Page 84 of Scotch on the Rocks

Pausing on the path, he tenderly clutched my face between his big hands. “At the risk of sounding disgustingly cheesy, sweetheart, but even if I did grow tired of you? So what? You say a giantfuck youand move that gorgeous arse on to something better.Juniper Rossdoesn’t beg for anyone’s love.”

His forehead fell to mine. “I also know those words mean nothing if you can’t see it. You need to see yourself and advocate for yourself, only then will you not give a shit when someone who isn’t worth an ounce of the breath in your lungs decides they don’t want to be in your life.”

His words made my heart pound. “Advocate for myself like you do?” I said and he squinted, trying not to laugh. “You take responsibility for everyone around you, like it’s your job to put everyone first … including me.”I see straight through your bullshit,I said silently,like you see through mine.

His smile was so slight, so unlike his Community Ken smile, I felt like I’d earned it. “We can be a work in progress together.”

I didn’t know exactly what he meant by that, but I had to admit, it sounded nice. “I think I might like you, Macabe.”

Forehead still pressed to mine, he laughed again. “Need a sick bag?”

I punched his shoulder. “And just like that, I’m cured.”

Slinging an arm around my shoulders, he tucked me close, steering me down the path, “No takebacks, sweetheart. You. Like. Me.”

I did. It was a huge fucking problem.

* * *

“I’m not getting in.”

“Yes, you are.”

Standing on a flat rock, I shivered and tucked my coat more tightly around me, the two-piece I’d grabbed suddenly feeling like a stupid idea. “The water looks dirty.” The clear blue waves chose that moment to lap over my bare toes, calling me a liar.

“Harpy, my balls are trying to claw their way back inside my body, so do us both a favour and get that sweet arse in here.” Standing at waist height in the pool, Callum slapped the water’s surface to punctuate his point.

The freezing wind did a good job at distracting me from the heat his shirtless form inspired. Not to pass up an opportunity, my eyes flicked down his chest, to those ridiculous blue swim shorts and the tiny, tiny bananas. “Sounds like ayouproblem.”

“Five minutes. That’s all I’m asking.”

Shit.I hated when he used that tone, all demanding but hopeful, like this was something heneededto share with me.

“Fine.” I wrenched down the zip of my coat. “Don’t look at me.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

I waited until he placed a hand over his eyes, took a single second to note the way the mirrored surface reflected Callum’s stacked abs, admiring all twelve of them, and threw my coat over the closest rock with the rest of my clothes.

At the first curl of water around my ankle, I hissed. Callum’s fingers split and he let out a low, appreciative whistle.

“You said you wouldn’t look!”

“I lied.” His hot gaze roamed. “Are you trying to kill me? Who wears that for wild swimming?”

The simple but stringy black bikini left very little to the imagination. “It’s the only suit I have.” He only grunted and I stepped in up to my calves, arms curling to conceal my small chest. “It’s freezing.”

“Ten more steps and I’ll warm you up.” He said it like the sweetest threat and damn it, I quickened my pace, cutting through the water until I was close enough to see my reflection in his eyes.

“Now what?” My teeth chattered.

“Whatever you want, that’s the beauty of this place.” He held his nose and ducked beneath the surface, disappearing for a heartbeat before his hand curled around my ankle and tugged. Losing my footing, I screamed, my entire body jerking from the cold as water surged over my head. Bubbles pouring from between my lips, I struck out at the first patch of skin I could find—his ribs—and resurfaced to the sound of boyish laughter. It dragged me back eight years to a night we shared pizza on Alistair’s sofa and I couldn’t stop myself from staring at the most carefree man I’d ever met.

I pushed matted hair from my face. “I hate you.”

He traced a thumb along my lower lip. “Your nipples say otherwise, sweetheart.” His attention consumed by the action, he pulled my lip down and watched it bounce back into place. It was so erotic, a little moan escaped me, and his eyes shot to mine, confirming my arousal. “I’m going to kiss you now, all right?”

“Yes.” The word was a whimper.

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