Swept Away (9 page)

“A baby?” He couldn’t have looked more terrified if a grizzly bear, a mountain lion, and a rattlesnake had snuck up behind her.

Lily laughed out loud. “You should see your face. I take it you’re not interested in becoming a father any time soon.”

“No. Definitely not.” Cody let out a relieved breath. “I’d make the world’s second worst father.”

“Who would be the first?”

“The bastard who left me and Carson in the hospital when our mother died.” The bitterness in his voice was sharp, and certainly justified. “He just walked away and didn’t even contact us for three or four years.”

“I’m so sorry.” Lily couldn’t imagine what kind of man could abandon two helpless infants. Especially after they had already lost their mother.

“Hey, it is what it is.” Cody shrugged. He reached for his wine. “Besides, I think we turned out okay.”

“Yeah, you did.” They had managed to run their own business despite being orphaned at birth. “So who raised you?”

“Carson.” Cody didn’t hesitate a moment. “Our grandparents took us in, but Carson was the one who was always there for me. Especially after our grandparents died and we had to go live with Joe—our biological father. Carson’s responsible for making me the man I am today.”

“So you two are really close?” It wasn’t really a question. Lily already knew the answer. She wondered if she’d get lucky and have twins. They wouldn’t have a father, but they would at least have each other.

“We were.” Cody sounded a little disconcerted. “Until recently. Until you came along.”

“I don’t want to come between the two of you.” Lily shifted uncomfortably on the picnic blanket. They’d been through too much together. She wasn’t worth splitting them up.

“I’ve never tried to steal a woman from my brother.” Cody was in full confession mode. “I’ve never lied to him about where I was or who I was with. Until today.”

Lily tore a small chunk of bread and stared at it as if she couldn’t figure out its purpose. “But you lied to me, too. You tricked me into coming on a date. I thought Carson would be here too.”

“So you like him better than me?”

“No. I thought we’d all just be friends,” Lily lied. Sort of. She did want to be friends. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings. She also couldn’t explain why she felt something for Carson and nothing for him. So she figured it was best to just change the subject. “I wasn’t kidding about wanting to have a baby. But don’t worry. I don’t need your help. I’m going to use an anonymous donor.”

“A sperm bank?” Cody looked surprised. She’d have to get used to that look. He wouldn’t be the last person to be shocked by her unconventional parenting strategy. “Seriously?”

“Yes. I am serious.” Lily picked at her bread, took a bite of cheese, and washed it down with a sip of wine. “I’ve wasted too much time already. This is the best way.” Maybe even the only way.

“Really?” Cody didn’t seem to agree. He looked out over the river. It probably wasn’t a subject he’d put much thought into. “How’s the wine? It’s made just up the hill by a small, family-owned winery.”

“It’s very good.” Lily took another sip, savoring the red wine from a plastic cup. She glanced at the label,
Lost Mine Wine
. It was quite a discovery; she made a mental note to pick up a bottle or two. “You know, if you ever do decide to bring a date here, I’m sure she’ll be impressed.”

“But you’re not?” His voice sounded light, teasing, yet with an undercurrent of disappointment. “I could try to change your mind.”

“Can you settle for being friends?” It was all she could give.

“For now.” Cody flashed a lopsided grin. His dimples deepened and his eyes sparkled with mischief. “But I won’t give up completely.”

“No. I suppose you won’t.” Lily felt a little warm and fuzzy. Maybe it was the wine. Or the perfect late spring evening. Maybe it was the attention from an attractive man who wasn’t entirely scared off by her plans to become a single parent. Too bad he was the wrong man.

“Besides, who says you can’t have a little fun?” Cody slipped right back into his charmer role. A role he’d come close to perfecting.

“Fun, I can handle.” Lily started cleaning up the picnic, gathering the empty cups and cloth napkins. “As long as you keep your hands to yourself.”

“You don’t know what I can do with my hands.”

“I’m not planning on finding out, either.”

“You just might change your mind.”

Doubtful. But she knew he’d keep trying. That’s just the kind of guy he was.

* * * *

Carson had a lot of work to do. He had a little more than three weeks to make all the necessary repairs and improvements on the resort property. Plus, he’d needed to get out of the office, before things got too heated. Having Lily there was going to be a challenge. But she was good. Efficient, professional, and she had no problem letting Cody know she was there to work, not play.

The late rains had been great for the state’s water reserves, but it put him behind schedule on routine maintenance. A few cabins had suffered from storm damage. He’d repaired the broken window in cabin number nine right away, but the loose shingles had been waiting for better weather.

If he had more time, Carson would prefer to go ahead and reroof the damaged cabins. But unless he hired someone, he wouldn’t be able to complete the job before he left. A patch job would have to do. The rest of the roof was still in good shape, just a few loose spots where winds and fallen tree branches had taken their toll.

He’d managed to replace the shingles on two of the three cabins in need of repair, but he was losing the light. Not to mention the ability to keep his mind off Lily. What worried him most wasn’t the sizzling attraction between them. Or even the fact that his brother was hot on her tail. What worried him most was the way she seemed to fit into his life. She’d slid right into his office with such ease. He could picture her slipping into other parts of his life.

He could see Lily as someone he’d want to settle down with. Except for the fact that he was trying to break out on his own. He was trying to be free for the first time in his life. He wanted to be in a place where he only had to look after himself, and the five or six passengers in his boat. He didn’t want to be tied down. Even with someone as great as Lily.

If he could keep his feelings in check, focus on the necessary work around here, and spend as little time alone with Lily as possible, then he could get on with his life.

“Hey, boss.” Tyler was heading out from the guides’ house. Probably to the Argo. He was like a younger version of himself and Cody. At twenty-two, the kid had his whole life ahead of him. “So it looks like our man Cody has finally met his match.”

“What do you mean by that?” Carson was tired and a little cranky. He wasn’t in the mood for games.

“He’s totally into the new bookkeeper, Lily.” Tyler shook his head, a look of envy and awe on his face. “Can you believe he’s blowing off a group of hot single ladies from that bachelorette party?”

“Doesn’t sound like Cody.” Carson packed his tools in the back of his truck. He was ready to head home, take a long hot shower, and maybe catch the last few innings of the Giants game tonight.

“Hey, there are plenty of women to go around.” Tyler seemed almost giddy. “You want to come down to the Argo and be my wingman? Or I could be yours.”

“No thanks. I had a long day.” Carson could use a beer, but he wasn’t into crowds right now. Hell, he would have given up on the bar scene a long time ago if it wasn’t for Cody. “Cody’s really skipping out on you, huh?”

“Yeah, he’s taking Lily on a picnic,” Tyler informed him. “And we both know how that will end.”

Yeah, with Carson making her breakfast in the morning. Only instead of sending her off to wherever she came from, he’d be sending her off to their office. Hopefully she would get caught up before Cody broke her heart.

With a sick feeling, he drove across the bridge to the house he shared with Cody on the other side of the river. It was a big place, more than they needed for just the two of them. But they each had their own master suite, on opposite ends of the house, so they had privacy when they wanted it. Right now, they could have rooms on opposite sides of the country and it wouldn’t be far enough for Carson.

Cody wasn’t home when Carson pulled in the drive. Great. He must still be with Lily. Maybe they’d gone back to her place. So instead of listening to them, he’d have to picture the two of them doing what Cody did second best.

Carson made himself a sandwich, grabbed a beer, and went out on the deck to sulk.

Cody pulled in not too long after dark. He seemed to be alone, but that didn’t mean jack.

“Hey.” Cody brought a half-empty bottle of wine and a glass out on the deck. “What are you doing out here in the dark?”

“Just sitting.” He took a long drink of his beer. He’d returned twice for a refill. It didn’t do anything to dull the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

“Mind if I join you?” Cody didn’t wait for an answer before he pulled up a chair and poured himself a glass of wine.

Carson couldn’t think of anything nice to say, so he kept his mouth shut.

“What a night.” Cody leaned back, looking up at the stars.

“You can quit with the bullshit.” Carson didn’t want to sit out here and wait for Cody to gloat. “I already know you were with Lily tonight.”

“Okay, so I saw her after work.” Cody had the slightest tension in his voice. Like it hadn’t gone quite as planned. “We went on a bike ride. No big deal.”

“Really?” Carson wasn’t sure if he believed him or not.

“Yeah, we rode down by the river. Had a picnic.” Cody heaved a long sigh. Frustration? That would be a first.

“So you thought a picnic would be a good way to welcome Lily to our company?”

“Yeah, that’s what it was. A company picnic.” Cody stretched his legs out, making himself comfortable.

“What about the rest of the staff?” Carson was tired of this conversation. Tired of Cody. “I didn’t see a memo.”

“What’s your problem, man?” Cody drained his glass and then poured the rest of the bottle.

“Nothing.” He couldn’t wait to get out of here. He couldn’t wait to be free. No more entertaining his brother. No more making sure he didn’t screw up. No more giving a shit about anyone but himself. It would be like…well, like being Cody.

He gathered up his empty beer bottle and went inside without another glance at his brother. So maybe Cody hadn’t gotten very far with Lily. He should be happy. Except that it made it that much harder to stop thinking about her. That much harder to stop wanting her.

“So, how was your date with Cody yesterday?” Damn, he’d told himself he wasn’t going to bring it up, but Lily had been in the office twenty minutes before the curiosity threatened to kill him and any cats within a twelve-mile radius.

“What date?” Lily didn’t even look up from her computer, she just clicked away at the keyboard. “Oh, the bike ride. I thought it would be a threesome.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked up from her computer. “I mean, I thought you were coming, too.”

So, Cody had tricked her. It should have made him feel better, but it didn’t.

“No, I was working.” He wasn’t sure if he should mention that he wasn’t invited.

“Cody mentioned you had some things to do. But the trail was nice.” She smiled. It made him think of sunny days, blue skies, and the kind of freedom he hadn’t felt since his first summer on the river. “It’s a different perspective than going down the river in a raft.”

“Sure it is.” Carson realized he’d been holding his breath, waiting for Lily to tell him how great Cody had been. That Cody had only pretended to be frustrated last night. “But even in a raft it’s different every time.”

“So you don’t get bored?”

“Bored?” That wasn’t exactly the word for it. But it was something along those lines. Dissatisfied, maybe. Needing something different. Something more. “No, not bored.”

Should he tell her his plans? Maybe it would ease the tension between them. If she knew he could never be more than a temporary fling, she would lose interest. She didn’t seem like the casual relationship kind of girl. No she was a woman. A woman who deserved more than he or Cody could give.

“What do you do on your days off?” It was a legitimate question.

“I don’t take a lot of days off,” he admitted. “When I’m not on the river, there’s always plenty to do. Paperwork, maintenance, ordering supplies. Doesn’t leave a lot of time for much else. Except maybe the occasional fishing trip to Hidden Creek.”

“The occasional fishing trip can be life-changing.” A moment passed between them, a reminder of the two of them in the water, his hand on her breast. Somehow he knew they were both thinking of that moment. He knew it the way he often knew what Cody was thinking.

He understood his connection with his twin. He didn’t understand how he could feel an equal, if not deeper, connection with Lily. He’d only known her a few days and yet…

“Cody doesn’t seem to let work get in his way of having a good time.” Lily kept talking, keeping his mind from lingering too long on her earlier question. Or on the possibilities.

“Of course not.” He wondered if she picked up on the bitterness in his voice. The family ties were getting too tight. He needed to sever them before one of them ended up hanging from the nearest tree. “He knows I’ll take care of things around here.”

“But you guys are partners. Doesn’t Cody share in the workload?”

“Sure.” Cody was his equal partner on paper. He took an equal share of the profits, but not an equal share of the work. “Cody spends more time on the river. I keep an eye on everything else. So I guess it evens out.”

“If it works for you.” Lily smiled politely before turning her attention back to her computer screen.

“That’s weird.” She looked intently at the screen, their conversation forgotten for the moment. “No, that can’t be right.”

Carson came around her side of the desk, leaned over her shoulder, and looked at the computer. He wasn’t sure what he was looking at. He was used to one of two reports that Heather e-mailed him on a weekly basis. He hadn’t looked through the actual data in months, if not a year or more.