He dropped to his towel, bending his knees, hoping to hide his rapidly growing erection. WTF! This had to stop. Ellen was a safe zone. She couldn’t become dangerous—he needed her.

She sat on her towel, which she’d happened to put next to his. After pulling out a bottle of sunscreen, she handed it to him and presented her back.

“Put it on heavy, please. I don’t want to burn.”

As she spoke, she pulled her long hair out of the way. Holy crap, he was going to have to touch her.

He looked around frantically, hoping Lissa had come back so he could pass the task to her, but his daughter was still playing in the water. He sucked in a breath, then poured the thick lotion into one palm. After rubbing his hands together, he quickly spread the protection all over Ellen’s back and shoulders.

Her skin was just as warm and soft as he’d imagined it would be. Wanting ignited. He thought about leaning close and kissing the side of her neck. No, first he would shift close so he could do that while reaching around to cup her breasts. Then they would—

He slammed on the mental brakes and quickly searched for a distraction. What about that game against New England when he’d been intercepted and the entire stadium had erupted in boos? It had been his own fault—Rogers had been open, but he’d thrown to Jefferson, and after that, his team couldn’t do anything right. He should have thrown to Rogers. Everybody knew that.

The familiar litany of self-recrimination did the trick. The desire eased, as did his dick, and by the time he was done with her shoulders, equilibrium had been restored.

Unity had to make an executive decision. Did she want the full Apple Store experience and a ninety-mile drive, or was she willing to buy her new iPhone from an authorized retailer a mere thirty-five miles away? As much as she wanted to see the T-shirt of the day and have the total immersion moment, practicality won out.

“I’m impressed,” Dagmar said as they drove south on highway 82, heading to Yakima. “You’re finally getting a phone manufactured in this century.”

Unity smiled. “Don’t mock my little flip phone. It’s been very faithful to me.”

“Then you should give it a ceremonial burial when you get home. Something tasteful, with a choir and lots of flowers.”

They were in Dagmar’s car, with Unity driving. The BMW was a nice size, small, but not too small, with all-wheel drive. It handled a whole lot better than Unity’s work van. Dagmar had mentioned the car was a gift from Thaddeus—yet another example of the man’s generosity.

They’d had a good time the other night, she admitted to herself. After the tattoo fiasco, they’d gone out to dinner at a local restaurant. Conversation had flowed easily between them and the evening had zipped by. Being around Thaddeus was getting easier and she appreciated that.