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He squeezed her hand. “How’d you get so smart? How’d you avoid letting life beat you down or make you too hard?”
“I guess I’m a lot like my mother. I try to see the good in people until they prove me wrong.” She laid her beer down, then let her palms skim over his shoulders. “And I see good in you. You try to hide it, but it’s there.”
His lips curved up. “And how do you know this?”
“Believe it or not, I could tell that first night in the Rook. How you talked to me and never tried to come on too strong. That’s why I tried to save you from Ajax’s plan.” She cocked her head. “Although that didn’t work out exactly as I planned.”
Mamba hissed in a breath, then ran his fingers over her cheekbone. “It tore me up seeing those bruises on you.”
“And that’s what I’m talking about. You come off as a brutal cage fighter. A guy who tells everyone to fuck off, yet me getting slapped around bothered you.”
“Fuck, yeah, it did more than bother me, and that asshole Blaze better never step outta line when I’m around or I’ll—”
Mandy cupped his chin with her palm. “No more violence. What’s done is done.”
Mamba mashed his lips together, but like her brother, their lives revolved around brute force and retaliation—a deadly combination with disastrous repercussions.
“I don’t know how the fuck I got so lucky, but instead of talking about bullshit we can’t change, let's go enjoy that water.”
“I don’t have my bathing suit.”
“I know.” His lips curved into a sexy smile, and she swatted his arm.
“I have a feeling you planned it this way.”
“Damn straight. A hot woman on my boat, all wet and naked. Fuck yeah! Sounds perfect to me.”
“You really are an outlaw.”
“Fuck, yeah, again.” Mamba reached out for her. “Why don’t you let me help you with all those clothes?”
Mandy laughed as he pulled her t-shirt over her head and quickly undid the button and zipper of her shorts. When her clothes were pooled at her feet, he bit his lower lip. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
“No way I’m standing here in my thong and bra while you’re fully dressed.” She waved her fingers over him. “Your turn.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He fisted the hem of his t-shirt, pulled it over his head, flicked the button of his jeans, and ripped down the zipper. He pushed the denim over his narrow hips, and her eyes zeroed in on his tight boxer briefs.
A very impressive sight.
A smirky smile covered his lips. “I’m thinking you like what you see.”
“You know I do. I also like that cocky grin on your face.”
“Cocky?”
She swatted him again, and he grabbed her, hoisting her up and into his arms as he moved to the back of the boat.
“You wouldn’t dare.” Mandy squirmed in his arms, but he easily contained her.
“Dare, what?” Mamba edged closer to the platform at the back of the boat, then held her over the water. “You can swim, right?”
“Yes, I can swim, but—” The cool water surrounded her as she splashed and struggled to keep her head above water.
Another splash came as Mamba dove off the platform, cutting through the water until he surfaced alongside her. He gathered her in his arms, and she quickly anchored her hands around his neck.
“I can’t believe you dropped me.” Mandy laughed around the water droplets from her hair.
“You said I was an outlaw.” Mamba’s hand slipped around her back, and he had her bra unfastened in a second. “Just living up to my rep.” He smirked as he dangled her wet, lace bra from his fingertips, then flung it back onto the boat.
