Page 7 of Drive Me Wild
“We don’t get as much rain as you do in Downsville.”
“Oh, you’ve been there?”
He scratches his head and looks at the floor. “No. No. I’ve just heard. Let’s get the rest of your stuff so we can go swimming.”
He rushes past me and down the stairs. We work in silence, and after several trips each, I’m unloaded.
“The bump on your head doesn’t look like it’ll kill you.”
I peek at myself in the long mirror mounted to the wardrobe. My bangs are parted, and there is a trace of the earlier collision, but there is nothing I’m concerned about. Caleb stands behind me, and I look at him in the mirror. His chocolate eyes are fixed on me, and I feel a quiver in my belly.
No matter what people say about him, he has been kind and thoughtful today, which attracts me even more than his broad shoulders and thick arms. Being alone with him up here is waking up my lady parts again.
Which is a big warning sign.
I need to stop thinking of him this way. I would never be able to be with a man like Caleb. He’s experienced, and I’m, well…not.
“I guess I should start looking for my suit. See you out there, and thanks again for your help.” I turn and smile at him.
“My pleasure. See you out there.”
He rushes out, shutting the door behind him. But it’s several moments before I hear his feet carry him down the stairs.
Chapter Four: Caleb
Being alone in a room with Zoe is not a good idea. I could tell she was uncomfortable, and she was right to feel that way. Though I’d never do anything to hurt her, she doesn’t know that. She doesn’t know that I feel an inexplicable need to protect her—even if it’s from the guy I’m trying not to be anymore.
She only knows what she’s probably heard about me being a player, which isn’t what a woman like her deserves.
The cool water is exactly what I need to get my brain back to where it needs to be. I promised myself that I was going to make some changes in my life, and that is where I have to focus.
I slip into the house to change into my suit and grab a water bottle. It’s late enough in the day that I need to switch away from beer, or I will have to camp out here, and that is the last thing I want to do. Cole and I have been butting heads ever since he made me compete for the contract to service the fire trucks.
While I was helping Zoe unload her car, Cole had blown up some ridiculous float toys for everyone. A car, dragon, zebra, and shark. When I step out with my towel and water bottle, I see there’s only one left. A giant pink unicorn.
I look out to the lake and see my parents and brother trying not to laugh.
“Are you kidding me?”
I shake my head and drag it down to the water. I am knee-deep when I turn to see Zoe alone on the shore, covering her mouth and trying to hide her smile.
She’s wearing a yellow bikini that sits low on her hips, and I notice two little indents at the top of her runner’s body legs. Kissable indents. I shake the thought from my mind and push the unicorn toward her. “It’s all yours. I’ll just do some laps.”
Maybe she feels bad for me, but she shakes her head as she wades in and pushes it back toward me, her eyes locked on my chest.
“It’s big enough for both of us,” she says through pink, puffy lips.
Not what I needed to hear. Not what I need to be thinking about.
I look around and see no room for her on the other floats. Cody had already left, leaving Serena and Avery to share one.
“You know what? There’s enough room for you three gals on this unicorn. Why don’t I switch with you so you can be together?”
Avery shoots a look at Serena, and the two of them start paddling my way.
“If I thought you just didn’t want to ride the unicorn—” Avery huffs.
Everyone bursts out laughing.
