Page 29 of The Talk Around Town

“I’m sorry, Emma, really. I didn’t think. I assumed…”

His explanation sounded flat and lame, even to a waterlogged Emma.

She coughed again and turned her face against Gabe’s neck to look under his chin at the shamefaced Ryan.

“I was only going to paddle my feet in the water, until you hijacked me.”

Ryan had the grace to look genuinely sorry.

“It’s okay. You weren’t to know,” Emma allowed. The poor guy looked like he’d just lost a winning lottery ticket.

He held out a hand to her. “I can take you back to shore. I promise I won’t let you go.”

Emma’s teeth chattered and her arms tightened involuntarily around Gabe’s neck.

“No thanks. I’m fine.” She looked up at Gabe. “Gabe might take me back.”

A wide grin split his mouth, inches from hers. His grey eyes sparkled with the reflection off the water.

“You’d better hope so, considering you’re stuck on me like a burr.”

Instantly, Emma was acutely aware that her thighs were wrapped tightly around his hips, and that it was Gabe’s chest that her breasts were pushed so hard against. Each breath rasped her sensitive nipples against the drenched material, the thin barrier the only thing between them. She hoped to God he didn’t notice her body’s traitorous reaction, clinging to him as she was.

Gabe looked down and his expression tightened, the smile disappearing. His gaze jumped away from her as his hands loosened her legs on his hips.

“You might want to rethink that swimsuit.”

Emma stared at him, thankful but confused. That wasn’t what she’dexpected him to say.

“What do you mean?”

Gabe moved backward in the water as he spoke, his strong legs thrusting through the water in a lazy kick. He glanced at her again, his stormy gaze impaling her. “Have you ever worn that thing before?”

Emma shook her head. “No, it’s new. I bought it just before moving here. I haven’t had a chance to wear it before now. Why?”

Gabe pulled the side of his bottom lip into his mouth, the action incredibly sensual, taking Emma’s attention.

“It’s see-through.”

“What?” Her outburst had several people turning to look at them. She gritted her teeth and glared up at him. “It is not! I would have noticed that when I tried it on. I would never have bought it.”

Gabe’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Was it wet when you tried it on?”

Emma opened her mouth for a sharp retort and looked down.

Translucent material gleamed in the afternoon light, giving her naked skin a shining hue as if she were a mermaid shining from within. Every part of her front was visible. She yanked her arms from around his neck and crossed them over her chest. Her legs she couldn’t do much about, not if she wanted to breathe at the same time.

How far down could he see?

“Bit late for that.”

His low-pitched comment had her skin flaming again and her knees turning to jelly. Why, oh why, was she there glued to him like a leech?

The one thing that saved her sanity was that they’d agreed to be friends, nothing more. It made it easier to ignore the feelings he stirred with one sexy look. At least, that’s what she told herself.

“What will I do?” she whispered, horrified that someone might overhear.

Gabe brought them up close to the jetty, where the pylons went deep down into the water and soil below. He moved them closer to the shore and faced her. She couldn’t tell what he might be thinking. His whole face was shuttered, giving nothing away.

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