Page 22 of Overachiever
“You’re impossible,” she laughs.
“Yeah, but you like me.”
She stands and gathers up her towel. “You’re tolerable.”
“Okay, that does it.”
Her shriek when I scoop her up and cradle her against me scares away a flock of seagulls. “What are you doing?”
“Admit you like me. Say something nice about me or we’re going into the water.” The air is still cool as I march us toward the edge.
“Put me down!” she laughs, her arms circling my neck to hold on.
“I intend to.” The water laps over my feet, reaching for my ankles.
“Don’t you dare!”
“Still haven’t heard a compliment.”
I’m up to my knees when she says, “You weren’t too annoying this morning.”
“Really? That’s the best you can do?” Her giggles cut short when a few drops splash up to her feet.
“That’s cold! Okay, okay! I like you!”
Her gaze sticks to mine, and I feel a tug that I know she has to feel too. The heat and raw pleasure that shoot through me when I kiss those cool lips is terrifying. She has no idea how fucking addicting she is. If she knew how I felt in this moment, she’d put an end to oursummer fling. “Aw, Rem, that’s so sweet.” Before she can reply, I leap into the waves, plunging us both into the cool water.
The first word I hear when we surface is asshole. Arms wrap around me again, and I hold her tight against me. The waves bounce us around, hitting me at chest level.
“I’m going to kill you,” she gasps.
“After the way you just gushed over how much you like me, how sexy I am, and how no man can ever outdo me in bed?”
Shivering a little, she shakes her head. “If you’re hearing voices, you might need a doctor.”
“I hear what I want to hear.”
Her arms link around my neck and she looks me in the eye. “I do like you.” She plants a firm kiss on my mouth. “I’m glad you’re here. This summer would’ve been awful if you hadn’t come.”
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
* * *
When we return to work, I’m prepared to deal with Evan if he gives her any trouble for leaving him waiting for her out in front of the bar, but she shakes her head at the suggestion.
“No. Thanks for the offer, but I can handle it.”
I’ll admit, I want to press the issue, go all caveman and maybe kiss her in front of everyone, but I know that would piss her off. Zara’s lectured us more than once about how women shouldn’t have to use the excuse of having a boyfriend instead of just saying no. It is screwed up when I stop to think about it, that guys respect a man’s claim on a woman more than her assertion that she isn’t interested. I need to let her handle it if that’s what she wants.
It still makes for a long morning of thinking about her until I see her at lunchtime. The smile on her face when she meets me at my truck is a relief, even before she assures me everything is fine.
“I talked to Jim about moving me permanently to the painting crew. It’s the only thing I’m not terrible at. I think he was relieved to do it and not have me screwing up the other stuff. It’s actually kind of fun now that I’m getting better at it.”
Getting better at it has her spattered in gray paint. Flecks and smears cover her clothes and skin. It’s cute as hell. “I told you you’d get the hang of it.” We head to a little hamburger restaurant around the corner and eat at their outdoor tables in the shade.
“No problems with Evan then?”
“No.” She glances up at me. “Are you sure you’re okay with, you know, limiting yourself to sleeping with me while we’re here? I know it probably isn’t the most fair situation since it’s temporary, but I also don’t want a Florida STD.”
