Page 13 of Slippery When Wet

“I bet he was.” Susie snickered. “If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll get going.”

“I’m good.” Abby looked over her shoulder. “I’m really good.” Her tone softened before she turned back to her friend. “Thanks, Susie.” Abby waved.

When we were alone again, she looked up at me through her thick dark lashes. “That was Susie,” she explained and then winced. “I should have introduced you.” I had a feeling no matter what Abby did, I’d find it all freaking adorable. “So, that was… that was, umm…”

“You called it wow,” I reminded her, slowly inching toward her. She noticed but didn’t move. She didn’t even flinch when I stood right in front of her. Her body was still covered by the water, my chest above it. “You still with me?”

“About the lessons? Or the kissing?” she asked, then her hand rose and touched those perfect lips of her.

“All of it,” I responded. My eyes never wavered from hers. There was a gleam of determination in her gaze, and something else.

Something more.

“Yes.” She nodded and leaned in closer. “I’m still with you.” I love the sound of that.

“Good.” I grinned and leaned closer. Everything inside of me was shouting at me to kiss her again. To steal a taste from those perfect lips and never stop.

“Let’s go,” I ordered before kissing her forehead instead. I picked her up, and her eyes widened.

“What? Where? What? Wait.”

“Baby,” I muttered. “It’s getting late, and we gotta have dinner.”

“Right but?—"

“And you need to get to bed.”

“Bed?”

“Before it gets too late.”

“Too late?” She scowled, completely unaware of the fact I stepped out of the pool and was carrying her like my very own little koala bear.

“Yup. We have an early morning,” I shared. The idea in my head sounded brilliant. Sending her home was crap, but the sooner she went to bed, the earlier I could get her back in my arms and spend a day with her, and that sounded good to me.

“We do?”

“We do.” I winked.

It killed me to set her down where she’d left her things. My body immediately protested not having her that fucking close. But as soon as we were dressed and ready, I led the way out to her car.

“Where do I have to go in the morning?” she asked, and my lips twitched.

“You’ll find out tomorrow.” I took Abby’s car keys from her hand and unlocked her driver’s side door. “Hand me your phone,” I ordered.

“My phone?” she asked, like the idea shocked her.

“Babe,” I muttered, and she didn’t argue. She reached into her bag and took out her cellphone. I punched in my phone number and called myself, making sure to save each other's number. “You need me before morning, you call or text me.”

“But wait, what?”

“I’ll see you in the morning.” I hated having to say the words. But I knew I’d pressed my luck far enough already.

“For what?”

“Lessons.”

“We just had one,” she blurted and looked around to make sure no one overheard. “I think that was sufficient.” I shot her a look, and she stopped talking.