Free Crossing Lines by Alannah Lynne Page B

again.
    “Boots. B-O-O-T-S. Tell me about your boots.”
    Sam froze with her beer lodged against her lips. “My boots?” Her high-pitched squeak echoed around the bottle as flames licked at her neck and spread over her face.
    Shit, he hadn’t been coming on to her at all. He was talking about her work boots. It was her gutterbrain that turned an innocent question into sexual play. She squeezed her eyes shut and drained her beer.
    “I don’t know what to say about my boots any more than I did my boobs.” She laughed nervously. “Other than to confirm, yes, I’ve had them for a while… although not quite as long as my boobs. And no, I didn’t get them just for this job.”
    Kevin reached into the cooler, drug another Lite out of the ice, and popped the top. “Here, have another. This is getting good.”
    She dropped her head in shame and reached for the bottle. “One more, but that’s it since I didn’t get to finish my lunch. I’ll eventually need to drive home, and you may decide sooner is better than later.”
    He grinned and winked. “Somehow, I doubt that.”
    Men smiled and winked all the time, but when Mazze did it, an avalanche of excitement rolled in her belly. After her massive misstep, however, she needed to take a breather and regroup before making another advance.
    She sipped her fresh beer and nodded to the kids. “I still feel bad you and Spencer left the beach on my account.”
    Spencer ran the length of diving board and jumped into the water next to Michaela, sending a tidal wave over her head.
    “Does he look like he’s having a bad time?”
    To Spencer, he said, “Hey, what’s the rule about running?”
    “Don’t do it,” Spencer said before directing another splash at Michaela. Not to be outdone, she turned her back on him and kicked her feet, soaking him in a barrage of water.
    “I’m sorry you’re hurt, but this is much better than the beach.” His brow drew into a sharp V and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her angry ankle. “You’re new in town, right?”
    “Yep. Been here about two months.”
    His gaze slipped to her face. “Do you have family here who can help you over the next few days?”
    “Sure.” She grinned and nodded to Michaela. “She’s a spectacular nurse.”
    He sighed and a dull expression settled over him. “Not exactly what I had in mind. What about friends?”
    “My best friend Cheri, from high school, lives here.” Not that Cheri would be any help this weekend. But when she got back…
    “Will she be able to help you get around the next few days?”
    She rolled her eyes and readjusted the neck strap on her bathing suit. “I’m not an invalid. It’s just a sprain.”
    “So…” He chewed his lip and slowly nodded. “That’s a no. She’s not able to help, or you won’t ask?”
    “Sheesh, you’re a pain in the ass.” She laughed at his unapologetic shrug. “No, she’s not around. She’s out of town at a… convention.”
    She pressed her lips together to keep from grinning at the thought of all the new toys Cheri would bring back from her annual conference. She said they revealed the new items at these events, and Sam was a little too anxious to preview… and sample the new goodies.
    “A convention.”
    Sam giggled. “Yep.”
    “Why do I get the feeling there’s more to this story?”
    Heat simmered along her jaw and her heart gave a thwump as she chewed her lip and considered the pros and cons of telling him the truth. This would be a good opportunity to see what he thought about her best friend selling sex toys… and of Sam being her best customer. Would he think she was a kinky freak and lose interest, or would he want to come to her house and play?
    After a glance confirmed the kids were out of earshot, she leaned toward him. In a quiet voice, she said, “She has a day job, working for the city. At night, she does in-home parties.”
    “Like Mary Kay.”
    Her grin grew. “I don’t think Mary Kay ever sold anything like