Page 78 of Make Her Mine

Muscles rippling as he hoists himself out of the water.

Grinning, because of course he’s grinning and having a blast.

I also don’t need to stake a claim and I’m very annoyed that’s also an urge I feel.

“It started out with some of the female athletes,” Graham says. “And some of them have really good arms too. But then a couple of older women petitioned Hailey to move the line they had to throw from closer to the target. And she obliged.” Graham laughs. “He’s been going under almost constantly.”

“Who? Like Susan and Linda?” I name two ladies who are probably in their late seventies.

“No. Like Allison and Lu.”

That definitely makes me frown harder. Allison is a single mom who graduated in Jefferson’s class and LuAnn is a year older than me. “Those are ‘older women’?” I ask Graham.

“Older than the teenagers,” he says lifting a shoulder.

“And that’s who’s dunking Jefferson now?” I ask.

“Among others.”

I start forward. And I know how this looks. But…

Fine, I’m feeling a little possessive or something. But I don’t like the idea that those women, and any others, are flirting with and ogling my boyfriend. They don’t know it’s fake and they need to back the fuck off.

Haven’t they seen the video of us kissing in the parking lot?

I get through the crowd just as someone hits the target again. Jefferson plunges into the water and everyone cheers.

It’s Allison. She high-fives Lu.

I roll my eyes.

“How much time does he have left?” I ask Graham.

“Only about five minutes.”

As I come up behind Allison and Lu, Jefferson does the thing. The thing where the hot, muscular guy braces his hands and hoists himself up, water cascading over all of the hard planes of his body.

I freeze, my attention fully on Jefferson.

He stands up on the platform, his long, lean body now glistening in the sun as he lifts his arms and pushes his hair back, then shakes out his arms, causing water to spray in every direction. He's grinning the entire time.

I’m jerked out of my daze when Allison says, “I might have to sell my car, but I’m staying here until they kick me out.”

The jab of jealousy or possessiveness—or stupidity—is sharp. I lean forward and say, “You should see him without the shorts on.”

They both whirl around.

Lu at least looks embarrassed about talking about my boyfriend. Allison doesn’t.

Her eyes go back to Jefferson. “I have a very good imagination.”

I follow her gaze and agree that the way the athletic shorts he's wearing, soaked wet and clinging to every inch of him, do show off his assets nicely.

But no matter how well Allison and I have gotten along in the past, she doesn’t get to talk this way about Jefferson to me. “Trust me. You can’t possibly fully imagine”

Hailey Connor Bennett spots me just then. Hailey is running the dunk tank, and she raises her hand and waves. “Harlow. Step right up!”

Jefferson's gaze immediately jerks to mine and our eyes lock. He gives me a slow grin.

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