Page 23 of Slippery When Wet

On our way to his original date, a hike through the hills that ended up at some local waterfalls, he’d received a phone call. One of his foremen had called out sick and a couple other guys had been no-shows.

“I know, but I like this.”

“Do you like gardening?” he asked, and I shrugged.

“Kinda. I mean, I like being outside. I used to do this at my Abuela’s before I went off to school. When I came back, I don’t know… I got busy.” I shrugged. “I have a plant in our backyard. Well, it’s a succulent. I’ve propagated it a couple of times and haven’t killed it yet, so I’m getting a little better at it,” I shared, and he nodded.

His eyes kept dipping down to my lips, and I swear they tingled. I loved the way he looked at me. The way I lit up from the inside out around him.

“Do you like gardening?” I asked, and he grunted.

“Yeah. I mean, it’s okay. I didn’t get to give you the grand tour of my house this morning, but next time you’re over, I’ll show you around.”

“Next time,” I repeated coyly, and he winked. And just like that, my heart and stomach fluttered with so much excitement the summersaults they did could have competed and won gold at the Olympics.

There was going to be a next time!

And I couldn’t wait!

Abel

I had no idea what the hell I’d been thinking.

Taking her to work with me?

Logically, when Kyle had called off, I should have turned around and taken her home. Postponed our date. But I hated the idea of not spending the day with her. I figured if she went with me to different sites, seeing the different stages of the pools, water wouldn’t seem so scary.

I just hadn’t thought about the logistics.

The guys who worked for me were good men. Some of the best in what they did. But unfortunately, they were still men. Men with eyes. And I didn’t like the way they kept eyeing Abby.

Not that I blamed them.

She was beautiful.

Curvy with the smile of an angel and skin so soft it made your hands ache to touch. Keeping my hands to myself had been the hardest thing I’d ever fucking done, but somehow, I’d managed not to paw and pull her into me and keep her tied to my side.

Barely.

My guys thought I was hilarious and didn't mind letting me know. I got it. They had never seen me with a woman because I’d never had one. Not like I wanted Abby. She brought a whole new side out of me. I glared daggers in their direction anytime they looked at or talked to her for too long, and they loved jerking my chain about it. I’d never been a possessive motherfucker, but it looked like my princess had not only kicked the daddy in me into gear but a green-eyed monster, too.

I didn’t share.

Not Abby.

Thankfully, we had just parked at the last spot of this stupid little adventure I’d taken us on. This was one of my personal favorite properties. I’d bought it before I’d made the decision to move to Poppy Beach on a whim while I was still in the Navy. I’d wanted to invest in a rental property when apps like AirBnB and VRBO were just starting out. It had been a fixer upper with a shit ton of potential. One that had paid off and then some.

On the outskirts of the city, about three miles up the coast, the property was private. Like your very own oasis with the backdrop of the mountains behind you and the ocean in the front. I loved the privacy of it.

It was usually rented out, but the movie star who had been staying there with his family because it was close to where he had been shooting his new movie had just left. So, luckily, it was empty.

“This is beautiful,” she whispered. “I feel so lame,” she said, almost as if to herself. I grabbed her hand and pulled her against the truck, tipping her head up.

“Why would you say that?”

“I was born and raised in Poppy.” She sighed, and my brow rose.

“And?”

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