Page 13 of Stuck-Up Big Shot
Oh, crap. I’ve been caught.
Slapping a hand over my betraying mouth, I flail to the side and out of sight around the corner. Flattening my back against the wall as if I’m a secret agent on a mission. My heart pounds wildly and tries to break free from my chest.
Thump thump thump.
I waste no time and run down the short corridor to the door leading into the pool and fling it open. Rushing to the far corner, sucking in a lungful of chlorine-scented air as I go, I flop down at the edge of a lounge chair and smack my hand against my forehead.
“Way to go, Sutton. You idiot,” I scold myself in a censorious tone.
Taking a few moments to catch my breath, I remove the towel I’d wrapped around myself and head to the pool’s edge. Since I’m on the far end, there’s no easing into the water, so I plug my nose and jump into the deep end.
Feels reminiscent of how I do most things in life. I just jump in, feet first.
The warmth of the water covers me, and the beautiful underwater silence blacks out all the surfaced noise in my head. Noise about Miles. Thoughts about what to do once the Morgan’s return home, and I need to find new living arrangements once more.
At least by their return date, I’ll have money saved up for the fall when school starts again.
School has me thinking about Christiana, who called me earlier today to ask me if I want to go out with her tonight to celebrate one of our mutual friend’s birthday. Not taking no for an answer, she reminded me I need to go out and live it up now before I’m buried in books, lectures, and writing papers in September. Guess I’m going out tonight.
The empty pool is luxurious. I haven’t been for a swim in months. I think about what it must cost to live in a place like this as I take smooth strides across the length of the pool, the water rippling around me as I stroke and paddle, easing into my old routine. Miles sure has come a long way from our humble beginnings in Mystic to afford a place like this.
Mel would be so proud of him and what he’s accomplished.
I continue swimming, enjoying the quiet and serene sense of being submerged in the water. The gentle lick of cool water over my limbs as I glide through the chlorine-blue pool lulls me into a peaceful trance, as I swim from one end to the other.
With my face underneath the water’s surface, my hands reach out to touch the rounded cement curve of the pool’s edge. I flip around, pushing off with my feet and back toward the other end. I’ve counted fifteen laps so far, and I’m hoping to get in ten more before I jump in the sauna and then shower and get ready to go out tonight.
Something catches my attention above the pool’s surface as I turn my face to the side, breathing in and breathing out. Without goggles on, the water stings my eyes when I open them, and I can’t see very clearly. I lift my head from the water and wipe off my eyes, and my breath stalls when I see a pair of men’s feet at the pool deck.
Miles sits down at the edge and dangles his feet and a good portion of his legs over the side, as I swim up to greet him.
He’s blurry as I stare at him through wet lashes, but oh good heavens, even in a blurry state, the man is so dang hot. He must’ve showered off before coming in because he smells soapy-clean, his hair wet and slicked back and out of his face. It only highlights his tanned features and square jawline that has a sexy, scruff covering his rugged jaw.
His voice is low, deep, and so very masculine. “Hello, Sutton. You’re looking cleaner than the last time I saw you.”
A hint of amusement dances in his eyes and a barely-there stretch of a smile plays at his lips. By comparison, my face breaks into a huge stupid grin, and I giggle with a big shrug.
“Hey, Miles. Not being covered in dog shit is quite an improvement, for sure.” I splash him so the water laps at his shin. “How was your workout?”
He flicks his toes up and gives me a return splash, and I don’t miss the way his lips edge up into a smirk. The mischief bouncing in his blue eyes tells me he saw me watching during his workout. I wonder how long he knew I’d been watching.
Miles lowers himself into the pool, easing slowly into the water. I watch his torso dip under the waterline, his biceps bulging as he lets go of the side.
My tongue darts out to sweep over my bottom lip, wicking away the trace of wetness there, and I notice his gaze zoom to my mouth before flicking back to my eyes.
“You tell me, since I think you saw most of it?”
I wear a look of confusion, glancing around the space as if it’s the first time I’ve ever seen it. “Huh?”
Miles dunks his head underwater and then pops back up, his hand swiping his hair out of his face before his smile unfurls before me, his brows lifted knowingly.
And for all that’s holy, that smile is the same one he employed with all the girls back in the day. The one that exudes charm, arrogance, and straight-up sex appeal. It sends a current of electricity coursing through my body, which is a really bad thing when you’re near water. I feel like I could easily get electrocuted and drop dead of shock from too much of this Miles.
The flirty, sexy Miles.
I laugh nervously and chew my lip.
“Do you swim as your regular workout?”
