I open the back door a few minutes later and his head rises as those sexy brown eyes lock onto me. Those frustratingly sexy lips curl up into that grin I’m getting to know so well.
“Slide on in,” he says in that deep scratchy voice. “The water is perfect.”
I step out wearing my flip-flops and bathrobe, which is covering my bathing suit. It’s chilly out here, but it will be nice and warm when I get into the hot tub.
“Close your eyes.”
He chuckles. “Seriously?”
“Yes.”
His shoulder muscles ripple as his back straightens. “Wait. Are you naked under there?”
“You wish. Are you naked under there?”
My eyes drift over to the swirling water and I have to rip them away.
“You’re going to have to come in and find out for yourself.”
I glance back at the door, but we both know I’m not going back into the house. He’s got some kind of magical demonic pull on me and I want to see where this goes.
“You’re not going to close your eyes?”
He shakes his head. “And miss the show of my life? No, thank you.”
I let out a dramatic sigh and then open my bathrobe, revealing my blue bikini with white polka dots. I watch him as he watches me and a delicious thrill tingles through my body when I see his eyes widen and his frustrating grin turn into a look of awe. He’s silent and transfixed on the view as I peel the bathrobe off my body and rest it on the back of the Adirondack chair.
“Let me help you,” he says, jerking himself out of his daze as I stumble up the steps. He gets up and his dripping wet six-pack comes into view. I still can’t see if he’s wearing a bathing suit, but after seeing his mouthwatering body up close, I no longer care if he isn’t.
Those soft wet hands grab my arms and he helps me climb into the hot tub with my stupid swollen ankle.
That grin is back as he sinks back into the water once I’m sitting comfortably.
“What?” I ask in a flat voice.
He runs his hand through his dark hair as his eyes focus on me.
“That’s a hell of a bikini.”
He keeps grinning, but it’s not bothering me like it was yesterday. It’s growing on me. He’s growing on me. I kind of like it now.
“We’re brother and sister.”
“By law, not by blood.”
“You’re gross.”
“You’re sexy.”
I try to glare at him, but the anger in my eyes is gone. I can’t seem to force it out anymore.
And he’s got a point. If our parents weren’t in love and married, there would be nothing wrong with me sitting in a hot tub with this possibly naked, definitely not-fully dressed man.
“Have you always been a good girl?” he asks. There’s no hint of derision or ridicule in his tone, but it still bugs me though. Who cares if I get good grades and don’t get into trouble? What’s wrong with that?
“Have you always been a criminal?” I fire back.
He turns away from me and looks at the trees in the distance, a sadness descending on his face. I feel terrible.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay.”
We sit here in silence for a minute. I feel like I’ve ruined the whole moment and wish I could take it back.
“I wasn’t trying to steal a car,” he finally says.
My eyebrows raise. “Oh no?”
“No.” I wait in silence as he collects his thoughts. “I broke the window.”
“Okay…”
“It wasn’t like that. It was a boiling hot summer day and the assholes left a poor dog in the backseat. She was laying there, panting, and not looking good at all.”
My heart twists up in my chest when I see the honesty in his eyes.
“I opened the door to give her water and the security guard tackled me. I didn’t even see the fucker. He handcuffed me, called the cops, and I got arrested for grand theft auto.”
“That’s what happened?”
He nods sadly. “Yeah.”
“Was the dog okay?”
“I don’t know. Probably. I bet I did it for nothing.”
“Not for nothing,” I say as I put my hand on his. He looks at it and then looks at me. “You did it for the right reasons.”
He laughs. “Nobody cares.”
“I care.”
Our eyes connect and for once there’s no anger or tension or conflict. It’s tender and sweet and I want more of it.
“Did you tell your dad the truth?”
“He wouldn’t have believed me even if I did. He’s always thought the worst of me.”
“But Tanner… He should know the truth.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does!”
He sighs as he looks at me, probably thinking I’m so naive.
“I wish I could see the world like you do,” he says.
“What? With rose-colored glasses on?” I shake my head and look away.
“No,” he says fiercely. “That’s not what I meant at all. You think the best of people. You seem to always be willing to give them another chance.”