Page 41 of Good Twin Gone Country

“I like to think of myself as confident, but let’s say yes on both counts.”

At the end of the dock, she considered her options. The good news was she had worn a sturdy bra and a pair of underpants that wouldn’t come off when she dived in. On the other hand, if she stripped to the skin, Gavin would be forced to do the same. She loved the idea of calling him on his dare.

His hands landed on her hips, his body warming hers from behind. “You’re thinking about it.”

“Only because I want to give you a taste of your own medicine.”

“Why don’t you give me a taste of your lips instead?”

The offer was too good to resist, especially since she hadn’t had a real kiss from him in what felt like forever. She turned in the circle of his arms, cupped his neck and lifted her chin. He lowered his mouth and kissed her, teasing the seam of her lips with his tongue before deepening their connection.

The kiss intensified and he hugged her close, his arms locked at her back, a low groan eking from his throat. She kissed him until her breasts were flattened against his chest and their hips bumped with an urgency to do far more than was publicly decent.

But she wasn’t going to back out. No matter how badly she wanted him. She’d worried about consequences for far too long. Worried about the effects of her actions on Hannah’s life rather than considering their effects on her own.

Hallie took a deliberate step away from him, walking backward on the creaking boards of the dock, and shed her jacket. Brisk air cooled her arms, but she ignored it and untied the belt holding her dress closed. When she opened the fabric and bared her bra and panties to him, she sucked in a breath of pure cold. Goose bumps lit her skin. Gavin’s proud, awestruck expression encouraged her to keep going.

She had never skinny-dipped in her life. And now here she was, in complete control and having fun. Only Gavin could have convinced her to do something this crazy.

“Challenge accepted, Sutherland.” She unhooked her bra and threw it at his face. He caught it in midair as she pushed her panties to her ankles and kicked them off.

Steeling herself one last time, she blew out a breath, turned and leaped into the freezing water.

Gavin had been on the verge of telling her she didn’t have to jump into the lake. Half of him had been pushing her for fun, the other half curious how far she’d go. He’d never expected her to take off all her damn clothes.

She hadn’t given him time to argue. One second she was tongue-wrestling him, the next she was tearing off her dress like she had no qualms about it whatsoever. Who was this intriguing woman?

He was still staring into the dark water, her bra in his hand, when she sputtered to the surface and sucked in a breath.

Damn.He couldn’t believe she’d done it.

“How is it?” he asked with a laugh.

“Not bad.” She treaded water, her smile intact. Maybe he’d miscalculated and the water wasn’t as cold as he’d thought. “What are you waiting for?”

“What I was waiting for already happened,” he told her before tucking her bra into his pocket.

“We had a deal.”

“That we did.” He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he’d promised. He made quick work of shucking his clothes and, before he lost his nerve, jumped in.

Holy. Hell.

The water hit him like ice. He combed through the frigid lake to burst to the surface, gasping when his head popped out of the water. He was greeted by Hallie’s laughter...followed by the audible chattering of her teeth.

“Are you kidding me?” His voice was higher than he would’ve liked. His balls had shrunk to the size of sugar peas.

“Hey, this was your idea.”

“I didn’t know it’d be this cold.”

“I’m less afraid of the cold and more afraid of giant alligators.”

“A giant alligator would have the sense to stay out of frigid water.”

She glided closer, brushing his shoulder with her arm, or possibly her breast. He couldn’t tell. The water hadn’t become warmer, but his bloodstream sure had. Her small hands came to rest on his shoulders and he guided her legs around his waist, swimming to a shallow part where he could put his feet on the sandy bottom.

“I’m suddenly much warmer,” he lied, swiping away a droplet of water as it trickled down her nose.

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