Page 54 of Cougar

I didn’t understand what he meant by that.

“Just promise me one thing.”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Promise me you won’t try to make her forget. Emerson has a big heart. There’s room for both of us.”

Emerson is lying by the pool, eyes closed, tapping her tiny foot to the beat of whatever song is pumping through her wireless headphones. My guess is it's a classic rock band, like Journey or Queen. Hell, it could be Justin Timberlake.

Her black hair is twisted into a messy knot on the top of her head. Her tan skin glistens under the sun with a mixture of tanning oil and sweat. The triangles of her black bikini top are stretched over her fairly large breasts, the bottoms dipping low enough to show off the small tattoo, a tribal heart, on her pelvis.

I’d give my pitching arm right now for the chance to untie that little scrap of material and bury my face in her—

“Are you checking me out?” My gaze jerks to meet hers and she winks.There’s the sassy Emerson I know.

“Shamelessly.” I smirk.

“Funny.” She swats a hand at me. “Creeper.”

I wasn't trying to be funny.“It’s the truth.” I squat on the lounger beside hers. “I’m a guy and I have eyes.” I exhale a whistle through my teeth. “And you’re very easy on the eyes, Em.”

Her mouth twists to the side. “For an old lady?”

“Forty is the new thirty, you know? You don’t look a day over twenty-nine.”

She rolls her head back and laughs. “You’re so full of shit.”

Resting my forearms on my thighs, I lean forward. “I’ve never been more serious in my life, Em. You’re seriously one of the sexiest women I’ve ever known.” I should probably dial it back a little before she clams up.

She stares at me for a moment before snagging her sunglasses off the side table and sliding them over her eyes. My eyes fall to her chest and I notice the flush running up her neck to her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.” I chuckle. “You’re so adorable.”

“Great,” she drawls. “I went from sexy to adorable.”

“You can be both.” I wiggle my brows before scanning her backyard. “It’s nice back here. I’ve wanted to check out the lake. Have you been down there yet?”

She shrugs. “No.”

I shake my head. “Em, you need to get out of this house. Even if it’s only for a boat ride on the lake.”

“I go out.” She sits up and looks over her shoulder. “We have a boat?”

I bark out a laugh. “Seriously?”

She shrugs. “No one ever mentioned a boat.”

“You should let me take you out.”

“On the boat?”

“On the boat. To dinner. To a movie. To a club. Anywhere that isn’t here.”

She smirks and settles back against the lounger. “I’ll think about it.”

She didn’t say no. I’d say that’s progress.

* * *

Emerson

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