She appreciated him lightening the moment. With a grin, she mimicked him, taking off her tee shirt, leaving herself wearing nothing but the skimpy bikini.
“Jesus,” he muttered and stepped toward her, hooking an arm around her waist and pulling her to him. “I can’t keep my hands off you.” He splayed his hands around her waist and settled her between his thighs, his cock pressing directly against her sex.
“What happened to enjoying the pool and the sun?” she asked playfully, writhing against him, letting him know she was as aroused as he was.
“I’m pretty sure we’re both enjoying.”
She tipped her head back. “We are. But I think we should get back to getting to know each other. She eased out of his grasp and settled onto a towel, stretching that sexy body out on the lounger.
She was killing him but he’d go along for now. “How old were you when you started singing?” he asked.
“Six in a talent show. Then I got the lead in every musical afterwards. The kids hated me. Why did you decide to open a nightclub?”
“Jason’s cousin Gabe had connections. He also had the funds to lend us, and everything just fell into place.” He straddled the other chair and leaned back, the sun baking on his face. “Tell me about your mom. You’re close?”
She nodded. “Mom’s a lawyer. She has her own small legal practice, but she likes taking cases for the underprivileged, people who can’t afford good representation.”
He drew a deep breath and decided to dive in. He couldn’t ignore the elephant in the room that was Vic if he wanted a relationship with her. And he did. “Vic said on television that they’re estranged, too. Why?” A lot of parents would be in denial or stand by their child no matter what.
Her gaze shot to him in surprise. “Umm, Mom tried really hard when Vic was growing up. She divorced my father because he was such a bully, and she tried to deal with Vic, to discipline him, to rein him in. It never worked. And when he didn’t…” She broke off whatever she’d been about to say.
“Go on,” he said gruffly.
“When he didn’t show any remorse for what happened in college … she couldn’t stand by him. Neither of us could.”
He nodded in understanding. It said a lot about both Vivi and her mom. “Your father was alive back then.”
“Yeah. He refused to pay for a criminal lawyer. Mom said she’d do her best to find someone, and then Vic started defending his actions and Mom walked away. She couldn’t live with what he’d done or how he felt about it.” She sniffed, the subject clearly upsetting her, and she swiped at her eyes with the backs of her hands.
“Come here.”
She rose and stepped to his lounger, straddling it in front of him. “I just don’t understand why you think I’m worth dredging up all these memories. And I’m not someone with low self-esteem. I just come with so much related baggage. Related to you, I mean.”
“When my dad met my mom in college, he took one look at her and he knew she was the one for him. When Jason met Faith, same thing. Tanner, the hypocrite? Also the same. So I’ve seen too many examples for me to walk away from what I feel for you.” His heart thudded hard in his chest, emotion he couldn’t deny always a part of him when he was around this woman.
“I feel it, too, but I’m leaving, Landon. I can’t turn my back on my dream. And your business, family, partners, and friends are all here. I could end up opening for a big name overseas for months on end.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, releasing it.
He wanted to lean in and suck on that sensitive flesh, but first he needed her to listen. “I’m not going to worry now about September. I’m not going to deny myself two months with you because I’m worried about the end.” He wasn’t just risking heartbreak, he was guaranteeing it.
And he still couldn’t walk away.
Chapter Seven
After their serious talk, they grew quiet for a while and Vivi relaxed in the sun, refusing to dwell on anything sad or negative. Landon had brought here to have fun and enjoy his company, and that’s what she intended to do. Live in the moment.
And in this moment, she was sticky and sweaty and wanted to cool off. She’d already pulled her hair into a messy bun but she was hot. Rising to her feet, she walked to the pool steps, going in slowly until she realized the water was heated to the perfect temperature to let go and slide in. The water caressed her skin and felt deliciously good as she dipped all the way in up to her shoulders and sighed.