Sure, I am happy for my brothers. And my cousins. All of whom seemed to have found their perfect match and are all deliriously happy. Well, good for them. And sure, it might be nice to have that sort of relationship. Maybe some kids one day. But I have always been a little different from the rest of them. Maybe a wife and kids just isn’t in my future. But if it is thenI can damn well sort it out for myself. I don’t need my family meddling in my business and I don’t need women throwing themselves at me every chance they get.
They only want me because I’m a Kingsley. Everybody knows the family has money. They might not know that I have built up my own business. That I have made it on my own. I’m just a Kingsley. One of those wild Kingsley boys. We’ve always been lumped together. Just a name. When all I've ever wanted is for someone to know me for who I am rather than my last name.
Take Darla here. We knew each other as kids and she didn’t want anything to do with me back then. I was the weird kid sitting in the corner with his drawings while she was the popular one all the boys wanted. But none of that seems to matter now as she looks up at me through the rain. On one of my nicer days I might have suggested we go inside. But she came chasing after me. She stopped me. So she can stand here in the rain if she wants to talk to me. And she is definitely doing all of the talking.
I was heading to the Boathouse Cafe in the hope of getting away from all these women. But it seems they are everywhere. Right now I caught a glimpse of flame red hair. Wild curls and a curvaceous body of a woman up on the roof of the cafe. Well, this is unique. I guess climbing up onto the roof right in front of me is one way to grab my attention. And she certainly has that as I watch this woman wave her ass in the air right in front of me. It is a damn fine ass and I am intrigued. But this woman shouldn’t be climbing around on the roof when it’s wet up there.
She could fall at any minute. She looks especially awkward, keeping her back to me so I can admire her behind,while making me eager to see the face that goes with all that wild hair.
And then she half turns and looks over her shoulder. Looking right at me. I get a glimpse of green eyes and adorable freckles. And then she slips. With a yelp she falls from view. Sliding down the far side of the roof. My heart stops as I hear the splash. Without a thought I jump up onto the railing to help her. Diving into the water below. My only thought is that I have to save her.
Chapter 3
Summer
Curses. If I hadn't been distracted by the man staring at me. If he hadn’t been staring at me in the first place, then I wouldn’t have lost my footing and scraped up my arm on the roof and now find myself in the cold water of the lake.
Coming to the surface I take in a big gasp of air. I’m a good swimmer. But when I feel an arm grab at me I freak out. Splashing around, I try to get away.
“It’s okay. I’ve got you.”
Damn it. Someone has jumped in to save me. But I don’t need saving. But the more I splash the tighter his grip around my waist. Literally cutting off my air. I’m going to end up drowning because of him.
Once he has dragged us to a steel cross beam under the jetty, he lifts me up to drag me across it. Coughing up water, spluttering and cursing, I get a few big unhelpful thumps on my chest.
“Stop. What the hell...are you trying to kill me?”
“I’m saving you.”
Hanging onto the metal pole, I spin myself around. Ridge Kingsley’s wet face is looking back at me. Damn he is handsome. His wet shirt is clinging to his body. He has hazelgreen eyes a girl could get lost in. No wonder he is the catch of the season. But I’m not the one who will be doing the catching.
“I don’t need saving.” I tell him. “I wouldn’t have fallen if you hadn’t been staring at me.”
It’s true. I had been so busy being determined not to look at him and that was why I had slipped and fell.
He is holding onto another pole. Just a foot away from me. Little waves splashing up against his chest and I can see his dark frown. “Or you were wanting me to see you fall so I would jump in and save you?”
My jaw drops. “What?”
“Look, I give you points for imagination, but you could have been hurt.”
“What?” I ask again.
“I did what you wanted. I couldn’t let you drown. But this ends here. I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. Got it?”
I shake my head, trying to clear the water out of my ears. I must be hearing him wrong. “You think I fell off the roof on purpose.”
He nods.
Oh my God. I knew the Kingsley men were arrogant but this takes the cake. I can’t believe I'm underneath the jetty talking to the Ridge Kingsley. But I really can’t believe we are talking about this. “Okay.” I shrug. “I agree. We won’t date each other.”
And then I push off and swim towards the shore.
When it’s shallow enough to put my feet on the ground I start walking through the water. Only to find him right there next to me.
“So no more dangerous stunts, okay?” He says as he pushes his wet hair back off his face.
We’ve reached the beach and I turn to him. “Let me assure you that I am absolutely not interested in you. I didn't fall off the roof on purpose. I didn’t ask you to jump in after me.” My voice is rising with every word. “And I don’t need saving.” I practically yell the last bit.
