He shook his head. “Dad made a dragon. Come see.”
She took his cold little hand in hers and moved down the short trail. Sam stood in front of the “castle” with his hands on his hips. The knees of his jeans were as wet and sandy as Conner’s, and his ears were just as red.
A cold breeze ruffled his hair, and dirt smudged his cheek. “What do you think?”
She cocked her head to one side and studied the castle. Up close, it looked less like a pile of sand. It was square, with four turrets and a moat, but the most impressive thing about it was the size. Like everything Sam did, it was big and over-the-top. “It’s always been a dream of mine to go on a tour of European castles. Who knew I’d see one in Moclips.”
“You dream about touring old, stone buildings?”
“Oh yeah. I hear Germany has some of the best and most haunted.”
“See the dragon?” Conner pointed to what looked like a snake with a big head slithering through the sand toward the castle. “He protects the boy in the castle.”
“From what?”
He looked up at his dad and squinted against the sun. “From what, Dad?”
“Girls.”
She laughed and lightly socked him in the stomach. He grabbed her hand before she could pul away. “You’re cold,” she said.
“The other day at the Key, you said I was hot.”
With her free hand, she pushed at the strands of red hair blowing across her face. “And today you’re filthy.”
Sam wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off her heels. He pressed his dirty sweatshirt against her and laughed. “You’re too clean. I like you better when you’re dirty, too.”
“Sam!” She pushed at his shoulders and tried to squirm out of his hold. But Sam was bigger and tal er, and she didn’t stand a chance. He tightened his grasp and lifted her until her toes dangled above the sand. His heated breath whispered across her chil ed cheek, “Wanna get real dirty with me?”
She grabbed onto his shoulders, afraid if he didn’t stop she’d get warm al over. That she’d like the way it felt to be held so tight by a strong man. By Sam. “Not in front of Conner!”
His lips brushed the corner of her lips. “Just a little dirty, then?”
“Stop, Sam. You’l confuse him.” Like the confusing, hot riot tumbling in her stomach.
He raised his head and said as he stared into her eyes, “Are you confused, Conner?”
“Yes.”
Sam looked over her shoulder, but he didn’t let her go. “What about?”
“If the castle doesn’t have a door, how wil the boy get out to ride the dragon?”
Sam smiled and lowered Autumn, slowly sliding her down his body until her feet touched the sand. “There’s a hidden door that the people who live inside know about.”
“Oh.” Conner nodded as if that made perfect sense. “I’m cold now.”
Autumn looked over her shoulder at Conner. “You wanna take a bath?”
“Yeah.”
She stepped out of Sam’s warm arm, and together the three of them walked up the trail to the beach house. Like they were a family. The family she’d longed for when she’d carried Conner in her womb. The family she’d desperately wanted for her child, but that hadn’t happened. They weren’t a family, and they never would be. Sam was Sam. A spoiled athlete, so used to getting everything he wanted, when and how he wanted it, that he had no clear boundaries.
Autumn was a working mom with very clear boundaries. Or at least she did when Sam wasn’t around touching her and whispering in her ear. Maneuvering her before she realized she’d been maneuvered.
Like before.
“Are we going to Paddie’s?” Conner asked, as they entered the house.