Pushing harder with my legs, I do my best to swim to safety. The currents are against me, and I’m starting to get tired. Still, I’m making progress when I hear the high-pitched engine growing louder at my side. My eyes go wide when I realize the kids’ coming straight at me, and he’s not slowing down.

  I gulp a large breath of air and dive down, going under just in time for him cut across above me. My heart races in my chest, and I kick, trying to stay down until I’m sure he’s gone. When it seems safe, I resurface, but exhaustion is setting in. I’ve got to swim harder.

  Looking up, Patton is on the edge of the dock, and I’m pretty sure I recognize his frown. Then I hear that motor again. Already? Looking up, I see the wave runner is coming back.

  Shit. I’m not sure I can swim any faster. My heart is hammering in my chest, and I know in this dark water with my hair wet, I’m practically invisible to anyone on a watercraft.

  Panic tightens my throat, then I see Patton strip off his shirt and dive into the lake.

  The wave runner skims across the surface, heading in my direction like a rocket. I’m about to go down when a strong arm grips me around the waist like a band of iron. He pulls me to him with such force, and the kid veers away just in time.

  “Holy shit!” I squeal.

  “Hold onto me.” His chin scuffs my eyebrow, and I close my eyes, doing as he says.

  My hands are on his shoulders, and my heart is flying. He’s a strong swimmer, even with me at his side doing my best to swim along, and he continues toward the shore until we reach a place where he can stand. The water is still a little over my head.

  He stops to catch his breath, anger burning in his eyes. “Are you okay? That fucking moron. You could’ve been killed.”

  I’m directly in front of him with my hands on his shoulders. My body is pressed against his, and he’s holding me securely. I’m intensely aware of his warm skin touching mine. Bare legs against bare legs, his hand on my waist.

  Blinking up, I squint into his dark eyes, so full of concern. “Thank you.”

  His brow quirks as he studies my face. “Why did you jump out of the boat?”

  I drop my chin, trying to think of an excuse. I don’t want to get into what happened with Jerry, especially not while I’m clutched in his arms like this. But we’re too close for me to lie. He’ll see it in my eyes.

  “Tell me.” His voice lowers, and when I glance up, his expression has changed.

  “I felt kind of seasick, I guess.”

  “You guess?”

  We’re so close. It’s like that moment in the elevator, intimate. My heart is beating wildly, and I slide my hand over his bare shoulder. It’s broad and strong. His touch is nothing like Jerry’s. It’s sparkling, delicious heat, and I want more of it.

  “I feel better now.”

  “Good.”

  Water laps around us, and I’m very aware he’s still holding me close. His perfect hand is on my lower back, holding me steady…

  “Did you just save me?”

  The slightest flinch, and I see the struggle in his eyes. The fight against what’s happening between us, this impossible attraction we shouldn’t have. I ought to fight it, but I seem to have lost my will to resist.

  “You could’ve been hurt. But you’re pretty good at handling yourself.”

  My lips press together as my eyes linger on his mouth. “I don’t think I can handle you.”

  I should pull away, but it’s impossible. I move closer, my fingers curling on his shoulders, my chin lifting, straining for him. I blink up to his dark eyes, and it’s a blaze of want and need and barely hidden lust.

  “Fuck it,” he groans, meeting me in the middle.

  His mouth covers mine, and it instantly turns desperate. My hands move to his neck, holding him closer. I kiss him fast, my lips moving in time with his, grasping and pulling.

  His hands move from my back, roughly down to cup my ass. He pulls me hard to him, and my nipples tighten. I want his mouth on them. I lift my legs and wrap them around his waist, and the heat of our skin sliding together burns in my core. God, I want him so much.

  His tongue curls with mine in a sensual dance that circulates fire through my bloodstream. I feel his hard cock against my thigh, and a moan escapes my throat. So little stands in the way of us being together. I could slide my bottoms aside and he could push right in… The thought makes my insides clench, and I lift my chin to gasp for air.

  “Raquel…” His voice is strained, and his hands go to my waist then to my upper arms, moving me back.

  He sounds as devastated as I feel by what just happened.

  “Patton, I—”

  “We have to get back to land.”

  I’m at a place where I can stand, and he takes my hand, leading me to the shallow water. Once we’re close enough to walk onto shore, he lets me go and continues on ahead.

  “I’ll get you a towel.”

  “Thanks.” My insides are trembly from the intensity of his kiss, from the overwhelming desire he provokes.

  I watch him move, allowing my eyes to drink in his bare back, to trace the lines down to his tight ass. I admire the shape of his arms, muscular and tanned, the black ink extending up his right arm to his shoulder.

  He grabs a towel and his shirt, and Sweet baby Jesus.

  Just before he jerks it over his head, I see the mouthwatering lines in his stomach, his perfectly sculpted abs. I could feel the ripples of muscle under the water, but he’s so beautiful in the wild.

  I’ve been walking slowly, but now I’m standing in front of him, taking the towel he offers me.

  “Can I get you anything?” His voice is controlled, as if that wildfire of a kiss never happened. As if the heat raging between us isn’t strong enough to burn down the forest.

  My eyes squint slightly, and I shake my head. Taking the towel, I turn, walking to the pier where I left my cover up, glancing over my shoulder once more to find him watching me walk away.

  10

  Patton

  “Next year we’re going to a ski lodge.” I crack open a beer and take a long, ice-cold sip, hoping it’ll put out the fire inside me.

  I was fucking lucky we had a ways to go before reaching the shallower water. It gave my dick time to settle down so I didn’t have to emerge from the water with an erection. Jesus. I might be able to hide my attraction in the office, in a suit and tie, but there’s no hiding what her bare skin against mine does to me here.

  Her legs around my waist, her hips rocking against my pelvis, her moans… If we’d been alone, I’d have fucked her nine ways from Sunday. God, what am I thinking? What is she doing to me?

  “A ski lodge?” Taron is rolling hot dogs around on the hot grill, giving me the eye.

  Glancing back to where Raquel is standing, I see the wave runner whip around again, too close to the pier. “Somebody needs to grab that kid by the neck.”

  “If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be a hero.” I don’t miss the sarcasm in his tone.

  “Where’s Marley? You were supposed to bring him with you.”

  “He was sleeping when I got there, so I didn’t disturb him.”

  I don’t like him being alone on a holiday weekend with us all out here at the lake. Still, it was the right call. “At least he’s sleeping.”

  “I’ll check on him again tonight. You need a little personal time.” He hands me a plate with two hot dogs on it.

  “What’s this?” I frown, taking it.

  “I haven’t seen you look at a woman that way since Sofia Vergara.” He grins, but it makes my stomach tight.

  “Sounds like you need glasses.”

  “See if she wants to eat something. She nearly got her head knocked off.”

  His words make my blood boil. “If I see that kid’s parents…” I take the plate and walk to where Raquel is sitting in her lounge chair, holding one of Dean’s orange drinks.

  Sandra and Dean pass me on the way down, and I catch the end of Sandra speaking quietly. “He was touching her. It’s why she jumped overboard… Oh, Hi, Patton. Burgers ready?”

  She’s smiling, but my brow lowers as I think through what she said.

  “Yeah.” I nod, glancing to where Jerry’s tying up the boat.

  Raquel is turned away from him, and he trots past me with a brief greeting, continuing up the hill in the direction of the grill.

  I stop in front of her. Her eyes are closed behind her white sunglasses. “Are you hungry?”

  She looks up at me, and a beat passes before she sits forward. “Is that for me?”

  “If you want one. Taron sent them down.”

  Her pretty lips quirk, and she stands, giving me a look as if she’s onto me. “Is Taron giving you orders now?”

  I guess she thinks she has some power over me now. Maybe she does. Either way, I’m pissed. “Did something happen on the boat? Is that why you jumped in the water?”

  My voice is sharp. If I find out Jerry touched her… Fuck. The anger in my stomach is irrational. Lines are getting blurred, and I’m not happy about it.

  “I was feeling seasick. I told you.” But she doesn’t meet my eyes when she says it. Her cheeks flush, and she focuses on the hotdog she’s lifting off the plate.

  “But you’re hungry now?”

  She shrugs. “Jumping in the water cured it.”

  My eyes narrow. I’m not believing any of it, but I can’t force her to tell me the truth. She takes a bite of hot dog and turns away from me as she chews. I take the other one and finish it in three bites.

  A wooden bench is on the end of the pier, and I walk over to sit down. Marley said it first, now Taron. I’ve been so focused on the expansion, the launch, and keeping our shit together, I’ve lost track of how long it’s been since I even thought about a woman. Then this one walked into my office and flipped everything on its head.

  She’s back in that lounger, stretched out in the sun like a cat. The brim of her large straw hat covers her face, but I see her glossy, pink lips. Her arms are slim and tanned, stretched out on the chair, and her small breasts point up to the sky in her bikini top. Her hair is drying in messy waves.

  Only a few inches of her stomach are exposed, but her legs are on full display, shapely and long. I remember them wrapped around my waist in the water, and my mind fills with thoughts of touching her, tracing my lips along her inner thigh, tasting her, circling my tongue around her clit as she moans my name…

  “Are you uncomfortable there?” She’s staring at me, and I blink away those thoughts. “I’m sure Sandra wouldn’t mind if you used her chair.”

  “I’m okay.” I should probably leave.

  She pushes the front of her hat up so I can see her eyes. “Are you going to swim?”

  “No.” I start to stand, but she keeps talking.

  “Don’t you like to swim?”

  “No.”

  “Then why are we here?”

  “They like it.” I gesture toward Taron and the other three standing around the grill, talking and joking. “I’d rather be snow skiing.”

  She laughs, and my eyes cut back to her. “Do you always do things to please others?”

  “No. Hardly ever.”

  “I don’t believe you. I think every decision you make is out of concern for them.”

  I study her face, and her cheeks flush under my scrutiny. She lowers the brim of her hat again and leans back.

  “Why did you take the job at my firm?”

  Her chin pulls back, and she pushes the hat up again, studying my face. “What do you mean? It was a good offer.”

  “You could have gone corporate.”

  “Do you wish I had?”

  Do I? “You’d have more options, deal with fewer… idiots.” My glance moves to where Jerry is standing beside Sandra, watching us.

  She exhales a little hum. “I wanted to stay closer to home for now. And I bet there are idiots everywhere.”

  When my gaze returns to her, those clear blue eyes study me. It makes me slightly uncomfortable. I want to know what she’s thinking, if there’s any other reason she’s here.

  “What happened out there was…” What am I trying to say? What do I want to say? “It’s not a good idea.”

  “That’s too bad.” Her eyes narrow, and the corner of her mouth rises. “I kind of liked kissing my boss.”

  “Maybe I should fire you.”

  “You’d better have a damned good reason.” Her brow quirks in a challenge, and I think about the problems it would solve.

  Standing, I fold the paper plate. “Don’t give me one.”

  11

  Raquel

  The garage doors are open at South Street, and I’m at a small table with Sandra drinking beer and enjoying the sudden drop in temperature after last night’s rain.

  “Now will you tell me what happened yesterday?” She’s eyeing me over the rim of her pint of beer. “Why the sudden jump in the lake?”

  Her husband’s still out of town, so she invited me to lunch. “I told you. I was feeling sick.”

  I’m not sure why I’m protecting Jerry. It’s a clear case of sexual harassment, but I don’t feel the need to be the office whistle blower on my third day at work. He’s not my superior, and I think I can handle him.

  She shakes her head, cutting a bite of crab cake with her fork. “You had everybody talking.”

  “For jumping in the lake?” I take a sip of my beer. “You guys need to get out more.”

  “For what happened after you jumped in.” She gives me the eyebrow waggle, and now I’m uncomfortable. Did she see me kiss Patton? I thought we were somewhat discreet, being in the deep water and all. All they did yesterday was stand around and gossip about everybody.

  “Why didn’t anyone bring a plus one? Is that not allowed?”

  “Oh, it’s allowed.” She shrugs. “Taron’s not seeing anybody. My husband’s doing shift work. Dean’s dating around—”

  “And Jerry?” I want to ask about Patton, but I know she’s just waiting for that.

  “I think he was hoping to make some progress with you yesterday.”

  My face heats, and I shift in my chair. “He needs to take a hint and keep moving.”

  “So something did happen between you two?” Her eyes narrow, but I shake my head.

  “I just want him to leave me alone.”

  She considers this a moment. “Let me know if he doesn’t.”

  Leaning back, I exhale deeply. “I can handle Jerry Buckingham. He’s not the first guy who wouldn’t take a hint.”

  “Girl, I hear that. The shit we put up with.” She lifts her glass and gives me a wink. “Here’s to you getting Patton Fletcher to take his shirt off. That was pure heaven.”

  I take another sip, raising my eyebrows. “It was purely unintentional.”

  “You’re a rockstar damsel in distress, and I thank you.”

  Shaking my head, I remember sitting alone in my apartment last night binge-watching all the episodes of Queer Eye then switching over to Ally McBeal. I didn’t feel much like a rockstar. I felt like I should have gone to Savannah this weekend.

  I glance up at her, wondering if she might know anything about why my sister quit so suddenly four years ago. I don’t get a chance to ask before she jumps in her seat and leans toward me.

  “Well, look who’s here. Seems someone can’t stay away.”

  “Who?” Dread fills my stomach, and I’m afraid Jerry’s behind me. Instead, excitement replaces dread when my eyes land on Patton sitting alone at the bar.

  “What is he doing…” My voice trails off, and she gives me a nudge.

  “Walk over and say Hi. See what he says.”

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to set us up.”

  “Girl, it’s the first time I’ve seen him show this much interest in anybody.” She gives my arm a gentle nudge. “It can only be a good thing for all of us.”

  “He’s my boss, Sandra. I think he wants to keep things professional.” Although that’s not what his dick was telling me yesterday in the water.

  “You’re not afraid, are you?” Her eyebrow arches.

  Clearing my throat, I shift in my seat. “Of course not. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Why in the world would I be afraid? He simply looks like he needs some alone-time is all…” Stop talking now.

  I press my lips together.

  “Um-hm.” She gives me another nudge. “Go say Hi. It’s a holiday weekend.”

  “What difference does that make?”

  “Nobody wants alone-time on a holiday.”

  I’m not sure that’s true. Still, I’ve had just enough beer to do this, even though it’s silly. I’m on my feet about to head over when she stops me.

  “Take your beer.” She puts the pint glass in my hand and my purse on my shoulder. “Just in case.”

  I give her a little eye roll before casually walking over to where he’s sitting. A half-dozen grilled oysters are in front of him along with a pint of beer. This is crazy. What am I doing? I’m turning around to head back, when his voice stops me.

  “Following me around now?”

  Wrinkling my nose, I turn back and smile, doing my best to joke. “I was just going to say the same thing to you.”

  His dark eyes slide down and up my body, taking in my short-sleeved navy sweater and denim skirt. “My condo is over on seventeenth, so this is my neighborhood. You’re pretty far from home.”

  “How do you know where I live?” I pretend to be surprised, when I’m really thrilled.

  “It’s on your résumé.”

  “Oh, right.” So much for that.

  “Have a seat.”

  An open stool is beside him, and I do as he says. Leaning forward, I point toward my old table. “Sandra invited me to lunch.”

  He turns, and we both see her standing, giving us a little wave as she takes her purse and heads for the door.

  “Where is she going?” My lips part, and I turn to him.

  “Sandra doesn’t live too far, either. We see each other here sometimes.”