She smirked and leaned back on her hands, ankles swaying in the water. “You sure? Pool looks good. The water's warm. Crowd’s fake, but the floaties are charming.”
I eyed the nearest inflatable flamingo. “It’s mocking me.”
She turned to me again, and I should’ve known that look.
That look meant trouble.
“I bet I could get you in the pool in under sixty seconds,” she said with a grin, easing herself into the water. “Start counting, cowboy.”
CHAPTER 18
“There’s no way.” I teased, trying not to look too obvious as I fiddled with the buttons on my shirt. She could have asked me to fly a plane to Mars, and I would have.
I wassofucked.
But I couldn’t let her winthateasily. Rolling my eyes, I shook my head at her. “No way.”
“I get it.” She shrugged. The water level was doingdangerousthings for her… or me. I didn’t realize how buoyant a woman could be.
Holy shit.
I was going to have to get into the pool just to hide my growing erection from prying eyes.
Mostly just hers.
“I wonder if what all the Hollywood movies portray are true.” She mused before me, taking a few steps backwards.
“What’s that?”
“Young, hot, uninhibited groups of co-edsloveto play chicken.” The grin she wore across her face wasshit-eating. “If you’re notgoing to get in, I’ll find another partner to help me.” She ran her fingers through her tangled locks. “Surely,someonewill let me sit on their shoulders.”
“Fuck you, Haddock.” I managed through gritted teeth, slowly continuing my inconspicuous button-work.
She winked.
The little temptress.
And then ducked under the water, just out of my view. With a scowl that no one saw, and a sigh that no one heard, I pulled my shirt over my head and slipped into the pool.
She surfaced right in front of me, slick hair, dark lashes, lips parted with a grin that sent blood rocketing to all the wrong places. I laughed, breathless, and reached instinctively — one hand to her waist, steadying myself — steadying her. Warm skin, water-slick. She didn’t flinch.
In fact, she leaned into it.
Then — God help me — her knee bumped my thigh. She moved closer casually, like it didn’t mean anything.
“You look like a drowned rat,” she teased, and my breath caught when she twirled a lock of my hair around her finger.
“Iama drowned rat.”
“Still pretty cute, though,” she said, a little too quiet. A little too close.
My grip on her tightened, just slightly. Just enough for her to notice. But she didn’t back away.
We were chest to chest now, the water lifting her just enough that her leg slid along mine — then over it. I swallowed hard. I couldfeelher breasts pressed against me, the hardened peaks of her nipplestantalizingagainst my skin.
“Juniper.”
“Mhm?”
