The way his navy running shorts sat high on his thick thighs was practically obscene. I’d been making a conscious effort not to ogle them from the moment I stumbled out of the cottage door this morning, shoving a rarely used sunhat onto Teddy’s head, and found him leaning against the bonnet of Heather’s idling car.
My own thighs tightened as I stared at them now.
It shouldn’t be legal to parade around in public like that.
“You hate sunbathing,” he countered confidently, passing the paddle he wielded from one hand to the other. Like he knewexactlywhat I liked.
I couldn’t put my finger on it, but he seemed different today. More determined, maybe . . . and that was saying something for Alistair. “We’d both be bored out of our minds in ten minutes flat.”
“I guess we’ll never know,” I replied, hating that he was right.
At least sunbathing didn’t come with an almost guaranteed threat to life.
He laughed. “Tell you what, Lang. I’ll cut you a deal. Give me ten minutes out on the water, and if you’re having a bad time, we’ll do whatever you want for the rest of the day.”
“Whatever I want?” I considered the kayak resting on the pebbled shoreline.Could I do it?
“Anything.” He drew the word out just enough to make my cheeks burn, averydifferent scenario shooting through my mind.
I hadn’t yet mentioned the detail about Heather taking Teddy overnight, afraid he might think I was suggesting he spend the night. Afraid he wouldn’t think anything at all.
Alistair read my indecision for something else entirely. He dropped the paddle in the sand and stepped closer. “Tell me what you’re afraid of.”
“That I’ll drown and leave Teddy parentless.”
“That’s what the life jacket is for.”
“What if I get swept out to sea?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll follow you. I’m not letting anything happen to you.” I didn’t think he meant it to sound romantic, but it did. “We won’t even leave the bay; the current isn’t strong here.” He bent his knees and pushed his sunglasses on his head, eyes encouraging. “Come on, Lang. Just ten minutes.”
I bit my lip, glancing at the kayak again. The red boat he’d rented from a tour company could seat two in very close quarters. I tried to imagine myself tucked between Alistair’s thighs, fingers tracing through the water as he manoeuvred us through the waves. It held a certain appeal.
“Bloody hell,” I muttered. “Okay.”
“Yes!” He clapped his hands together. The sight of him grinning like a schoolboy made me far too giddy. “First, you have to lose the dress.”
The good vibes screeched to a halt. “What? Why?”
“It’ll get soaked.”
“But I’m only wearing a bikini.” I felt my jaw unhinge. “You’ll see me.”
Of course he’s going to see you. I’d known as much when I’d dug out the red two-piece I’d worn only one other time, then given in to the urge to adhere to modern beauty standards and shaved and lotioned every inch of my body.
“I certainly hope so.” I don’t know whether it was hisstatement or the wink he sent me right before he tugged his T-shirt over his head that made my brain short-circuit more than usual.
It wasn’t my first time seeing Alistair shirtless, but it felt like it as my eyes tracked over every inch of smooth, pale skin.
“Isla.”
“Hmm?” He really was unfairly attractive.
“Lose the dress, honey.” There was no humour in his voice. It had me spinning on the spot, facing the grassy dunes.
“I need help with the zip.” A lie. But I needed another minute. Needed not to be facing him when his eyes dragged over my nearly bare body for the first time.
It was ridiculous given all we’d done.
