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“Yes! Get it, babe!” Josh celebrated our win, turning me around on his shoulders. My core was now in his face.
“Josh!” I exclaimed, surprised by the turn in events. Jolting back, I lost my balance and fell into his arms.
I swear there was a drastic shift in the air. It was the weirdest sensation I’d ever felt. One minute, I was laughing and having fun. The next, I was in Josh’s embrace with my legs wrapped around his waist.
I felt him before I actually saw him. Subconsciously, my stare shifted behind Josh, finding the man I least expected. Who was glaring at us with such disdain.
“Oh, shit,” I breathed out, pulling away from Josh.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I’m saving your life.”
“Wha—”
I swam away from him, going toward the stairs. When I lifted my head out of the water, there was a white towel in my face, and I didn’t have to wonder who was holding it. Shoving the towel away, I stood in front of him.
He immediately started off on the wrong foot, snapping, “What the fuck are you wearing?”
“Are you always this aggressive, or do I just bring out the worst in you?”
“Evie, you need to put some fucking clothes on.”
“Or what?”
“You’re going to answer to me.”
“What’s your problem? I haven’t seen you in months, and you show up out of nowhere, barking orders at me like I’m your dog.”
“If I had a dog, it would listen to me. You do not.”
“Whatever. I’m just wearing a bikini. You need to relax. Or what?” I extended my arms. “You don’t think I look good?”
Caleb’s stare turned predatory as he took me in, from my breasts to my legs and back up again. Although I was trying to feel empowered by my rebuttal, the expression on his face made me feel the exact opposite.
Vulnerable and naked.
I was learning that was never a good thing when it came to the man staring daggers at me.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“You don’t have a problem with every other man here looking at you the way I am.”
Before I could reply, he wrapped the towel around my body, holding it closed out in front of my chest.
“Feel better, old man?”
“Darlin’,” he warned through a clenched jaw. “Don’t fucking test me. Now go inside and put some goddamn clothes on.”
“You’re not the boss of me.”
“Evie—”
“Oh!” I mocked. “Suddenly you remember who I am? Funny how that works.”
“Don’t bait me, sweetheart. I’m in no mood for your temper tantrums.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To drive you home.”
“I don’t want to go home.”
“I don’t give a shit what you want.”
“Yeah, that much is clear, but you’re not ruining another thing for me. I’m hanging out with Josh. We’re going on a date tomorrow.”
“The fuck you are.”
“Now you think you control my dates? What the hell is that? What am I supposed to do? Huh? Sit at home and become the cat lady?”
“At least your pussy wouldn’t be in some random guy’s face.”
“Hey! That was an accident. He was trying to get me off of him.”
“He was definitely trying to get something off, but it sure as shit wasn’t you from his body.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“Neither do you.”
“No shit, Sherlock. That’s why we’re going on a date.”
“I won’t repeat myself again, Evie. Get your ass inside and go change, so I can drive you home.”
“Josh didn’t do anything wrong. He was just trying to get me off his shoulders.”
“Like Ryan was just trying to take you home to read you a bedtime story?”
“I can’t live in fear forever, Caleb. We were playing “chicken.” You know, in case you weren’t stalking me up to that point. What do you want me to do? Never leave my apartment? Would that make you happy?”
“If your brother saw what you were wearing right now, he wouldn’t be happy.”
“You know what else wouldn’t make my brother happy? The way you’re acting right now.”
“I’m protecting you.”
“For whose benefit? His or yours?”
“That’s enough, Evie.”
I shook my head, annoyed he was treating me like a child. “What are you even doing here?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Do you have a tracker on me or something? How did you know I was here?”
I never expected him to shamelessly admit, “I have pledges watching you.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’re spying on me?”
“I gave Jax my word.”
“Your word, huh? Were you protecting me when you were balls deep inside of me a couple months ago?”
He growled.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Old Grumpy Pants. Did I hit a nerve?”
“Evie,” he cautioned in a voice I didn’t appreciate.
Smiling wide, I threw off the towel and jumped into the pool, splashing him.
“Did you forget how to have fun because you’re so old?”
“You want me to have fun?”
I should have known better, but I couldn’t help myself. I wanted to get a rise out of him. I just didn’t anticipate him jumping in after me to dunk my head under the water.
