Page 44 of Keep Vegas

She laughs. I don’t want to be laughed at right now.

“No. I work here, and you can keep them. That’s why they’re there. Mr. Ladd asked for us to watch out for you and escort you to his cabana. Is there anything you need?”

I had to choose between a Kind bar and a Slim Jim for lunch, and he’s sitting here in a cabana. I’m not angry about it; it’s just surreal. I want to shrink away. This was stupid of me. I should have told him I was out of town. Hell, I should have told him I flunked out of high school twelve years ago, but here we are. I exhale, look at the woman, and nod.

“Do you need a swimsuit or anything?”

“Nope, just the tampons.” I shake my head. I could go into that shop and get a million things, but that’s not what’s exciting about this man crossing the country to go swimming with me. She hands me a basket with a towel, a full spray can of sunscreen, another smaller face sunscreen cream, a visor, and what appears to be a pair of fancy flip-flops. Score.

The elevator opens, and she points to one of the six elaborate cabanas. There’s no one else at this stunning pool oasis. She places her hand on my elbow. “You have complete privacy. He booked out all the cabanas.” As one does on a Tuesday. I often book all the cubicles at the library, so I have complete privacy. I roll my eyes, but then I see him.

My breath catches, and I get a moment to ogle him. His chest is toned and tanned and so much broader and cut than when we were in high school. That’s a man’s chest. A very hot man. His leg muscles are ropey and thick, and his arm is casually draped over the top of his head as he lounges in front of one of the cabanas near the stunning pool. His blond hair is a little wild, and the ends are curling in directions of their choosing. He has let it grow out since Vegas. I can’t help but lick my lips.

I shed my dress and bag and tiptoe over. I get right behind him, and that view, damn. Even baggy swim trunks can’t hide what I know that notched V leads to under that royal blue patch of cloth. I take off running and leap into the pool in front of him. He sits up just in time to get a face full of my cannonball splash. As I go under the water, I hear him yell, “Fuck!”

When I come up, he’s dripping on the edge of the pool.

“I swear, I thought you were some obnoxious kid.” He jumps over me, landing a few feet away, and pulls me under the water. Then we both come up laughing.

“Hi.” He smiles, wrapping his arms around me and kissing me. I’m shocked and back away to tread water a bit.

“What was that about?”

“It’s all I’ve thought about for weeks. Those lips. You always look like you’ve eaten summer berries. And you’re that delicious.”

“I’m so fucking confused about why and how you’re here. And then you toss in a kiss. I have no clue what to do with that.”

I dive under and take off swimming to the other end of the pool. He chases me, and I smoke him. When he finally gets to me in the shallow end, he cages me to the wall, and when I try to escape by dipping down, he puts his feet on either side of my waist under the water. He’s bracing himself on the wall.

“Where are you going? Don’t you want me to answer those questions?”

I hold his biceps and try not to lick his chest. It’s just so pretty. I eventually look into his forever-deep blue eyes. Not only does he look turned on, but he also almost looks relieved.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, knowing he’s hiding something. It’s easy for me to spot because I’m the queen of that. There’s something off.

His lips curl slightly at the corners, and he pushes off the wall and into a backstroke. I chase him, catching him easily. I push down on his stomach, and he goes under. He pops back up laughing, and I swim to the sun ledge. I look up at him, and he’s wet and stunning as he walks through the shallow area over to me. He sits and we both lean back as he wraps his fingers around mine.

I turn to him and smile. “Why are you here? And it’s not just to see me. Out with it.”

“I wanted to have lunch with you, and I couldn’t wait for your ass to visit Boston. Because we all know how much you love Boston. Perhaps we could have gone out to the Vineyard.” I laugh, but I’m also wincing a bit.

He squeezes my hand, and the water whooshes between our fingers. “Seriously, it’s ok. Someday we’ll talk it through, but today I’m pointedly teasing you.”

“Deflecting, but I’ll let it go. Tell me later.”

He sighs and says, “I needed some laughs and lunch.”

A waiter finishes up in our cabana.

“Hungry?”

“Not that hungry.” I gesture to the full table.

“I ordered everything because I don’t know what you like anymore.”

He leaps out of the pool, and the water spills off the ripples of his back. I can barely contain myself, so I hold my own hand, so I don’t run over and rip into him. He grabs something and plunks down on the edge. I slip back into the pool and swim over. He wraps his legs around me, and pulls me toward him. I’m staring at a very lovely view.

“You’re looking at my dick, aren’t you?”