I smirked. “Robbing a house in broad daylight without my ski mask isn’t really my style.”
He laughed, that same laugh I adored so much.
“Maybe you’d better hide the family jewels if you let me stay,” I said, then immediately regretted it, knowing he’d turn it into a double-entendre.
“Are you sure you want me to?” he said teasingly, proving me right, then let out a long chuckle.
“Very tempting,” I said. “Anyway, I’m sure you want to know why I’m here.”
He motioned me inside from the chilly wind. “I already do. You wanna catch up. C’mon in. We’ll order a pizza and take a walk down Memory Lane.”
“I’d love too. And maybe we could look at some old photo albums. Just don’t pull out the pics from prom!”
“But I loved your poofy hair.”
I playfully slapped him. “No, you didn’t. I swear I’ll never let another cosmetology student ever work on my hair again! But I didn’t have a dime to my name and my parents were broke, and the car broke down.”
“I thought you looked cute, and that dress, it was smoking hot. Too bad you wasted it on Brad Safters.”
“Yeah, that jerk cheated on me.”
“I regret not taking you,” he said.
“It wasn’t your fault that you were infatuated with a cheerleader. So how is good old Shelly these days?”
“She lives in Michigan with her husband and two kids. Works at the local grocery store and is very happy.”
“I’m happy for her.” I glanced around. “Um, I noticed you have an indoor pool.”
“Did you see it during your attempted burglary?” he said and crossed his perfectly muscular arms over his chest, arms I dreamed about wrapping me up all night long.
I blushed and cleared my throat, looking away from his body. “Yes, I did.”
“And you wanted to come over for a swim?”
“Yes, with my dog. I hope we’re not imposing.”
He watched me closely. “Are you serious right now, or are you just trying to get me to scratch you off my list of potential brides?”
“Would playing crazy get me off your list?”
“Not a chance. Just so you know, you’re still hovering at number one, and this just makes you more adorable.”
“I’m begging for a swim.”
“With your dog? I don’t really want animals in the pool.”
I bit my lip hard. “I’m wearing a sexy gold bikini under my clothes. I’m not sure it can hold all my cleavage. I should’ve gotten a size bigger,” I tempted. “I really shouldn’t be wearing such a skimpy thing. It might not be appropriate, and I’d hate to have a wardrobe malfunction, but—”
A glimmer of lust spread across his face. “You and your pup can swim here all day if you want.”
I knew he’d soon see reason. “Thanks, Charlie.”
“You can put the dog down if you want. I don’t mind if he runs around.”
“He can’t walk.”
“Huh?”