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He smiles to himself. “Feeling insecure, Lil?”
“Not insecure, jerk. I just want to know how many poor victims of this elaborate ‘date’ might be back home.”
I used to stay awake at night, wishing for attention of this kind from Liam. Alone, with no interruptions from my brother. And now he’s handed it to me on a plate, tied up in a big ribbon, and it makes me nervous about what might happen if I start to untie it. Will it explode in my face?
“We’re not on a date, at least in the traditional sense of the word. And no, this isn’t what I do to get girls into bed. That, if you can imagine it, takes a lot less effort.” He cocks his head to the side.
“You are incorrigible, Ford.”
“I know. But you’re not so innocent yourself.”
The distance the deck affords us has been a blessing for this conversation. We’re far enough away that there’s no chance of contact, and I can’t get lost in the pull of his eyes. Rich and deep and brown, they’ve always pulled me in.
“Oh, prey tell. What has little ole me done that’s so utterly sinful,” I jest but know I’m straying into dangerous territory. This is banter with a clear undertone.
“You know, Lil. You know what you said to me at the wedding. You know you’re gorgeous, and you know my reputation. You.” He points at me. “Gasoline, match.” He gestures with his hands, indicating an explosion.
It would certainly be hot – the two of us.
Hell, how many girls get to live out their fantasies? I’m torn. I’m not going to give in that easily. But after all the years I longed for him, why shouldn’t I?
“I’m going to cool off.” I peel the dress up and over my head and throw it on the cushions, take my sunglasses off, and walk over to the stairs leading down. At the back of the boat, there is a platform and some metal steps into the sea.
Without looking back, I pinch my nose and jump into the blue.
The swooshing noise of the bubbles fills my head as my body gets over the shock of the cold. But before I even surface, another muffled splash sound hits my ears. I surface and brush the water from my eyes and look around, seeing the white bubbles where Liam must have followed me into the water. I’m smiling as I surface and start to look around, giggling to myself. But there’s no sign of him.
I tread water and turn, expecting him to pop up like I did any minute but still nothing. Seconds continue to tick by.
“Liam?” I call, feeling idiotic and a little panicked. I can’t see him or any dark shadows. “Ahhh!” I squeal as I’m dragged back under the water, Liam’s hand wrapped around my calf and pulling me down. I swallow a mouthful of salt water and frantically splash to try and make it back to the surface.
Spluttering as I gasp for air, I wipe my eyes and look around to see a laughing Liam. His hair has darkened with the water, making him look even hotter. Not fair.
“You’re evil. I forgot that about you.” I shove water in his face.
“I told you we were here to have fun.” He splashes me back.
“Half drowning me does not constitute having fun.”
“You spent most of the time under the water at the pool when we were kids.”
I remember. They had a huge indoor pool, and we got to go over and mess about, play, and swim whenever we wanted.
Pushing the memory away, I stretch out and swim through the sea to do a lap of the boat, ignoring Liam and soaking up the water and view around us.
The sea feels like it’s warming up as I swim through it, and I sense Liam shadowing me at my side.
“You’re crazy if you don’t spend more time here, Ford,” I declare.
“Maybe.”
“Enjoying the simple things in life cut into your bachelor lifestyle too much for you?”
“You don’t have the best opinion of me, do you.”
I keep swimming. “It’s like you said. We need to get to know each other again.”
Chapter Eight
