Page 16 of The Denver Alpha

I nod, storing those little tidbits away for later. Even though my mind is reeling, there’s one thing I keep coming back to. “So Tayla and Cole?”

Shay shrugs. “She’s just one of many. They aren’t in a relationship or anything.” She leans in closer to mumble “speak of the devil,” and I turn to see Cole striding out onto the pool deck, owning every inch of the space with his immense presence.

Although my brain is currently on information overload, I can’t seem to look away. Even after all I’ve just learned, even knowing he’s been hooking up with Tayla, there’s something about Cole Bauer that just pulls me in. And it isn’t just how damn gorgeous he is, though surely that’s part of it. It’s the confidence he exudes, the air of authority about him. That dark, mysterious thing buried beneath the surface that I’m itching to sink my claws into and pry out.

“Later, girl,” Shay breathes, pulling her feet out of the water and scrambling to stand. She snatches her flip flops up from the pavement, leaving a trail of wet footprints on the cement from her bare feet as she retreats. “Alpha,” she nods, skirting past Cole as he gives her a subtle nod of acknowledgement.

Then his dark eyes collide with mine, and for once, I’m completely tongue-tied. So rather than staring at him like a swooning schoolgirl, I kick off from the edge of the pool, twisting around and slicing my arms through the water to swim a quick lap.

Just to buy myself enough time to get my head together before going toe-to-toe with the Denver alpha again.

7

By the time I make it from the patio doors to the edge of the swimming pool, a bead of sweat is already rolling down my spine, the sun beating down brutally overhead like it is intent on scorching the earth before noon. This summer has been hot as hell, especially these last couple of weeks. Though I don’t swim often, that pool water is looking damn enticing right now- and not just because of the girl currently swimming in it.

Juliet’s suntanned skin practically glows as her body sluices through the water, her arms carving a path in freestyle stroke and her round ass bobbing out of the water enticingly with every kick of her feet.

My jaw ticks in irritation as she swims further away, suddenly focused on doing laps as if she didn’t realize I was headed straight for her when I came out here. Or maybe she did, and she’s just trying to piss me off by keeping me waiting.

It’s working.

Nobody keeps me waiting.

I clear my throat loudly when Juliet surfaces at the other end of the pool, glaring daggers into the back of her skull until she whips around to stare in my direction. She feigns surprise when our eyes meet like she’s just realized that I’m standing here, even though we both know full well that she saw me come out onto the pool deck.

The girl is playing games.

I shouldn’t let her little act get under my skin, but it does.

Itreallydoes.

I draw in a deep breath through my nose, jerking my head to beckon her over to me.

She smiles knowingly- because once again, Juliet Anderson knowsexactlywhat she’s doing- and spins around, keeping her head above water as she slowly makes her way back over.

So. Fucking. Slowly.

I clench my jaw, gritting my teeth so hard that it’s a miracle I don’t crack a tooth under the pressure.

Taking her sweet ass time, Juliet swims over to the edge of the pool, gripping onto the side and splashing my shoes as she pushes up from it with her arms. Rivulets of water carve a path between her breasts, barely concealed by that scrap of pale blue fabric masquerading as a swimsuit, the color a near perfect match to her icy blue eyes. She cocks her head to the side as she peers up at me, smiling sweetly.

“Come to join me for a swim?” she asks, beads of water clinging to her eyelashes as she bats them at me coquettishly.

I’m so caught up in looking at her that it takes a second for her question to register. A second too long, because the smirk pulling at the corners of her lips tells me that she’s definitely clocked me checking her out.

Damnit.I shouldn’t be looking at her like that. She’s ten years younger than me, for fuck’s sake. She’s just a kid, not to mention a thousand percent off-limits because of who she is. If only my dick would get the memo. It’s currently straining against my zipper, hardening by the second at the sight of her in that damn bikini.

“No,” I say bluntly, dropping the towel from my hands onto the pavement below. “Figured I’d go ahead and bring you this in case you were planning on coming to breakfast after your swim again.”

She clucks her tongue, tilting her head to the side. “Aw, how thoughtful. I do hate having wet hair.” Her lips lift at the corners.

My fingers curl into my palms.

Juliet pushes further out of the water, twisting to slide her ass onto the pavement and splashing the bottom of my slacks in the process. I stumble a few steps back, grumbling expletives under my breath as she snatches the towel from the ground and rises to her feet in front of me. I’m trying not to watch the way gravity casts beads of water trickling down that gorgeous sunkissed skin, shimmering like diamonds.

Trying, and failing.

“Careful, Sarge.” Juliet smirks as she wrings her ponytail out into the towel and my eyes snap back up to meet hers. They’re full of mischief, blue with the slightest glimmer of silver. “Keep doing sweet things like this and a girl might start getting ideas.”

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