Lantern Lake Read Online Free Page B

lit by the hissing, popping bonfire, but she could easily make out the broad, hard-muscled shape of his shoulders and arms, and the taut twist of his trim waist.
    He waited patiently, watching her as she stared at him, and Vivian felt a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the bonfire. “It’s not a house,” she said breathlessly. “It’s more of a cabin, really. Very small, a little bit of a fixer upper, but lovely views of Lantern Lake.”
    Cooper propped one elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his chin on his hand. He’d lost his black bow tie at some point in the evening, and the top two buttons of his white shirt were undone, exposing a narrow V of tanned skin. “You know, I’ve been all over this island in the last couple of weeks, and I don’t remember seeing a lake.”
    “It’s hard to find,” Vivian agreed, with a tiny, secret smile. “Almost as if it’s my own private paradise.”
    Or…the private paradise of whoever wound up living there for real.
    She ignored the pang of longing. The Lantern Lake cabin certainly wasn’t her dream house, or anything.
You can’t afford dreams anymore
, she reminded herself.
Not until you prove to yourself you can survive without the help of a rich husband and wealthy parents
.
    “Okay, now I really have to see it.” Cooper stood and held out a hand to her. “Show me this Lantern Lake of yours. I want to take a look at your private paradise.”
    The silken seduction in his tone was more practiced than the boy she remembered, but the look in his extraordinary hazel eyes was the same. Somehow, after so long and so much painful history between them, he still wanted her. And heaven knew, Vivian had never forgotten what it felt like to be desired by Cooper Hayes. Everything in her yearned to experience the heady bliss of a night with Cooper once more.
    Vivian paused, the cold harshness of reality threatening to pierce the soft shimmery bubble of her fantasy. If she took Cooper back to the Lantern Lake cabin, she had no illusions about what would happen there.
    The youthful desire that had burned hotter than the bonfire lighting up the beach was still ablaze between them. In the sheltered privacy of her little cabin, surrounded by nothing but the calm lake, stands of maritime pine trees, and the bands of wild horses who made this island their home, Vivian knew she wouldn’t be able to resist Cooper.
    She wouldn’t even want to.
    But after a night of passion with him, what would the morning bring? Because she also had no illusions about any possible future between them. That ship sailed—and sank—a long time ago. Could she bear to go through with tonight, knowing it was the last time she’d ever see him…touch him…kiss him…
    When the universe gives you a shot at something, you take it—or you regret it forever
.
    Vivian put her hand in Cooper’s and let him tug her to her feet. “Let’s go.”
    A spark caught and flared in the depths of his eyes, burning hotter than the fire at her back. Vivian’s heart jumped and started to pump thunderously in anticipation.
    Without another word, Cooper laced their fingers together and pulled her away from the circle of light the bonfire cast over the last, lingering wedding guests. Vivian followed him to his low-slung red sports car, too full of jittery excitement to even feel the chill of the night air.
    She couldn’t pass up the chance to add new memories to the store of mental images that had gotten her through the toughest times of her life. She’d steal one more night of passion with the only man she’d ever loved—and then she’d open her hands and let him go back to his fabulous life of wealth and adventure.
    The life she could have shared with him. The life that would never be hers now.
    So she’d take tonight and be grateful, no matter what happened. No matter how much it would hurt to say goodbye to Cooper when it was over.

Chapter 3
    Cooper followed Vivian’s quiet directions across the