Page 81 of Wildest Dreams

The sound of rhythmic splashing causes me to glance toward the lake, and I blink at it in shock as I see Tanner effortlessly swimming my way.

He pauses midway so that he can pull himself to a standing position, raking one hand through his hair as we watch each other. His chest heaves deeply, causing the water to slosh over his large tan shoulders.

Suddenly nervous, I glance behind him to the other side of the shore, releasing a tiny gasp when I see that his shirt and jeans have both been discarded.

So the gorgeous guy who I don’t want to fall for is wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs right now? Great.

Tanner’s eyes travel reverently up and down my body before he resumes his stroke, slicing through the water with grace and precision.

And that’s my cue.

I practically run down the porch steps and then begin speed-walking along the lake shore, cursing under my breath when another spot of rain splashes my forehead. I swipe it away quickly with my fingers and glance hastily behind myself, letting out a little squeak of fear when I see that Tanner is following behind me. He shakes some water from his hair before shoving it back off his tan forehead, heated eyes raking down my body as he squeezes some excess water from his shorts.

Well, at least he’s wearing some.

I whip back around to continue my escape, only to let out a defeated“aw man”when I realise that the sandy lake shore has disappeared – it’s totally swallowed up by the swollen lake, meaning that I’ve only walked about ten feet away from my starting point. I may as well have stayed up on the porch – at least then I would have been sheltered from the imminent downpour.

I release a shaky exhale and turn back around to face Tanner.

He glances briefly at the forest to his left, frowning slightly at how threatening it looks now that there’s a storm overhead, and he instinctively moves a step closer to me before dropping his eyes to meet mine.

There’s something kind and cautious in his sparkling irises.

“Morning,” he murmurs, his voice still deep with sleep.

I blink up at him. “Tanner. It’s two in the afternoon.”

He blinks down at me in surprise before his face relaxes into a lazy grin, and he lifts and drops a shoulder as he breathes in another deep inhale.

“Sorry,” he murmurs. “Got back real late last night.”

Another raindrop gives me a tiny slap on the cheek and I frown as I bat it away. Tanner watches me swipe it in silence before lifting his eyes back to meet mine.

I fold my arms protectively over my chest and will myself to stay composed.

“What’re you doing over here?” I ask him, feeling a little nervous and lightheaded.

A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “I kept hearing these sad little sounds drifting over the lake.”

I give him my stoniest glare as his handsome smile widens.

“I’m kidding. Just thought that the beautiful girl across the water might want some company. All the guys were going to the rink today because of the weather, so” – he shrugs lazily although there’s a flame in his eyes – “it’s just the two of us.”

I swallow hard and look down at my sandals. I knew that of course, but now that he’s said the words out loud it suddenly feels all too real.

Just Tanner and me, with the whole place to ourselves.

The delivery van kicks to life beside us and Tanner glances at it over his shoulder.

“You get something delivered?” he asks, eyes flitting to the men at the front of the vehicle.

My cheeks burn crimson as I think about what is now upstairs in the lake house, ready to be assembled in the master bedroom.

“Nope,” I lie, eyes unblinking as I stare up at him.

He narrows his eyes on me. “What’d you get?”

We are absolutely not going to find ourselves in the exact same position that we were in four years ago. There is no freaking way that he can find out that I have another bed to build.

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