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Her light brown brows drew together, and she strapped on her antler-helmet. “No way we’re pushing the bikes all the way. I’m ready to ride, Dasher.”
Admiration filled him for her resilience and single-mindedness. Although it didn’t soothe his nerves as they cycled to the ferry station. They arrived with minutes to spare, raced to the ticket booth, and were the last to clamber aboard.
“Geez, they basically slam the ramp up on you even if you aren’t fully on the boat yet.” She laughed, her breathing labored.
He grinned as they parked their bikes in the below-deck frames. “Yeah, they aren’t messing around. But we made it. Would you like to start serenading me now or wait until we are up on deck?”
She hung her helmet on the bike handles and placed her hands on her hips. “You’re going to be a brat about this, aren’t you? The directions say on deck, so no early singing for you.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m just eager to hear you sing, that’s all. Just trying to do my part to win this competition. Ready to head up?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Yes. But I see how you are, Mr. 007 Dasher.”
He laughed. “Takes one to know one. Let’s do this. After you, Ms. Vixen.” He waved an arm toward the steel staircase.
Together they ascended to the deck, the force of the wind almost knocking them off their feet. Camille stumbled backwards and his arms banded around her protectively. Her firm ass pressed into him, her subtle fragrance enveloped him, and he went rock hard.
He tightened his hold but fought the urge to turn her in his arms, bury his hands in her silky hair, and kiss her until they reached shore.
“Trent.” She moaned low in her throat and leaned her weight back into him.
His control snapped and he whipped her around to face him, tugging her hips against his. He slid his hand up and plunged his fingers into her long silky hair and captured her mouth. She plastered herself against him and wound her arms around his neck. She tasted of the wine and a hint of spice. His mind blanked and all that remained was Camille and her sweetness.
A savage gust of icy wind blasted into them, and they slammed into the rigid wall. He lifted his head, his breathing ragged, and gazed down into her heavy-lidded green gaze. Would she retreat now?
CHAPTER5
Despite the frigid wind, heat flared in her belly and her heart thundered against her ribs. Trent’s muscular arms kept her close to his hard, hot body. She was braced between his powerful thighs which made it impossible to ignore his arousal.
She struggled to regulate her breath. She’d been lost in the circle of his powerful arms and the heat from his kiss. Lost to the awareness they were on a public ferry.
He dropped his forehead to hers. Their ragged breath mingled. She clung to his strong shoulders and savored his clean, beachy scent. Was her reaction simply a knee-jerk response to catching her ex cheating on her? No, she’d never been so intensely attracted to a man––not even when she first met Sean.
Although a fling might be a simple solution to help exorcise her ex from her system, Trent Bell was a keeper, not a one-night stand. Last night was the first time he had ventured out on a date since losing his wife. The timing sucked.
Even if he was ready to move on, he was a man she’d want for a relationship, and she hadn’t processed the break-up with Sean yet. Even though if she were honest with herself, they’d been drifting apart for a long time. Was it her heart that was aching from his betrayal or her ego?
“Camille?” Trent’s deep voice was husky. Neither of them had stepped apart.
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled.Focus on the scavenger hunt––she had to focus.Right now, she couldn’t afford to complicate either of their lives.
She flattened her palms against his chest, retreated a few steps, creating a sliver of distance between them. A safer space. His eyes were hooded, and his chiseled lips were parted.
She clapped her hands together and forced a brightness to her voice. “Okay, it’s my turn. Where do you think we should film?” Pretending they hadn’t almost just melted the paint off the deck wall seemed the wisest course for the moment.
He stepped away from the wall, his expression controlled. “Well, if we do it against the railing, we’ll get the scenery in the background and…”
Her shoulders relaxed and she grinned.Keep it playful.“And the loudness of the wind rushing by will help drown me out. Perfect. Let’s do it.”
“Your words. Now can I have the phone, please?” Trent extended one large square-palmed hand.
She handed it to him, and they sauntered over to an empty expanse of broad railing. A few other teams clad in red were clustered near the stern, so she planted her feet on the deck.
Before she could open her mouth, a hauntingly beautiful soprano voice launched intoI Left My Heart in San Francisco.She whipped her head to see what famous pop star was on the boat with them––the voice was that good.
Instead of an Adele sighting, a lanky brunette being filmed by an enormous mountain of a man dressed in red were belting out the song like they were center stage at Madison Square Gardens. And darned if it wasn’t the couple who’d come in first last year, the ones who’d shoved by her and Sean to win last year’s Women’s Heart Health fundraiser. Figures the annoying woman could sing like a nightingale.
“Wow. You said the competition wasn’t on talent, right? Because we don’t stand a chance against them.” A crease appeared between Trent’s brows.
