My stomach flipped.
I perched next to him on the pool ledge again, careful not to let our knees touch. I suddenly had no idea what to do with my hands.
He shifted the towel over his lap, still panting slightly. “You didn’t, uh—” he cleared his throat. “That wasn’t — was that okay?”
“Oh yeah,” I said, voice cracking like a teenager. I pulled the towel tighter around my torso. “That was, um. That was definitely okay.”
A long beat passed.
He exhaled slowly. “Jesus Christ.”
I laughed.
His head turned toward me. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Laugh like that. You sound like you just won.”
I looked out at the water, trying and failing to hide my grin. “Ididjust win.”
He groaned. “God, you’re the worst.”
“Say it again,” I teased.
“You’re theworst.”
“Louder.” My voice curled around the edges.
“Juniper,” he warned, voice tight, “I amonepoor decision away from doing something deeply irresponsible.”
My heart flipped again. I fought the urge to lean into him, to push just alittlefurther, to see how far I could unravel him before one of us combusted.
Before I could say anything smug or stupid, a guy in sunglasses and designer swim trunks walked by, pausing just long enough to recognize Ansel.
“Barlowe! Excited for the new movie, man.”
Ansel managed a weak smile and a wave, posture painfully stiff.
Once he passed, I leaned closer and whispered, “Are you about to die?”
He didn’t look at me. Just muttered, “So hard I might pass out.”
I choked on my drink. “Jesus?—”
“Itoldyou not to laugh.”
CHAPTER 20
Iwas going to hell.
That was it. That was theonlypotential outcome now.
Not just because I’d let a woman get me off in the middle of a pool party. Not just because I came in my goddamn swim shorts in front of half the cast of my latest movie.
But because I liked it.
Iwantedit to happen again. Repeatedly.Religiously.
