“You’re not going to let that go, are you?” she asks.
“Of course I will. Just not anytime soon,” I say, treading water, our bodies dangerously close.
“Bastard,” she says with a grin. She splashes me again, and I grab her wrist to stop her and pull her toward me. Her smile fades, and she swallows, glancing at my mouth. “I’m your boss.”
“Righto,” I say, disappointment crashing over me as I let go of her wrist. “So no pumping you, then,” I add with a grin before leaping backward, out of the way of the next splash I know is coming.
She makes a growling sound and follows me as I swim a few metres away from her, then stop so she can catch me. When she gets near enough, she cups her hands and creates a mini-tidal wave, aiming it at my face. Ducking under the water, I avoid it, only to come up behind her. I tap her on the shoulder, and she winces before turning to me.
“Where’d you learn to swim like that?” I ask.
“Here,” she answers. “You can’t expect to beat an island girl in a swim race.”
“Hey, I grew up on an island,” I say indignantly.
“In the North Sea? Where the water is freezing most of the year?”
“Only ten months at a time, thank you very much.”
“I shouldn’t exaggerate, sorry.”
“Christ, I wish you weren’t my boss.”
“Really?” she asks, her voice slightly breathy.
I nod. “Definitely.”
“What if no one found out?” she asks, biting her bottom lip.
My entire body reacts to the idea, and I can’t help but tuck a lock of her wet hair behind her ear. “Is that what you want, Brianna? Something clandestine?”
“Honestly, at this moment, I think I might,” she answers, reaching out and brushing her fingertips against my chest.
“We really shouldn’t though,” I say, placing both hands on her hips as the tide gently pushes her into me.
Our eyes lock, and she nods, whispering, “Terrible idea.”
“Yes, ill-advised and horribly complicated.” I lower my mouth over hers, letting it hover there, giving her time to change her mind.
She nods and stretches up a bit, closing the distance between us, her hands now resting on my abs. “It would most likely end in disaster.”
“Most likely,” I murmur. “Should we do it, anyway?”
“We have to. We’re saying yes to everything,” she whispers, her chest heaving as she talks.
I stare into her perfect eyes, and in an instant, I feel a surge of something wonderful—unabashed happiness, lust, relief, and excitement all at once. She reaches up as I lower my mouth over hers, ready to let go after so many weeks of wanting her.
“YOOOHOOOO! There you are!” a voice calls from the shore.
We both pull back quickly. I turn to see Jolene standing on the beach with her camera poised in hand. Son of a bitch.
“Is that…your Uber driver?”
“Yes.” Regret filling me as I release Bree’s waist. “Please excuse me.”
CHAPTER 22
Whiny, Frustrated Lady Bits
