Page 33 of Gerard

“We’ll have to hose off and strip before we go into the house,” Bernie said. “If we don’t, we bring that stench with us.”

“Agreed,” Gerard said, though he only heard the part about stripping.

Bernie led him to the side of the house and stopped in front of a spigot with a hose attached. She dropped her boots on the ground, turned on the water and sprayed the boots until all the muck had been washed away. She handed the hose to Gerard and then set her boots on the porch to dry.

Gerard sprayed his boots to remove all the mud and set them on the porch beside Bernie’s.

“I can hold the sprayer over you while you rinse off,” Gerard offered. “I promise to close my eyes.”

Bernie didn’t hesitate for long before she nodded. “Okay. But no peeking.”

Gerard raised the sprayer over her head, closed his eyes and pressed the button to release a steady stream of water.

Through his eyelashes, he watched as Bernie rubbed her hands over her shirt and shorts, removing as much of the mud as possible. Once her T-shirt was soaking wet, it did little to hide her figure beneath. The fabric clung to the swell of her breasts, and her nipples were pointy nubs, tempting Gerard to take them.

Bernie shoved her shorts down over her hips and stepped out of them. The shirt was next. She turned her back to him, grabbed the hem, tugged the T-shirt over her head and hung it on the porch rail.

Since her back was to him, Gerard didn’t bother to keep his eyes closed. His gaze swept her from the top of her head to the backs of her heels, slowly devouring the curve of her waist and the luscious swell of her hips and buttocks.

The steady spray had washed away the mud from her skin, leaving it shiny and wet. Starlight reflected off the droplets, making her appear ethereal in the darkness.

When she glanced over her shoulder, he quickly closed his eyes.

“I’m headed for the shower,” she said. “I promise to save you some hot water.”

“You don’t have to. Soap and a cold shower will be sufficient for me,” he said. And necessary. He was glad for the darkness, hoping it was enough to hide his arousal.

Naked and clean of the mud, she darted for the steps. “Leave the clothes on the ground,” she called over her bare shoulder. “I’ll collect them tomorrow morning.”

Starlight bathed her pale body in indigo as she hurried up the steps. As she pulled the door open, she turned just enough to expose the side of a full breast.

Sweet Jesus, she was beautiful.

“You weren’t supposed to peek,” she said.

“Sorry, I thought you were already inside,” he lied, unable to tear his eyes from her svelte form.

She chuckled, her lips curving in a smile. “Liar.” Bernie started to go into the house, paused and turned enough to tease him with that breast again. “Just so you know...the shower in the master bathroom is big enough for two.” She lifted her chin. “I’m not opposed to sharing. You’re call.”

Bernie disappeared into the house, her words hanging in the air like a red cape dangled in front of a raging bull.

Chapter 6

Gerard knew what he should do.

He should rinse off, wait his turn for a shower, clean up and sleep.

Alone.

But Bernie had thrown out an invitation...a challenge.

“Challenge accepted,” he murmured, adrenaline pulsing through his veins. He quickly rinsed his clothes, stripped them from his body and rinsed the mud from his skin. He couldn’t go fast enough. In the back of his mind, he was afraid he was taking too long, giving Bernie enough time to change her mind and regret her invitation.

After he turned off the spigot and shook off the excess water, he jogged toward the stairs and took them two at a time. At the top, Howey the hound dog sat on his haunches beside the door as a reminder that he was on guard duty.

Gerard scratched behind the animal’s ear. “Good boy.”

Howey’s tail thumped against the porch planks.