Page 11 of Stranded with a Very-Kissable Cowboy

“Get in,” I tell her.

She points at the pool. “In there?”

I laugh. “Yes. You know you’re hot out there with the sun beating down on you. Get in.”

She shakes her head. “I’m fine out here.”

I move my leg so she can sit on the step next to me. “Get in the pool, Gia.”

She rolls her eyes at me, getting a laugh from the boys, and then gets into the pool and sits gingerly on the stairs a few feet away. As the boys jump around on the other end, I scoot closer and lean toward her. “I’m sorry.”

She whispers back. “Sorry for what?”

I hate being the reason that she’s lost her smile, but it’s obvious that it’s me. “You were all smiles until I got here. I’m going to hang for just a few more minutes, and then I’ll go.”

She puts her hand on my knee, and then as if realizing what she did, she pulls her hand back. “Don’t leave. It’s not you… it’s me.”

The sincerity on her face has me wanting to know the truth. “Why?”

She tugs at the strap at her shoulder. “I haven’t been in a bathing suit in years.”

I can’t help it. I instantly look down her body. “And what? Are you uncomfortable—”

She cuts me off while avoiding my eyes. “Yeah, uh, the boys were so excited, and I didn’t want to tell them no. Maddie was kind enough to loan me the suit, but it’s too small and well, not something I’d usually wear.”

She points at her bare midriff as if it’s something unfavorable, and that’s crazy to me. From the moment I saw her in the bathing suit, I’ve been practically drooling over her. Hell, I had to practically push my foreman out of here because she’s so fuckin’ beautiful, and she doesn’t even have a clue.

I put my hand on her leg. “Gia.”

She stops talking, but she doesn’t look at me, and I lean in closer. The boys are jumping around in the pool doing their own thing, and I’m completely focused on the beautiful woman sitting in front of me. “Gia, look at me.”

She raises her eyes, and I see the self-consciousness there. Fuck I wish I could show her how beautiful I think she is. “You’re a fuckin’ bombshell, Gia.”

She starts to shake her head, and I wrap my hand around her thigh and squeeze. “Believe me when I say it. I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you. You’re beautiful, honey.”

She bites on her lip, and I groan, wishing we were alone. All at once, the boys jump into the pool, splashing the both of us. Just like that, the moment is gone, but at least she’s smiling again.

The rest of the time, I can’t resist touching her. I let my leg touch hers. When her hair falls across her face, I brush it back, tucking it behind her ear. It’s like every excuse to have my hands on her, I take it.

When the boys say they’re hungry, I hold Gia’s hand and help her out of the pool. We all dry off, and when we walk into the house, I’m holding her hand again. I should let her go, but I keep holding it the whole way in.

The boys are racing up the stairs, and I can’t bring myself to yell at them for dripping water through the house.

With her hand in mine, Gia says, “I’m going to put some clothes on, then I’ll get lunch out.”

I nod, looking her up and down, making sure she knows that I like what I see. “Yeah, you should probably do that.” I lean in. “Because I’m having trouble keeping my hands off you.”

CHAPTER 11

GIANNA

All I can do isstare at him in surprise. “Really?”

He brings his hand up my arm and rests it on my shoulder. “Yeah.” He takes a deep breath and lets it out. “There’s a thousand reasons why I shouldn’t want you, shouldn’t touch you, but I can’t help it.”

I’m breathless. “Why? What are the reasons?”

He seems to think about it and chuckles. “Right now, I can’t think of a single one.”

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