Page 18 of Stolen Bases

Around midnight, I give up and crawl out of bed.

As quietly as I can, I switch out of my pajamas, put on my bikini, and make my way down the hall towards the kitchen. Since we got here, I’ve been slipping into the hot tub on the deck to sit and stare at the stars, while Nico slept like the dead.

Hoping I don’t wake up the other residents in the house, I continue through the kitchen on tiptoes. The sliding glass door being open should be warning enough when I slowly push through.

Sitting in the steaming hot tub is none other than the off-limits man himself.

Cam is leaning back with his eyes closed, face to the sky. The condensation on his skin glistens in the faint porch light, giving him and his angular features an ethereal glow. The prickly urge to run my finger over his scruffy jaw is strong as I stare at him.

Sensing the weight of my gaze, his head lifts and his eyes snap open.

A heavy silence falls between us.

“Are you going to get in or stand there staring at me like the stalker you are?” A smile tugs at the corner of his lips as he teases me, easing the tension in my shoulders.

“Caught me.” Dropping my towel on the sun chair beside the jacuzzi, I make my way up the stairs to climb into the bubbling hot water.

My foot lands on the seat wrong as I step in, and it slips out from under me. I wobble, teetering on the edge of falling as a warm hand finds mine. His touch steals my breath on a gasp as the same electrical shock from earlier shoots up my arm, sending my heart racing like the devil out of hell.

Cam steadies me as I slip into the steaming tub, his grip firm. “Are you okay?”

No.“Yeah.” My voice cracks, giving away my nervousness.

“Good.” He releases my hand and returns to his seat on the other side of the hot tub, putting as much distance between us as he can. “So, little Romero, what reason do you have for coming out here?”

The water laps around Cam, and I can’t help but stare at the way his biceps bulge as he runs his wet hands through his chestnut hair, the ends coiling up ready to twist into the curls I know he tames under his baseball hat. My eyes almost pop out of their sockets at the sight of his chiseled chest and the beautiful black and gray realistic tattoo of a bear on his right peck.

Wow.

This man is gorgeous. He’s a Greek god walking amongst us mere mortals.

My mouth is dry and scratchy, like I swallowed sand, as my gaze finds his. In the moonlight, glints of gold sparkle in his eyes as he smirks knowingly at me, enjoying himself a little too much at my body’s treachery.

I refuse to be alone in this uncomfortable space with him, where I’m the only one hot and bothered. Two can play that game.

Using the confidence I usually reserve for work when I’m battling it out with other nurses for the top spot, I mimic Cam’s position and lean back against the edge of the hot tub. Restingmy arms across the back of the jacuzzi, I make sure the tops of my boobs lift above the water. They might not be huge, but they are perky and more than a handful.

“My guess is the same as yours. Couldn’t sleep.” I shrug, sending water lapping around me.

Butterflies swirl in my stomach as Cam’s gaze falls exactly where I want it. I run a wet finger over my chest.

Take that, Miller.

“Hmm. So, you were thinking about me,” he says coolly. A grin that rivals the Cheshire Cat’s spreads across his handsome face, sending those pesky butterflies soaring and shivers up my spine. My thighs clench, and my clit pulses.

Oh, crap.

I think I have a crush on my brother’s enemy.

five

Cameron

There’s no missing theway my calling Talia out knocks her off balance.

Good. I’ve found myself off-kilter since the little minx withheld her identity and let me kiss her like there was no tomorrow in sight.

Fuck, that kiss. What I wouldn’t give to have a repeat.

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