“Very good.”
Emma turned, careful to keep the water lapping at her collarbone. Tyler’s chest was half visible above the water, and Emma couldn’t keep her eyes from straying. She snapped them back to his face, but not before he noticed.
Tyler stretched an immaculately sculpted arm back to the stairs and grabbed the plate he’d set on the edge. He held it out to her, and she picked up a strawberry. The chocolate crunched after being outside for only a few minutes but then melted on her tongue.
Tyler chose a truffle, then set it back on the step. “I didn’t bring the cider. Figured we could have that later if we wanted.”
Emma nodded. Later. Tyler’s foot brushed hers under the water, and she sucked in a breath.
“Sorry.”
“No, it just surprised me. You can stretch out if you want, I can move over.” She shifted to the seat opposite him and accidentally lifted a little too high in the water. “I—” Her cheeks flushed as she sunk into the corner bucket, allowing Tyler to stretch his legs diagonally. “That was—I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” Tyler smirked, and Emma laughed so nervously she thought she might give herself the hiccups. She dropped her head back and lifted her knees onto the bench. “Skittles.”
Emma frowned and looked back at Tyler. “What?”
“You hate Twizzlers, so you must love Skittles.”
A slow grin spread across her face. “You think Skittles are my favourite candy?” She sighed. “Oh, Tyler, you have so much to learn.”
“Educate me, then.”
Emma drew a deep breath and lay her head back. “Skittles are too much work. You can only eat four to six of them before you have TMJ.”
“Four to six? That’s specific.”
“I’ve done extensive testing. Starburst, same thing, but eating those you also risk pulling out any fillings you have on your molars.”
“I don’t have any fillings.”
Emma dropped her knees and sat straight, sending water in a wave toward Tyler. “Zero fillings?”
He flashed a cheesy smile. “Zero.”
“So you sold your soul to the parking and dental gods.”
Tyler barked a laugh then met her eyes. A boyish grin flickered across his face, and Emma’s heart buried itself against her spine.
“It’s been a year.” Emma swallowed hard as she curled her knees back toward her chest. “Since I broke things off with my ex.”
“Alex.”
Emma’s brow furrowed.Had she told him that?“I didn’t think—I didn’t know when I’d be ready for something new.” Tyler watched her, the pale light from the hot tub moving in slow waves across his skin. Emma’s pulse raced until she felt weightless. “I don’t want to do fake, Tyler.”
Tyler drew a deep breath and ran his hands through his hair, his chest muscles stretching and shifting as he lifted his arms. Emma felt dizzy.
“I know. Our fake relationship was fun while it lasted, though.” The corner of his mouth lifted.
“What if . . .” Emma pressed a hand against her chest, willing her lungs to expand. “What if it didn’t have to be over? What if it was real?”
ChapterTwenty
Tyler's heartpounded harder than Frank Zummo.What if it was real?Did those words really just come out of Emma’s mouth? He stared at her, stars winking around her in a halo, baby hairs curling around her ears.
One move. He could push out of his seat and be next to her. Pressing up against her bare skin, running his hands over the curves he’d snuck glances at too many times to count. He hadn’t slept well for weeks fantasizing about a moment exactly like this, and now she was inviting him to act on it.
You know she doesn’t need more of this in her life.
