“Christmas?”
“No one does Christmas like Vegas,” she says. “My favorite tradition was going to The Strip and walking through the casinos when the decorations were set up for my birthday. It felt magical.”
“You’re birthday’s around Christmas?”
“The week before,” she tells me, then turns her attention to the windshield as I pull to a stop at the curb of one of the biggest houses on the block. Pumpkins line the front steps and cornstalks are tied to the bottom rails. “Where are we?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, but I see a pool.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “Are you crazy?”
I grin. “Consider it an appetizer for your days of bungee jumping.”
“What part? The time I’ll be spending in a six-by-eight cell or the fountain pen tattoo I’ll be forced to get?”
My laughter belts out of me as I open my door and hop out.
“Nolan!” she hisses, sliding out of the passenger seat, ducking as though it will prevent her from being seen. “This is a terrible idea.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. If you want to celebrate, let’s go do something normal. Find one of those millions of Halloween parties, chug a beer, get a cake…”
“Normal is boring.” I turn to the house. “Look. All the lights are off, and no cars are in the driveway. Worst case scenario, they’re asleep, best case, they’re not even home.”
Hadley’s gaze shifts to each darkened window. “What are we even going to do? I don’t have my bathing suit.”
I raise my eyebrows with a silent dare and continue to the wrought iron fence, holding the gate open as Hadley silently debates whether to follow.
“What if the neighbors call the cops?”
I point to the wall of shrubs that block the view. “They won’t be able to see us, and if they do, how will they know we don’t belong here?” I stop at a lounge chair, and tug off my tee, dropping it to the chair, then kick off my shoes.
Hadley swings her gaze from the pool to me. “You’re serious?”
“Come on, Cutlass. Let’s live a little and celebrate your win.”
She glances back at the water, illuminated to make it the same cerulean shade of blue as her eyes.
“How do we even know if it’s treated? Do you know how much bacteria lives in sitting water?”
“Cutlass…” I taunt, releasing my belt, and then the button of my shorts. When I glance up, Hadley’s staring at me, her expression torn between so many emotions it’s difficult to read any of them. I drop my shorts to reveal my boxer briefs and set them on the lounge chair. Her gaze lowers, taking all of me in with one long stare.
“I showed you mine, now you show me yours.”
She blows out a laugh. “Is that how all your casual dates start? How could anyone resist?”
“Lucky for you, no one’s forcing you to resist me.”
Her gaze slips to my chest. I wish I were closer to see what reaction follows, if her pupils dilate or her heart rate is increasing. She’s so poised, I can’t tell a damn thing from here.
Hadley turns to the chair nearest her and toes off her shoes, then grabs the hem of her black shirt in both hands and pulls it off, revealing a light pink bra. The sight of her has my cock stirring and my heart racing. She unbuttons her jeans next, and every drop of blood seems to rush south, desire my only thought. She tugs them down, revealing bright red underwear, covered in little white hearts.
“Did you wear those with me in mind?”
She scoffs. “Did you not hear me say the first three times that I didn’t think you were coming tonight?”
“Selective hearing is a gift.” I jump backward then, turning in a backward somersault before landing in the water. The pool is heated to feel like a bath. I remain underwater, swimming nearly the full length of the pool that takes me to the edge beside Hadley. When I surface, she’s staring at me.