Shewore an all-white, modest two-piece. The bottoms came just below her bellybutton, exposing a flat stomach and shapely legs. The top piece covered butcouldn’t conceal generous, rounded breasts. Nor could it hide the fact it wascold outside.
As sheprepared to dip under the water, he struggled not to gawk or suck in poolwater. With her mahogany hair and her ivory skin shimmering in the deck lights,she resembled an ocean goddess. A colossal clam shell and her without the suitwould complete the illusion nicely.
Shebroke the spell when she sat, water enveloping her to her neck. “Oh my God,this feels wonderful.”
He retreatedto the opposite side, away from her, from the lights, praying she didn’t seethe tent in his trunks.
“Do youcome here often?” she asked, then laughed. “I didn’t mean it that way. I meant,do you use the pool or the hot tubs much?”
He sankbelow the surface, and came up shaking water from his head. “No. First timeI’ve been here,” he croaked.
Shelaid her head back, closed her eyes, and spread her arms. “Mmm. I think I’dspend all my time here.”
Sowould I if I could look at you.
Hereyes flew open and fixed on him. “What did you say?”
Ohshit. Did I say that out loud? “Uh, look at you … so, uh … relaxed … and warm … and …” Hesubmerged his head one more time.
Christ!Seriously, am I fucking sixteen?
When hebroke the surface, she was gazing at the city lights, her arms folded on theedge. Sputtering, he swam up beside her and pushed his hair out of his eyes. Hekept his body out of her personal space so he wouldn’t bump her. And Lord knewhe wanted to bump her.
“Whatdo you see?” he asked instead.
“Everything.This is so unexpected. It takes my breath away.”
He gaveher a sidelong glance. “Sure does.”
A fewmoments later, he said, “So.”
“So?”
“So youhaven’t talked about Adrian lately. How’s the counseling going?”
If he’dbeen searching for a mood killer, he’d struck on it. She tensed beside him andstared straight ahead, any remnants of a smile gone.
“Ohshit. I’m sorry,” he said.
“No,it’s okay.” She shook her head. “I’ve been avoiding telling you.”
His guttwisted. “Telling me what?” Do not tell me you’re taking that cocksuckerback!
Shelooked at him with sad eyes. “We didn’t last one session, not after heannounced he wasn’t giving up English. I just … I guess I didn’t rate. But onthe bright side, got my test results back and learned he didn’t give me anySTDs.”
Shit.That wassomething Beckett did routinely, but a girl like her? No. “Jesus, I’m sorry youhad to even think about being tested.” The rest of her revelation sankin, and his heart clattered in his chest. “Wait. He picked English? Over you?What a fucking idiot!” Even as Beckett gave his outrage a release, sweet reliefswept through him.
Andiecleared her throat. “It wasn’t exactly like that. He, um, didn’t want me toleave either.”
Beckettgaped at her. “Wait. Let me see if I have this straight. He wants to staymarried to you and keep his mistress on the side?”
She letout a strangled laugh.
“And heexpected you to go along with it?” Beckett was dumbfounded. He’d pulled somestunts in his life, but this? Adrian had him beat.
Hereyes slid away and focused on a piece of pool decking. “What’s wrong with me,Beck?”
“Wrongwith you? Absolutely nothing. As for him, don’t get me started.”
“Forthe record, I said no.”
“Fuck yeah,you said no! Who the fuck does he think he is? The fucking lord of the fuckingcastle?”
Shelaughed, and that’s when he noticed tears in her eyes. “I love you, Beck.”
Whoa.Not the firsttime he’d heard the L word, but when it rolled off her tongue—eventhough she’d only meant it in a “friend” sort of way—it sent a jolt throughhim. A pleasant jolt.
Hegulped air, and she continued. “The therapist called me after and confirmed Iwas completely sane for walking out.”
“Smarttherapist. What did Adrian say?”
“Ihaven’t spoken to him.” She shrugged her bare shoulders. “And you know what? Ifeel a little lighter every day.”
Beckettraised his fist. She bumped it and smiled.
“Andie,friends tell each other things. Why didn’t you tell me?” The hurt snuck intohis voice.
Sheshrugged her shoulder again. “I don’t know. I was embarrassed. And then you andI were having so much fun I didn’t want to spoil it. I’m sorry I held out onyou.”
Heknocked his head against hers. “So you’re going through with the divorce?”
“Everythingwill be final at the beginning of the year.”
“That’sgood. I mean, it’s not good, but Jesus, that asshole did notdeserve you. Not when he couldn’t see what was in front of him.”
Beckettscanned her eyes. He was battling an overwhelming urge to lean in and nibbleher glossy wet lips when giggling erupted behind them. As he jerked his headaround, three girls in skimpy bikinis plopped on the edge and dangled theirfeet in the water. One swimsuit covered so little he wondered why the hell shebothered.
“Hi,”they said in a chorus, like chirping birds on a wire, looking straight at him.
Fromthe corner of his eye, he saw Andie slowly rotate her head. “Hi,” she said,smiling her public smile.
Onegirl flicked her eyes to Andie, then shot them straight back to Beckett.“Beckett, right?”
Hepulled a hand over his face and glanced at Andie whose eyes were fixed on thegirls. “I’m him. And this is An—Paige.”
“AnnPage?” one girl said.
Theyrattled off their names, but he registered none of them. The usual blah, blahfollowed, and he registered none of that either. Two guys joined them, and hedid register how their eyes roamed all over Andie when she stepped out of thewater and settled her gorgeous ass on the top step.
“Weshould probably get out before we turn into stewed prunes,” he growled at her.
“Sosoon?” one of the girls pouted. All three gawped at him as he patted Andie onthe arm and clambered out. She followed, water dripping off her body inglistening droplets. The men’s eyes tracked her, and Beckett quickly wrappedher in the robe before settling a towel over his shoulders.
“Bye,”the girls called as he led Andie inside, the word
