Free Buck's Landing (A New England Seacoast Romance) by Cameron D. Garriepy

Springfield.”
    Sofia grinned. “She had a killer marinara recipe, too.”
    “Where’s the record player?” Silas cast around for evidence of stereo equipment.
    “Right there.” Sofia pointed behind him to an antique console player that occupied one wall of the living room. Silas went a little pink around the ears.
    “No Dusty?” Sofia asked when the Lovin’ Spoonful filled the room.
    “She’s for later,” he said, wrapping his arm around her and resting his chin on her shoulder while she stirred the sauce. Sofia couldn’t help but shiver.
    She turned in his embrace and laid her palms on his cheeks. “Now? Make yourself useful and set the table.”
     
    ~~~
     
    I could get used to this, Silas thought, scooping up the last of Sofia’s sauce with a heel of bread. Her lashes brushed her cheeks when she tipped her wineglass to swallow the last of the bright, cranberry-colored wine. He got up to switch the record, finding an old Simon & Garfunkel album that reminded him of the wood-paneled rec room in his parents’ first house in New Jersey. His sister had loved all the old records their parents kept down there, playing everything from psychedelic rock to disco when he was too young to really care.
    “We may have to save the lemon bars for another time,” he said, patting his stomach. “That was a great dinner.”
    “Lemon bars?” Sofia’s lips curved up, and he resolved to bring her baked goods more often.
    They cleared the table together. Sofia loaded the dishwasher as Silas gathered up the table settings. He untied the strings from the bakery box and the sugary tang of the lemon bars wafted out. Sofia was scrubbing out the sauce pot when Silas slipped out of the kitchen.
    “I know what will go perfectly with those,” she called.
    “Me too,” he replied, coming back in. He pulled her hands out of the soapy water and wrapped them in a dishtowel. “Dance with me.”
    He led her to the console and dropped the needle. Dusty Springfield’s soulful croon soared out over horns and close backup harmonies. Silas drew Sofia close. He led her effortlessly, silently thanking the dance classes he’d taken for PE credit in college.
    They turned and swayed, their bodies in tune for three aching minutes while Dusty begged her lover to “just be close at hand.” Silas could feel the blood move under her skin, smell her perfume and shampoo. Her soft cotton top shifted against his hand on the small of her back. When she laid her cheek against his chest, the warmth of her breath set his pulse jumping. The track ended, but, instead of releasing her, he ended the dance with a searching kiss.
    Need rose up around them like fog, blinding them to all but each other. Her touch honey-slow, ghosting over his body, their breath mingling, the flavor of desire flooding his senses. All this while they undressed one another, drawing out the anticipation. Yearning for her rushed through him.
    Silas wasn’t sure how they had gotten there when his calves bumped her mattress. Seeking more than the dance, he caught her up and rolled them both across the bed. Sofia laughed between kisses, but her laughter faded into a deep shudder when he slid her underwear off. Shucking his own, he joined her, wrapping her in his arms. "Remind me to give Houdini an extra catnip mouse for introducing us.”
    “At least he didn’t interrupt tonight,” Sofia said.
    “I’d have left his bony ass on the welcome mat this time,” Silas growled.
    “Yeah, right.” Sofia giggled again, and then he was touching her. Laughter went up in a flame of sheer pleasure when he filled her. She drew him into the fire until they were both spent.
    He dozed afterward, with Sofia warm and sleepy at his side, waking to an unexpected rumble in his belly.
    Her whisper told him she wasn’t asleep. “I can’t believe you’re hungry.”
    Silas kissed her hairline. “I worked it off. I think it’s time for dessert.”
    He stretched, rolled out of her bed, and pulled