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didn’t take you for a daredevil. Be sure to wear wrist and shin guards and knee and elbow pads.”
    “Already purchased,” she assured him. “I may be clumsy, but I’m seeking adventure. While I don’t plan to go near the ocean, I want the full boardwalk experience.”
    Mac patted his butt cheek, said, “The seat on a unicycle is really narrow and small. It will split your—”
    Dune stopped him with a hard look.
    Sophie dipped her head. “I’ll manage.”
    “Stilts will make you taller than Dune,” Mac added.
    A whole lot taller, Dune thought. His palms began to sweat. Bold and daring would cause her a lot of bruises and possibly a broken bone.
    “All three skills take a lot of practice,” he said from experience.
    The tourists enjoyed watching the stilt walkers, unicyclists, and pogo stick jumpers. The novelty performances drew big tips. He’d attempted and adapted quickly to all three skills as a teenager. Each talent required perfect timing and balance. Sophie had neither. Put her on a pogo stick and she’d be spring-loaded. Who knew where she’d bounce? Dune hated the thought of her taking chances.
    “You could be a mime,” Mac suggested. “You’re shy and wouldn’t have to talk.”
    “I want out of the box,” said Sophie.
    Dune rubbed his brow. He felt protective toward her. He needed to discourage her without hurting her feelings. “A Beach Branch of the Chamber of Commerce recently opened next to Goody Gumdrops,” he said. “You could work Reception.”
    Stick her behind a desk. His suggestion didn’t sit well with Sophie Saunders. She appreciated his concern, but refused to be discouraged. Pigeonholed in an office sharing travel tips and passing out promotional flyers wasn’t as exciting as trying to unicycle, jump on a pogo stick, or walk on stilts.
    This was her summer to step outside her shadow.
    She hadn’t told anyone that she had a training session scheduled with Rick Cates that very afternoon. He was the best unicyclist on the boardwalk. Rick was Dune’s third cousin. They were to meet at a reserved employee parking lot south of the boardwalk for her first lesson.
    Rick belonged to a uni-troupe of ten performers. He rode a six-foot high “giraffe.” He knew numerous tricks and stunts. He was a crowd-pleaser. Sophie had watched him spin in circles, juggle orange tennis balls, and bounce the single tire three feet off the ground. He had circus talent.
    She, on the other hand, would be lucky to ride a straight line on a much shorter cycle. She was tentative, yet up for the challenge. It would be new, exciting, fun.
    Their lunches arrived a moment later. Violet set Sophie’s plate down first. “Enjoy.” Vi winked at her.
    Dune and Mac both eyed her food.
    Mac couldn’t contain his grin.
    “What are you smiling about?” asked Dune.
    “You know what I’m smiling about,” said Mac. “Our Sophie’s into whipped cream.”
    She loved whipped cream. The homemade topping was her downfall. Vi had been generous. The sliced strawberries and bananas were special little extras. Violet took good care of her volleyball teammates.
    Mac curved his arm about Sophie’s shoulders, then said, “That’s foreplay on your plate.”
    A magazine article she’d recently read agreed with Mac. According to “Finger Food for the Bedroom,” whipped cream scored high for teasing and tasting. The thought of licking the topping off a lover made her blush.
    Her cheeks grew as heated as Dune’s gaze. She watched him watching her. She swore he could read her mind. She self-consciously licked her lips.
    He lowered his voice, then asked, “Taste good?”
    She hadn’t taken a bite.
    Mac saved her from herself. “Want to make out?” he whispered near her ear. He dipped the tip of his finger in the whipped cream and traced her lips. He leaned in for a kiss, but she held him off with a hand to his chest. He laughed, snuck a strawberry, then eased back.
    “Such a sweet mouth,” he said ruefully. “If