Chasing Red (Chasing Red 1)

“So what will it be?”

“If you don’t get my jeans right now, I will… I will…” I bit my lip, trying to think of a clever threat. But it was impossible to use my brain cells when I was almost naked, and Caleb Lockhart was looking at me like he wanted to eat me in one bite. “Poison your orange juice!” I finished lamely.

He laughed. I froze in horror as his hands drifted under the water.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“You’re going to owe me for this one, Red.” His hands resurfaced, and he handed me his dripping boxers.

“Are you freaking kidding me? You’re not going up there naked, are you?”

He laughed harder.

“I’m serious!”

“It’s not your lucky night, Red. I wore boxers and briefs today. You know, for support.” He winked. “Usually it’s just boxers. That’s for future reference.”

I exhaled loudly as I grabbed the boxers from him and tried tugging them on, but I discovered it wasn’t easy to put on clothing underwater. Caleb stared at me with a foolish grin, enjoying the show.

I felt so giddy. All the things that I’d done tonight, what I had let myself be tonight… I’d never done anything so reckless. I’d never had so much fun in my entire life.

“Hungry?” he asked.

I nodded as we both got out of the water. He playfully pulled a lock of my hair as we climbed up to the bridge again. He was just wearing briefs, but he walked with confidence, comfortable in his own skin. I gulped as I caught sight of his thick, muscled legs.

“They’re grilling hamburgers on the other side of the bridge. Wanna get some?”

I nodded again.

He grinned. “Great. Give me a minute, will you?”

He jogged away, and when he came back, he handed me his dress shirt. I was going to ask why he didn’t just grab my clothes, but the way he looked at me made me close my mouth.

“Don’t want you getting cold,” he murmured, his voice rough as he watched me put on his dress shirt.

I blushed, feeling self-conscious.

“It needs something,” he whispered.

My breath caught as he stepped closer, his eyes lo

cked on mine. Slowly, his hand reached for the collar around my neck, and when his finger brushed my skin, I shivered.

“I need to button this,” he explained softly.

He didn’t take his gaze off mine as he held the sides of his shirt together and leisurely closed the top button.

“And this.” He continued to speak softly, reaching for the second button.

My head swam. What the hell was he doing to me? I bit my lip and stepped back.

“I can do it,” I breathed.

His smile was wolfish. “Sure, Red.”

After I’d finished buttoning the shirt, Caleb pulled me to the barbecue site, refusing to let me change into my jeans.

I didn’t mind a crowd, but I’d rather not socialize unless I had to. Trouble came when I mixed with people, and I didn’t need trouble in my life, especially now.