She had probably been there last year.
They went back to playing the game, but it was hard to focus until he was down by two points and she had twenty. Game point.
He concentrated on his serve, and hit it right into the net.
***
How a guy acted after losing to a girl said a lot about him. Tara could practically hear the dating advice from her dad in her head.
Thankfully, Luke was gracious about it. Not condescending, not defensive, not even embarrassed. He pulled her into a hug. “Good game.”
“You, too. Getting in a hot tub sounds almost too hot right now.”
“Walking outside will cure that.” He ducked his head. “But only if you still want to go.”
“I do.” Although, anything that meant they could spend time together sounded great to her. She stared into his eyes, wanting him to kiss her so badly she was tempted to make the first move herself. But she knew the awkwardness with Derek was still hanging over them. A tenseness appeared in Luke’s face when she brought him up. Jealousy was only natural. It was probably better to avoid talking about Derek at all again tonight.
She went to get her bag and ducked into the bathroom to change, slipping her t-shirt on over her swimsuit and adding a pair of cotton shorts before walking out. Jokes about playing ping pong in swimwear aside, her body was not something she liked to put on display. Luke had earned her trust in being able to be herself, personality quirks and all, but would he like all of her?
Self-consciousness had crept in after finally meeting Jody, who was model-gorgeous and poised. Tara hated that she’d let it get to her. Derek was not the first guy to choose someone else over her. But he was the first one to really set her confidence back.
Luke came down the hall in swim trunks and a long-sleeved tee carrying two fluffy towels. “Ready?”
She nodded.
They stood together at the back door and looked at one another, bracing themselves. Things were about to get really cold for the next minute.
He threw open the door, following her out before shutting it quickly behind him. Tara danced on her toes and shivered while he pulled off the hot tub cover and set it aside.
Lovely curls of steam wafted up from the aqua-colored water. She peeled off her t-shirt and shorts and climbed up, so relieved to get in that she forgot how painful it would be to stick her cold feet in the lava-like water. Youch. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting to adjust to the temperature before lowering the rest of herself in. And then she opened her eyes and looked back at Luke. He had totally been staring, but his eyes immediately locked on hers with a sorry/not sorry kind of look, and the fire she saw there warmed her up from her head to her toes. Total appreciation. No judgment.
He pulled off his shirt and hopped over the edge in one smooth motion, only making a little splash as he landed in the water.
“Are you insane?” she whispered. “Doesn’t that hurt?”
“I’m used to it.”
She crouched down, taking in the water inch by inch until it was incredibly relaxing bliss. Luke turned the jets on, creating bubbles that could only serve one purpose as far as she was concerned. She gathered them up into mountains, and then took a big handful and arranged it on top of Luke’s head, adding bubble sideburns for good measure.
“Tara,” he growled. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged, attempting to look innocent. If he only knew she was trying to keep her hands busy. They seemed to want to reach out and touch his sculpted shoulders of their own accord.
She picked up another handful of bubbles, but stilled as he stole her hands away, rubbing his thumbs over her palms. Her breathing picked up, especially when he lifted her fingers up to his mouth, running the tips of them across his lips. They leaned in at the same time, and then she was kissing him. A lot. Hot and cold melded together. New and old. As if she had always kissed him like this, and at the same time, had found something completely and wonderfully unexpected.
She wrapped her arms around him, and he pulled her closer, kissing her deeper and then running his lips across her jawline and back again. He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
“Should we be—?”
She pressed her lips to his to cut him off. If she thought too much, she’d agree with him. Right now, he was comfort and passion and possibility all wrapped in one. But after a few minutes, he took her shoulders and gently put some space between them after pressing one last kiss to the soft spot below her ear, his expression so full of amazement that she blushed and bit her lip.
“I swear, I did not lure you in here with any plans.”
She smiled. “You mentioned that.” Pushing off with her foot, she crossed to the other side. It was obvious he hated the distance as much as she did.
“Derek said you were…” He abruptly cut off.
“Derek said I was what?” There was the cold splash of water she needed.
