His throat works as he swallows hard. “Noted.”
I laugh and get back into position. Our team pulls ahead thanks to Aria’s killer serves and my aggressive net play. I dive for a save, body stretched, and pop the ball up before Claire finishes it with a top over the net.
Another point for the girls.
I surface, gasping and grinning, and find Milo staring, his jaw tight and pupils blown wide. I swim to the net, resting my forearms on it so my chest is perfectly framed.
“You okay over here?” I tilt my head with a smirk. “You look… tense.”
“I’m fine.” He grits out.
“You’re lying,” I snort, water dripping from my lashes. “Your shorts are doing a terrible job of hiding how not fine you are.”
His gaze drops guiltily, then snaps back up. “You’re playing dirty.”
“I’m playing to win,” I correct. “Right now, winning means watching you lose your mind, point by point.”
He exhales roughly. “You’re going to pay for this.”
I flutter my lashes. “Promise?”
Instead of answering, he turns and gets back into position. I grin triumphantly and do the same. When Ethan serves, I jump higher than before and spike the ball hard. It smacks the water right in front of Milo, who lunges and misses by inches.
Game over.
The girls erupt into screams, splashing and hugging. I launch myself at Aria, and we stumble backward into the water, a tangleof limbs and laughter. When we surface, Milo is wading slowly toward the net until he’s standing right in front of me.
“Good game,” he says quietly. “You seem like a girl who played volleyball in high school and had an advantage.”
“Maybe I did…” I say, my lips curving upward. “Youalmosthad me.”
“Almost isn’t good enough.”
I hum softly. “You seem like a man who doesn’t like not getting what he wants.”
“Maybe I am…”
I tilt my head, water dripping down my face and collecting on my collarbone. “Want a rematch?”
His gaze drops to my mouth and lingers. “I want a lot of things.”
My pulse kicks hard. “Yeah? Name one.”
Before he can answer, Ethan calls from the side. “Milo, you coming? They’re serving fresh poke at the beachside restaurant.”
He nods once and pushes himself out of the pool, water rolling effortlessly down the muscles on his back. I watch him go, then hoist myself out of the pool too. Aria is already standing there with a towel, and I take it from her with a thanks.
But as I wrap it around my body, I can’t help glancing at Milo as he walks off with Ethan and the guys. He glances back over his shoulder, and our eyes lock for a beat longer than they should. There’s something heated and deliberate in that glance—a silent promise, or maybe a challenge.
Heat blooms low in my stomach. I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to play it cool, but the truth settles in anyway.
I just know this man is about to become dangerous to me.
Chapter Six
Milo
Ethan has claimedthe prime spot on the pool deck—sprawled on his back, one hand cradling a sweating, vibrant orange cocktail and the other cradling his phone as he narrates old photos to anyone within earshot, his voice slurred just enough to prove the all-inclusive bar is doing its job.
