Always With You (The Connor Family 6)

I slid off the chair at the same time he moved in closer to me, resting his palm on my waist, bringing his mouth to my ear.

“There will be plenty of occasions for you to wear what I bought for you, Hailey. I’ll make sure of that.”

My thighs felt like spaghetti as I stepped away from him, grabbing my purse.

On a shaky breath, I asked, “Where can I change?”

“There’s a bathroom at the end of the corridor. Or you can have my bedroom if you prefer.”

“Bathroom will do, thank you.”

“There’s a robe for you on the sink.”

I darted toward the bathroom, clutching my bag as if it was a lifeline. Once I was alone inside, I locked the door, then leaned against it, drawing deep breaths. Why had I not kept the bikini on after trying it on at home? Would have saved me the hassle of changing.

I could leave. I could just walk back out and tell him I’d changed my mind. I should do it. Reid Davenport was everything I didn’t want in a man. Too broody, too withdrawn... too everything. But under that tough exterior was a man I was dying to get to know better. This was precisely why I should leave. Getting closer wasn’t a good idea, no matter how much I wanted to.

Still, I slipped on my bikini and the robe Reid had said was mine. When it came to him, I couldn’t heed my own advice.

I was fretting over nothing. We were just going to swim in the panoramic pool along with other hotel guests. I was dying to see the view. And besides, it was only seven o’clock. The pool closed at ten. We’d have plenty of buffer. I wouldn’t even know he was there.

***

When I returned to the bar, I saw that Reid was also wearing a robe. Thank heavens it was fastened, because I did not want a prime view of his six-pack again while we were still alone. His gaze perused me shamelessly, and I felt utterly naked.

“Ready?” he asked. I nodded. How could I be so on edge already?

Unsurprisingly, his elevator had direct access to the pool floor. What was surprising was that the pool area was deserted.

“Where’s everyone else?” I inquired. Reid smiled slowly.

“Asked the staff to close access earlier tonight.”

I swallowed, unable to meet his eyes, but I felt his gaze on me. When he came closer, my entire body was on high alert.

“Thought you could enjoy the view better this way.”

The view. I would focus on the view. I glanced outside the glass window, at the sprawling hills of LA. The sky was that orange-blue hue just before sunset. It was my favorite time of the day.

“You didn’t have to do this. I doubt even a million people could keep me from enjoying everything.”

I felt him step right behind me, then his hot breath on the shell of my ear as he spoke.

“I did tell you I want you all to myself.”

“Reid....”

Oh, God. I shuddered but went ahead and undid the cord of my robe. Reid helped me take it off, and his fingers touched my shoulders. I felt the contact deep in my belly. Oh, my. I’d been right. There was no surviving tonight intact. When I walked out of the hotel, I wouldn’t be the same.

I set my tote on one of the many sunbeds before entering the pool. The water was pleasantly cool, and I began swimming the breaststroke the second I heard Reid enter the pool too. Yeah, maybe this was just what I needed. Maybe a swim would help me relieve the tension in my muscles, clear my head.

Ten minutes later, I gave up on the idea.

I wasn’t a quitter, but I knew when to admit defeat. I felt Reid’s presence as if he was next to me the entire time. In between strokes, I’d glanced at him a few times. He was watching me intently. I swam toward him, into the small alcove just in front

of the window where you could enjoy water jets massaging your back.

“Done running away?” he asked in an amused tone.