Free Angel in Disguise by Patt Marr

load.”
    “You seem kind of hung up on that,” he teased, dropping the hatchet back on her pile with a thud and, just for kicks, switching more things from his pile to hers.
    But she put them back with great dignity. “I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Women carry their share of…”
    “The load,” he chimed in. “Coach, you know, you really do have a problem with that.”
    “Deal with it.” She motioned to the TV van turning into the parking lot. “We’ve got company.”
    His sister looked relieved to see them. “We got stuck on the freeway. I was afraid we’d missed you.”
    “You thought we’d leave without your send-off?” he teased.
    She scanned his face and muttered, “You seem to be in a better mood than usual.”
    Sunny heard the familiarity between the two and knew she’d been right. Pete and Meggy did have an existing relationship. Had Pete’s wife left becauseshe was sick of him fooling around? Maybe Meggy wasn’t as sweet and innocent as she looked. If she’d been taken in by another faithless charmer, there was no hope for her. She might as well swear off men forever.
    Meggy pointed to a gigantic pine. “Brad, to establish the location of this segment, why don’t you start your shot near the top of that tree, pan down, and catch Pete and Sunny playing peekaboo at the base. Okay with you two?”
    Pete grinned. “Gee, Meggy, it’s been a while since I played peekaboo. Refresh me on the rules.”
    Meggy butted him with her hip, bumping him off balance. “Don’t give me a hard time, or I’ll tell Mom.”
    Mom? They had the same ebony hair, the same dark, long-lashed blue eyes. They could be siblings. It would explain the silent communication she’d seen pass between them. The knot in her stomach eased. Pete wasn’t like her ex after all. That was reassuring to know.
    He came up behind her, put his arm around her shoulder and murmured, “Are you ready, wild woman?”
    She looked up at his eyes, sky-blue and kind, eyes that would never let a woman down. “Ready,” she whispered, stroking his cheek, loving it when he leaned into her touch and kissed her palm. Was he playing his role, or like her, letting need guide the way?
    On the peekaboo shot, she flirted outrageously. With Pete it was surprisingly easy. He captured her, wrapped his arms around her waist and whisperedin her ear, “Brad’s got his camera on us. Give me a smoldering look. Show the congressman what he’s missing.”
    Smoldering? Good grief, how did one smolder? It had to involve bedroom eyes. She could look sleepy.
    “Wow,” he breathed, “that’s perfect.”
    His gaze dropped to her mouth, and then, as if he couldn’t resist the draw between them, he lowered his face and completely covered her lips. This she could take for a long, long time.
    “I think I’m going to be sick,” Brad whined.
    That broke the kiss.
    “Watch your mouth!” Meggy ordered, “And just do your job.”
    “But we’ve got enough of this stuff. Let’s move on.”
    “Brad, you don’t seem to realize you’re skating on very thin ice. I’m calling the shots here.”
    “Good! Call something besides this.”
    Jabbing her finger toward the trails, Meggy snapped, “Skate on up there and shoot their approach.”
    With an impudent salute, he asked, “Which trail?”
    “Beginners,” Meggy said.
    “Advanced,” Sunny amended, knowing Pete would prefer it, though it would be a stretch for her. “I don’t want to hold this guy back.”
    Pete stroked her back and said, “Honey, the hike’s not why we came. Meggy’s right. The beginner trail will do just fine.”
    Before she could argue, he touched her lips witha kiss, butterfly light, but possessive, the kiss of a longtime lover. Was he acting or not?
    Of course he had to be. If he could play this game on her behalf, the least she could do was stay in character. “Darlin’, I can’t let you make all the sacrifices.” She snuggled against his chest and rubbed her hands