Page 57 of Find Me in California

MATT

Matt jogs down the steps to the pool, convinced his eyes are tricking him. Magnolia Blu can’t be here. He’d only left his number with the neighbor, and she never called him. How could she have known where he is?

No matter. She’s here now. That’s definitely her in the pool.

The chain-link fence creaks when he opens the gate to the pool deck. She swims to the side to meet him. He kneels at the edge, and she grins at him from under damp lashes.

“Hello, Matt.”

“How’d you find me?”

“You’re really not coming to California?”

He shakes his head with a short laugh and tips back his beer. “Nope.”

“Then get in.” Magnolia pushes away from the ledge with a flirty smile.

“I don’t have a suit.”

“Do you see me wearing one?”

“You’re trouble.” He shakes a finger at her. He glances back at the motel. A few room windows are lit, but most are dark. Could they get away with skinny-dipping?

She treads in the water. “Everyone’s asleep. No one will know.”

He levels her a look. He’ll know.

Magnolia does a slow backward somersault. The peaks of her breasts break the water, and the rest of her follows, leaving nothing to his imagination.

“Fuck me.” Any objections he had about jumping in the pool leave the building.

Matt finishes off the beer and drags his shirt over his head. He drops his jeans and turns toward the pool. Magnolia shakes her head and points at his boxer briefs. He’s either all in or chickenshit.

He shoves down his briefs and dives in. The water is shockingly cold, exactly the temperature he needs. Numbness will set in in no time. He breaks the surface with a whoop.

She presses a finger to her lips, reminding him to be quiet, and swims to the deep end. Matt follows. They grasp the ledge, facing each other. Their bodies backlit by the pool light, their legs swirl in the water.

“I drove back and looked for you today. Where’d you go?” he asks.

She shrugs. “Around.”

“Did your parents show up?”

She sinks underwater and surfaces behind him. Her nipples graze his back, her legs brush his. Heat rushes to his center. He turns around with a groan. “What are you doing?”

“Have you ever been in love?” Her words douse his arousal.

“What kind of question is that?”

“An easy one. Yes or no?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“None of your business.” He closed himself off to love a long time ago.

“Interesting.” Magnolia traces a finger across his collarbone. His skin pebbles.

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