He’d responded to her, too. In fact, he hadn’t responded to anyone the way he had with her in a long time. Even Aimee, the woman he’d dated for two years in DC, hadn’t stirred him the way Jenny had. She was an intriguing paradox—part innocent, part vixen—and he couldn’t wait to see her again. Even though she’d told him theirs was a one-time interlude, he didn’t believe for a minute that she’d honestly meant it. She’d been embarrassed by how far she’d let him go and had been reacting to that.

How could she not be curious when they’d ignited like a powder keg together? He was pretty damned curious about what it would be like to actually have sex with her, but he couldn’t think about that right now, because a raging boner would only add to his extreme discomfort in the heat.

Frustrated, roasting and exhausted after the sleepless night, Alex turned off the chain saw and went to the truck to grab one of the bottles of water he’d frozen in anticipation of another scorcher. He’d left them to melt in the truck while he worked. As he chugged the cold water and dumped another bottle over his head, Alex knew with absolute certainty that he’d be visiting the lighthouse again—as soon as he possibly could.

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Arriving home after another twelve-hour day, Alex wanted a shower, a cold beer and some food—in that order. What he found, however, was a gathering of employees outside the greenhouses, where his brother was arguing with their mother, who was naked as a jaybird.

Standing before her, Paul held her bathrobe in his hands and had obviously been trying to get her to put it on.

“Oh my God,” Alex whispered as he exited the truck and took off at a run to help Paul, who brightened when he saw Alex heading toward them.

Marion’s back was turned, so she didn’t see Alex approach, but he could hear her sobs.

“I want you to get your father right now and bring him to me, do you understand?”

“I can’t do that,” Paul said, looking imploringly at Alex.

“I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. You’ll do what you’re told.”

Ignoring the crowd of employees that watched their sad drama unfold, Alex approached his mother and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “I’m here, Marion,” Alex said gently in a voice not all that different from his father’s. “I’m right here, and I’ve got you.”

She reached up to grasp his hands. “Oh, George. I’ve been waiting for you to get home. The boys have been unmanageable this afternoon.”

Paul approached them tentatively.

“I’m here now.” Alex took the robe from Paul and put it around their mother’s shoulders.