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“Wasn’t running away,” I muttered.
“No?”
I pressed the buttons for the jets, sitting on the bench, doing my best to look outside and not at the ridiculously sexy man next to me. I was failing, often, but just when I thought the growing tension between us was getting to be too much, footsteps echoed against the tiled floor.
“I took the liberty of ordering us some snacks and drinks,” Reid explained.
“Some snacks” turned out to be a five-course meal. The staff served it at the in-pool bar. The seats were in the water, the counter just above the surface.
“This is delicious. I didn’t know your hotel served gourmet food.”
“Happy you like it. Glad you stayed?”
“Oh, yeah. Perfect way to spend Saturday evening.”
Oh my God. We were on a date. Somehow, I’d ended up on a date with Reid Davenport. His lazy smile told me that he was enjoying watching me reach that conclusion.
“I can’t believe this.”
“Why? I like being near you.”
“You have strange taste, Reid. Pretty sure you could spend time with someone who doesn’t give you shit at every turn.”
“But I want to spend it with you. I like that you don’t put up with anything, that you don’t shy away from telling it to me straight.”
I swallowed, twirling my glass, hyperaware that we were alone again. I wasn’t sure how to act or what to say. This tension between us was just too thick. I slid away from my chair, intending to go for another swim since we were done with dinner. Reid was just behind me.
I stilled when he brought one hand to my waist, then moved around to face me. When he gently stroked my cheek with his thumb, I didn’t protest or move away. In fact, about the only thing I could do was look at his lips. Those strong, full lips.
He brought his mouth to mine, just a gentle touch at first, then a small lick on my lower lip before kissing me hard. His hand went into my hair at the back of my head, tilting it just so. The other hand ran down my back, kneading my ass and pressing me against him. Every cell in my body was alive, like I was about to burst from too much energy. I was turned on, but so was he. Feeling him turn rock-hard within minutes almost made me lose my mind. He was always so in control of himself, yet he seemed to let completely loose when he was with me.
His kiss was so tender that I couldn’t help the bout of emotion coursing through me. I couldn’t tell why, but he was awakening feelings no one had before.
He had both hands on me now. Touching, tugging, exploring. When he reached the hem of my bikini bottoms, his fingers dug into my skin, as if it was all he could do not to rip them away.
That snapped me back to reality. We were in a pool! Staff could walk in at any moment. I tore my mouth away from his but didn’t pull back. Merely stood there, entwined with him, drawing my breath. He kept me close, resting his jaw against my temple.
“Fuck, Hailey.”
I knew exactly what that “fuck” stood for: he couldn’t believe this had been so intense any more than I could. I was trembling. From a kiss!
It was official, I’d pegged Reid Davenport all wrong. I’d thought he was broody and possibly an asshole. He’d showed me otherwise. He’d invited me here under the pretense of work and had in fact planned an elaborate date. It was as if he had a secret side that he was slowly revealing to me. I managed to gain his trust.
I looked up into those gray-blue eyes that were so alive—not just with lust. The realization overwhelmed me. I couldn’t explain how I knew it, but that warmth and happiness in his gaze stirred so many emotions inside me. He was looking at me as if I was the cause for it all, as if I was... special.
Maybe I was imagining it. Surely, that was it.
“Tell me you don’t want this,” he whispered.
“Reid....”
His fingers dug into my waist possessively. “Tell me you don’t feel it.”
“Of course, I do.”
His smile changed. I pointed an accusatory finger at him. “What’s with this smile?”
“What about it?”
