“You’re kind of a homebody.”
Her chin lifts. “True. I like being home. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Did I say there was?”
“Er, no. But I can travel and still love coming home.”
“Sure.”
“You think I’m just talking shit, don’t you?”
“No!”
“You do. I can see it on your face. Anyway, you never answered my question.”
“What question?”
“If the Loch Ness monster is real.”
“Oh. Right. Well… I think people have seensomething. But it’s probably just a big fish.”
“That’s not very exciting.” After a beat, she says, “What? Why are you smiling like that?”
“Because you’re cute.”
Her mouth twists. “That feels condescending.”
“Saying you’re cute is condescending?” I glide through the water so I’m in front of her. “When have I ever been condescending to you?”
She tilts her head. She’s thinking. “Okay, I don’t know. Never.”
“When I say you’re cute, I mean that sincerely.” I touch her nose. “But you’re also beautiful. And hot. Sweet but also sexy as fuck.”
Her face lightens. One corner of her mouth lifts. “Thank you.”
“I probably didn’t tell you that enough.”
Her eyes widen, then lower, eyelashes fanning on her cheeks. “You’re taking responsibility for something you did wrong?”
“I know I did a lot of things wrong, Ayla.”
Her mouth softens. We regard each other silently for a moment. Then she says, “I probably did, too.”
“Probably?” My lips quirk.
“Okay, I did.” She lowers her eyes, looking sad.
I move closer and find her waist with my hands in the water. “Do you think it’s too late?”
Fuck. My gut cramps up.
She slowly lifts her eyes. Studies my face. Then whispers, “Too late for what?”
“For us.”
The pulse in her throat flutters. With parted lips, she gazes back at me. “I don’t know.”
Well. That’s not a no.
