Abby covered herself with a towel and sat on one of the sun loungers and watched Luke glide through the water with such economy of movement and graceful skill it was a delight to watch. He tumble-turned at each end with supple agility, and even more delightful was seeing all of his powerfully sculpted muscles coming into play. The strong back and shoulders, the long and muscled legs, the toned arms, the clever hands that were placed at just the right angle to maximise propulsion through the water. He had the sort of skin that tanned rather than burned, and even in the short time they’d been out here in the pool his skin had darkened.
After a few laps, Luke propelled himself out of the water by his hands on the edge of the pool. Abby sucked in a breath as the muscles in his arms and on his abdomen contracted at the movement. He wasn’t the slightest bit uneasy about being naked, but then she wasn’t uncomfortable being naked with him either. Physically or emotionally, which was even more surprising. She had told him more about herself than she had told anyone. Was it because he was a good listener or was it because he too had suffered? Whatever the reason, it gave them a common ground on which to communicate.
Luke came over to where she was sitting and perched on the end of her sun lounger near her feet. He shook his head like a wet dog and sprayed water droplets all over her legs.
‘Hey—’ Abby laughed and gave him a playful shove ‘—get away from me.’
He leaned over her, anchoring his arms either side of her waist, his eyes dark and gleaming. ‘Are you sure that’s what you want?’
Abby touched his lean tanned jaw with her hand, his dark regrowth grazing her fingertips. She looked into the bottomless blue of his eyes and knew in that moment the last thing she ever wanted was to have him away from her.
She wanted him close.
As close as she could possibly be to him. Wasn’t she already closer to him than anyone? Her eyes fell away from his to study his mouth instead. She traced it with her fingertip, memorising it so she would never forget its sexy contours. ‘You have a nice mouth. Strong and firm and masculine and yet soft too.’
He captured her finger with his mouth, drawing on it like he had suckled on her nipples. ‘I’m rather fond of yours too,’ he said once he released her finger. ‘As you’ve probably noticed.’
Abby gave him a half smile. ‘Do you think when this week is over we will still be able to be friends?’
A frown flickered over his forehead. ‘I don’t see any reason why not.’
‘I know…but these things have a habit of becoming complicated…’
He pushed up her chin once more, locking her gaze with his penetrating one. ‘Are you having second thoughts?’
Abby made sure her choice of words wouldn’t betray her doubts. ‘No. It’s just it gets tricky running into exes at family gatherings and stuff. I mean, Ella is practically family to me and you too, so—’
‘It won’t be tricky, okay?’ He stood from the sun lounger so quickly it nearly overbalanced. One of his hands scraped his damp hair back with such force it left deep groove marks along his scalp. ‘I’ll deal with it. We’ll both deal with it like adults.’
‘I don’t see why you’re so upset,’ Abby said. ‘I’m just expressing concern about how we’re going to handle this going forward. We both have to be clear on how we’re going to handle it.’
‘Are you trying to ruin this holiday?’ He glared at her so heatedly it made the bright sunlight seem dim by comparison. ‘Is that what you’re doing? Because if so it’s working. We’ve only got a few days. Let’s not waste them by worrying how we’re going to look each other in the eye at Christmas and Easter, okay?’
Abby bit her lip. ‘I’m sorry…’
He let out a long slow breath and came back over to sit beside her. He took one of her hands and brought it up to his mouth, pressing his lips against her bent knuckles. ‘I’m sorry too.’ His eyes were soft again. ‘I shouldn’t have spoken so harshly. Forgive me.’
‘I shouldn’t have pressed your buttons.’
He tucked another strand of her hair back behind her ear. ‘Your nose is pink.’
Abby screwed up her face. ‘I hate you for being able to tan without tears. I go pink and then I peel and get more freckles. Go me.’
He sent his fingertip down the slope of her nose. ‘Your freckles are cute.’
She smiled and touched his mouth again with her fingertip. ‘Are you going to finish what you started before we had a swim?’
He got off the lounger and pulled her to her feet. ‘I’m all for a bit of alfresco sex but I don’t want you to get sunburnt or the rest of our week will be ruined. Let’s go inside.’