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Sixteen
“This is your job,” Presley said to herself, her eyes on her laptop. “Do your job.”
The cursor on the screen waited for her decision. She bit her lip, reread the email for the umpteenth time and doubted herself anew.
“This is what you came here to find out,” she whispered. “So, find out.”
Granted, she hadn’t planned on emailing Heather Bell. It just so happened the new intern at Viral Pop came across Heather’s private email. Ray was very much Team Presley when it came to the content contest. She appreciated his having her back, and saw no harm in attempting contact with the actress. She was running out of time.
In the email to Heather, Presley played up how she was helping repair Cash’s reputation with his fans. She also might have told a teensy-weensy lie about how she and Cash were a couple. She’d even hinted at the idea of “ring shopping” this week, which, admittedly, was a little over the top. But if Heather believed Presley and Cash were serious, that might help sell the assumption that Pres had his best interests at heart. Which she did, ultimately. In her defense, it wasn’t an out-and-out lie. She was technically “coupling” with him.
Presley also mentioned assisting with media attention for Heather’s upcoming TV series by promising Heather a timely interview. Whether or not the actress trusted or believed Presley, Heather had to be familiar with Viral Pop. The amount of exposure wouldn’t be small and could definitely boost any career.
Finger hovering over the send button, Presley tapped Send and sat back, feeling moderately satisfied with her many justifications.
The back door swung open and in walked a dripping-wet Cash, rubbing his hair with a towel. His lashes were spiked, rivulets of water running down his naked chest and over the bumps of his ab muscles. He looked ridiculously hot. He rarely didn’t. Lake water rained off his board shorts and soaked the rug by the door.
“Hey,” he said.
She slammed her laptop lid down guiltily. “Hey! How was your swim?”
“Wet. You busy?”
“Nope!” She stood and stuffed her hands into her shorts pockets, worried he might read the guilt on her face. “I was about to take a break.”
“Good. Water’s warm. Come swim with me.”
Why was it whenever he commanded she “come” do anything, she did it? Staying in his house, or in his bed the way she had last night, put her directly in the path of an emotional tornado. Not that she could, or would, take cover.
Whenever his dark eyes were trained on hers, she remembered why she came to him. She’d forgotten what it was like to have his undivided attention. It was heady.
When she was within arm’s reach, his arm snapped out and tugged her against his wet, warm body. Water soaked through her gauzy white cover-up and then that was gone when he lifted it over her head and tossed it on the floor. Then he was carrying her outside to his sandy, man-made beach at the edge of the water.
“Watch for sharp sticks,” he advised, settling her into the waist-deep water.
“I can’t think of anything to say that’s not dirty.” The sun kissed her skin, the water as warm as promised.
“Well, by all means.” He scooped her up again and carried her deeper into the water. “Don’t hold back on my account.”
“Throw me,” she instructed, reaching up to hold her nose.
“Yeah?”
She nodded and he adjusted his hold, first giving her a pinch on the butt, before tossing her a few feet into the air. She squeezed her eyes closed, hit the water with a splash and resurfaced with a smile.
He was laughing and coming toward her again. He caught her easily. This time when he lifted her, he kissed her mouth hard.
“Wildcat,” he accused.
Yep, she was falling in love with him again.
He didn’t toss her but held her against his warm, solid body. She wrapped her legs around his waist and pressed herself flush to his torso.
“Hmm,” she said, nuzzling his nose with hers, “I think I found one of those sharp sticks you were talking about.”
“Tree trunk, baby. Tree trunk.”
She threw her head back and laughed. He was too much. Too hot, too funny, too sexy, too good at absolutely everything. He was her specific brand of catnip. He drove her crazy in the best way possible, and she didn’t think he was even trying.
