O molds. Someone had sliced an enormous watermelon into triangles.

The Saunders family's chef contributed as well. Marisole refused to sit idle at Sophie's party. She'd arrived with a team of servers from the Sandcastle Hotel. They carted in trays of artichoke and prosciutto, crabmeat-stuffed deviled eggs, and shrimp linguini. The team loaded platters with cold fried chicken and beef kabobs. There were at least ten desserts. That didn't include the three-tiered birthday cake.

Sophie would send everyone home with a plate of leftovers. Mac would pack a cooler.

The scent of grilled burgers drifted over to Dune, making him hungry. Everything tasted better in the open air. He was about to help himself to the buffet when Mac James sauntered over to him.

Mac nodded toward the pool. "I see you taught Sophie how to swim," he said. "She has her own style."

Dune agreed. A most unique style. She'd slipped into the pool and was making waves. Her arms slapped the water and her legs kicked up a storm. His sister Shaye and her husband Trace moved out of Sophie's way as she reached the cement side.

Her hand now on the edge, Sophie bounced up and down to get her footing, then wiped the water from her eyes. She tilted her head and tried to clear her ears. Through it all, she smiled. Dune's heart warmed just looking at her.

Beside him, Mac twitched a grin. Dune knew what was coming. He set his back teeth. "What are you smiling about?" he asked.

Mac eyed Sophie. "You know what, big guy."

Dune knew without a doubt. Sophie had become an important part of his life in a very short time. Somehow he felt as if he'd known her forever. That was impossible. They hadn't crossed paths before the previous summer, but they had a strong bond nonetheless.

The two men watched as she bobbed and took a deep breath, ready to cut back across the pool. "I don't see synchronized swimming or an Olympic gold medal in her future," Mac said when Sophie collided with Jenna's float. "But she swims better than Ghost."

Dune glared at him.

"What?" Mac shrugged. "C'mon, it was a compliment."

"She's a beginner, but she'll improve," Dune said with confidence.

Every day she got stronger in the water. She wasn't secure in the pool alone, so she called Dune when she was ready to practice. He was there for her, sitting on the side for an hour, his feet in the water, and watching her do short laps.

He was in need of exercise as well. He'd skipped volleyball practice to set up Sophie's party. He felt the need to swim, jog . . . have sex.

Sex would be best.

He stretched out his arms and shifted his stance on the natural blue stone pool deck. The sun was brutal and the soles of his bare feet burned. Sophie had very fair skin. She needed to seek the shade.

"I hope she doesn't get sunburned." Mac also showed concern for her.

"She's covered in sunscreen," Dune told him.

"Nice use of your hands, bro."

Dune had slathered sunblock over every exposed inch of her body. He'd taken his time spreading the lotion evenly on her skin. Even then, a few rays snuck through. Soft pink spots stained her otherwise perfect complexion. Most likely, she'd have worked up an appetite after all her swimming.

Dune caught her eye and motioned for her to get out of the pool. She held up five fingers, indicating she would take a few more minutes. He nodded his understanding. She did another lap.

"When are you going to put a ring on her finger?" asked Mac.

Dune refused to give him a direct answer. Instead he said, "The same day you get engaged to Jenna." Sophie had once wagered that Mac and Jen would commit to each other by the end of the summer. He wondered if Sophie had an inside track on their romance.

He glanced at Jen on the green turtle float. Her eyes were closed and her lips were tipped up at the corners. She looked content. "You've stayed away from her today. What's up?" Dune asked Mac.

"I'm giving her space," Mac said easily.

"At her request?" asked Dune.

"A mutual agreement." His partner appeared very relaxed and confident in their decision. "She needs time to think about us."

"Us?" What the hell? When had Mac become an us?

"We worked through our issues," Mac said. "I'll keep my distance until after Huntington. Then we'll discuss our future."

"Your future?" Dune was stunned. He'd been so involved with Sophie, he'd lost track of his partner's pursuits.

Mac's smile was wide. "Jen and I found common ground."

They were sleeping together, Dune thought. At least they weren't at each other's throats, although a fading bruise on Mac's neck indicated there'd been biting.

"Here comes your girl," Mac said as Sophie gripped the handrail and took the steps, climbing out of the pool.

My woman. Dune openly admired Sophie. She looked hot in her new swimsuit. It was a birthday gift from Shaye. His sister had convinced Sophie that her blue tankini was outdated. Shaye had helped her select a one-piece black racer with crisscross straps in the back. Sophie looked sleek, slick, and sexy.

Dune nudged Mac when Mac stared too long.

Mac looked back at him. "Did you see the mountain of presents in her living room?" he asked. "I shook a few boxes and peeked into several gift cards. Lady's made a haul."

"What did you get her?"

"I bought her a beginner's cookbook at The Kitchen Sink," he said. "The information is very basic. It starts out by telling the cook the difference between the stove and refrigerator."

Dune rolled his eyes. "I think Sophie can skip the introduction."

"The cookbook also explains how long to prepare a three-minute egg," Mac said, enjoying his joke. "The recipes are easy. I've made One-Step Lasagna and Busy-Day Beef Kabobs."

"It's a great gift," said Dune. He raised a brow. "Did you charge it to me?" Not that he minded. Mac always paid him back; it just took a while.

"You didn't have an account there, so I paid cash," Mac said. "The Kitchen Sink is a nice store. The owner is friendly and she looks like Paula Deen."

Dune knew the store. It was one of a dozen small shops located on the street behind the boardwalk. The Cates family owned the property, but the shops were rented to outside entrepreneurs. The stores weren't competitive with those businesses already standing.

"Hey, babe," Mac said to Sophie when she joined them. "Are you hungry? Care to share a plate with me?"

"I'm starving," she admitted. "But there'd be no going halves with you. I'd get one bite and you'd eat the rest."

"You're probably right," he agreed. He caught sight of Marisole replenishing the shrimp linguini. "Will your chef chase me away like she did at the Sneaker Ball if I have seconds or thirds?" he asked.

Sophie patted him on the arm. "Eat until you're full."

Mac rubbed his hands together, then took off for the buffet.

Dune shook his head. "We'd better eat now, while there's still food available."

They each filled a plate, then looked around for a place to sit. Trace and Shaye were finishing up their meal at a table near the diving board. Dune and Sophie slid into their seats after they'd collected their dishes and left.

Sophie ate two bites before people stopped by to chat with them. Dune's relatives wanted to discuss the Barefoot William museum with her. They had suggestions and sought out her opinion. Sophie listened, evaluated, and assured everyone the museum would honor William and all his family. She planned to include every Cates in her vision. His family applauded her efforts.

Dune leaned back in his chair. He recalled how he'd been the one surrounded at the Sneaker Ball and how Sophie had quietly looked on. Today their situations were reversed.

Gone was the shy, fearful Sophie. She was now the center of attention. She'd evolved into a resilient, respected woman. She had her own sense of purpose. Dune was proud of her.

"This is a good time to open your presents, Sophie," said Shaye, returning to their table. "Everyone's eaten. Let's digest our food before we play games in the pool."

Sophie nodded in agreement.

Shaye then asked Trace, Dune, and the boys to help cart Sophie's presents out to the pool. She didn't want the guests dripping water into the house. Dune agreed with her. They went to retrieve the gifts.

The boxes came in all shapes and sizes. The wrapping paper ranged from fancy foil to Sunday funnies. Sophie took an entire hour to unwrap her presents. She admired each gift and passed it around. She wanted each of her guests to know how much she appreciated the present.

Dune smiled along with Sophie when she opened Jenna's gift. It was a digital frame, perfect to load up with photos of her hamsters.

Chuck and Randy had pooled their money together to buy her gift. They'd also considered Scarlett and Glinda in their purchase. They presented Sophie with a ten-dollar gift card from Pet Outfitters so she could buy food and toys for her girls.

The gifts went on and on. Dune realized that his family knew her well. Each present represented something important in her life. His second cousin Rick had bought a small, framed metal-crafted unicycle.

Nicole Archer had made a high-heeled sneaker brooch from black opals. The jewelry held precious memories of the Sneaker Ball for Sophie.

His Aunt Molly from the diner had put together a breakfast kit, including her special waffle mix. Sophie loved waffles.

Violet had selected tiny volleyball-style earrings for her. Vi claimed Sophie was a competitor now.

Sophie sighed when she opened Dune's gift. It was a leather journal along with a slender gold ink pen. The historical family journals had guided her to where she was today. He wanted her to document her life from this point onward.

Sophie Saunders would have many memories to enter into the journal if he had anything to do with it.

Sophie was as overwhelmed as she was appreciative of the outpouring of love from the Cates family. She put her hand over her heart once she'd set aside the last gift and looked out over the crowd. Tears glistened in her eyes and she could barely express her gratitude. "I'm at a loss for words," she began, "I don't know how to tell-" Her voice broke before she could finish.

"Tell everyone that I gave you the best gift?" Mac finished for her.

Sophie gave Mac a small smile. "I'll challenge you to a meat loaf cook-off someday soon." She took a deep breath and managed to continue. "I'm so glad you've adopted me. You've given me a home away from home." A tear escaped from her eye and traveled down her cheek. No one moved. It was a touching moment.

Dune crossed to her. He curved his arm around her shoulders and tucked her close, offering comfort.

He heard Molly, Violet, and several others clear emotion from their throats.

"Who's ready for a game of chicken?" Mac called out, lightening the mood. He held a drumstick in his hand. "Teams consist of one guy and one girl. The girl sits on the guy's shoulders and each team tries to unseat the competition. No poking in the face. No pulling anyone's hair. Winners are the last two standing. I call dibs on Sophie."

"Do you mind?" Sophie asked Dune, laying her hand on his arm.

Dune would have liked to have had her all to himself, but since she was the guest of honor, he shared her with family and friends. "Lean forward," he told her, giving her pointers on how to play the game. "It's all about balance."

Mac took Sophie's hand in his, then looked at Dune. His voice was low; his taunt meant for his partner alone. "I've waited a long time to have Sophie's legs wrapped around my neck."

Dune shook his head. What an asshole.

He stood back and allowed them to have their fun. The first round consisted of a lot of splashing, laughing, pushing, and tugging. Dune moved closer to the side of the pool and coached Sophie.

The final three couples now battled it out. The teams included Trace and Shaye, Randy and Violet, and Mac and Sophie. Mac took on Trace and Shaye first.

Shaye had grown up with brothers and was highly competitive. She'd played chicken all her life, and was tricky and sneaky. Shaye would never let Sophie win without a fight, even on her birthday.