Page 49 of Naughty by Nature

She moved a couple of steps toward the wall of glass. Sheridan seemed to sense the movement and looked up at the window, pinning her to the spot. She watched him cross the tile to the back door and stick his head inside. “Get a suit on and come on out. The water is perfect right now.”

Cheyenne cringed. She wasn’t sure she wanted to bare herself that much for him.

She glanced back at the sight of his body. Payton would be screaming at her to walk out there and have her wicked way with the man.

Returning to the room, she started digging through what she’d brought with her. A bathing suit hadn’t been on her worry list, but there might be one in the bag. Ripping open the side zipper, she reached inside. Yes!

The blue one-piece was more functional than flirty, but it fit her like a glove. As she looked at herself in the mirror, she tried not to be critical of the weight she still carried around her belly from her pregnancies. Not a lot, but it was definitely one spot she was sensitive about. Her legs were still nice, though, and her boobs were good enough, she supposed.

Peering through the other bedroom door, she glanced inside. Yep, there were her three girls. Sleeping so peacefully, none-the-wiser of what had gone on earlier today.

She grabbed a towel from the linen closet and headed out toward the pool. It had been so hot today, cooling off sounded like a dream.

But when it came time to actually walk out in front of Sheridan, her nerves got the better of her and she had to pause, hand on the door. She wasn’t afraid of Sheridan at all, but this was the most exposed she’d ever been in front of him, other than the night he’d rescued her.

He’s already seen everything, she told herself firmly. Get your butt out there.

She jerked open the French door.

Sheridan sat on one of the chaise lounges, but he looked up when she walked out. The pool was lit, casting enough of a glow that she could see to walk to the other chaise lounge beside him.

His gaze followed her and Cheyenne could feel her entire body flush. Her nipples went hard and she clutched the towel to her front, stunned at her reaction. For years she’d pushed that side of her away, but Sheridan was making it very hard to keep ignoring it.

She needed to cool off. Dropping the towel to the lounge she moved to the pool’s far end and dove in.

Cheyenne swam a few laps, burning off some of her arousal, but when she finally paused, swiping the water from her eyes, she found Sheridan at the side of the pool, watching her. He kicked his legs out in front of him lazily, not going anywhere, just enjoying the coolness.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

Again, her body reacted, and she dragged in oxygen. “Thank you. You’re not too hard on the eyes yourself.”

He grinned at her and lowered himself into the water until just his face was peeking out, then he released the side.

Cheyenne suddenly felt an exhilaration course through her. The look in Sheridan’s eyes…

“You look exceptional in that swimsuit.”

She thought she did, but it was always nice to hear it from another source. “You look good in your trunks, too.”

He glided a few feet closer. “Meh. They’re getting a little tight.”

Cheyenne giggled, loving having this little repartee. Feeling a little daring, she dropped beneath the water, looking at his trunks, then popped back up. “Oh, my, they are looking tight.”

Sheridan stopped right before her. “I had a lovely time today, believe it or not. I want to date you more. Actually, let’s just skip all that and go straight to engagement. We’re living together anyway.”

Gasping, she covered her mouth with her hands. “What?”

Sheridan chuckled. “I’m nuts about you, woman. Haven’t you figured that out yet?”

“Well, I thought you might like me but that’s a bit of a jump. I’m not the poster-child for a marriageable woman.”

“I don’t want a poster-child. I want you. With your crazy ex issues and your beautiful little girls. Your sweetness and your humor.”

Cheyenne could only shake her head. “You’re a glutton for punishment.”

Sheridan grinned and leaned in enough to drop a kiss to her mouth. “You make my house a home and I appreciate that more than you know. And Olivia thinks Nora would have enjoyed you as a friend. That’s big, coming from my belligerent, everything-is-stupid, sixteen year old.”

“True.”

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