Page 38 of Slapshot Summer
Connected inflatable tents were splashed with colorful lights that gave the place a vibrant, funky vibe.When the music got to rocking, Josh took Lexi by the hand and immediately fell into an easy tempo with her.He spun her with a flourish, loving how she laughed.Lexi came into his arms gracefully, naturally, as if they’d been twirling and dipping together for years.Soon they were lost in a zone of their own, and Josh was vaguely aware of people forming a perimeter around them.All his attention was riveted on Lexi—on her smile, on her eyes twinkling with joy, on the way her soft curves felt in his arms.On how much he wanted to bend her back and kiss her breathless.
The song ended, and another one started up, the rhythm pumping in his veins.She didn’t hesitate and fell right into the dance with him.When this one came to an end, they collapsed against one another, laughing as their breaths came fast and ragged.A shadow moved toward them, and Josh looked over in time to see Neil Afton looming.Christ, the dude was popping up everywhere like a runaway game of Where’s Waldo?
The fine hairs along Josh’s neck stood on end.Shit, and here he’d thought he could avoid the jerk.He glanced at Lexi’s wide-eyed expression and tightened his hold on her.
“Neil,” Josh growled right before Lexi gave the asswipe a cheerful greeting that flooded Josh’s veins with jealousy.Was she still attracted to this douchebag?
“Hello, lovebirds.”Neil looked from Josh to Lexi, a smirk plastered on his face.Then his eyes moved over Lexi’s body, starting at her toes and stopping at her chest.The urge to punch him took hold inside Josh—yetanotheremotion he’d never felt before.
Instead of letting himself flatten the guy, he moved in front of Lexi to keep Neil from eye-fucking his girl.
His.
“What’s up, Afton?Where’s your date?”
“My … who?”Awareness dawned, and he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at yetanotherwoman.“Getting a drink.I just wanted to say hi and see how you’re doing.Lexi, maybe you’ll dance with me later?”
No.Fucking.Way.
Lexi opened her mouth to speak, but Josh cut her off.“We were just leaving.”He glanced at Lexi without an iota of apology for his caveman self.“Ready, baby?”
Her fluster showed in her pink cheeks.“Um, I-I guess.”
“Later,” he called over his shoulder as he led her away from Neil, his arm cinched possessively around her waist.Where he was taking her, he had no idea.The synapses in his brain were rapid-firing, shutting down logic and putting him in shaky autopilot mode.
They wandered back to the hotel, small-talking about shit he couldn’t remember.At least none of the subjects was Neil.Eventually, they wound up by the infinity pool.
“Oh, it’s pretty out here,” Lexi gushed.She headed for a lounge chair, and he followed.
The pool deck was quiet, with a few other couples sprinkled around but far enough away to be out of earshot.The water was a ghostly blue, made that way by the underwater lights.Its surface rippled with the same breeze that ruffled the palms overhead.
The peaceful scene defused the adrenaline coursing through him, and he breathed a sigh of relief that she didn’t seem to have noticed his sudden transformation into the Hulk.
Lexi barked a laugh that caught him by surprise.
“What?”he asked, afraid she was going to poke fun at his caveman act.
“Neil Afton goes through women like I go through cotton puffs.”
His tension ebbed further.“You go through a lot of cotton puffs?”
“Actually, he might have me beat,” she chortled.“ThankGodyou kissed me last night and saved me from being another throwaway ornament on his arm.”
Pride tugged up the corners of Josh’s mouth, broadening it into a ridiculous grin.“Happy to oblige, babe.”
Lexi kicked off her sandals, settled back in the lounger, and inhaled.“It smells so good out here.”The air was heavy with a flowery fragrance—star jasmine or something equally pleasant.
The unsettling thought occurred that Neil might show up yet again, so Josh focused on the people moving about.No Neil, thank fuck.Didn’t mean he wouldn’t turn up, though.“Want to go for a walk on the beach?”
Lexi shook her head side to side.“Not right now.I want to relax after dancing.”
He stretched out on the chair beside her.“You’re a terrific dancer—really easy to lead.”
Her cheeks were already pink from the exertion, but the color deepened.“Thank you.I think we already established that it’s your dancing skills that take mine up a notch.”She canted her head toward him, her eyes smoldering pools.“You have other skills I really enjoy too.”
That shyness he was getting good at pegging rose up and overshadowed the lust, and she cast her eyes down, suddenly fascinated by the hem of her dress.
His dick twitched.“I think that’s becauseyourskills kick mine up a notch.”He reached over and twined his fingers with hers.We’re good together.
