Chapter Six
I’d stretched out mywork day as long as I could, at least as long as I thought would look acceptable should management decide to take an interest for once.Finally, though - after leaving an apology-cupcake on the desk of the colleague I’d snapped at - I made a quick exit, intentionally breezing past the couple of people who looked like they might have conversation in mind.
I half expected, half hoped anyway, that he’d be waiting there for me already when I got back.Languidly swimming laps in the pool, perhaps, or just chilling out by the water.I’d even considered telling him where I’d stashed the spare key, so that he could let himself into the house.In the end, though, that had felt a little too forward.
Instead everything was silent, the deck empty, and the pool undisturbed.I weighed the idea of sending him a message, but decided that, too, might count as too needy.Forced myself to put my phone down to charge, and then started up the shower.
Usually, a long, hot shower after a dull day at the office was my idea of heaven.Now, though, I was distracted.Every squeak that could be a gate swinging open; every knock that might be Kai at the door...I was like a meerkat, I realized, suddenly perking up and listening intently every minute or so.
I knew I was being stupid.Teenage, practically, and more than a little desperate.Fixating on a cute guy and probably reading far more into it all than I had any right to.I’d gone through enough infatuations over the years to know that they were simply in my nature.I’d also experienced sufficient number to recognize that the best cure for such foolishness was to rip the bandage off and admit that I was being silly.
There was a gulf between knowing something is ridiculous rationally, of course, and your gut accepting it.For all my head was telling me that Kai - although maybe attracted to me for whatever reason - was hardly going to be interested in more than a night or two of fun, my heart was getting far more carried away.I wasn’t entirely sure what it was envisioning, but I knew it counted as unlikely.
The two thoughts continued dueling as I toweled off, then pulled on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and padded barefoot downstairs.There was a bottle of wine already open in the fridge, I knew, and probably at least half of a preprepared salad from the grocery store.I was far less enthused about a solid dinner, though; my ex had been the chef in our relationship, and while this current kitchen had come pre-equipped with well stocked drawers and gleaming appliances, I’d hardly used more than the microwave.
I was topping up the glass, side-eying my phone again, when I realized Kai was standing at the patio doors.He smiled at me; a close, familiar smile, the sort you might give to an old friend.The sort you can’t help but return.
He looked me up and down when I pulled the doors open.
“You’re overdressed for the pool,” he pointed out.
I nodded at his t-shirt and shorts.“I’m not the only one.”I took a sip from my glass.“Plus I think I was promised a Speedo with a story.”
Kai chuckled.“Swimming lesson first, story afterwards.”
I rolled my eyes.“I don’t remember signing up for lessons.”
“Verbal contract,” he corrected, “you opted for the special summer package.”
My turn to laugh.I set the wineglass down on the table, and started to tug my t-shirt off.I still felt self-conscious about getting undressed in front of Kai; avoiding making eye-contact while I did it was about as close to comfortable as I could get.
“Excellent,” he commented, and began pulling off his own clothes.
I’d already put my swimsuit on under my jeans, so after shoving them down my legs it was a simple matter of taking a few steps and plunging into the water.The temperature was near to perfect: cool enough to be bracing, but warm enough so as to make being in it something slightly less than masochistic.
I turned as I bobbed in the water, facing where Kai was still nudging his shoes off.I’d rushed a little, it was true, in the hope of being able to watch him finish undressing.It seemed, though, like he was in no great hurry to do so.
As I stared, he dropped his shirt onto the deck.Unbuttoned his shorts and, with a smile that was bordering on a smirk, nudged them down until they crumpled around his feet.
His Speedo was blue and white.Narrow around the sides; bulging temptingly at the front.I knew he knew how intently I was watching him: the slow pirouette made that clear.
