This little spot has been my sanctuary since I happened upon during an eight grade’s camping trip. Whenever life got too hectic, I’d escape here to reset. No one else knew about it. Until now.
The pool shimmers in the fading light of the sun, steam curling upward in slow spirals.
Logan does a slow 360, taking it all in. “Incredible.”
“You should see this place in the fall,” I say, “when the leaves change colors and dance freely in the wind.”
I glance at him just in time to catch him staring at me. “What?” I ask, heart skipping like a schoolgirl’s jump rope.
“It’s plenty beautiful already,” he says softly.
I look away before my cheeks fully combust. I have no business blushing over him—not when we have bigger problems. “What are we going to do about the press? By tomorrow, the entire country will think we’re dating.”
He kneels by the edge of the pool and trails his hand through the steaming water. “That’s not entirely far off.”
Is he kidding right now? We’re in the middle of a nightmare, and he doesn’t think anything of it. Heat rises up my neck that has nothing to do with attraction and everything to do with frustration.
I cross my arms. “Don’t you take anything seriously?”
“I’ll handle the press,” he says with that cocky half-grin of his. “Trust me.”
“That answer doesn’t inspire much confidence. And why is Victoria here? What aren’t you telling me?”
His expression shifts, and I can tell something guarded flashes across his face. Would it kill him to give me a straight answer for once?
“Don’t worry about Victoria,” he says, standing up and—oh no.
He takes off his shirt, then starts unbuckling his belt.
“Logan—what are you doing?” I take several steps back, as if distance will protect me from all that . . . lean body mass. He’s somewhat wiry and yet sculpted.
“What does it look like?” He kicks off his shoes, seemingly oblivious to my internal shock.
I feel a tingling sensation in my chest as he dives in with a splash, and I shield my face from oncoming water droplets that hit my forearm like summer rain.
He resurfaces with a blissful sigh. “This feelsamazing. C’mon, jump in.”
Yep, he’s nuts. “What if—“
He submerges again before I can finish, making my blood boil, and when he comes back up, water streams down his face as he rakes both hands through his hair. His eyes are closed, and he tilts his head back in the golden light like some kind of Greek statue brought to life.
I close my mouth, afraid I’ll appear like I’m salivating. As insufferable as he can be, there’s no denying the way he makes me feel.
The man looks like he was carved from marble.
“When you’re done checking me out,” he says, “you could join me.”
I flinch from embarrassment. “I wasnotchecking you out.”
“Mmhmm.”
I put my hands on my hips. “As I was saying before you rudely submerged, what if someone sees us?”
“Look around you.” Logan spreads his arms wide at his sides. “There are only birds and maybe a few squirrels prancing around. I don’t think they’ll be seeing much of anything.”
Once again, he’s not wrong, and I’m pretty sure we weren’t followed. But still . . . “It’s getting chilly. We should probably head back.”
He ducks in the water so that only his head is visible. “Don’t be such a worrywart. Live a little, Maisie. Get in here.”
