Page 31 of His Temptation
I pick a wooden lounge chair in the corner and drape the towel I grabbed at the entrance across it. Then I pull my black bathing suit cover off and do my best to apply sunscreen everywhere.
Knowing my brain, I have zero ability to relax in silence, so I shuffle through podcasts until I land on a true crime episode. Perfect. That’ll keep my brain focused on something interesting.
“Shit,” I mutter to myself when I realize I didn’t bring earbuds.
I look around the pool. No one is going to care. Everyone is busy talking to someone else or lying on their chairs with their eyes closed. There’s not even anyone sitting directly beside me on either side.
I press play and make sure the sound isn’t too loud, then place it next to my head. I close my eyes and let the podcast suck me in. It isn’t until it feels like the sun went behind the clouds that I open my eyes.
But instead of the sun being hidden, a male figure is standing over me. I have to squint my eyes to make sure I’m seeing things correctly. Maybe I should pinch myself; I could be dreaming.
“Lincoln?” I almost gasp as my eyes adjust, and I notice his face behind his shades.
My eyes involuntarily move down his body and focus on his stomach. Holy shit. There are no words to describe this man’s abs. Sculpted, but not so much that it’s aggressive and intimidating. Broad chest with the sexiest amount of hair that travels down to where his black swim trunks sit on his thick hips.
I swallow hard as he just observes me staring at him like a lovesick teenager. Why did I have to take my sunglasses off?
His eyebrows rise. “You like something you see, Kylie?”
“I’m just surprised you own a pair of swim trunks,” I reply, hoping he doesn’t realize just how affected I am by seeing him like this.
He lays his towel on the lounge chair next to me and takes a seat. “Contrary to popular belief, I do know how to have fun. I just prefer it to be … exclusive.”
I widen my eyes as my lips part, trying to take in the scene in front of me. Watching Lincoln put on sunscreen is like free porn. I’m positive if I were to slip my fingers into my bathing suit bottoms, I’d be soaked.
“Congratulations on breaking character and having fun like the rest of us,” I tease.
He chuckles. A rare sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “No pictures. I have a reputation to protect.”
It dawns on me that even with all the joking I’ve done, he doesn’t know I struggle with the same thing. I’ve worked so hard for so long. All of this is new to me. I don’t remember the last time I relaxed by a pool.
“Where did you go?” he asks, his eyes etched with concern.
“What?” I try to shake my thoughts.
“What were you just thinking about? I can tell it affected you,” he declares, studying me in a way that makes me shift in my seat uncomfortably.
“It was nothing,” I reply, but then his face turns hard. Crap. He’s not going to let this go. “Fine. I was just thinking I don’t know how to have fun myself. This is new to me as well.”
“A twenty-one-year-old like you doesn’t know how to have fun? I find that hard to believe.”
“I’ve told you my situation. Just like I didn’t have the means or time to travel, I didn’t have the time to have fun. I was too busy working to make ends meet or spending time with my brother.”
He lies back on his chair and closes his eyes. “I guess we both need to learn to loosen up a bit, huh?”
I start to think about what it would be like to learn to loosen up with him by my side. The images in my brain become more R-rated as the seconds pass until a voice interrupts them.
“Look at that. Boss mingling with his assistant. Maybe I was wrong about you two. You seem more well acquainted than I thought.” Galvin stands before us with a drink in his hand and his own black swim trunks on.
Although his body isn’t bad, it’s nothing compared to Lincoln’s.
Galvin’s definitely being a dick. I thought maybe it was just in Lincoln’s head and they were friendly jokes. But maybe he really did tease Lincoln in high school. What could he have teased him about? I can’t imagine Lincoln being anything but smart and popular.
“Get out of here, Galvin. I’m not in the mood.” Lincoln’s voice oozes revulsion.
“It’s a free country. I think I’ll plop down right here in this chair. Seems like a great spot to get some sun.”
Lincoln is out of his chair immediately, mumbling something to himself as he storms for the exit. Disappointment floods me as I watch him disappear from sight. So much for him learning how to have some fun. Maybe that’s why he likes his fun to be so … exclusive.
