Page 99 of Rush

I shrug, glancing down at the water. “Peachy.”

“Andrew’s...Andrew,” he says after a moment. “It’s not an excuse. He’s just—kind of socially awkward. Says shit before he thinks it through.”

“I noticed.”

We both smile.

“It’s alright,” I say, voice light. “Next time I’ll just bury him.”

He lets out a quiet laugh, head tipping back. “Can I help?”

“Oh, absolutely. You bring the shovel.”

“Done.”

His eyes drag down my body and back up again.

The blush creeps up in my face, I swallow hard, offering him some fruit, but he shakes his head.

“This place is incredible,” he says, looking around at the pool room—large windows, columns framing the area, the roof is all windows.

“It is.”

His eyes rake over me again, heat rising between us like steam off the water.

“You gonna get in?” I ask, taking another sip from the bottle, legs still swaying in the pool.

“Depends,” he says, voice low, eyes not leaving mine. “Are you going to behave?”

“Absolutely not.”

He grins, leaning back on his hands. “Then I guess I should join you.”

I watch the way his body moves—calm, sure, the kind of quiet confidence that makes me ache with desire.

“But,” I add, holding up a finger, “just so we’re clear—hanging out alone like this is strictly against the rules.”

“Oh, is it?”

I nod solemnly. “Very much so. No hanging out. No emotional intimacy. No quiet moments in heated pools.”

“Hmm.” A slow, smug smile spreads across his face. “Funny, considering you were the one who broke theno kissingrule earlier.”

Dammit.

Because he’s right. He predicted I’d be the first to crack—how I hate that I practically handed him that win.

“So,” he says, tilting his head, that infuriating smile still in place. “Are we still behaving or?—”

“—Fine,” I cut in, turning toward him. “Sex is still on the menu—only—to make up for our earlier indiscretion.”

One brow arches. “That so?”

“Very much so,” I say dragging my foot slowly along his calf beneath the water.

Broderick exhales through his nose, amused. “Well then. I suppose I should make sure we remain law-abiding citizens.”

He inches closer.