“I’m gonna—”
“We should—”
“Yeah.”
She scrambles off me as I sit up and then stand, readjusting myself. I sense the moment she’s about to walk toward the pool, so I move to grab her elbow. “And where do you think you’re going?” I raise a brow.
She avoids eye contact at all costs until I tug on her elbow again and her bashful eyes meet mine. Her cheeks are reddened by the sun and maybe a bit of embarrassment. “Truth?” I nod. “I was going to dive straight into that cold water and act as if I didn’t feel your size-fourteen package.” She slaps a hand over her mouth, like she can’t believe she said that out loud.
“That wasn’t my full package, sweetheart.” My smirk turns into a full-blown grin as her blush spreads to her neck and chest. Before I give it another thought, my hand reaches for the back of her neck, and I reel her in to my chest for a hug. It feels so natural to have her close, even if a little voice in the back of my head is telling me to tread lightly and ease off on the playful flirting.
“Uh, is this a hug or a headlock, because I can’t really tell when I’m surrounded by your biceps,” she says into my chest, her voice muffled.
I chuckle as I release her. And since I don’t trust myself with her lying on the lounger, I grab the sunscreen off the chair and rub some into my hands.
“What are you doing?”
“Boop.” I tap a generous amount of sunscreen onto her button nose.
“Did you just boop me?” she gasps.
“Yep. Consider yourself booped. Now hush and let me concentrate. You’re going to look like a tomato if I don’t apply this now.”
She huffs with her hands on her hips but lets me go to work on her. I leave her face looking like she has white warrior paint on it, thoroughly enjoying myself.
“I don’t even wanna know what I look like,” she mutters.
I smile widely. “Turn around.” She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the small smile playing on her lips. I spread the remaining cream on her shoulders and accidentally lose myself in the process of rubbing it in. Only when she releases a moan that rivals my own earlier do I know it’s time to call it quits.
With a swift smack on her ass, I announce that I’m done.
Her glare toward me has no heat behind it as she rummages through her tote bag to look for a mirror. Once she’s fixed the mess I made, she stands up straight and pats my cheek twice a little harder than necessary. “Look at us. The picture-perfect example of adults holding up a truce. Who’da thunk it?” Her eyes shimmer with mischief until they refocus on something behind me. Or rather,someone.
I follow her gaze until I spot an older guy looking at her like she’s his next meal. Now, I personally think he’s got nothing on me, but he’s still no chump.
This guy is leaning across the bar in a three-piece suit in ninety-degree weather, looking like the poster child—err, man—for wealth. Looking like he owns the place. Looking like he ownsher.
The instant fire burning in my chest unexpectedly knocks the air out of my lungs just as I turn back to Nikki. She’s staring at her feet, trying to hide the blush that’s creeping up her neck.
Is this how it’s going to be? Stupid me standing on the sideline yet again as another fool takes and parades Nikki in front of me?
I don’t think so.
With new determination and a menacing smile, I put my hands on Nikki’s hips as I walk her backward. Her eyes widen as she asks, “What are you doing?”
I lift her up into the air and wrap her legs around my waist as she instinctively grabs a hold of my shoulders. “Hold your breath, Nikki.”
Before she can ask me why, I have us airborne and crashing into the deep end of the pool. She quickly comes up, gasping for air. “What the hell was that for?” She splashes water in my direction as she pitifully tries to tread water.
I can’t help laughing as I grab her hand to pull her closer to me. I didn’t expect her to fully koala latch on to me, but I guess the fear of drowning overrides her pride in this instance.
She hugs me close and leans into my ear. “As soon as my feet are on solid ground, you are a dead man, Antonio Manuel Nuñez.” Oh shit. She just used my whole name.
“In my defense, you looked like you needed to cool off,” I say as I keep walking us around the deep end, where she can’t touch the floor or reach the edges of the pool. “Besides, I grew up with Amelia, so I know the rules. Your hair was already wet, so you can’t stay mad at me.” I have the decency to offer a sheepish smile.
Nikki raises an eyebrow, then bursts out laughing. Just when I think this woman is going to give me hell or hold a grudge, she does the exact opposite.
She releases her arms from my neck, and I find myself wanting to put them right back. She spreads them by her head and softly laughs as her upper body floats. My hands stay firmly on her legs, which she still has wrapped around me. Thank God she’s clinging to my abs and not anywhere near my groin. The visual of water lapping her breasts two feet in front of me is already requiring an absurd amount of strength from me to keep my body in control.
