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Limbs flail about everywhere, but I manage to make out a bare chest just as the man spins around under the surface and grabs my arms, lifting us both up for air. I flinch at his touch and kick my legs out, wriggling around until he releases his grip, allowing me to reach for the edge.
“Fuck! Are you okay?” he asks as I cough, brushing away the hair that’s plastered to my face.
“I’m ssssooo ssssorrry,” I respond through chattering teeth as my eyes meet his.Oh God!Of all the people in the world, I just swam into the gorgeous stranger I kissed on the beach.Great.
“You’re shivering,” he says, reaching for my arm, but I don’t let him. Taking a step back, I watch as his hand falls to his side and a frown appears on his face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeeeppp. Jjjusst cccolldd,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself before looking for an exit. With no steps in sight, I turn to face the edge and try to pull myself out of the pool.No such luck.My body has no interest in cooperating. I’m about to give it another go when large hands grip my waist and launch me up instead. I flinch again but allow the help, and as soon as my knees hit the hard surface, the hands disappear, and I hear a rushed, “Sorry,” from behind me.
Shaking myself off as I stand, I close my eyes and take a deep breath.I’m okay.I’m okay.When I open my eyes to apologize, the guy is lifting himself out of the pool, andmy God, he’s hot. The first thing I notice are the veins in his arms pulsing as the muscles bulge with the movement. Next, my eyes flash to the water running down his body, pooling between the ridges of his sculpted abs, and that V—God, that V. I’ve never seen a more drool-worthy moment in my life. In fact, I subtly raise a finger to my mouth to double-check that’s not happening.
Behind me, Summer whispers, “Holy shit,” and I have no doubt she’s watching the same thing I am.This man is not only a pretty face, but holy hell, he’s ripped.I can’t take my eyes off him. How I didn’t notice this last time, I’ll never know. But that’s all I can focus on now.
I’m not even aware that I’m bouncing up and down shivering until a towel wraps around my shoulders, snapping me from my daze. I turn around to thank Summer and take in her amused expression. She’s biting her lip to hold back a smile, but her eyes say it all. Raising an eyebrow, she tilts her head slightly as though signaling to something behind me, and when I turn back around I see the god of a man—the man I threw myself at not too long ago—patiently waiting for me to talk to him.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly, making him laugh. I’d be offended by it if his laugh wasn’t just as hot, if not hotter, than the rest of him. He runs a hand through his dark, wet hair and then blows out a breath as if he’s equally embarrassed by our collision. But he shouldn’t be.That was all me.
“I’m sorry about that. I wasn’t really looking where I was going. I just needed to get out of that ice pit. My brother said it was heated, but that is definitelynotheated, and—”
“They didn’t tell you at check-in?” he says, interrupting my rant.
“Tell me what?”
“That the adult pool isn’t heated. Just the others.”
Fuck! My brows crease as Summer and the god before me burst out laughing.
“They did not,” I say with a fake pout, while a little part of me wants to keep making a fool out of myself so he’ll laugh some more. That is until I remember this guy was the best kiss I’ve ever hadandmy savior, even if he doesn’t know it. My chest tightens, and my face drops as a memory tries to push itself to the forefront of my mind, but I refuse to let it. Putting on a smile, I wrap the towel around myself and clasp it with one hand, suddenly acutely aware of how close we are and how little I’m wearing, even though it’s a bikini. “I’m sorry…”
“Wes,” he injects, giving me his name.And what a sexy name… It suits him.
“I’m sorry, Wes. I hope I didn’t mess up your swim, and…” I trail off as recognition hits me a second time.Oh shit!“I know you,” I say, trying to hide my sudden panic over almost drowning an NFL star.
Wes’s eyebrows rise as he smirks. “I was wondering how long it would take you to place me.”
I frown in disappointment. I didn’t think he wasthatkind of guy. “That’s a little cocky, don’t you think?”
“Is it? How many strangers have you kissed?”Oooh.
I bite my lip to stop myself from laughing but lose all control when Summer murmurs from behind me, “I am so glad I’m here for this.”
I school my features so I can talk, but it’s a real struggle when all I want to do is giggle. “I’m sorry. I recognizedthatversion of you the second I saw you. It took me longer to recognize Wes the famous football player.”
Wes laughs again and then grits his teeth. He’s covered in goose bumps, so I’m going to guess he’s just as cold as I am.Shit!
“I won’t keep you any longer. Go and get warm. I’m sorry again. And good luck with San Fran. They’re lucky to have you.” I nod before turning back to Summer.
“While I agree it’s fucking freezing, I don’t particularly want to walk away without at least getting your name,” Wes says, moving around to stand in front of me again. His hands clench slightly by his side before he hides them behind his back when he catches me staring. My eyebrows furrow, but I smile before looking up at him.
“My name is Lucy.”
Wes smiles in return. “How long are you here for, Lucy? You know, so I can prepare myself for another run-in.”
“A week, so best be on the lookout.”
“Noted. Now, as much as I’d love to stay and chat, I’m pretty sure if I don’t find my towel soon, I’m heading into frostbite territory. But maybe I’ll see you again? Third time’s a charm.” He shrugs, suddenly coming across as adorably shy.
“Maybe you will.” I shrug back but can’t hide the happiness breaking through my nonchalant expression.
