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Derek was relaxed on the circular sofa above deck, his shirt unbuttoned and bare feet propped up, but when she joined him he stood. “I’ve been waiting for this all week.” He gathered her close. The heat from his skin seeped through her thin tank top, waking up her body.
“Mmm, me too.” She breathed in deep. Derek never bothered with cologne or aftershave. He didn’t need to. She found the fresh scent of soap and Derek’s skin more alluring than any musky cologne. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see you much this week. Darn migraine drained me.”
“Doesn’t matter, sweetheart. I’ve got you all to myself now. Just the way I want it.”
Her heart expanded, threatening to break free of her rib cage.
“My plan was to spend all our time at Rosewood, but this weekend is all about you. Say the word and we’ll do whatever you want.”
Tears prickled the back of her eyes. “Your plan sounds perfect.” Pulling his head toward her, she kissed him, using her lips to communicate the words she was still too afraid to say.
***
While her parents had several gorgeous homes, none of them compared to Rosewood. And if the view from Derek’s condo left her breathless, there were no words to explain what the one from his dad’s estate did. Perched on a piece of land that jutted out in the ocean, the house was surrounded on three sides by water. Several acres of pristine lawns and gardens kept the fourth side of the home protected from prying eyes and unwanted guests. All in all, it was a small slice of paradise located on Cape Cod.
“Why aren’t your dad and stepmom here this weekend?” She gazed out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the waves rolling onto the beach below. If Rosewood belonged to her, she’d never spend time anywhere else.
Derek stepped up behind her, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her against him. “Told them I needed a secluded location for the weekend so I could seduce a certain woman without neighbors complaining we were making too much noise.”
The man was impossible. She gave his arm a swat. “You did not.”
He kissed her hair and she felt his smile against her scalp. “They went to visit Abby’s sister,” he said, referring to his stepmom. “We have the whole place to ourselves. No one will bother us.”
His hands slipped under her top and rested against her stomach for a moment before they glided upward, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. “Can I get you anything? Something to drink? I opened a bottle of Cristal. It’s in the kitchen.” His fingers cupped her breast before sliding back down her rib cage. “You didn’t eat much on the ride over. We could grab a snack. Angelo prepared a caprese salad and bruschetta.”
Two of her summer favorites, but she had other things on her mind besides food. “Maybe later.” She fought to keep her voice from shaking. “Let’s go down on the beach.”
She felt his quick intake of breath and her stomach started its gymnastic routine again. They were going to make love this weekend so he’d see her naked anyway. She might as well slip on the barely there bikini and get it over with.
“You’ve got it.” His fingers brushed against her skin as he withdrew his hand. “Go change. I’ll meet you outside on the lower deck.”
She watched him walk away, her eyes focused on his nicely formed backside. She’d admired it one or… okay, maybe more like one or two hundred times in the past. Friends or not, she was human and his butt was a perfect specimen. When it left her view, she turned on her heel.
Brooklyn carried her things into the large bathroom located on the lower level near the door to the deck. By changing in there she could avoid walking through the entire house and possibly bumping into any of the staff.
The black-and-red bikini remained in the tissue paper the saleswoman had wrapped it in the weekend before. Storing her shorts and tank top on a shelf, she eyed the garment as she unclipped her bra and removed her underwear. “It’ll be fine.”
She’d intentionally turned her back to the full-length mirror while she’d dressed. With the bikini top secured around her neck and the bottoms on, she closed her eyes and turned. “Just look. No one else is here.”
She peeled her eyelids open. Well, it wasn’t as bad as she remembered from the dressing room. Turning a bit to the left and then the right, she studied her reflection. She doubted Derek would run screaming when he spotted her. She turned and faced the mirror head-on. Okay, part one was done. She’d gotten the thing on. Part two, getting out there, might take a little more nerve. The lyrics to an old song about a girl wearing a polka dot bikini for the first time surfaced and she giggled. Yep, the song definitely fit the situation.
Derek glanced over his shoulder again. What was taking her so long? He’d changed and carried down their champagne as well as a platter of assorted cheeses and crackers in case she wanted something other than the food Angelo had set out for them. It didn’t usually take her much time to change. He guessed she was having second and third thoughts about her suggestion. He looked back out at the ocean. Maybe he should tell her not to worry about it, let her wear whatever she was most comfortable in. He didn’t need to see her dressed in some sexy swimsuit to turn him on. Hell, she walked in the room and he became hard. Heaven help him if she walked in wearing something provocative.
He’d give her a couple more minutes. If she still didn’t come out, he’d go tell her she was off the hook. Derek rested his forearm on his knee and reached for his champagne.
“Sorry I took so long,” she called from behind his lounge chair. “Did you remember to bring out sunscreen? If not, I’ll grab us some.”
The second he looked over his shoulder, his chin hit the deck and he almost fell out of his chair. Lunging to his feet, he scrambled to regain some composure. “Warn me next time you’re going to walk out looking like that.”
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, but she kept her arms by her sides. “I brought one of my other suits so I can change if you don’t like this one.”
He pulled his sunglasses off, removing any barrier between his eyes and the spectacular view Brooklyn provided. “Sweetheart, if I like it any more, I’m going to embarrass myself right here.”
Her lips twitched and she shot him an expected eye roll.
“You look incredible. You realize that, don’t you?” He moved forward, all her exposed flawless skin pulling him closer, demanding he touch her. She’d tied the matching sarong around her waist just below her navel. The wisp of cloth taunted him. Dared him to untie it. “I’m glad there is no one around.” Gradually he tugged the knot free, allowing the material to float to the ground. His body grew painfully hard as his blood heated.
