Redwood Bend

Leslie asked.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. I’m not squealing, screaming and throwing my underwear at him. I’m making him work for attention, like a regular guy.” Then she grabbed Leslie’s arms. “I’m not playing hard to get, Les. I’m just not laying down because twenty years ago he was a twelve-year-old’s heartthrob.”
“But…you’re glowing, ” Leslie said. “Oh, my God, you’re glowing! ”
“Pah,” she said. “I can’t imagine why—of all the Hollywood boys during our adolescence, didn’t he have almost the worst reputation? He acts like a regular guy, but I honestly have no way of knowing if he’s overcome all that naughtiness.”
“Oh, I hope not…I mean so, I hope so, ” Leslie said. “You look pretty happy.”
“I might be pleased that he came looking for me, but I am not going to be fooled by a little showmanship. I’m a little warm, however.” She fanned her face. “Besides, he’s just going to say goodbye. Which is admirable, when you think about it. He could’ve just left and it’s not like I could chase him down and reprimand him.” Then she swallowed and said, “I should have a drink of water.”
“I’ll keep the boys overnight. We’ll grill hot dogs. Watch a movie. I’ll bring them home on my way to work in the morning. You can get them into fresh clothes for summer program. And after work? I’ll be wanting every detail! Every single detail!”
“I don’t do that to you, do I?”
“Totally different!” Leslie said. “Conner is your brother. And Dylan was my secret boyfriend for years. ”
Katie laughed at her; half the female population in this age group probably felt the same way. “Can we go out there now? Find out what he has in mind?”
Leslie ran her hands over her hips to dry her palms. “By all means. Try to look calm.”
“I think you’re the one who should take a few deep breaths.”
Dylan was waiting, his foot still on the porch step.
“So,” Katie said. She lifted one brow.
“I want to show you something very cool.”
“Want me to follow you?”
“I want to take the bike. You like the bike and it’s a lot easier. But you have to change into jeans. You know—bike rules.” He looked her over with a smile. She was wearing a pretty, lightweight summer dress. “That’s sexy as hell, but it could end up over your head on the freeway and you could cause accidents. We need jeans. Want to go change? And I’ll follow you?”
“Okay,” she said with a laugh. Then she turned to Leslie and asked, “Are you absolutely sure?”
“Of course. Conner will be thrilled.”
I’m not so sure about that, Katie thought.
When they arrived at the cabin, Katie parked and gave him a wave as she went inside. To her surprise, he was tailing her and the second she was in the door, he grabbed her hand, whirled her around and planted a deep, wet kiss on her. His voice was hoarse when he broke from the kiss and spoke. “I wish I’d thought this through better,” he said. “A dress. I never thought you’d be in a dress. I bet I could get under that dress without as much fight out of you.”
She laughed at him. She couldn’t help it—she was so happy to see him, she stroked his face. “Do you get a big kick out of being a bad boy?”
“I was planning to be very good,” he said, diving for her throat. Then he groaned and said, “Go on. Change. I have a reservation.”
“A reservation? Are we going out for dinner?”
“Just change.”
“Because I want to dress right…”
He looked down at himself. Boots, jeans torn in strategic places, long-sleeved, faded shirt. “You’re bound to look better than this no matter what you do. And grab a jacket.”
“You sure you don’t want to take the car?” she asked.
“Oh, hell no,” he said with a laugh. “The bike turns you on.” He touched her nose. “I know it does.”
“I think that bike is just one big, expensive sex toy, vibrating all our secret parts and making us vulnerable. We should probably drive.”
“Jeans,” he said. “Jacket.”
She sighed. “If you insist.” When she got to her bedroom, she smiled, very glad he insisted on the bike. And although she was a little afraid he might notice that she went to some trouble, she dabbed on a little makeup—some gloss, some blush, some mascara. And while it was completely futile, she ran a brush through her hair. Then remembering the havoc a bike can wreak on hair, she filled a purse with brush, comb, gloss and hair