Free Jane Doe's Return by Jen Talty

concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other. Her heart fluttered in anticipation. But of what?
    “My job is to entertain you.” He gave her a very sexy grin.
    “Oh.” Shauna followed him toward the dock. “How many boats do you have?” she asked, searching for small talk. She felt uncomfortable because she felt so at ease with him.
    “My parents have two, the fishing boat—it isn’t here right now—and that sailboat.” He nodded to a relatively large boat moored in front of the dock. “This is Bill’s boat. He lives over there.” The gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder made her quiver. His lips were inches from her cheek as he leaned over and pointed across the bay. “The one two doors down from the marina. My mom likes it when they spend the night. So they humor her now and again.”
    “That’s nice,” she said, pulling away from him.
    He licked his lips as his eyes diverted to her mouth. “Take my hand,” he said, softly.
    Looking down at his outstretched hand, she placed hers in his and closed her eyes for a moment. She shouldn’t feel like this. Not with him.
    “Watch your step.”
    The old-fashioned wooden boat tipped slightly when she stepped on the side. “I love these old boats.” She sat down next to the driver’s seat.
    Travis untied the boat and jumped in, sending it rocking from side to side. “Sorry.” He smiled, settling himself down in the driver’s seat, turning the key. He idled away from shore, then pushed down on something, causing the boat to pick up speed. Her hair brushed across her face. “This is incredible.”
    “If it wasn’t such a commute, I might consider living up here someday.”
    A large tour boat tooted its horn as it drove by.
    “I worked on that ship for two summers.”
    “Really?” She smiled, looking at the large floating tour bus. “Doing what?”
    “Deckhand.”
    “What’s that?” she glanced at him as he slowed the boat.
    “I got to untie her, then tie her up.” He leaned forward as if to share a secret. “I even got to scrub the deck and galley.”
    “Sounds like—whoa.” The boat lurched up and smacked down against the water, sending her into his lap.
    “Hello,” he said as they locked glazes.
    Her body trembled as he slowed the boat, then shut the engine off. “Oops.” The keys dropped from his fumbling fingers. He drew her closer, tracing her jawline with his finger. “I think we might have a problem,” he mused.
    A flock of seagulls squawked from above, but that didn’t break her intense gaze with his. Try as she might, she couldn’t turn away. Or get off his lap.
    His fingers were tangled in her hair, making her body scream for the kind of human contact she’d been avoiding most of her life. She tried to utter something, but couldn’t. The desire to be wanted by this man was greater than her good senses—the consequences be damned.
    His hand cupped the back of her head, pulling at her hair with tender care. When his soft, warm lips brushed hers she moaned. The electricity that flowed between them shocked and frightened her. She’d never felt a kiss so powerful, and she’d never allowed herself to be out of control.
    At the sound of a horn, she jerked back, opening her eyes wide. The boat rocked from waves of other boats sloshing the water, but her body trembled from feelings she didn’t understand. It wasn’t like she’d never been with a man before. She’d had other relationships, a few lovers, and had been through counseling. She’d long moved past being raped. But somehow those experiences had been forgettable. In his arms, she felt like she belonged.
    “Smart ass.” He waved to some guy in a boat as it sped by, then slowed. “Sorry about that.”
    She coughed.
    “Are you okay?”
    The soft gentle tone of his words made her want to scream, No! I ’ m not okay! You drive me nuts and I ’ m the woman you ’ ve been searching for! She nodded. “Just caught off guard.”
    “By the kiss? My idiot