Risking Delaney. Rhonda Leah

because he didn’t trust himself standing. Eating was optional at this point.

      Delaney Breaux in the flesh.

      She’d played a starring role in his fantasies for years. She’d been what he needed at the lowest point of his life.

      The day they met was still clear in his mind. He’d gone to confront Sherry, his fiancée, at the hotel where she worked. What a joke that had been. She’d been screwing her boss for over a year and it had taken him three days to calm down before he’d felt ready for one final showdown with her. When he arrived, she wasn’t there. It seemed she and boss-man had taken vacation days, left the city.

      Instead of the confrontation he’d wanted, he’d ended up in the hotel bar, where his own personal angel of mercy had appeared. At the time he figured it had been the need to squash thoughts of Sherry from his mind, but their week together never left him.

      She still looked like an angel…now more like one of little mercy. Her lush lips were painted a rose red. Her flowing strawberry blond hair framed her flawless face…and those magic eyes were as intriguing as he remembered. A beautiful green rimmed in a midnight blue.

      “How long will you be staying with us?” he asked, when he realized silence hung in the air.

      “A month or so,” Callie said. Hell, he’d forgotten she and Tim were there. “I told you that earlier.”

      “I forgot.”

      Callie rolled her eyes heavenward. One of the new waiters approached their table with drinks. “Brock, I saw you sit down and Chef Jamie said you usually have a draft. Is that okay?” the kid asked, holding a mug out for him.

      “Yeah, that’s good.”

      They placed their orders and the waiter slipped back to the kitchen. The place wasn’t crowded. Only one dining room was open. Most of the dinner crowd consisted of families staying on site. Barring an emergency, he had at least two hours to spend right here, since everything appeared under control.

      Now if he could say the same for himself. The conversation flowed because Callie was on cloud nine, preparing for her wedding.

      The food was good as usual, but he mostly poked at it. For once the company was more intriguing. Delaney shifted in her seat, and the scorching look she sent him had him hot and hard.

      He was more than willing to pick up where they had left off four years ago. A month-long romp in the sack with her would be a welcome distraction from his current project. Revamping Chandler Bayou consumed his days. Delaney would be the perfect nightly distraction.

      His phone vibrated in his pocket for the third time. He ignored it. The meal was almost over, and as far as he was concerned, he could linger here all night getting reacquainted with Delaney.

      The young waiter reappeared at their table. “Brock, Jamie said he needs you in the kitchen, ASAP.”

      “I’ll be right back.” He had no intention of allowing Callie an easy escape to whisk her friend away. When he opened the kitchen door, the corded phone was thrust at him.

      His shoulders sagged as Neil filled him in. One of their charter captains was sick and now he’d have to take out a group of fishermen to keep things running smoothly. “Fine. Give me half an hour.”

      He paced back to the table, unable to keep his eyes off Delaney. “Looks like I’m going to have to skip dessert. I’ve got to take out a bow-fishing charter.”

      * * * *

      Delaney watched the retreating back of a Chandler Bayou employee. They were easy to spot in their neat khaki pants or shorts and green polo shirts.

      “What did you say?” Brock Chandler was not something she’d planned to deal with for the next month.

      “Bow-fishing. There’s a charter set to leave in an hour. The regular guide went home sick. I’ll have to go get ready.”

      She laughed. “Sorry, I have to know exactly what bow-fishing is.” The images floating through her mind couldn’t be right.

      He was so handsome and well muscled. Strong arms were showcased by the rolled up sleeves of a white oxford shirt that made his natural tan look deeper. His angular jaw, with the sexy cleft in his chin made her heart race. His dark brown hair was sun-kissed with golden highlights. He gave her a half-cocked grin. Her stomach flip-flopped. “Do you want to come?”

      She squirmed in her seat. It was going to be one hell of a month. “Uh.”

      Callie cleared her throat. “We have to be at the bridal shop by nine in the morning. I have a fitting and you have to pick a dress. Sometimes those trips last hours.”

      “Oh, okay.”

      “Maybe another time?” Brock asked, watching her over the rim of his glass as he took a deep swallow of draft beer.

      “Yeah. Sure. I’d like to see what it is exactly.” It wouldn’t be the first time her perverse curiosity got her into something she should have avoided.

      Brock nodded, pushed away from the table and stood to leave. “I’ve got to stop by the kitchen. I’ll see you soon.” He turned to Tim and shook his hand. “We’ve got a tee time tomorrow afternoon.”

      “Call me.” Tim also stood. “Callie, sugar, want to walk me out?”

      She was by his side in a flash. “Be right back,” she shot over her shoulder as she walked away.

      Brock didn’t budge, but stood there looking absolutely delicious, following Tim and Callie to the door with his gaze. He pulled out the chair next to her and sat, then lifted her hand from the table. Sitting so close, she could feel the heat rolling off him in waves.

      “Hi.” The sound of his voice made her stomach touch her toes.

      She smiled without thinking. “Hi, yourself. Callie’s cousin, huh?”

      He nodded. “Maid of honor, I hear.”

      She licked her top lip, bit down on the lower one. Heat seared her body as he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb, making her smile.

      “I’ve wanted to touch you since I sat down.” His big, calloused hand sent a sharp tingling sensation up her arm. All she could think was how his hand would feel on her bare skin. The rumbling heat in his chocolate eyes made her achy, needy.

      “I don’t know what to say. I can’t…”

      “I know.” He shook his head. “Can we talk tomorrow? Callie volunteers at the YMCA on Wednesday afternoon. Tim and I fell into a routine of golfing then, but I’ll call him in the morning and cancel.”

      Not entirely certain her voice would work, she nodded. What did he mean? Did he think they could fall in to a month-long affair? She didn’t, was making changes in her life and didn’t need complications.

      He stood, her hand still in his. “I do have to go, but I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

      “Okay.” She swallowed. “And Brock?”

      “Yeah?”

      “It’s great to see you.”

      He kissed the back of her hand, leaving a moist imprint on her skin.

      “It’s good to see you too, Delaney.” He let her hand go, and turned to leave. She watched as he disappeared behind the kitchen door.

      Callie came back and practically pulled her from the dining room and out the door. They were seated in her car and driving to the cabin before Delaney knew what had hit her.

      Callie parked, and she was headed inside with her when she realized she’d left the golf cart.

      “Wait a minute, what’s the rush? I had the golf cart there.”

      “You’d never find your way back here in the dark. Besides, there are critters out there.”

      “What