Page 58 of Villainous Summer

He glimpsed me, his brow furrowed.

Huffing loudly, I chugged half the can and looked away. Somehow, I willed my cheeks not to flame red at being caught ogling him.

He had to know what he looked like, right? I wouldn’t be the first woman to stare open-mouthed at his man.

Either he was polite enough not to call me on it, or he didn’t notice my absolutely batshit response to his bare chest.

Turning the pilot’s chair to face me, he stretched his feet out to rest alongside mine.

He had nice toes. I never thought I’d notice a man’s toes, but I did.

He tipped his head back, his eyes closed, the sun bright on his face.

Well, if he can take his shirt off, so can I.

Tossing it to the side, I watched him open one eye and then another. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he looked me over.

“Fuck me.” He murmured so low I knew he didn’t mean for me to hear it. His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and he let out a big sigh.

I smirked, laying back on the bench. Content with torturing him the way he was with me, I closed my eyes.

Small waves splashed against the boat, creating a sense of serenity. Somewhere in the distance, a horn sounded, and birds called to one another. The ambiance lulled me, and my thoughts drifted away.

The rocking of the boat had my eyes snapping open, a dull buzz in my brain signaling I hadn’t just rested my eyes but had fallen asleep. Weird.

Falling asleep in front of a man was never something I enjoyed doing. At Cory’s, I couldn’t fall asleep until he did, waiting until his breathing became snores before I’d allow my mind to rest.

But this was the second time Van had seen me sleeping. I couldn’t think too hard about that.

I blinked the mid-afternoon film from my eyes and rolled over on my side to look at Van.

With a can of soda in one hand, he raised the other at a passing boat. Likely the reason ours teetered in the wake.

“How long was I out?” I asked, my voice scratchy with sleep.

“Fifteen minutes? Something like that.”

I sat up, rubbing my face. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to doze off. I guess the long hours finally got to me.”

He shrugged, a small grin playing up his features. “I don’t mind. You’re cute when you’re sleeping.”

“As opposed to what?” I arched a brow, pulling myself up to sit.

He threw his head back and laughed at my haughty expression. “Oh, no. You’re not trapping me like that. Don’t act like you don’t know you’re beautiful.”

Heat that had nothing to do with the high noon sun warmed my cheeks. It certainly wasn’t the first time someone had said those words to me. But his absolute confidence in not only finding me beautiful but knowing that I, too, knew it was a shock.

It was with a sad realization I recalled that most men used compliments like this as a gateway to get what they wanted. As if they were the only ones who could see me that way.

But not Van. He not only appreciated how I looked, but he was glad I was secure in myself. It was a rare thing.

“Switching to soda?” I motioned to his hand.

“I have a buddy who got a BUI. Trying to be careful here.”

The word sounded like “buoy.”

“A what?” I laughed.

---