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Fifteen
At the mouth of Gavin’s garage, Hallie gasped. A bright red—correction: Candied Apple red—sports car was parked in its recesses.
“You bought it!”
His expression was proud. “I felt challenged when you said you were surprised I didn’t.”
“Couldn’t part with the truck, I see.” The remaining space in the garage held his gray F-150.
“I’m attached.” He shrugged. It was so endearing she wanted to melt into him. “I almost confessed when you pointed out the red bedspread reminded you of the car, but I thought it would be more fun to surprise you.”
She stroked the hood of the car with her fingertips. He was still smiling, a secret hiding in the depths of his eyes.
“Let’s take her for a spin.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, trying not to appear overeager.
“Wouldn’t you like to know.”
She laughed. “I would, actually. Do I need my purse?”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need anything. Well, a coat if you want to put the top down.”
She ran inside and grabbed her coat, wondering what “rule” he was going to challenge her to break tonight. Was it only driving a topless convertible in December, or would he require her to be topless, too? Or maybe they’d find a private part of the lake and park, and make out hot and heavy in the car. The prospect should have made her nervous, but instead she found it sort of...thrilling.
She climbed into the passenger seat, inhaling the fantastic new-car smell. When she opened her eyes and faced her driver, he was smiling at her.
“You are gorgeous tonight, by the way. This dress.” His eyes dipped approvingly to the low-cut V in the front of her wrap dress.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” He backed out of the garage into the driveway and pressed a button. The convertible top unfolded, gifting them a view of a zillion stars sparkling on a blanket of navy blue.
She braced for the brisk ride, but they didn’t go far. Mere minutes after she’d snapped her seat belt, he pulled to a stop at the edge of the lake. In the distance, a few boats puttered along. But at the dock, where he parked, there was nothing but trees and a secluded beach.
She was about to congratulate herself on guessing correctly—and tell him that she was surprisingly okay with sex in the car—when he climbed out and opened her door. They walked to the edge of the dock and peered down at the black water.
“Your challenge, Hallie Banks, if you choose to accept it—” he lifted their linked hands and kissed hers “—is to strip to your skivvies and cannonball into the water.”
“What!” She laughed, hoping he’d join in and then tell her he was kidding. When he didn’t, she said, “You’re insane.”
“A bit,” he admitted with a feral grin. “Not only is the water damn cold, but we’re trespassing. This is private property.”
She looked over her shoulder at the corner of a house hidden behind a grove of trees. Trespassing broke a big rule for her. There could be someone inside, peering through the trees. Or a boat could troll by when she was stripping down and preparing to leap in. Though that was unlikely, given the temperature tonight.
The lake, even cold, was far more appealing in the bright sunshine. Who knew what lurked beneath its black surface? Fish, definitely. Snapping turtles, possibly. An alligator that had been flushed down the toilet and had grown to disturbing proportions? Unlikely, but you never knew.
“Oh, and one more thing,” he said, interrupting the horror movie unfolding in her head. “I’ll strip down as much as you do.”
She propped her hand on her hip. “Down to the skin?”
“If you do it first.” He took a look around and she looked with him. A few boats were docked in the distance, most likely empty and too far off to see Hallie or Gavin in the grainy darkness if they weren’t. “When we’re done here, you can climb into my hot tub and warm up. Because this water is going to be seriously cold. If you make me leap in naked, then there will be no hiding what happens if the water’s as cold as I expect.”
She grinned. She couldn’t help it. He was so fun. “Then why are you offering to—to—”
“Get naked with you? Are you kidding?” His smile was as sexy as the rest of him. “Freezing or no, naked is always my preference when it comes to you, Hals. And you already know what I’m packing.”
Her shoulders shook with laughter. “You are shameless.”
