Night Swimming (20 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Here, Lily, I’ve written a list with all the pictures numbered. And in this column, I’ve noted where I want the piece moved.” May Ellen walked over to where a print hung on the wall. “Now, do you see the little red dot here?” She tapped the glass protecting the large print with an index finger. It depicted an Indian parade, complete with elephants, their riders perched behind their flapping ears. In the lower right-hand corner, a little red dot was affixed. Lily stepped forward to peer at it and made out the number
5
written in black pen.

“Anne and I numbered them all yesterday. There are thirty-eight in all,” her grandmother said, handing Lily the stapled sheets of paper listing her artwork.

Thirty-eight!
Lily flipped through the sheets. She was exhausted from spending a sleepless night tossing and turning, unable to stop thinking about Sean, the passion of his kisses, the way he made love with his mouth.

Then the dive this morning had been less than ideal. Lily had been taken aback by the poor visibility; the water had been surprisingly murky, even for an admittedly choppy sea. On top of that, she’d been worried about Karen. The heavy surge had left Karen feeling so woozy that they’d returned to shore as quickly as possible, when Lily would have far preferred to examine the corals in zone three more closely. Now she had thirty-eight pictures to rehang and the beginnings of a massive headache.

“Granny May, are you sure you want this done? Your rooms look lovely,” she lied desperately. After all, some people liked the overdecorated, overupholstered look.

“Yes,” May Ellen said with a firm nod. “My friends come here too often. They’ve no doubt memorized every print and painting. I want something
new
for our party. Look,” she said, and pointed to her coffee table. “I bought everything we’ll need.”

Half of Home Depot was piled onto the mahogany coffee table. Hooks, wire, measuring tape, pliers, hammer, and a few other thingamajigs Lily couldn’t identify. She bent and poked at the pile, wishing there were a way to get out of this.

“Do you want anything to drink or eat before we start, Lily?”

“No, thanks, Granny,” she said, her smile weak. “Looks like we have some work ahead of us. Might as well get started.” She picked up a hammer and a packet of hooks and tried to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. “Which one first?”

“Hmm, let’s see. . . . Where’s number one? It’s a little oil sketch of a waterfall. I’ve always loved it, but it’s completely hidden behind that palm. It’ll look much better in the dining room.”

Lily stifled a sigh and went over to the small painting, carefully removing it from the wall. May Ellen picked up the measuring tape and pencil. With a cheerful trill, she told Lily to come along—and to be sure not to bang the picture.

Once in the dining room, it became clear Granny May hadn’t made up her mind on which wall the waterfall should go. Then there was the question of height, of position: too high, too low, to the left, no, to the right. . . . By the time the oil sketch was hung, the inside of Lily’s cheek had gone numb from her teeth gnawing it.

If each picture took this long to hang, she’d be here until doomsday. Lily suppressed her impatience, however, for she could tell May Ellen was having a good time. Her grandmother drifted from room to room, giving Lily detailed histories of each precious knickknack, where and when it been acquired, and shared with her the plans for the upcoming party.

“It’s really a party for you, Lily, but you know how much I love birthday cakes—it’ll have to be a big one since I’m turning seventy. Lloyd Gans can say what he wants about my health,” she said, sniffing dismissively. “Fact of the matter is, we old folks can go just like that.” She snapped her fingers in emphasis. “When Lloyd reaches my age, he’ll change his tune pretty fast,” she predicted ghoulishly.

“Granny!” Lily exclaimed, her stomach clenching at her grandmother’s words. Was there something her grandmother was keeping from her?

“So that’s why I’ve decided to throw a lovely party when I can actually enjoy it.” May Ellen gestured airily about her. “But you, Lily, are the real reason for the celebration. There are so many people who haven’t laid eyes on you in years. I’d like them to have the opportunity to see you again, to get reacquainted.”

“Granny, you don’t have to go to all this trouble,” Lily said. “I’ll be leaving Coral Beach as soon as the study’s over. . . .” She struggled to mask her awkwardness and regret.

“Nonsense,” May Ellen replied stoutly.

In alarm, Lily’s gaze flew to her grandmother’s face. Surely she hadn’t misled May Ellen into believing she might remain in Coral Beach?

“It’s absolutely necessary,” May Ellen continued. “I want to show you off to my friends. It’s my prerogative as a grandmother.” Her blue-gray eyes twinkled. “Comes with the contract, don’t you know?”

Lily’s mouth quirked, her lips parting in a smile of exasperated affection. “Whatever makes you happy, Granny May.”

May Ellen nodded with approval. “That’s what I always think. Now, time to stop dawdling, young woman. I have an appointment with Ida and I can’t be late.” She patted her neat silver perm. “She wreaks the most awful revenge otherwise.”

The rearranging went a little faster after that. Lily discovered ways to preempt agonizing moments of indecision. “This looks great, Granny May. I really like the way the light falls on it,” or, “Wow, look at the way those colors glow beside the wallpaper,” was usually sufficient to get the nail hammered, and the picture hung.

Lily was in the midst of rehanging a series of small seascapes done in watercolor. She’d already measured out the distance on the wall. Her lips were pursed around a bunch of nails. Hammering the first nail into the wall, she turned to Granny May for the picture. “Granny?” Lily prompted as intelligibly as she could with a mouthful of metal.

Her grandmother paid no attention. Her head was cocked. “Why, whoever could that be?” she asked in response to a muffled voice calling out. “I’d better go see.” May Ellen laid the watercolor on the sideboard, just beyond Lily’s reach and hurried from the room.

Lily’s lips tightened. Another interruption. At this rate,
she’d
be seventy before they finished.

“Look who’s come to lend a hand, Lily!” Granny May said breathlessly.

Lily turned and froze.

“Hello, Lily,” Sean said.

Time became fluid. Last night suddenly seemed long ago—an eternity—since she’d beheld his face, been held in his fiery embrace. And yet, looking at Sean now, it was as if only a moment had passed since their fevered interlude.

Dear Lord, the things Sean had done to her, the things they’d done to each other. . . . Heat flashed through Lily as she relived the passion they’d shared. The intensity in Sean’s hazel eyes told her that he was remembering, too.

They stood and stared and the air grew thick, charged with emotion.

In the silence May Ellen’s self-conscious laugh sounded shrill. “What a ninny I am! I just remembered my appointment with Ida was moved forward this week. I bet Anne’s already waiting for me outside. I must fly, Lily, dear—the parking’s terrible at this hour.”

“Mmmph!”
The forgotten nails flew out of Lily’s mouth, landing on the area rug some distance away. “Granny, wait! You can’t leave!”

“Sorry, Lily,” May Ellen called. She was already past the dining room, heading toward her kitchen. Seconds later she reappeared, her purse and house keys in hand. “I’m sure you and Sean will do a great job. Lock the front door when you leave. Bye, bye.”

May Ellen rushed out, in what was the closest she’d come to a flat-out sprint in forty years. Slamming the front door behind her, she dashed over to Anne’s silver Park Avenue. “Hit the gas, Anne. Burn rubber,” she said dramatically, as she shut the door and buckled her safety belt.

The car took off with a lurch, its tires spitting pebbles. “That bad?” Anne asked, gripping the steering wheel firmly.

“No, that
good
.” May Ellen smiled, ecstatic. “I didn’t want to spoil things by staying another second—Oh, no!” May Ellen groaned, pressing a hand to her mouth.

“What is it?” Anne asked.

“I was having such a good time with Lily, I forgot to tell her that Kaye’s arriving today.”

Anne was silent as she digested this bit of news. “May Ellen, I do believe this situation calls for evasive action. We’d better stay out shopping a few extra hours.”

Sean had obviously come straight from town hall. He wore charcoal gray trousers and a white button-down shirt, the cuffs rolled up, exposing his tanned forearms. Remembering the strength of his arms when he’d held her made Lily’s knees go weak. . . . She locked them, and then stiffened her spine for good measure. She didn’t want Sean to think a few kisses had turned her to mush.

It would have helped her self-confidence if she were dressed in something a bit spiffier than ragged cutoffs and a rumpled T-shirt. And she couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful by how easily he managed to make her heart slam against her ribs. All it took was that sexy grin playing about his lips. “Why are you grinning?” Lily demanded.

“I’ve never seen anyone actually spit nails before.” His grin widened.

Lily shot him an aggrieved look.

Sean stepped into the room. She resisted the impulse to take a step in retreat. Besides, her back was practically to the wall.

“By the way, Lily, you’ve lost your touch.”

“What?” she asked, perplexed.

“The nails,” he clarified. “They didn’t hit me. In the good old days, they’d be sticking out, probably from right about here.” He lifted a long, blunt-tipped finger and touched the slight bump on his nose. “It’s proof positive you’re feeling much friendlier toward me.”

“A momentary lapse, I assure you,” she replied, staring at a point beyond his left ear. Inside her, guilt churned as she remembered how she’d hurt him with the volleyball.

“No, Lily, I think our relationship has entered a new stage, a much more satisfying one. But as you appear to have some lingering doubts. . . .”

Panicked, Lily’s gaze flew to his. The intense gleam in his eye had her shoulder blades flat against the wall.

“Kissing you was like holding fire, Lily. Magic. I can still hear your cry when you came in my arms.”

Her cheeks grew hot with embarrassment. “I didn’t.”

“Yeah, you did.” He smiled. “That’s all right, I love making you scream, almost as much as making you—”

“I didn’t!” She yelled. “Hal came!” Embarrassment nearly choked her.

That stopped him. He stared wide-eyed, finally understanding her words. A slow, heart-melting smile spread over his face. “Ah, Lily, I’m real sorry about that. Let me make it up to you.”

“No, thanks. I’ll pass,” she managed coolly enough. Her eyes narrowed when he ignored her, approaching nearer still. “Back off, McDermott. For that matter, buzz off. I have work to do.” She picked up the scattered nails and turned back to the wall. Maybe if she ignored him, he’d go away.

“What a coincidence.” His husky voice was a warm breeze on her sensitive skin. “That’s what I’m here to do.”

Lily whirled. Confusion, uncertainty, and desperate desire fused together into a pure, liberating anger. “I mean it, Sean,” she hissed. “Granny’s gone, so you can skip the Boy Scout routine. Go away, and leave me alone.”

Boy scout?
More like a lust-crazed twenty-nine-year-old. Sean couldn’t believe it. But it was true. Lily was shooing him away as if she didn’t want to buy a gallon drum of popcorn.

Well, he wasn’t leaving. Provoked that she could remain aloof while he was tied up in knots of desire, he growled, “Listen, my grandmother called me at the office, practically in tears, pleading that I come and help May Ellen with her pictures. She’s been fretting all week about how big a job it is—”

“That’s ridiculous. I promised May Ellen days ago that I’d do it. She wrote a whole list of instructions. Go away, Sean,” she repeated.

Instead, he picked up the sheet and looked at the walls. “Are you out of your mind? You can’t hang these all by yourself.”

Infuriating man.
“Yes, I can,” she insisted. She’d stay here till midnight if necessary. “She’s
my
grandmother. Stop trying to butt in.”

“I am not butting in!” he yelled back. “I’m helping an old lady whom I happen to adore get her house ready for a party she’s throwing to welcome home her mule-headed granddaughter!”

Lily blinked. Sean’s eyes were brilliant, the emerald green and gold flecks in them arrow sharp. And they were only three inches away. Abruptly, Lily realized that she and Sean were nose-to-nose, shouting at each other. She blinked again and lurched backward. Her elbow banged against the wall with a loud thud. “Ow!” she said, wincing. “Damn it!”

“You okay?” he asked. His voice sounded oddly subdued, now that he wasn’t attempting to out-shout her.

Lily prayed he wouldn’t try and touch her, sure she’d fall apart completely if he did. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She fingered the back of her elbow gingerly. “And I’m not mule-headed.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not trying to steal your grandmother, either. I’ve got my own, thank you very much. But May Ellen’s my grandmother’s best friend. They’re both excited to be organizing this party for you. If redecorating May Ellen’s entire place is on the to-do list of preparations, that’s what I’m going to help with. Give up, Lily. And hand over the hammer.”

Lips pressed in a mutinous line, she eyed him silently. He was waiting, his broad hand open. With a loud sigh, she let it drop into his palm.

“Thanks,” he said, and his mouth curved in a tender smile. Lily’s heart squeezed in painful longing.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Lily and Sean worked steadily. In the aftermath of their blowup they were on their best behavior. The unspoken détente had a fragile delicacy that neither wanted to damage.

“How’d the diving go today?” Sean asked as he backed away from a large, gilt-framed painting he’d just put up.

“Not as well as I’d have liked. The waves were a bit rough and unfortunately Karen got a little queasy. We managed to get our samples, however. We only have zones one and two of the last transect to cover. If the weather cooperates, we should be finished tomorrow.” Lily fell abruptly silent.

What she’d left unsaid hovered in the air like a bleak cloud. Once the lab tests were finished and Karen’s slides developed, Lily would report to the reef committee, and then leave Coral Beach for her next project.

Don’t think about that now,
Lily told herself. “You know,” she said, forcing a lighthearted note into her voice. “I’ve never worked on a study which received so much personal interest from its committee members. You dived with us, so has Dave, and today we had a visit from Pete Ferrucci. He was at the marina—at the crack of dawn. He seems very interested in knowing how the study is progressing.”

Sean drove the next nail into the wall with a vicious rap. “Not surprising. He’s probably already walking around the marina with dollar signs in his eyes.”

Dollar signs?
Lily repeated silently. “Do you ever plan to tell me what’s really going on with this development project?”

“Why, Lily?” Sean turned and faced her. “Why do you want to know? Could this mean you might actually care what happens to your hometown after all?”

Her face warmed. She was definitely beginning to care . . . deeply. “Maybe.”

He regarded her in silence, as though debating what to tell her. “Ferrucci doesn’t want any restrictions placed on the reef . . . no matter what.”

“I guessed as much during that first meeting. That’s not exactly an uncommon stance, Sean. I run into it all the time. People hate what they perceive as governmental meddling, especially on environmental issues.”

“Yeah, but in Ferrucci’s case, there’s a hell of a lot more involved.

“So where does he fit in?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ve been trying to find out more about the backers behind this development deal, but so far I’ve come up with zilch to link Ferrucci directly.” Frustration laced his voice. “But I’m convinced he’s connected somehow—that he’s more than just their very willing lobbyist. Ferrucci’s a canny bastard. I only became suspicious about his involvement when he went ballistic over continuing with the reef study after Lesnesky had fallen ill.”

“I remember how ‘vocal’ his objections were at that first advisory meeting,” Lily said.

“That was Ferrucci at his most restrained. He wants the reef issue dead in the water so he can ram the development project down the town’s throat. I know how he operates, though. This is just one of his many plans. After he gets the development project accepted, Ferrucci will go to work on burying me alive.”

“What do you mean by that?” she asked in surprise.

Sean gave a mirthless laugh. “I almost hate to disillusion you, Lily, but I ran on a pro-conservation ticket. I beat Ferrucci by a nose. Coral Beach isn’t that large a town; the reef study is the biggest environmental concern to date in my tenure as mayor. Ferrucci would love to make it look like I’ve done nothing but waste the tax payers’ money on some idiotic liberal cause. He’ll use the reef study to show that the environmental platform I ran on was a
nonissue
. A damned effective way to destroy voter confidence. One he’ll definitely use in the next election,” he predicted.

Lily frowned as she considered Sean’s words. “But if the reef study shows no need for restrictions, then the development can go up.”

Sean’s fingers raked his short hair. “True, but the more I think about developing the area around the marina, the less I like it.” He broke off abruptly. “Come here,” he said, taking her hand and leading her to a small, rather pretty oil painting. “Look at this. Does it seem familiar?”

She stared at the scene of a crescent-shaped bay. “Yes, vaguely.”

“It’s probably difficult to recognize since you normally see this view from about sixty feet above ground, from the windows of the apartment complex where you’re staying.” His index finger lightly touched the glass protecting the painting, indicating the spot where the condo stood. “It was pretty before, wasn’t it?”

Lily nodded.

“Well, if the development goes through, Coral Beach will have two new buildings towering over the marina, changing the coastline forever.”

For a minute, they stared at the painting. Then Sean spoke. “You know, Lily, when Lesnesky fell ill, I wondered whether he’d perhaps missed certain areas or overlooked signs that the reef was deteriorating. He was kind of weird toward the end—just before his cancer was diagnosed. I realize now a part of me was hoping that you’d come up with something that would scuttle the plans. But I’ve seen how systematically you and your team have covered the reef. Since the reef is healthy, I don’t think there’s any way to stop the development from happening.”

“Sean.” Lily’s voice was quiet. “I’m sorry—not about the reef—but because I doubted you. I was sure you intended to use the study to push the development through.”

The corner of Sean’s mouth lifted in a half smile. “I forgive you,” he said. “As a marine biologist, you’re probably conditioned to distrust politicians on sight.”

Lily gave a soft laugh. “Some politicians are better than others.”

“Thanks. It doesn’t mean I’ll give up, Lily. I’ve decided to vote against the development. And I won’t let Ferrucci win without a fight.”

“I can’t believe Pete Ferrucci is any match for Sean McDermott.”

“Damn, I hope not. If he becomes mayor, the marina development will be just the beginning. He’ll destroy Coral Beach in the name of progress.” Sean grimaced. “Jesus. How did this conversation become so depressing? I need a beer. Want one,
Bella
?”

Alone, Lily tried the endearment hesitantly, wonderingly.
Bella
? Sean didn’t even seem to have noticed that he’d called her beautiful. Did he really think her so?

Lily’s thoughts spun wildly as she collected the pictures May Ellen had earmarked for her guest room in the back of the house. Lily had left this group for last, stalling, nervous about being in a bedroom alone with Sean. Now, though, thoughts competed chaotically, distracting her. Gnawing her lip as she moved about the bedroom, her mind went back to the conversation she’d had with Simone at the Marine Center. She remembered how she’d begged Simone to send someone else to Coral Beach, arguing that as a native of Coral Beach, her findings in the study might be viewed as partisan.

At the time, Lily hadn’t believed a word she was saying. Because she hadn’t believed she could care what happened to this small Florida town.

Her work here was almost finished. She’d examined nearly the entirety of the patch reef and had found nothing to alarm her as a marine biologist. As Sean had said just now, that was good news. And yet, despite the fact that the reef appeared healthy, Lily was filled with a strange sense of melancholy.

For the first time in her career Lily wasn’t thinking with her usual scientific objectivity.

There was no use pretending any longer that she was indifferent to what happened to Coral Beach. And like a mask splitting apart, her professed disinterest gave way to what had been hidden for these many years. Her mind accepted what her heart had always perceived. She loved Coral Beach and the people who lived here.

Who was responsible for awakening these long-dormant feelings? Lily couldn’t deny the truth anymore. From the very beginning, Sean had loomed larger than life for her. He’d been her childhood enemy, her wily foe. But here, too, her understanding had undergone an irrevocable transformation.

A deal like the marina development would bring in huge revenues for Coral Beach. When she’d first returned home, Lily had been so prejudiced against Sean that she’d immediately assumed he would be the type of leader to take credit for the money that would pour into the community, then manipulate the surrounding publicity to bolster his political career.

She knew better now.

She had a new insight into Sean. And the more she looked, the more she yearned. For the man she’d come to know was intelligent, decent, and caring. A man of integrity . . . a man Lily could love.

Sean pushed against the kitchen door, his fingers wrapped around three long-necked beers, the brand May Ellen kept stocked especially for him. Three because he’d already downed half of one and didn’t feel like going back immediately to the kitchen for a second one. He wanted to be near Lily.

For some reason, he kept hearing Hal Storey’s irate voice inside his head. Hal was yelling again, telling him how Lily needed to feel a sense of belonging to something other than her all-consuming career as a marine biologist.

Perhaps Hal’s wish was coming true. Sean was sure the concern he’d read in Lily’s blue eyes was genuine. Or had he been fooling himself, desperate to believe that she cared? That she might stick around long enough for him to show her how much
he
cared about her . . .

Sean frowned. The living room was empty. He’d just passed through the dining room. It, too, had been vacant. Where was she?

“Lily?” Nothing. His scowl deepened. “Lily?” he called louder, and cocked his head. A tapping noise was coming from the other end of the house. He followed it.

She had her back to him, her arms raised as she tried to hang a painting that was approximately two and a half feet wide. The painting’s dimensions were too big for her to sneak her arm underneath and lift the wire so it could rest upon the hook. Her middle name
Stubborn
, Lily was trying anyway, standing on tiptoes, muttering her aggravation.

She’d kicked off her sneakers. His eyes devoured her, starting with the supple arch of her feet, moving upward . . . up, up the length of her smooth, pale legs. Legs sexy enough to cause a riot.

Nevermind about Lily belonging to a community, Sean decided.
She belonged to him.

The desire that exploded inside him was, impossibly, more feverishly urgent than ever. Because now Sean knew what it was like to hold Lily in his arms, to taste her, to stroke her.

This time he was determined to sample every inch of that incredible body. Placing the bottles carefully on the carpet, ensuring they didn’t betray his presence with a clink of glass, Sean approached silently.

Lily jumped at Sean’s touch. Despite the clothing separating them, she could feel his heat, sense his awesome hunger. An answering need burst free. The painting slipped, leaving a faint scratch on the floral wallpaper.

“Careful.” His breath, sultry and moist against her ear, sent shivers down her spine. “No, don’t move or you’ll drop it.” He moved closer, his body brushing hers. “Stay. I want to touch you like this.”

“No, Sean,” she moaned. “Don’t . . . I
can’t
.”

The trembling had started already. She could hardly stand.

“Yes, you can. I’ll hold you.” And his strong, muscled arms wrapped about her, drew her even closer to his solid heat. Fingers splayed against her stomach, he caressed her with slow, tantalizing strokes, grazing the lush curves of her breasts, skimming the waistline of her shorts. His mouth rained kisses along her jaw, the nape of her neck. Unerring he found the exquisitely sensitive spot behind her ear. His tongue tormented, lathing it slowly, then drying it with the warmth of his breath. Insatiable, he continued on, lightly raking the tender column of her neck, his tongue soothing where teeth had scored.

As his mouth traced the hollows of her collarbone, Sean breathed deeply, inhaling the perfumed scent of Lily’s warm skin. Delirious with pleasure, his mouth closed about her, claiming her, marking her as his.

With a soft cry, she dropped the painting. It fell, landed unheeded. “Please . . . kiss me,” she cried desperately.

His hands guided, turning her until she faced him. At the sight of Sean’s cheeks stained with dark flags of desire, pleasure streaked through Lily, pooling hot and sweet in her center. She arched against him, her fingers reaching, threading through his silky hair. “Sean,” she breathed, pulling his mouth to where she craved it most.

Their mouths met in a kiss of blind passion. Mouths slanted, their tongues mated, fanning the riotous flames. Hands gripped, clasping and stroking greedily. Urgent now, Sean’s fingers found and deftly unclasped the front of her bra. He dragged at the satin fabric, replacing it with his hands. His hands closed about her and he groaned. “Nothing has ever felt like this, Lily. I ache to touch you everywhere, to taste you.”

Lily’s body answered for her. She pressed against him, heated flesh melding. He shuddered in ecstasy at the bounty of her offering, and his hand dropped to her waist. He released the first metal button of her shorts, then the second. Boldly, his fingers slipped past the narrow elastic of her panties. The dampness of her curls had his cock throbbing, straining to be inside her.

As Sean’s fingers parted her to stroke with wicked expertise, Lily began trembling wildly, uncontrollably, the pleasure coursing through her electrifying. Her head bumped against his. At the pain her eyes opened to stare blankly at the papered walls, at the canopied bed. And she remembered where she was.

Aghast, she tried to free herself, but Sean’s fingers were inside her shorts, inside her.
“Argh!”
she cried helplessly. “Let go!”

Lost in a haze of passion, his fingers circling her slick nub, Sean merely tightened his hold.

Lightning flashed in her very core. Lily’s breath caught, then rushed out in a convulsive gasp. “No, Sean! We’re at my
grandmother’s
! She could . . . no, stop! I can’t—” Her desperate plea was interrupted by a loud call of, “Mother!” from the other end of the house.

The word triggered horror, pure horror.

“Mother!” The voice sounded again, closer this time. And though its presence was totally incomprehensible, Lily could recognize that irritated tone anywhere.