She exited the elevator and walked along the covered path toward the closest section of pools. A large man stepped in her path. Avalyn skidded to a halt to avoid running into him, then made the mistake of looking past the muscular body to the man’s face. Tanned skin, dark hair, deep brown eyes, the perfectly trimmed facial hair, and a permanent smirk on those intriguing lips. Bridger Hawk. Her heart rate picked up without her permission.
His dark eyes lit up, sparkling at her. “Ava Baby!” He wrapped his lean arms around her and lifted her off the ground, squeezing her tight against his bare chest in one of his famous bear hugs. She’d had her share of these hugs since childhood, but she could never stop her body from reacting. Her body was trembling and warm all over. She was an accomplished, self-made woman. Why did she have to react like a teenager every time she saw this beautiful man?
“Bridger,” she sort of moaned out. No! Oh, no. She couldn’t reveal how much he affected her; he’d laugh himself to sleep at night. He was a world-renowned extreme athlete who took nothing seriously, and she was a world-renowned philanthropist, author, and speaker. They had nothing in common, and she needed to stay far away from him.
He set her on her feet but kept her tight in his embrace. Avalyn’s hands went to his chest to steady herself. Big mistake. The smooth skin and hard muscle there made her stomach fill with heat and desire that she had to squelch … and quick. She’d allowed him to kiss her once in high school. The beautiful connection had messed with her mind for years, especially since he’d kissed Kelly Turner the next day at lunch in front of the entire school and broken Avalyn’s heart. She couldn’t go back to those immature and stupid longings. She was way past all of that, way past Bridger Hawk. She just needed her heart to catch up with her brain.
He stared down at her with that trademark smirk on his lips. “Ava. I hoped you’d be here.”
“Why?” What was wrong with her? Why was she reduced to these one-word answers? She needed to demand he release her, and she needed to take her hands off his chest pronto. She felt like she was in a cloud with him staring at her like she was his prize for winning the international surf competition.
Bridger simply smiled, bowed his head, and claimed her lips with his. Avalyn’s body shoved her logical mind to the side as those perfect lips she’d had dream after dream about worked their brain-deceiving magic on her. She stood on tiptoes and pressed herself tighter against him, her hands sliding up his chest and around his neck. She wanted him closer, she wanted him to never stop kissing her, she wanted him …
No! This was Bridger Hawk. Heartbreaker extraordinaire. The world expert on claiming hearts and then shattering them.
Avalyn yanked herself away from him. Bridger unfortunately didn’t release his grip on her waist, and instead of his trademark smirk, he was pulling in quick breaths and staring at her like his mind was as cloudy as hers was.
“Avalyn,” he murmured, his gaze full of wonder and desire. Then he pulled her in again, and heaven help her, she didn’t put up an ounce of resistance. Truth be known, she urged him closer. His mouth was full and warm and his muscular frame surrounded her. She couldn’t escape, and she didn’t want to. The kiss took on a life of its own, and Avalyn had no choice but to surrender to the desire she’d always had to be in Bridger’s arms, to kiss him, to know she was the only woman in the world for him.
No! She wasn’t the one for him. She was one of thousands of women he kissed while thousands more waited for their chance to have the superstar give them one glance, smile, or touch.
She wrenched her mouth free and slapped him hard across the jaw.
Bridger’s eyes widened and he finally released her. They were both breathing heavily as they stood in the shaded walkway and stared at each other.
“Hi, Ava Baby,” he murmured as if they’d just run into each other. His eyes slid over her floral one-piece swimsuit that was underneath her lacy cover-up. “You look … amazing.”
“What are you doing?” she demanded, folding her arms across her chest. He acted like she hadn’t even slapped him. Like they hadn’t even kissed. Dang him! Didn’t those kisses mean anything to him? She knew they didn’t, and the pain deepened. “You don’t just kiss someone hello like that.”
“I’ve been dreaming of doing that for years.” His smirk reappeared briefly, and then his eyes went soft and warm as they studied hers. “I just had no idea it would feel like that. Just like in high school … only …” His voice trailed off.
“Only what?”Be strong. He’s a player. He’s not your type. He’ll break your heart all over again. Oh, have mercy. Why does he have to look at me like that?
Bridger took a step closer, his large form overshadowing her. She glanced up to meet his gaze so she wouldn’t focus on his beautifully formed chest. “Your kiss is like heaven,” he murmured. He reached up and cupped her cheek with his palm, leaning down like he was going to kiss her again.
Avalyn’s heart was thumping so high and fast she could hardly breathe, let alone speak. She had to be strong, though, or she would regret it forever. Bridger Hawk was not the man for her, no way, no how. “Do you want me to slap you again?”
The smolder in his dark eyes made her knees gooey. “For sure, if it means I can kiss you first.”
Avalyn planted her hands on his firm chest and pushed hard. “Stop with your games, Bridger. I’m not a teenager anymore, and I’m not your hoochie of the week.”
Bridger straightened and released her face. His brow furrowed. “So you do remember kissing me before you left for college?”
Avalyn’s face heated up again. That kiss had been almost as good as the ones he’d just given her, but the mature man in front of her was much more irresistible than the teenage tease had been. Her eyes narrowed and she planted her hands on her hips. “So why was this kiss like heaven and the other one wasn’t?”
Bridger grinned like he’d just won the X Games. “They were both like heaven. It’s just been so many years I’d forgotten how heavenly you are, love. Can you help me remember again?” He moved in for more. The nerve of this man!
Avalyn backed away until she ran into the building. “No.” Still, between him saying her kiss was like heaven and her easily remembering how his kiss had lit her up from the inside out, she wanted to throw herself into his arms again. What was wrong with her? She was a strong, driven woman. The men she dated were hardworking, well-known philanthropists like her who took life seriously and lived to help others. Bridger was a playboy who cared about nothing but his next thrill.
“No?” He arched an eyebrow as he tracked her movements like a panther. When he had her cornered against the wall, he planted his hands on either side of her head and leaned closer and closer. His breath brushed her cheek, and Avalyn quivered. Maybe just one more kiss, and then she’d tell him off and stay far away from him.
She glanced up at those well-formed lips and found herself arching up to meet him. “No!” she yelled, pushing at his bulging chest muscles yet again. “I am done kissing you, Bridger Hawk.”
He blew out a breath and smiled. “Ah, well. You can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“That’s what you think!” She ducked under his arm and then pivoted to face him.
He slowly straightened and smirked at her again. His beautiful body was on fine display in nothing but a gray swimsuit. She supposed he had to be in good shape to excel at so many different sports like he did. Not that she watched his YouTube channel fanatically or something. She watched a video here and there, but once a week was all she allowed herself. Okay, that was a lie. It was one a day, and she only allowed herself five minutes of viewing Bridger time, like savoring a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate after a hard day.