Charlie wiggles his toes as he wades into the water. “I can’t remember the last time I walked outside in bare feet. This actually feels good.”
“What about the beach?” I ask.
“I have water shoes.”
“Well, at least you know he wears condoms,” Angela murmurs.
Heat flames my face. I swear the woman is trying to set me on fire.
Charlie retrieves the kayak and pulls it to shore, although now his clothes are soaking wet, offering another glimpse of his enviable physique. I try to focus on his bare feet. There’s nothing sexy about those, except?—
Dammit. Even his feet look good. On what bizarre planet do a man’s feet trigger such a positive physiological response? I must be ovulating. That’s the only explanation.
My phone pings and I’m grateful to realize it’s dinnertime. Time flies when you’re practicing saving the world.
Olivia objects. “We haven’t done the hero pose yet,” she insists.
Charlie’s face is completely blank. “What’s the hero pose?”
“Like you jumped from a helicopter and landed in the middle of a group of bad guys.” She drops to a crouched position, one hand on the ground, one leg splayed and the other knee bent. Slowly, her head tilts up so that she’s gazing menacingly at the bad guys as she blows a loose strand of hair out of her eye.
Charlie elbows me. “She’s looking at me. Am I the baddie?” he whispers.
“I think we both know the answer to that.”
Olivia remains fixed in her position. “Quick! I need a snappy one-liner. I’m still perfecting mine.”
Angela shakes her wrists in excitement. “Ooh, how about ‘look what the cat dragged in?’”
Olivia’s head droops. “That only works if the bad guy is saying it.”
“I’ve got one,” Stefan interjects. “Looks like I got the drop on you, boys.”
“Good enough,” Olivia says. “Looks like I got the drop on you.” She pulls herself to a standing position and bows with a flourish. “Your turn, Charlie.”
He jogs in place for a second, then closes his eyes and blows out a breath.
“I’ve never seen Spider-Man do that,” I say.
“Leave him alone,” Olivia says. “Can’t you see he’s getting in the zone?”
Charlie shoots me a triumphant smile that makes me want to drop kick him into the lake. He pretends to jump from a great height, then copies Olivia’s landing.
“I need a quick line too,” he says. “I was so determined to stick the landing, I forgot to think of one.”
“Sorry,” Stefan replies. “I gave Olivia my best one.”
Charlie looks up at us. “Can you hurry? I’m getting a leg cramp.”
“We deduct points for cramps,” I tell him. “Heroes don’t get those. They ingest the requisite amount of potassium.”
He glares at me, then says in his best hero voice, “Thought I’d drop in for a chat, fellas.”
“Why are the bad guys always guys?” Olivia asks, bristling with irritation. “Girls can be bad, too. We’re equal opportunity evildoers.”
Charlie stands upright and stretches his hamstring. “Thought I’d drop in for a chat, villainous ladies. Better?”
Olivia grins at him. “Better.”
