Page 24 of Blame it on the Kiss
“Thanks.” She swayed like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to stay or go. “See you tomorrow.”
“You going back to the house?” Jesus. His mouth had entirely disconnected from his brain.
“Where else would I go?”
He shrugged. If he opened his mouth again who knew what would come out. Honor made him completely forget himself.
She studied him like she held a magnifying glass up to his head and was seconds away from discovering every detail inside his gray matter. A smile bloomed across her face. Yep. Seconds. “You’re wondering if I’m going to meet Aiden.”
“The guy’s had more hookups than a global satellite.”
Honor cracked up. “Sounds like he’d be perfect then. The last thing I want is a relationship.”
“It is?” he asked surprised.
Further down the patio a couple of teenage boys joked around and tossed a football across the pool, running and bouncing around the perimeter.
“Payton wanted the white picket fence. I don’t. But just so you know,” she leaned closer, “I told Aiden no thanks. Not because I wasn’t tempted, but because…”
Somehow Bryce had moved closer, too, and little space separated him from Honor under lights nestled in the palm trees around them.
“Because?”
“Because the girls are waiting for me.” She gazed at the glass surface of the pool. “Besides, he’s staying in town for a few extra days so there’s still time to make something happen. If I want.”
In his periphery, Bryce noticed one of the teenage boys had gotten closer to where he stood. Two seconds later, the football came flying, its trajectory in perfect line with Honor’s unsuspecting face.
“Look out!” Unthinking, Bryce pushed Honor out of harm’s way. And right into the swimming pool.
She cursed and landed in the water with a large splash.
Bryce shot his arm out and caught the football with one hand. The kid across the pool shouted “sorry” while the other one apologized more than once as he retrieved the ball from Bryce.
Honor broke the surface of the water, reached for the edge, and scowled up at him. “What was that?” she demanded.
“Sorry, lady,” the kid said. “My friend threw the football at you by mistake.”
Her attention moved to the teen. “Oh. I didn’t …” she trailed off and looked back at Bryce. “It’s okay.”
Bryce kept his eyes on Honor’s and knelt, vaguely aware of the boy running off. “How’s the water?”
“Tango keeps it heated so it’s not bad.”
“I’m sorry. Probably should have intercepted instead of shoved.” Damn, she looked pretty wet. His thoughts raced back to them getting caught in the sprinklers and how he’d wanted to kiss her.
“Quick thinking isn’t one of your virtues, huh?”
Back to the teasing and he liked it. “Guess not.” At least not where she was concerned. She tossed every thread of logic he possessed into complete disarray.
“Help me out?” She gave him her hand.
He took it and catching him off guard, she pulled him right into the water, head over feet. Her laughter rang in his ear as he went under.
“Oops,” she said when he popped to the surface. Her grin was about the best shape of happy he’d ever had the pleasure of being close to. “You really should have seen that coming.”
“Goes back to that quick thinking thing.” He made like he was swimming toward the concrete edge, but instead grabbed her by the waist and tugged her under.
Then he kicked away from her, treading water in the middle of the deep end. His clothes made it a little tougher than usual to keep afloat, but he managed. Honor sputtered and flailed when she came up for air. She sent him a man-eating glare, said “This is war,” and swam straight for him.
