Free Caught in the Current (Pacific Shores Book 2) by Lynnette Bonner

was suddenly thrusting a huge wad of napkins into her hands and apologizing profusely as if she’d been the one to launch the attack herself.
    Reece set the plastic bottle far from Alyssa and then stepped over and took Marie’s elbow. “Come on. I’ll get you a shirt to change into.”
    Marie protested as she swiped at her shirt. “No. It’s okay. Dan can just take me home, can’t you, Dan?”
    “But, Mom! I haven’t finished my hamburger yet, and I want cake and ice cream!”
    Dan frowned. “Why do I need to take you home? It’s just a little ketchup. Can’t you drive?”
    Dakota’s eyebrows disappeared into her hairline, and her jaw dropped a touch.
    Reece’s face softened in sympathy. “Come on. Let Alyssa have her dinner. Besides, I still want to show you those cabins.”
    Just the touch of Reece’s fingers at her elbow sent a wave of warmth through her. She pulled from his grasp. “Just a sec.” She leaned closer to Dan, wishing he’d look at her instead of his food. “Dan, my car died today. Remember I asked you to look at it the other day because it was acting funny?”
    Dan chomped on a chip. “I should have gotten to it sooner, I guess. Sorry.”
    “Could you run me home in a few minutes after Reece shows me some cabins he wants me to decorate?”
    His brow furrowed, Dan finally looked up at her. “How’d you get here?”
    “I gave her a ride,” Reece said. A ripple of something dark crossed his features.
    What was he upset about? Maybe he just wanted to eat his food and was tired of waiting on her. So instead of pushing for Dan to agree to take her home, she said, “I’ll be right back. Can you watch Alyssa for a sec?”
    Dan had his burger three-quarters of the way to his mouth and only nodded and grunted.
    Hands on his hips, Reece kicked at the ground. But as soon as he realized she’d faced him once more, he stretched a hand toward the house, and she stepped out. The hand he rested at the small of her back felt natural, familiar, desirable. She picked up her pace to put a little distance between them.
    Reece seemed to take the hint and kept his hands to himself. Inside, he led her past his father, who’d fallen asleep, and down the hallway to his room.
    Marie paused on the threshold. After all her years of promiscuity, she’d promised God never to walk into a situation that might even look promiscuous. It was her pledge to prove her changed heart.
    Reece’s bed was unmade, and a pile of dirty clothes lay in a heap in one corner. He pulled open his dresser drawer, rummaged around, and came up with a T-shirt that had to have been his back when he was a lot less built. It was turquoise with a surfboard company emblem on the front. He held it out. “It’s old. But might fit you better than any of my newer ones.”
    “It will be fine. Thank you.”
    He nodded and pointed. “Bathroom’s the first door down the hall to the left, there.”
    It only took her a few minutes to change and clean up. When she came back out, Reece waited for her with a plastic bag. “Thought you might want to put your shirt in here.”
    She’d rinsed the blouse and was thankful for a place to put the wadded-up wet material. “Thanks.”
    He grinned. “You’re swimming in that thing.”
    She glanced down. The shirt he’d given her was much too large, but she’d done the best she could, tying a knot in one corner to make it look less like a bag. She grinned at him and smoothed a self-conscious hand over it. “What? I thought I looked like I belonged on the cover of Pretty Citizens.”
    His expression turned serious as his perusal roamed her face. “You do.”
    She held her breath, not quite able to break eye contact.
    He stepped closer and tilted his head, reaching out to touch her arm. His thumb stroked softly over the skin by her elbow. “We’re friends, right?”
    She offered a tiny nod.
    “So I hope you won’t take offense when I ask…why are you with him? It’s obvious you deserve someone