Page 50 of Moonlight Feels Right
"More than I want to be," she admitted, pausing as Ben got into the pool. "Hi, Ben."
"Ladies," he said, then dunked his head under the water. "I needed that. Hot day today."
"Were you working?" Paige asked.
"Yes, since about four o'clock this morning."
"That's a long shift," she said.
"We finally broke open a long-running investigation, so it was worth it. Who's interested in a game of pool volleyball?" he asked.
"I'd go for that," Paige said.
"Emmalyn?"
"You two should play."
"Let's get a fourth," Ben said. "Hunter, we need another player."
"I'm there," Hunter said as Henry and Olivia moved into the shallow end and grabbed their boats from the edge of the pool. Hunter gave her a smile. "Are we partners, Em?"
"I'm probably the worst one. Paige played volleyball in high school."
"Well, I would still pick you first," he said with a laugh.
Ben drew a net across the deeper end of the pool, and the game was on.
She and Hunter clashed a few times as they went after the same ball, and one time, she nearly slipped underwater when their arms collided. His hand shot out to steady her, gripping her waist, the heat of his palm searing on her bare stomach. Her breath caught as she looked up, finding his dark eyes locked on hers.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low enough that only she could hear it.
"Fine," she managed, very aware of his fingers still at her waist, of how close they were standing. "Just clumsy."
"I've got you." Something in his expression made her believe he was talking about more than just keeping her from falling.
"Hey, Hunter!" Ben called from across the net. "Ball's coming your way!"
Hunter released her instantly, both of them turning to see the beach ball arcing toward their side of the net. Hunter lunged, sending it back with far more force than necessary, straight at Ben's face, but Ben made a quick move, avoiding contact with the ball.
"Competitive much?" Ben laughed.
"Sorry," Hunter replied with a wolfish grin that made something flutter in Emmalyn's stomach.
She'd never seen Hunter like this—playful, relaxed, yet with that underlying intensity that seemed hardwired into him. Even in a casual pool game, he approached each volley as if it were a tactical mission, positioning himself strategically, calculating angles, driving them toward victory with a single-minded focus that was both amusing and oddly attractive.
But what struck her most was also how he'd seamlessly integrated Olivia into his life. Between volleys, he'd check on her, making sure she was still happily playing with Henry. No hovering, no constant questions about whether she was okay—just a watchful eye and the occasional encouraging nod when she asked a question or told him something.
"Your serve, Em," Hunter called, tossing her the ball. She caught it, her fingers slipping slightly on the wet surface. "Better make it good," he added with a wink. "We're only up by two."
She took a breath, focusing on Ben's position across the net, and served. The ball sailed over the net in a perfect arc. Ben lunged for it but missed, and the ball hit the water with a satisfying splash.
"Yes!" Hunter's hand shot up for a high five, and she met it, laughing at his enthusiasm. His fingers lingered against hers for a heartbeat longer than necessary, and the same electric awareness she'd felt earlier sparked between them.
"You two are lethal together," Paige observed from across the net, her expression speculative.
"Hunter doesn't know how to lose," Emmalyn said, attempting to deflect attention from whatever was happening between them.
"Is that a problem?" Hunter asked, his gaze suddenly intense on her face.
