Page 50 of Mr. Dangerous

Half an hour later, we stood at the edge of the ocean, cold water lappingourtoes.

"Race you to the buoy,"hesaid.

"Like I said, not everything's acompetition."

"That's because you knowyou'lllose."

"Well, yes," I said drily, as he splashed forward into the surf. I followed reluctantly. Cold water washed over my chest, cold enough to take mybreathaway.

He turned. “Damn, it’s cold. It’s okay if it’s too coldforyou.”

That made me wade resolutelyforward.

I finally gave up and flung myself forward into the waves. Ahead of me, I could see Rob’s powerful arms churning the water; as big and muscular as he was, he glided through the water like a dolphin. Then he popped up ahead of me, shaking water out of his face, his dark hairspiky.

"You're gorgeous,"hesaid.

"Apropos of nothing." I said. I liked it when he told me I was pretty, and I was afraid heknewthat.

"What?" he asked. "You don't think I'mgorgeous,too?"

Before I could make a crack back, he took off for the buoy, his arms slicing through thewater.

His freestyle was stillperfect.

When we were tired of swimming, we laid on the sun-warmed wood of the deck todryout.

The sun lit the horizon, gold reflected deep into the blue water. “I’d forgotten how beautiful the sunsetishere.”

“Maybe you should come back to Newport more often,”Isaid.

“Maybe,”hesaid.

His eyes were on my lips. I kept my gaze on the horizon, ignoring the thrum of desire that vibrated through my body. That had been one foolish night, making love to Rob. I wasn’t going to lose myself in him again. Because I was afraid I would lose myself in himforever.

"Hot tub?" he asked,sittingup.

I should go home, but instead I found myself nodding. “I’mfreezing.”

“Your lips are a little purple,” Rob said, leaning in towards me. He touched my back to usher me ahead of him to the hot tub, and I shied away from his touch, even when I wanted to leanintohim.

"Can you get that side of the cover?" Iasked.

Instead he hip-checked me aside playfully and pulled the cover off himself, setting it down on the side of the deck. I went to work pushing dials and knobs until the hot tub whirredtolife.

"Why does it bother you when I say you’re pretty?” he asked, sitting on the smooth edge ofthetub.

I settled beside him, the warm water massaging my calves, and looked out at the ocean. “Idon’tknow.”

"I don't mind when peoplecomplimentme."

"And thank God for that,hometownhero."

"You still holding Amy against me?" He bumped my shoulder playfully. "AndKate?"

"Kate? How did Kate getintothis.”

"I thought you might be madaboutprom."

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