AllFreeNovel
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“Don’t tempt me, Mini,” I warn, my voice deep. We share a moment of heat that rivals the temperature out here. I lower my ass onto a nearby patio chair and kick out my legs, squinting at the blaring sun. Damn. That pool would feel great about now.
“Are you here because of the article?” she asks.
“I’m here because my sister told me about an article.” No sense in lying. “I don’t know the details.”
“Allow me to enlighten you.” She pushes off the edge of the pool and lands in water that laps at her breasts.
I’m successful at not staring. Barely. The swell of her breasts and the narrow valley of cleavage between them are burned onto my retinas when I shut my eyes.
“You’re the hot hometown boy I’m rumored to be rebounding with while avoiding Hollywood and my rehabilitation,” she informs me. “Although, now they’re claiming I was ‘binge-eating’ an entire tray of tacos and should ‘probably go to rehab for an eating disorder instead.’ ”
“Jesus.”
“He was mentioned, too, but it wasn’t in that same article. It was a post from a local church extending an invitation to their private rehabilitation facility.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How does anyone think they have the right to watch what she does and offer their opinion on it?
“That’s fucking ridiculous. You know that, right?”
“The church folk said they wouldn’t charge me. They’ll treat me for free in exchange for a testimonial. Isn’t that sweet?” She doesn’t wait for me to comment before diving beneath the water. She swims one lap and then another. I’m guessing she’s decided I’m dismissed, but I’m not going to allow her to dismiss me. Not again. That’s not what people who are “friendly” do.
Trunks or no, I guess I’m getting in the pool.
I kick off my sneakers and socks, peel off my T-shirt, and by the time I reach for the stud on my jeans, Allison pops out of the water.
“What are you doing?” She smooths her hands over her hair, blinking in what might be alarm.
“You invited me in. It sounded sincere.” I shove my jeans down my legs and her eyes travel over my bare chest and jerk to my black—thank God—boxer briefs before snapping back to my face.
“Jackson.” It’s supposed to be a reprimand, but I can tell she’s not angry. She’s smiling cautiously, and maybe hopefully. Since I possess a healthy amount of male pride, I puff my chest as I walk to the deep end and, forgoing any caution, cannonball in next to her.
When I surface, she’s sputtering and swiping the water off her face and then she splashes me, her smile huge and infectious. I swim to her and grab her wrist to keep her from splashing me again. Kicking underwater, we hover in the deep end, unable or unwilling to pull apart.
“You’re right. This feels good.” My voice is low, my throat tight, since her thin bikini top isn’t leaving much to the imagination.
“The water?” She touches me, but only to swipe the wet hair away from my forehead.
“Sure. The water.” Alarm bells ring in my head at being this close to her while she’s looking at me that way and while we’re both barely clothed. I let go and dive under again, swimming a lap, then two. While I’m down there, I catch a flash of smooth, tanned legs and that itty-bitty bikini bottom. I also notice that my boxers, which are not made for swimming, are failing to hide my reaction to my ex-girlfriend. It’s purely physical and can’t be helped. I’ve needed to have sex for a few months now. Damn me for not taking Kim up on her offer.
I can’t climb out in my current state, so I stand in the shallows, water to my waist. Allie’s underwater, slicing smoothly beneath the surface. She comes up next to me a second later and, arms up, eyes closed, pushes thick, shiny hair from her face.
Groan.
Water trickles off her chin to her chest, and nothing that’s happening right now is helping my problem due south.
“Jax.” She’s laughing. “Seriously?”
Shit. She noticed. Her pretty face blushes, but that grin is going nowhere.
“It’s not my fault. He has a mind of his own and it’s been a while.” I sound slightly defensive, so I do what all men do when they feel uncomfortable. Turn the tables on her. “It’s not fair, either. If you’re feeling a similar…excitement, I have no way of knowing.”
But when a blush works from her neck to her face and she suddenly can’t look at me, I realize I’m wrong. I wade into deeper water to grant myself a much-needed breather.
“What’s a while?” she asks.
“Oh, hell no. This isn’t what friends discuss.”
“We’re friends now?”
