Page 88 of Just One Season
“Yup. I tried to tell her to keep it to a minimum, but there’s only so much I can do.”
I chuckle. We stop with the others when we get to the pool outside of Kellen’s cottage.
“Why is your pool so much bigger than mine?” Atticus says.
“That doesn’t even need a response.” Kellen reaches behind his neck and pulls his t-shirt off in one swift move, revealing chiseled abs, and throws it on a lounge chair. “I’m going to get drinks.” Kellen slips into his cottage, and Atticus and Lachlan strip to their swim trunks and jump in, both yelping about theheat. Lachlan shakes his blond curls like a golden retriever drying off.
Across the pool, Savannah pulls off her short dress and slips gracefully into the water. She looks over at me and waves, and it takes me a second to realize she’s encouraging me to get in.
“I can’t be the only woman in the pool, please,” she calls and smiles. It’s disarming. She’s really pretty with her blonde waves and picture-perfect body, but it’s the friendly look on her face that takes me aback. I’m always expecting her to be kind of a monster.
For a second, I wonder what we’re trying to prove to her. Does she even care? Does Paul? But I shake the thought out of my head. What’s important is Kellen gets to keep his family in Fort Collins. So we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.
“Working on it,” I say back to her. I pull off my sweatshirt and tank and adjust my bikini top. Kellen comes back out of his cottage, a bucket of beer bottles in his hand.
He looks over at me and does a double take before he kicks off his joggers and slips into the water, breathing out in pleasure and staring at me.
Two more women who I vaguely recognize as hotel employees show up, followed by two other players. I’m thankful none of the staffers are here—Atticus and Lachlan were going to try to keep them away so I didn’t feel even more uncomfortable.
“You made it,” Lachlan calls to them.
I shimmy down my light pants and try to be causal, but Kellen is still watching, leaning his elbows on the concrete outside of the pool, swigging from a bottle. I slide down to sit on the edge of the pool a few feet away from him, my legs hanging in the delightfully warm water. Not as warm as a hot tub, but perfect for the cool November night.
Kellen scoots over, wet hair sticking to his forehead and droplets of water clinging to his cheeks. He looks up at me.
Well, crap.
I know I’ve always said I’m not a hockey player kind ofwoman, but looking at Kellen with those rippling shoulders and gorgeous blue eyes? I guess anyone could become one.
Or maybe I’m just a Kellen kind of woman.
Either way, there’s an ache in my center as he leans next to me at the pool’s edge, his forearm lightly against my thigh.
“Ready for this?” His voice is low and there’s a slight wobble. Is he nervous? Nah, can’t be.
I nod. “But remind me what we’re doing, exactly?” Damn,I’mnervous. Nervous and frozen to the side of this pool.
“First, you have to get in.”
“And then?” My chest thumps as Kellen turns to me, stepping casually between my knees, my thighs opening automatically to accommodate him. He puts a hand on either side of me.
Holy—
“Get in, Lucy.”
My mouth opens, but no words come out.
“Get in or I pull you in.”
A shiver runs up my back.
Kellen slips his hands under my knees and tugs.
I squeal. “Fine! Fine. I’m coming.” He lets go, so I scoot down and slide into the water right in between his arms. Kellen doesn’t move, and now we’re standing a foot apart, and I’m looking up at him. My breath catches… at the temperature of the pool. “Oh my god. That’s so warm.” The water heats my skin, and I can’t tell if I’m flushing from Kellen’s proximity or the hot springs.
“Second part of the plan is to look like we’re a couple.”
“Okay. How do we do that?” Maybe by my heart racing a hundred miles a minute. Because that’s what’s happening right now.
