Page 15 of Diving In

I’m not sure how long I had been gawking, but by the time I finally brought myself down from the clouds, Cal had already walked past me and was headed straight for the aquarium’s entrance.

“Something catch your eye?” He winked, effectively mortifying me.

That wink sent a hungry feeling to the base of my stomach, and I instinctively pressed my legs together.

Simply looking at Cal had me feeling a little tense, but also extremely fucking aroused… I broke up with my boyfriend this morning, yet here I was, thinking about someone else. I couldn’t explain it, but even Cal’s penetrating gaze was like nothing I’d ever experienced with Ian. He didn’t have to say anything and I would’ve offered to drop to my knees.

Walking through the parking lot, I tried to guess which car Cal drove. I had pegged him as a truck guy, but the truck options were limited. There were a few old beaters and several souped-up ones with enormous wheels that were lifted way too far off the ground. Also known as the trucks that men bought when they were over-compensating for something else.

And trust me when I said that this man didn’t need to compensate foranything.His jeans shared all I needed to know.

“You worried?” he joked.

“Worried about what?” I looked over at him, unaware that he’d been watching me while I was lost in my thoughts.

He cocked his eyebrow. “You’ve been scanning this parking lot ever since we walked outside. You’re trying to guess which car is mine, aren’t you?”

There was no use in defending myself at this point, he’d clearly picked up on my antics. But damn, the way he was looking at me had me not giving two shits about his car. His expression teetered on the border of seduction—his eyes alluring and his smirk illuminating his perfect teeth.

“So which truck is yours?” I said, desperately trying to play it cool.

“Come on. Georgia James, are you serious? A truck?”

“Honestly, I just hoped it wasn’t a sports car.” I smirked.

He leaned his body up against the cherry red Porsche parked carelessly, the back tire offensively hugging the line. “You mean this one?”

My stomach sank, hoping it wasn’t this one. This coupe reeked of arrogance, and the disrespect represented by the parking job was atrocious.

“You’re fucking with me.”

“Am I?” He jingled the keys that were hidden in his pocket. Although I wasn’t even sure how he’d been able to store his keys in his pocket, let alone fit his hands in there, because those damn jeans were practically sewn on him.

The thought of what was hidden underneath sent shivers down my spine. Looking up, I caught his gaze as he watched me suck in my bottom lip.

Cal pressed the unlock button and I saw the headlights shine from behind him. I was mad I hadn’t guessed it myself.

A Jeep.

This wasn’t your normal Jeep though. As we walked closer, I admired the car. The midnight-black four-door stood taller than most, but not in an obnoxious way, with sleek black matte handles, leather seats, and a killer removable top.

“Let me help you.” Cal signaled to my suitcase that I’d been rolling around with me since arriving at the aquarium.

“No worries, I got it.”

“Georgia, let me take the damn bag. Go get in the car.” His voice was firm but playful.

I obliged, climbing into the Jeep and taking my perch in the passenger seat, where I had a clear shot of Cal through the rearview mirror as he loaded my suitcase into the car.

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes finding mine immediately. I bit my lip in embarrassment, wanting to look away, but I couldn’t. He’d caught me, and he knew it.

His lip slanted upward just the slightest bit as he broke our gaze.

“Have you lived on the island all this time?” I asked, doing my best to appear unbothered.

“Yeah. I never had any desire to leave. Everything I needed was right here, at least for the most part.” The trunk slammed shut as he made his way to the driver’s side door.

I wondered what he meant by “for the most part.”

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