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“I’m terrified,” I admit with a self-deprecating laugh.

“Then why do it?” he asks with genuine curiosity.

“I wanted to help someone.”

“Of course you did.” His grin widens. “Nice to see some things never change. You always did have a habit of showing up for people when they needed you.”

“I… um…” I hesitate. “I could use someone showing up for me tomorrow night too.”

“Is that your way of asking me to come?”

I nod.

“Okay. On one condition.”

I eye him suspiciously. “What?”

“You have to go for a swim with me.”

“A swim?” I laugh as he releases my hand and gets to his feet. “Are you crazy? It’s October. That lake must be freezing.”

“This from the girl who once dared me to jump into it on Christmas Day.”

“It was tradition,” I say with a shrug.

“A tradition you started.” He laughs as he takes off his jacket and pulls his long-sleeved shirt over his head. “Come on, Morgan. Up and at ‘em. Let’s get you out of those clothes and into the water.”

“Give me a minute,” I protest, too preoccupied with ogling his perfectly defined abs to think about anything else. When he unbuttons his jeans and pushes them down, kicking off his sneakers afterward, I’m more than mesmerized.

I only realize I’m blatantly staring when he reaches down, catches my chin between his fingers, and tips my face up to his.

“You can eye-fuck me later. It’s your turn to get undressed.”

“I wasn’t eye-fucking you,” I quickly defend, scrambling to my feet.

“Sure you weren’t.” He smirks.

“Argh. I forgot how annoying you could be sometimes,” I say, taking off my jacket and tossing it onto the dock. “You always thought you were so cute,” I grumble as I unbutton my blouse and pull it off. “Always had to be funny.” I continue rambling as I shimmy out of my pants and kick off my white canvas sneakers.

I’m trying to think of more insulting things to throw at him when he takes a step closer and reaches for the scarf around my neck.

“Now, was that so hard?” he rasps, untying the knot and tossing the scarf aside.

Then he takes one of my hands and slowly removes my glove, then does the same with the other.

My breath catches when I realize I’m standing in front of him in nothing more than my bra and panty set, while he is down to his boxers.

Suddenly, the fact that we’re about to jump into a freezing lake is the furthest thing from my mind.

“Ready?” he asks, running his thumb over my lower lip before settling both hands on my waist.

I’m so dazed by his closeness that all I can manage is a nod.

“Good.” He grins, leaning toward me.

I close my eyes, preparing myself for his kiss. Only it never comes.

Instead, Milo grabs me, lifts me clean off the dock, and jumps.