Page 64 of I'm Looking for a Man in Finance
“Let’s go, you two! Last one to the ocean sleeps outside.” A naked blur flew past us, kicking up sand as they sprinted toward the water.
“Was that Sebastian?” Hallie blinked, completely stunned, her breath uneven like she’d just done an intense workout—or maybe that was from dancing with me.
Before I could answer, Roxie zoomed past next. “You heard the man. The water!” she whooped, removing her clothes as she bolted down the beach.
Hallie gaped at her best friend, eyes wide as saucers. “She’snaked!” Her voice cracked mid-sentence as she clutched at my arm like she’d just witnessed a full-blow alien invasion.
I couldn’t help the laugh that rumbled out of me. “I believe that’s called skinny-dipping, Hal.” I tried to keep a straight face, but her expression was too good—like she was caught between horror and the urge to cover hereyes. “If Sebastian is near a body of water, it’s only a matter of time before he starts taking clothes off. I can only imagine the wager he struck with Roxie to convince her to do it, too.”
“I really don’t want to sleep outside,” she muttered, still staring at them in disbelief.
“Oh, don’t worry.” I leaned in, my voice low and teasing. “I’d never let that happen. I’d sacrifice myself to the ocean before I let you take the floor.”
She elbowed me, still flustered. “Not helping, James.”
I grinned. “What can I say? Seb knows how to keep things interesting.”
The sound of Sebastian and Roxie’s laughter carried over the crash of the waves. Hallie glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, a myriad of emotions flickering across her face.
“We don’t know anyone here,” she mused. “Not really. And it’s dark.”
“I mean, technically, that’s the perfect combo for making bad decisions,” I said with a grin, already tugging my shirt over my head. “You heard Sebastian. Last one to the water sleeps outside.”
Hallie’s mouth dropped open. Those perfect red lips forming a circle that filled my mind with the dirtiest of thoughts. “Wait! Hold on. That’s not fair! You saidyouwould sacrifice yourself.”
I took off running, laughing as her footsteps pounded the sand behind me. When I glanced back, she was right on my heels, her coverup discarded, leaving only a deep red bathing suit that knocked every coherent thought from my mind.
She overtook me just as the water touched our toes. Honestly? No complaints. Not when I got a perfect view of her swimsuit clinging to the curves of her ass.
“Where’s your bathing suit?” Hallie shouted to Roxie, who was now neck-deep in the water.
“I left it in the car and Sebastian said I wouldn’t skinny dip.” Roxie glared over at the man floating on his back next to her. Fortunately, the ocean did us all the favor of hiding Little Sebastian.
Hallie stepped next to me, her fingertips brushing against mine beneath the surface. “Now what?”
Four loud booms echoed in the distance before the sky blazed with red, blue, and white.
“Now,” I said, motioning toward the expansive sky around us, “we’ve got the best seat in the house for the show.”
The sun had dipped below the horizon, and in the darkened water, Hallie turned to face me.
“James,” she said softly, voice threading between the booms overhead.
I met her eyes, instantly alert. “Yeah?”
“I need to tell you something.”
My stomach dipped. “Okay …”
She hesitated, her lips parting. “I-I regret telling you to stop. The other night.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“I wasn’t ready then. But I think I am now.” She swallowed, cheeks flushed despite the cold water. “I just didn’t want you thinking I didn’t want you.”
Before I could say a word, a giant splash sent a wave over our heads. Roxie shrieked behind us. “We’re startinga chicken fight in thirty seconds, you two better get ready!”
Sebastian’s voice followed, “Don’t worry, I’ll let James lose gracefully.”
