Page 66 of Mistaken Intention

He turns to face me, his eyes twinkling with a mischief that makes my insides melt. “No. I mean, you’ll come into the pool?”

My cheeks redden under his gaze. This was supposed to be less embarrassing than yesterday, but at the moment, it feels so much worse. “I—I thought I’d stay on the side.”

He shakes his head. “I think you should come into the water with me. What if I have a dizzy spell, or my headache comes back?”

“Then I’ll be right there.”

“Yeah. But it’ll be safer if you’re in the pool, won’t it?”

I know I’m beaten. His smile is enough to do that to me, although I keep telling myself that just because we’ll be in the pool together doesn’t mean we’ll have to talk. “If you insist.”

“I think I do,” he says, then he pauses, his smile widening. “Do you have a swimsuit?”

“Yes. When your brother said there was a pool here, I thought it wise to bring one, just in case.”

“Oh… that’s a shame.”

“Why? I thought you wanted me to come with you.”

“I do.”

He stares at me until the penny drops, and I feel myself blush – yet again. I don’t know why I’m bothering to plan things that will make it easier for me to be with him and not want him. How can I deny the way I feel about him? And why should I? I’ve wanted him for so long… and regardless of all the arguments against us being together, surely something that feels this good can’t be wrong, can it?

Can it?

I get to my feet, picking up the plates, but he stands too and grabs my arm across the table. “I know I said I’dlet my memories take care of themselves, but can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

I put down the plates again, studying his perfect face. “Do you think I was a flirt? Before, I mean… before the accident?”

I know perfectly well that he was. He flirted with me when we first met, and I liked it. I can remember the way he made me feel, just by looking at me… although I don’t need to remember, because he’s doing it again now. Except I can’t tell him that.

“I don’t know.” It’s another deception, and I feel guilty for it, even though I know it’s for his own good. “Why do you ask?”

“Because I feel like I want to flirt.”

I step back, forcing him to release my arm, and I struggle not to stagger, holding onto the table to right myself. “Y—You want to flirt? With women?” I’m not sure who else he’d want to flirt with, but I can’t disguise my shock… and my disappointment.

“Not with women in general, no. Just with you.”

I’m in even more danger of falling now, but I gaze up into his eyes, catching my breath. “I—I see.”

“Shall we forget about clearing away for now and go for a swim instead?”

“Okay. Maybe we should put on our costumes underneath our clothes. It’ll make things easier when we get over there.”

“If you insist.”

I’m not sure I’m capable of insisting on anything, but I lead the way to the stairs, and he follows.

“Oh… it looks like there’s a pool house.” And it appears to be large enough for changing rooms, too. We needn’t have bothered putting our costumes on, after all.

“Yeah, but I suppose neither of us was to know that, were we?” Drew yanks off his t-shirt over his head.

I’ve brought towels from the cottage and I put them down on one of the loungers by the pool, slipping out of my shorts and top. When I turn around, Drew’s already taken off his jeans and is standing in just his swim shorts, which do very little to hide his arousal.

“Sorry,” he says, although the smile twitching at his lips is more playful than contrite. “I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about that.”

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