Page 45 of Darlin'

"You're already distracting the boys," Jesse admits, quickly adding, "Hard to focus when there's glass smashing all the time."

My jaw drops. "One time. I dropped the trayonetime. And it wasn't even my fault. Ask Jiggs. He was stumbling around like a sleepy toddler. A cat wouldn't have been able to dodge him."

"Excuses, excuses," Jesse sings. "Always putting the blame on someone else. See? If you're gonna be a part of The Sons, accountability is important, so"—he shrugs—"guess you're shit out of luck."

"Oh, how will Ieverrecover from this?" I ask, pushing myself up to my feet. "All my hopes and dreams ripped away." I toss him a cheeky smile. "I might just cry from the heartbreak."

"One of these days, princess, that well's gonna dry up," he notes, standing up. "What're you gonna do then?Got any other hobbies other than sobbing and being annoying?"

"If only," I say, feigning a sigh. "That would surely make the next few weeks more bearable for you, but alas, I'm very two-dimensional." I cast him a sassy side-eye. "How are you ever gonna be able to survive the whole summer with me, Jesse? I know how badly you've been itching to bring somechicksover."

Jesse perks an amused brow. "You been spying on me, babe?"

"Just happened to be walking by while you were airing your woes," I reply innocently. "But honestly, Jesse, don't mind me. I wouldn't be offended if you needed the company of some professional females. Just let me know how they like their coffee in the morning. Oh, and don't forget to leave 'em a little tip."

"A tip?" Jesse asks with an edge. "Really?"

"Surely no woman would want to spend time with youwillingly." My phone vibrates in my hand. A text from Marlow. "I guess I'm going for lunch with the love birds today."

"Oh yeah?" Jesse smirks at me, a devious glimmer in his eyes as I search the restaurant location on my phone. "Where?"

Before I can show Jesse the map, he snatches the phone from my hand and shoves me full force back into the deep end of the pool.No!My pulse quickens as I splash around, gasping for air between shrieks. "Jesse...I can't—" His muffled laughter fills my ears as I struggle to breathe. "I can't swim?—"

"Oh, shit..." The water bubbles and swirls around meas Jesse dives into the pool. "I got you, Savannah. I got you." Jesse wraps his arms around my waist as my head breaks the water, and I suck in a long breath, coughing as he lifts me out of the pool. "You're okay. You're fine. I got you.”

I continue coughing, my heart beating frantically in my chest as I recover from a near-death experience. Aren't near-death experiences supposed to be scary? Shouldn't I be more afraid? More shaken?

"Hey," he whispers, hovering over me as he brushes wet strands of hair away from my face. Droplets of pool water drip off his beard as he strokes my cheek. "Are you okay? Just breathe." I cough again, wiping my nose. "Shit, Savannah. I'm sorry I?—"

"I know..." I clear my throat, voice hoarse. "I know you don't like me...but killing me?" I prop myself up on my elbows, scanning Jesse's distraught features. "I think that's going a little too far."

"Fuck..." Jesse's posture relaxes as he rests his forearm on his knee and peers down at me. His jaw tenses. "Why didn't you tell me you can't swim, Savannah?"

"Didn't really come up," I say, blowing pool water out of my nose as my breathing stabilizes. "Plus"—I glare up at him—"didn't think I'd be pushed into a pool by a grown-ass man."

Jesse shakes his head, whispering, "Don't do that again."

I blink at him. "Me? I didn't throw myself in, did it?"

"We'll start next week," Jesse says, abruptly standing up. His wet clothes stick to his sculpted body in the most mesmerizing of ways. He's like a statue in the Museum ofthe Hot and Bothered. What a beautiful natural disaster. "I'll leave you money on the counter. Buy a swimsuit."

"Huh?" Licking my lips, I frown in confusion as I glance up at him. "What?"

"You need to learn how to swim," he says, holding out his hand. I hesitate before taking it, and he pulls me to my feet. "There won't always be a lifeguard on duty."

"Just don't push me in again, and we'll be fine," I say, giggling nervously like a schoolgirl. "Problem solved."

"It's non-negotiable," he states, dropping my hand quickly. "Can't have you dying on me." He nods at the pool. "And sit further back next time, okay? Jesus."

"You're seriously mad at me right now?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest. Jesse swallows, gaze flitting across my thin, wet jammies. A bolt of bravado rushes through me. "What? See something you like there, Paxton?"

Jesse grunts under his breath, removing his soaked shirt and joggers as he storms back inside.

I bite my lip, tilting my head as he turns the corner, and I catch a glimpse of his bare ass.

Damn heat wave.

CHAPTER 14

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