Exasperated with herself, she swam to her machine, preparing to hoist herself onto it. Before she could do so, she was pulled completely underwater. She emerged laughing and sputtering, slapping a handful of water directly into Aaron’s face. He grinned and tossed his head, slinging droplets from the ends of his dark hair, some of which landed on her cheeks.
“Sorry,” he said. “Couldn’t resist.”
“You couldn’t resist dunking me?”
His smile faded a little. His dark eyes locked with hers. “I couldn’t resist putting my hands on you.”
“Oh.” Had the water suddenly gotten hotter? She felt a definite wave of heat course through her and was almost surprised that steam didn’t rise from her skin. “Um—”
“No one’s watching,” he murmured, reaching out to draw her closer with his left arm around her waist. He braced his other arm on her watercraft to support them. “I’m not playing a part. So if you want me to back off, just give me a shove.”
She put a hand on his shoulder, but only to steady herself in the water. She had no intention of pushing him away. His skin was slick and wet beneath her palm. Her fingers flexed instinctively into the muscle beneath. “I have to kiss you now,” she said gravely, trying not to smile.
He grinned at her deliberate quote of him from last night. “Then I guess I have to let you.”
Because he was leaving it to her, she floated closer to him, wrapping her right arm around his neck and resting her other hand on the watercraft for balance. Their legs tangled beneath the water, his rough, hers smooth. Her bare tummy pressed against his. The thin fabric of her top was the only barrier between her breasts and his broad, only lightly furred chest, but even that suddenly felt intrusive.
She tilted her head a little and took a tasting nip at his mouth, licking lake water from his lower lip. It was a freshwater lake, so the slightly salty taste must be from him. She liked it. Her hand slipped into the wet hair at the back of his head as she kissed him more thoroughly. And now he was an active participant, his lips claiming hers, his tongue plunging into the depths of her mouth to tease and explore.
The embrace escalated rapidly from light and teasing to sizzling, hungry. Here was the passion that had been missing with Pete, she thought dazedly. The urgency. The bone-deep craving. She felt the hard ridge of his arousal against her abdomen and wondered if it was possible that Aaron could want her as badly. And if so, was it only because she was available? Or because he really did like her?
Be careful, her brother had warned. She would do well to listen to him for once. But she had never been the type to simply do what she was told, especially by her siblings.
Leaving only an inch between their mouths, Aaron gazed into her eyes and she wondered if her expression looked as dazzled as she felt. “I think the water’s starting to boil,” he murmured.
“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Brushing her lips against his one more time, she drew her arm from around his neck and swam backward a stroke, putting a little distance between them. “We should get these back to the marina.”
She was pleased by the reluctance in his nod. “I know.”
Though she didn’t need the assistance, he still gave her a boost onto her seat, letting his hand linger just a bit longer than necessary on her bare thigh. She wasn’t at all cool, but she shivered a little in response to the touch. After a moment, Aaron swam away, bracing his arms on his watercraft to give himself a boost upward. Water sluiced off his sleek back, and Shelby gave a little sigh she hoped he didn’t hear.
With the powerful machine between his legs, he glanced over his shoulder, grinned, then started his engine. “See you at the marina.”
He was skimming out of the cove before she could even respond.
* * *
Having put away the watercraft and chatted for a few minutes with C.J., Aaron and Shelby went into the store through the marina entrance. Swimming always made Aaron hungry, and he told Shelby he was in the mood for something unhealthy and indulgent, which seemed to amuse her. Actually, he was in the mood for another couple of hours alone with Shelby—preferably somewhere with a bed—but he told himself he’d have to make do with sugar.
They ended up back in the grill, which was quickly becoming one of Aaron’s favorite places.
“Looks like the two of you had a good time today,” Sarah commented, smiling at them from behind the counter.
Aaron chuckled. He and Shelby weren’t the only ones in the place wearing damp bathing suits beneath other clothes and glowing pink from sun and exercise, their hair mussed from wind-drying. “I had a great time. Your kids are just a bit competitive, aren’t they?”
Sarah groaned good-humoredly. “You can say that again. From the time Steven and Shelby could talk, they were challenging each other to various competitions and making bets on the outcome. Sometimes we had to step in, like when Steven once had to agree to do Shelby’s homework for a week, or when Shelby lost a bet that would have her writing her brother’s final essay for junior English class, but usually we just let them work it out for themselves.”
Aaron thought it best not to mention the bet he and Shelby had made last night. When he and Shelby went out for whatever activities she planned tomorrow, he’d leave it up to her to make any explanations to her family.
Motioning them onto stools at the counter, Sarah said, “I bet you’d like a snack. Water sports always work up an appetite.”
“You read my mind,” he told her.
“What can I get you? Pie? Ice cream?”
Knowing he would have to argue with her—as always—to take his money afterward, Aaron requested a slice of lemon meringue pie and an iced tea. Tart, cold pie sounded delicious after being out in the sun.
“Shelby?” her mother asked.