“You can put me down now,” she said. And then when he began to comply, she cautioned nervously, “Just don’t go too far.”

Cole grimaced. He was already drowning in those wide, dark eyes. He wasn’t going anywhere unless Debbie went with him.

*  *  *

It was late. Debbie was asleep beneath the umbrella’s shade as Cole kept watch. And he was desperately watching everything and everyone except the woman lying beside him. He didn’t care. He’d already tried it and nearly lost his sanity at the thought of stretching out beside her, slipping her against and then beneath him, and losing himself in—

“Hey, Brownfield! As I live and breathe. I never thought I’d see you down here among the pretty boys and beach bunnies.”

Cole looked up and grinned, recognizing the smart-ass tone before he saw its owner.

“Hey, yourself, Whaley. I see you’re riding herd today.” His remark was pointedly aimed at Detective Lee Whaley’s two teenage daughters, who were doing their best to attract any or all male eyes their way.

Lee rolled his eyes and grimaced. “I couldn’t have had boys. Hell no. I had to have girls—four to be exact. I’ll never survive their raising. I’ll probably wind up in the stir for murder first.”

Cole laughed. “You love it and you know it. And if you hadn’t been such a hell raiser when you were a kid, you would trust these boys more.”

Lee grinned. He plopped his short, stocky body down beside Cole, patted his head to make sure his well-worn golf hat was still covering his nearly bald head, and picked at a spot on his arm where skin was trying to peel. He kicked a spray of sand on Cole’s feet as a retort. It was then that he saw the curvy little female lying beside and behind him.

“What have we here?” he leered, and elbowed Cole in return for the glare he was receiving. “Been holding out on us, have you?”

Cole glared again. “She’s a houseguest,” he said shortly. “She’s my sister Lily’s friend from Oklahoma. She came to help out with Dad while his leg heals.”

The smirk slid off Lee Whaley’s face. “How is Morgan, anyway? That was a hell of a wreck. He was lucky he wasn’t killed.”

Cole nodded. “Thanks to her,” he tilted his head toward Debbie, unaware that his expression and voice had softened, “he’s doing much better. She’s got him doing his exercises, and has him on a regular schedule of healthy diet and rest. She could charm roses into growing without thorns.”

Lee grinned again. “Well, she’s got her work cut out for her. You’re still full of thorns, buddy. In fact, you’re prickly as hell.”