Hestood bypatientlyas she slipped off her shoes. She dug her toes into the sand and was surprised to find that it was still a bit warm from theday’s sun. With a laugh, she glanced at Mr. Claymoore—and then took off at a dead runtoward the water.
***
Ridge couldn’t do anything but stare.There were very few times in his life where he’d actually been struck dumb, but seeing that glorious smile on Isabella’s face, that pure unadulterated happinessas she rushed off toward the tide—needless to say, it was like nothing he’d ever witnessed before.
Andjust that quick, there was a tiny crack in his heart.
“Oh, it’s cold!”she squealed.
Ridgecouldn’t help but grin, something he seldom did these days with any true feeling. But the sight of her jumping around,waistdeep in the water was particularly humorous.Her joy was infectious. He just had to remember that danger could still be lurking around them, so hewould needto be cautious. “What did you expect?”he called out. “It’s nighttime.”
“Well, yes, but—”
She broke offas he tugged his shirt out of his trousers.
“What are you doing?”
Hetossed the garment over his head and let it drop to the sand, leaving him naked from the waist up. “I told you you’re not going anywhere without me. And that also goes for the North Sea.”
Whenshe spoke,it was a bit breathless,and he couldn’t help his grin from expanding.“I just thought that meant you would stay on shore!”
“Now what would be the enjoyment in that?”he drawled, but when hekicked off his boots andstarted onthe fastenings of his trousers, he heard her gasp.
“Surely this is highly…inappropriate!”
He kicked his trousers to the side.“If you don’t want me to dive in before you, then you better get going.”Wearingnothing more thanhis small clothes, he ran barefoot toward the water.
She squealed andthrew her arms out to disappearbeneath thewater.
Ridge expelled arustylaugh, and then filled his lungs with air and followed suit.As he broke the surface, andflung thewet hair out of his face, he looked for Isabella but she was nowhere to be found.
But thenhe felt something brush against his ankle.
Instantly, he went back under, but the source was already gone.
The next time he came up for air, she was treading water a respectable distanceawayfrom him. “Did I scare you?”
He laughed.“No.”
Her face fell. “Really?” But then she nodded. “Oh, yes, I remember. You don’t have any weaknesses, right?”
Ridge looked at her beautiful face and realized that when he’d told her that it was a complete lie. If he was honest with himself, he did have one weakness.
It washer.
Andif she, or Simon, or anyone else were to learn of it, it couldbecome deadly territory. For both of them.
In spite ofthis new revelation, he spoke a bit more curtly than he intended. “Play time is over.”He started to swim back to shore.
She groaned. “But we just got here!”
He turned back and said firmly, “I allowed you to go swimming. I never said how long it would be.It’s time to go.”
“Are you angry with me?Is that what this is about?”
“No,” he countered, growing restless with this argument. “It’s because every minute we spend out here in the open is dangerous.”
She scoffed at that. “You honestly believe that Simon is going to come running down the beach after us? If so, then you don’t know the viscount very well.”
He clenched his jaw. “He’s a criminalwanted for high treason. That’s all I need to know.”
“WhileI’m nothing more than the lure,” she snapped. “Yes, I remember.”She took a deep breath.“You know, Mr. Claymoore, you’re absolutely right. It is time to go, for Ino longerfeel like swimming anyway.”
