Page 18 of Moonstone Angel
But…oh, heavens.
The man had a finely sculpted body.
She never went down to the beach but remained crouched at the top of the stairs leading there to keep an eye out for his safety. However, this morning felt different. He was constantly glancing in her direction, as though sensing she—or someone—was watching him.
She sank back to hide against the hedges, not daring to creep back to the stairs until he had disrobed and was swimming in the water.
“I wonder how that feels,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around her knees as she sat once more on the top step and watched him. She had never gone into the water again after the day she and her schoolmates had almost drowned in the storm.
But watching the duke cut gracefully through the waves, studying his powerful strokes, made her wonder what it would feel like to swim again.
Even the man’s backside was beautifully formed.
It glistened like a pale, round apple amid the blue of the water.
She stifled a giggle, but really…was there any flaw in the man?
She shook out of the thought and returned her attention to the movement of his muscled arms amid the expanse of the sea. Her father had taught her to swim, but it had been so long ago.
Did one ever forget?
The duke suddenly waved to her as he waded out of the water.
She gasped, realizing he had caught her sitting on the step. But what audacity to show no shame as he strutted onto the sand in all his natural glory.
The cad even grinned at her and waved again, fortunately, this time after he’d donned his breeches.
Well, he knew he had an incredible body.
She could not have been the first woman to ogle him.
But it was not well done of her, and she did feel a little ashamed. Her insides warmed to a shocking degree whenever she caught sight of his taut, wet muscles.
She scrambled to her feet and hurried back toward the house.
He knew.
He’d caught her.
Well, it was bound to happen sometime. After all, she had been peeping for weeks.
She put a hand to her heart to stop its pounding and settled in one of the veranda chairs to await him. She caught sight of his magnificent form as he reached the top of the stairs and strode with confidence and not an ounce of embarrassment across the lawn toward her.
His shirt was open at the throat and droplets traced down his neck to disappear around his chest.
His dark mane of hair was damp and brushed back.
No wonder the wicked Lady Yvonne wanted him.
Who wouldn’t?
He settled in the chair beside hers, his grin still broad and quite irritating. “Cara, you naughty thing. You have been spying on me. What happened today? You got careless and let me see you.”
She cleared her throat, determined to brazen it out. “I wasn’t spying…I was protecting you.”
He chuckled. “And how were you doing that?”
“You went alone into the water. What if you had succumbed to a cramp? Or a shark had come into the cove to eat you?”
