Page 39 of Some Like It Hott

Kane helps Natalie into the pool. She stands in the middle of the purple mess, grinning at me, and fuck me if I can’t marshal any resources to refuse.

“Preston,” Hanna says sternly, and Quinn takes a menacing step toward me. Aside from Tucker, who could fell a giant with his left hand, Quinn is my biggest brother and probably has fifty pounds of sheer muscle on me. I quickly step into the pool.

Natalie gives me a tentative shove. The Jell-O underfoot is way more slippery than I was expecting, and it takes me a second to find my footing. I give her a tentative shove back.

She’s smiling.

“Why are you smiling?” I ask.

“Because I know something you don’t know.”

It’s a line fromThe Princess Bride, which I’ve watched more times than—than I care to admit.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“I played women’s club rugby for years,” she grunts, and then, before I can prepare myself, she lowers her shoulder, wedges it against my thigh, and shoves, surprisingly hard. And even though I must have fifty pounds on her, she’s strong and she’s currently much lower to the ground. I go back onto my ass, and Natalie, who may have put more power into the move than was strictly necessary, lands on top of me.

I smirk at her.

“Why are you giving me that smirky face?” she asks.

“Because I know something you don’t know.”

“What’s that?” she asks.

“I was on the high school wrestling team.”

I neatly flip her, pinning her beneath me. And we’re both laughing, our faces inches apart, and it feels so fucking good to laugh with her?—

And then we’re not laughing. Because she’s all generous curves, but beneath the softness is surprising strength, and she’s fighting to get her advantage back, writhing under me, flexing against me, and?—

Fuck.

It feels good and her gaze locks on mine and neither of us looks away and?—

“Time!” Kane calls, and suddenly I remember that we’re in a giant kiddie pool of purple Jell-O, that we’re at a family party, and that my sister and brother are standing over us watching.

The world rushes back, and I scramble off her, trying to figure out if I stand up how obvious my arousal will be. I catch her eye, and she bites her lip like she knows, moving to stand between me and our audience. Which…I mean, it helps with one problem, but now she’s standing there, her delectable heart-shaped ass inches from my?—

Bond price formula!

Price = (Coupon × (1-(1+r)^-n)/r) + Par Value/(1+r)^n

It takes a few times through, but it works like a charm.

I’m able to accept the congratulations of my family members without ruining the whole party’s good time.

20

Natalie

As dusk turns to dark that night, I lower myself into the Hott Spot springs with a groan of pleasure.

Celebration time.

Yes, we have a long way to go. But today went incredibly well, and there’s every reason to believe we’re going to meet the terms of the will, get the Hott Springs Eternal activities program off to a strong start,andreturn Preston to New York in time to meet his ridiculous deadline.

I deserve a long, hot soak.

---