Page 20 of Never Date A Player
Lewis sits beside me, his warm arm brushing mine, and my breath catches. “Feeling okay after the other night?”
Of course he brings it up.
I glance at him. Big mistake. Shoulders curled in, arms wrapped around his knees, his lips are inches from mine, the scent of sunscreen and Lewis penetrating my senses. His gaze catches on my mouth. Because I’m staring at his? “Sorry about that.” I wipe the sand off my legs, keeping my hands busy. “I was a mess.”
He knocks my shoulder with his, which launches me into Nessa. It was a nudge, but he’s huge. Nessa rolls with the motion, intent on her Rum Runner conversation with Zach. “You were funny,” Lewis says, concentrating on the lake, the corner of his mouth turned up.
“I doubt that.”
He reaches out his hand, palm up. “Let me see your phone.”
I cut him a sideways glance. “Why?”
He blinks as if to say, Don’t be difficult. I dig for my phone in my tote and hand it to him. He scrolls to my contacts and I lean over, taking the opportunity to inhale because he smells amazing.
He types in a number.
“What’s that for?”
“Don’t drive home when—just call me next time. I work late. I’m always up. It’s not a big deal to give you a ride.”
Is he serious? “Um, I don’t need a chauffeur. I hardly ever get drunk.” Try never. I can’t remember the last time.
He shrugs. “Okay.” He looks serious and I can’t tell if he believes me or not.
“I’ll call if I need a ride.” Because, hell, he offered. Gorgeous guy picking me up and delivering me home in the middle of the night? I’m not going to turn that down. Which should worry me. I’m dropping those blinders I said I had on when it came to men. Or maybe they came off the moment I set eyes on Lewis. Trouble…this is big, big trouble. I can feel it.
He stands and pulls me up by the hand. “Come on.” He walks toward the beach.
Nessa and Zach are deep in conversation. “Where?” I say, certain I shouldn’t go anywhere with him, not even in public. Not after the way my palm just zinged inside his hand.
“Zach’s new paddleboard. We’re breaking it in. I’ll take you for a spin.”
“Together?” The board looks narrow and he might as well be naked, given the amount of clothing he’s wearing and the direction of my thoughts.
“You sit. I’ll do the work.” He picks up the paddle and shoves the board off the beach until it bobs and sways in the light waves.
“I don’t have a bathing suit on,” I point out.
He looks back. “You don’t trust me?” He’s asking in jest, as if I’m questioning his ability to keep me dry, but there’s a serious undertone, as though he knows I don’t trust him and he’s drawing it out and into the open.
In some ways, I do trust Lewis, which is confusing. So many men haven’t deserved my trust, and especially not Lewis. But despite the fact that he’s in a relationship and has a tendency to flirt with me, I don’t think he’s a bad person. He seems like a hard worker and a good friend, and he puts up with Mira—the guy deserves a medal.
I move toward him, not answering the question, because no matter what I believe, this is not something I want to discuss.
Lewis holds the board in place with his foot. “Climb on your knees for balance.”
Against my better judgment, I actually do as he says. I slip off my shoes onto the dry sand, enter the water, and kneel on the board. We’re surrounded by families at the beach; what’s the worst that can happen?
The surface sinks as Lewis steps on behind me. With each stroke of the paddle, we cut through the water until we’re beyond the dock and the ropes that block off the swimming area.
The water out here is darker, but clear. I can still see the bottom of the lake, though that’s deceptive because I know it’s deep.
“You want to give it a try?”
I glance back, and my gaze snags on his smooth chest before flittering to his face. I turn my head around before I get dizzy from the view of him. Bracing my hands on the board, I slowly rise. Lewis inches closer, the heat from his body singeing my skin not covered by the T-shirt. His arms loop over my head and he passes me the paddle.
“This thing’s not steady with two adults.” His hands drop to my hips. “I’ll hold on to you to keep us balanced.”
