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“Does she normally talk this much?” I directed my snarky question to Laney.
She glared. “Don’t be an ass. We just buried our best friend this morning.”
“Laney, shut up.” Red was out of her chair and running out the door.
“Look what you did.” Laney stood and I stopped her.
“No. I’m handling this.” I went after Red with my heart hammering against my ribs. I felt like a goddamn asshole. I searched for red hair, and when I saw it, a pain in my chest the likes I’d never felt almost made me double over.
She was leaning against the railing, facing the ocean. I could tell she was crying. Damn, I felt like a jerk.
I cautiously approached, my hands aching to touch her. What the fuck was going on with me? No question Red was beautiful, but she wasn’t my usual go-to when it came to women. She wasn’t trying to tempt me like the others. She was sexy without even trying. Hell, her bathing suit covered most of her body, but nothing could hide her curves or perfect tits.
I could tell this woman was dangerous. She was going to hurt me, but that didn’t make me run in the opposite direction.
“I am so sorry, Red. I’m such an ass.” I put my hand on her shoulder, letting it glide down her arm slowly. Goose bumps spread over her satiny skin.
She turned into me and buried her face in my chest. I could hardly breathe as she clung to me, fisting my T-shirt. I wrapped my arms around her and held her as she cried.
“She was so young. Twenty-four.” She sobbed, her body shaking. “It’s not fair. It’s not fair.”
Jesus, my heart broke for her. “She got a raw deal. A fucking raw deal.”
She nodded her head. Her hold on me was fierce. “Life is too short. You never know when your number is up.” She sniffled and looked up at me. “I could’ve died today too.” Her lip trembled.
“But you didn’t.” I took her face in my hands. “You’re alive, Red. Alive.” I stared into her grieved eyes. I couldn’t stop myself from pressing my lips to hers.
She lifted on her toes, her body flush with mine, and kissed me back. We leisurely discovered each other, tongues touching, teeth nipping, hearts pounding against each other. I could swear her heart was beating in time with mine.
I cupped the back of her neck, tugging her closer to deepen the kiss. She smelled like sunshine and sunscreen and felt amazing in my arms. She was so small and petite. My large frame swallowed her up. Needing her closer, I lifted her into my arms, and she easily wrapped her legs around my waist.
Our kiss exploded when I held her ass with one hand and grabbed the back of her head with the other. Her arms hooked around my neck. My spine tingled when her fingernails scraped across my skin, not too soft or hard, but just right.
I don’t know how long we stood there with people milling all around us, the waves crashing below the boardwalk, seagulls squawking, and the sun shining down on us. Kid Rock was singing “All Summer Long” somewhere behind us.
All I could think about was how I would get this woman to seemeand not the man she believed me to be from the rumors she’d heard. I was more than Lifeguard Leo. I was a man with hopes and dreams. A man who wanted to make a difference. How would I get her to see that if she wouldn’t let me reveal myself? When all she seemed to care about were the lies about me fucking everyone with legs and a pair of knockers.
Clearly, I was fucking enamored with Red, and I didn’t even know her real name. She was like a siren singing to my heart, hypnotizing me with her green eyes. She bewitched me with silky red hair and knee-buckling lips, kissing me as if her life depended on it.
Fuuuck.
3
Scarlett
A THROAT CLEARED. I instantly recognized it as Laney. “I just tossed out a tray full of food.”
I couldn’t stop kissing Leo even though I heard Laney. I didn’t care about wasted food or money. I was too busy enjoying the best kiss of my life. Some best friend Laney was for interrupting it.
Reluctantly, I put my hand on Leo’s chest and patted it. His hand on my back pressed me into his chest to hold me in place. His disappointment was palpable. “We need to stop, big guy,” I said against his mouth.
“Uh-uh…” He squeezed my bottom tighter. “No.” He sucked on my bottom lip.
“Please.” My one word made him freeze. I pressed my hand to his smooth cheek. “We need to stop.”
“Shit, okay. Whatever you want.” He brushed his lips across mine, inhaling as if filling his lungs with me. He eased me down, my body dragging down his. The slow movement only increased my desire for him as I felt the large bulge in his shorts.
Did he want me to feel how hard he was just from our kiss? I had to assume so because there was no way I wouldn’t have noticed. I’d have to be paralyzed from the neck down. Once I was on my feet, Leo didn’t release me. He tucked me into his side and kissed my forehead.
