Page 16 of Romance Is Dead

I wasn’t sure anymore.

A few hours after arriving and making sure Mara was ok I slunk away, tired of people consoling me about my latest flop by telling me how much they loved films I made five years ago. I snuck out the back door and into the grotto at the far end of the kidney-shaped pool, kicking off my shoes and dipping my feet into the cool water.

“There’s pee in that pool.”

I jumped. On the other side of the water, a man was perched on the steps, half hidden in shadows.

“Wait, really?”

“My buddy was in there earlier, so there’s definitely a chance.”

Good enough for me. I pulled out my feet. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Sorry, that was a weird way to say hi.” He stood, moving into the light.

I recognized him immediately. He’d been hot in the commercials forPleasure Island Paradise, but in person he was downright breathtaking. His upper body, shirtless of course, was chiseled and muscled. His sandy brown hair was slicked back, emphasizing cheekbones that would put James Dean’s to shame. But it was his eyes—piercing blue and sultry even in the low lighting—that wouldn’t let me look away.

Suddenly, I felt just as hot as I had inside the house.

“I’m Teddy.” He walked over and reached out a hand.

I took it, neglecting to mention I already knew who he was. “Are you here solely to warn people about the pee?”

“No, I just needed some fresh air.”

A kindred spirit. “Same.”

Perched on pool chairs, I was surprised at how easily the conversation came. We talked about the best local hiking spots (he was so enthusiastic he almost sold me on the exercise), gossiped about everyone at the party (the director was cheating on his wife with one of the guests but we couldn’t decide who), and ranked the best pizza toppings (jalapeños and pineapple).

Eventually, Teddy stood. “I feel like a swim. Want to join?”

“Absolutely not. There’s pee in there.”

“I said there might be.”

“Not a chance I’m willing to take.”

“Actually,” he leaned in conspiratorially, his breath tickling my ear, “I might have lied about that.”

Tingles danced down my spine. “And why would you do that?”

“Maybe I wanted an excuse to talk to you. Pretty girls make me nervous.”

I wanted to laugh. There was no way Teddy James had a problem talking to any girl.

“I don’t have a suit.”

“So?” He extended a hand to help me up. “Come on.”

He’d looked so cute, so undeniably sexy, that I couldn’t resist. I’d sworn off dating actors years ago, after a guy I’d been dating for over a year sold photos and gossip about us to a tabloid. The ensuing press coverage had been humiliating—no one looks flattering in a tankini after they’ve wolfed down nachos at the beach—and he dumped me two weeks later, after he’d been cast in the latest superhero franchise and gotten all he needed from the relationship.

But at that moment, feeling a spark of attraction for the first time in months, maybe throwing caution to the wind with a devastatingly handsome stranger was exactly what I needed.

Quickly, before I could psych myself out, I stripped down to my bra and undies and jumped into the pool. With a quick laugh of surprise, Teddy followed. We both slipped under the surface, kicking through the shallow depths until we were sufficiently cooled off. We resurfaced, out of breath and laughing. But as he looked at me, his smile faded.

“Hold still.” Teddy slowly slid through the water toward me. “There’s a bug in your hair.”

“Uh-uh. You already got me with the pee thing. You think I’m going to believe you now?”

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