Her eyes locked with his. “I can’t see anything else.”
“Good.” He leant down until his lips hovered just above hers. “That’s the way it should be.”
“You’re awfully arrogant at times.”
“I would bore you to death if I were any other way.”
Was he right? Did she crave the same kind of man her mother had always been attracted to? Somewhere deep down inside she’d always known she did, which was why she’d shied away from men in general. She hadn’t trusted her own judgment.
Could she now?
“I’m going to kiss you.”
He waited, watching her with searing patience. He was giving her plenty of time to pull away, but right now that was beyond her. She wanted him, wanted his kiss. She needed to know if the feelings inside her were a figment of her imagination, or if connecting to this man would truly be as soul-altering as her senses were telling her it would be.
Then he kissed her.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Thoroughly.
He didn’t demand, didn’t push for more. However, he still managed to take gentle possession of her mouth, imprinting his taste and the very essence of himself on her consciousness.
The almost soothing press of his lips against hers was not in the least aggressive and yet she felt completely, utterly claimed.
The expression in his eyes when he lifted his head said that as far as he was concerned, she had been.
“Are you ready to go swimming?”
The kiss had been so profound that the mundane question did not at first register. When it did, it also reminded her that they were not really alone.
For a woman who hated having her personal life in the spotlight, she’d certainly given the other partygoers an eyeful.
However, on closer inspection, she realized that at the place they were standing inside the building, hardly anyone could see them even though the door that led outside was made of clear glass. Ray with his annoying camera, seemed to be the only one even looking, the expression in his eyes smug.
Obviously he’d gotten a shot of the kiss. She wondered if that picture was going to make it into Danette’s scrapbook. Considering her friend’s sense of humor, it probably would.
The pool looked more inviting than ever. “Yes. I’m definitely ready to get cooled off.”
She realized the implication of her words as soon as Angelo’s low chuckle reached her ears. Annoying heat surged into her cheeks. She’d blushed more around this man than she had since taking her first modeling contract more than ten years ago as a gangly adolescent.
“Then shall we go?” Angelo asked, tugging her toward the deep part near where it flowed to the outside, obviously intending to jump in.
She pulled back. “I’d rather enter at the shallow end.”
He turned to look at her, his expression indecipherable. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I guess I’m the cautious sort, but I like to get used to the water a bit at a time.”
“That’s torturous.”
He was right, but she’d never been able to force herself just to jump into cold water.
Something shifted in his penetrating blue gaze.
That was all the warning she got before Angelo swept her up in his arms and tossed her in the pool.
Cold water shocked her system. She sank toward the bottom, legs and arms flailing. Tucking her legs in, she executed a neat roll and shot toward the surface. It wasn’t far, the pool was only six feet deep to begin with. She came to the surface gasping for air and ready to take an inch off his hide.
Impatiently brushing the water from her eyes, she looked around, treading water and ready to yell at him, but he wasn’t poolside anymore.
A sudden shower of cold droplets from behind her had her spinning around in the water. He was there, so darn tall, he could touch bottom and still keep most of his face above the water. He moved to her right, ending up not a foot from her in more shallow water. His expression was so relaxed and mischievous she couldn’t begin to hold on to her anger.
She didn’t think Angelo Gordon looked mischievous very often. Something spasmed in her heart that she was the one to bring out this side of him.
She sent a cascade of water directed at his head with the sweep of her hand. “You fiend.” But her heart wasn’t in it and the words came out sounding a lot more teasing than accusatory.
He grinned, not bothering to wipe the water from his face. “Feels good doesn’t it?”
“It would have felt better if I’d been able to get used to it before being dunked.”
He shook his head. “You would have wasted time playing in the shallows, torturing yourself with every small foray deeper into the pool.”