Suddenly I feel hot again, like I did sitting out in the sun.
“You look…” I swallow. “Hungry?”
His eyes lower. “Starving.” His voice is deep, almost a growl.
My mouth drops open. I glance down at myself and realize my robe is gaping open, revealing my bikini-clad body underneath. I snap it shut, cinching the belt around me and hastily tying a tight knot. My heart is in my throat, and thoughts are whirling through my head as I realize I might spontaneously combust if I don’t get the hell out of here.
“Um, okay. I’ll, uh, order pizza, then,” I say, hurriedly setting down the wine coolers and fumbling my phone off the counter. I retreat into the house toward my room.
“Let the guys know, will you?” I call to Julian over my shoulder, too chicken to glance back.
After ordering four pizzas, I text Claudia to meet me in the master bedroom, and we spend the rest of the afternoon drinking and playing board games. She’s curious about why we moved the party inside, but I don’t tell her what happened. Our talk from earlier has my mind going to places I might never have dared before, and it freaks me the hell out.
Chapter
Two
A week later,the guys are over again, some of them with their girlfriends. Gage is dating an adorable little blonde named Paige. She thinks their names rhyming is the most wonderful thing in the world. She’s a bit of an airhead, but she’s sweet.
Kyle’s girlfriend of three years, Trisha, is here. She’s been away at UC Berkeley for the past year, and it’s fun seeing the two of them back together. They’re cuddling on a lounge chair in the far corner. I’ll have to keep an eye on them, lest they disappear into the house. Don’t want any oopsie-babies conceived on my watch.
Julian is here, much to my distraction, though he’s acting normal and hasn’t brought a girl with him. I have on a red swimsuit with a blue crocheted cover-up, and I’m leaning back in my lounger, pretending to doze. My eyes are hiding behind oversized sunglasses.
Currently, those eyes are on Julian, who’s in the pool with Brian and Kael, wrestling around and fighting over a frisbee. Eventually, they tire of their game and get out of the water. I bite my lip at the sight of Julian’s glistening golden-brown body. He shakes the water out of his hair and glances my way, and myheart flutters. A pattern seems to be forming in the effect he has on me.
They approach the table on which I’ve set out a tray of deli sandwiches and chips. Julian loads up a plate and then comes to sit next to me. My pulse speeds up, but I try to act naturally. I slide my eyes over to him and take off my sunglasses. He smiles at me as he starts in on his lunch.
“Great sandwiches. Thanks, Mrs. Owens,” he says between bites.
“You bet.” I eye him. “You know, you probably shouldn’t call me that. I’m not even married anymore.”
He looks at me pointedly. “What should I call you, then?”
“Um, well…” I hesitate, shrugging. “Chelsea, I guess.”
“Okay. Chelsea,” he says in a low voice, holding my gaze.
Did he do that on purpose?I could swear he just made my name sound sexual.
“Maybe ‘Miss Chelsea’ when we’re in public,” I add, shifting in my seat.
His eyes flare as I realize I’ve just suggested there will be times we aren’t in public. Times that we’ll be… in private. Heat flashes through me, warming my cheeks.
“Okay. Miss Chelsea.” He smirks, returning to his lunch.
I study him, wondering what he’s thinking.
After a few minutes, he says, “Sorry I scared you off the other day.”
I guess we were thinking about the same thing. I chuckle awkwardly. “Oh, that? No, that wasn’t you. That was—I was suddenly struck with an irresistible urge to play Scattergories with Claudia. All day. Inside.”
“Mm-hmm.” His smirk returns as he nods. “I went into the kitchen to find a snack.” His gaze sharpens on mine. “I definitely found one.”
My eyes widen.This man.
I turn to face him, resting my chin in my hand. “Julian Sanchez. Are youflirtingwith me?”
He shrugs, his face full of pure innocence.
