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Marley’s heart skipped as she realized she was actually happy to have shared it with him. She loved the fact that they had this between them, something no one else knew about.
“Consider it an apology for the way I left things in the hotel parking lot. That guy, Dustin and I have never gotten along, and I worried he’d tell my boss I was being unprofessional.”
Luke dropped the branch and she noticed he seemed stiff, tense. “Why does he have it out for you? The two of you date or something?”
“Ugh, no! Gross. Are you trying to make me vomit up the rancid cake?”
Luke burst out laughing. “What? Isn’t that something guys do when they like you? Torture you?”
“That is a horrible thought, and I curse you for even suggesting it.”
He had his hands in the air now, relaxed and smiling, and she found she preferred Luke this way. Teasing easily and playful. She needed it.
“He has always been an obnoxious douche, and just likes to make everyone else feel inferior to him.”
“Good.” He turned his back on her and walked out of the cemetery.
She hurried to catch up, curious. “Why good?”
“Cause I’d hate to think you were into a guy that wouldn’t treat you right.”
His soft words were like a sucker punch. Damn, why did he have to say such perfect things?
“I am pretty choosey when it comes to guys.”
“I get that.”
He didn’t say anything else, and she wanted to tell him that her decision not to date him really had nothing to do with him. That she liked him and wished that things were different.
But she couldn’t elaborate to make the situation better, so she just left it. “Want to see the river?”
“Sure.”
They hiked down the trail and sweat was pouring off Marley by the time they reached the bottom. The sun was straight up in the sky and the temperature had been climbing steadily. She noticed his light gray T-shirt was dark with moisture over his chest, and bit her lip at the way it molded over his gorgeous pecs.
“Whew, now this looks heavenly.”
Marley glanced over the swimming hole, and smiled. “Yeah, we used to come down here and jump off that rock into the water during the summer.”
Luke eyeballed the fifteen-foot boulder coming out of the water. “Now that sounds like a great idea.”
To her utter astonishment, Luke reached down and grasped the bottom of his shirt, pulling it over his head in one fluid movement. Her mouth dried up as her gaze traveled over that rippled stomach.
“What are you doing?” she squeaked.
“Going swimming. It’s hot as hell and that water looks mighty refreshing.” He kicked off his shoes and when his hands went to the button of his cargo shorts, he raised an eyebrow. “Care to join me?”
“I don’t have a suit on.”
“Me neither.” He pushed his shorts down, revealing the boxer briefs underneath. “But a bra and panties covers the same as a bikini.”
Not the set I’m wearing. This morning she’d donned her lacey black bra and matching panty set under her black capris and short sleeved blouse. Not exactly made for concealing.
“Yeah, no, I’m good.”
“Suit yourself, but you’re more than welcome to put on my T-shirt if you’re worried about me peeking.”
In the time Marley glanced down at his gray shirt, he’d waded into the water, gliding on his back, the sun glistening off that wet, tanned chest.
