Stroke of Luck

She turned to the pool again and walked to the lounge chair. Austin dove into the water, and she couldn’t help admiring the smooth line of his body as he broke the water’s surface.

His head popped back up, and he shook it, then sent her a brilliant smile.

“Are you coming in?”

“Yes, of course,” she said hesitantly.

The glittering blue water called to her. She reached for the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it over her head. As soon as she tossed it aside and saw Austin’s heated gaze on her body, she remembered she wore only a bra and panties.

Damn, wearing the T-shirt for modesty had been a really bad idea. It was one thing walking out here in the black bra and panties, because she could have convinced herself it was the same as a bathing suit, but taking off her shirt to reveal her lingerie made her feel like she was stripping in front of him.

Austin pushed himself up on the side of the pool as she walked to the diving board. His muscular torso glistening with droplets of water was a sight to behold.

She dove in and glided through the water. She loved the feel of it sluicing along her body. When her head broke the surface, she saw Austin watching her with a smile.

She swam from one end of the free-form pool to the other several times, wanting to get some exercise. The longest path took her inside the penthouse. When she finally popped her head up, she realized Austin had gone inside and was sitting on the pool’s edge by the stone waterfall.

“You want something to drink?” he asked.

There was a bar near the waterfall.

“Sure, a lemonade would be nice.” She swam to the steps and walked up to the terra-cotta-tiled floor.

“Be careful, it’s—”

Before Austin could finish his sentence, April’s foot slipped out from under her. Austin lurched forward and caught her before she fell face-first onto the hard tile floor. She found herself firmly in his arms, her body pressed tightly to his.

She sucked in a breath and gazed into his dark teal eyes.

“Slippery,” he finished.

She couldn’t think straight with her breasts crushed tightly to his strong, hard chest, his muscular arms around her. And that amazing smile of his, so full of warmth that it took her breath away.

“What?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“I was saying it’s slippery.” His words came out low and husky.

The moment seemed to hang between them as though they were suspended in time. She was intensely aware of their bare skin touching, his hot and hard. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a powerful longing to feel his lips on hers, to sink into his embrace and give herself to him completely, surged through her. The need threatened to overwhelm her.

And worse, she could see the same need reflected in his glowing eyes.

The only time she’d ever felt anything like this before was with Quinn.

“What the hell are you two doing?”

At the sound of Quinn’s voice, she tried to jerk back, but Austin’s arm around her waist held her firmly, though she did lose her footing on the slippery tile and dropped against him again.

“If you don’t watch it, you’ll wind up flat on your back,” Austin said.

“Really?” Quinn said in an even voice. “Are you propositioning her?”

“Not at all,” Austin replied.

He turned April until she was pressed against his side, his arm around her, and guided her to a teak table, then eased her into one of the chairs around it.

“April slipped on the wet tiles when she stepped out of the pool. I caught her before she fell.” He turned to April. “Did you hurt your ankle?”

“No, I’m fine.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Quinn, not wanting to see the disapproval in his eyes. Knowing he thought she was making a move on his friend.