Page 18 of Shielding Aubree

Ruben narrowed his eyes at Finn. "What's different?"

Just the hint of a smile touched Finn's lips. "When you find the one."

Those words were echoingin his head when the doors to the pool opened up and he turned.

Aubree walked out of the pool house dressed in something that looked like a wet suit. No, not exactly that, but Ruben wasn't exactly versed in the names of women's swimwear.

She had her hair pulled back from her face in a low ponytail and her feet were stuffed into her boots, but he could tell that there weren't any socks on her feet.

She wasn't looking at him directly. Her brow lifted and her eyes diverted from his, just beyond his shoulder. "I borrowed some swim stuff from Henley. I told her I was probably going to stretch it out in the hips, but she said it was okay."

"You look fine."

Which was a fucking understatement.

Sure, Henley wasn't the same size or shape as Aubree, but the kind of swimsuit she was wearing wasn't a typical one piece. It was a long-sleeved rash guard shirt which protected from UV rays. Her pants were like workout leggings and looked like a second skin, but he wasn't about to draw any attention to it.

He knew that she'd be self-conscious about it, and he wanted to keep her focus on other things.

Ruben started to walk toward her because he needed to keep his focus off of the fit of her clothes as well. He wasn't trying to creep on her, but he was only a man and physically it would be impossible to hide his reaction if he allowed himself to become aroused.

Fighting it was going to be an impossibility, but he could probably delay it long enough to get in the water.

He could only pray.

"Glad you came."

She rocked back on her heels, the motion giving him insight into the excitement she felt and a little look back at what kind of a child she'd been. That joy and excitement made him smile.

She instantly smiled back.

Beautiful.

That was the first thought in his head.

Gorgeous.

Yeah. He couldn't keep his thoughts on track.

Think, man, think.

"You remember," she sounded a little breathy, and more than a little nervous, "that I told you that I'm not much of a swimmer."

He nodded. "It's not a problem."

"Well, I might have exaggerated," she held up her hand with her thumb and her forefinger in a circle that had about an inch between the tips of her fingers, "more than a little."

Ruben had to move to keep his board shorts from growing too tight. He gestured toward the steps down into the shallow end of the pool and walked over, putting his feet in the water.

The cool rush of liquid around his legs eased a little of the thickening erection developing down one thigh.

He didn't call attention to it when Aubree toed off her boots and stepped into the water beside him.

He saw her shiver and he reached out.

His hand rubbed gently along her upper arm trying to offer support and help her warm up. "Exactly how much of an exaggeration?"

She smiled at him, but it was a self-conscious expression, her lips thinning into a pale line against the warm tan of her complexion. "I nearly drowned in a pool with I was a kid. Since then I've gotten into pools to sit there and keep cool, but I don't think I've ever had to swim. Ever."

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