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“We’re hidden here, so you can go full commando if you like.”

He met her shocked look with a chuckle and headed down to the river, followed by an excited Wendy.

Kitty's eyes stayed glued to Josh’s tight buttocks as they made their way down to the water’s edge, the nails on each hand digging into her palms.How did they end up here? An hour ago, he was pouring his heart out, a few minutes ago, she was humiliating herself, and now he was half naked, tempting her into the water.

Kitty got to her feet, still mesmerised by the sight of Josh’s butt cheeks, when a thought barrelled into her brain. Crap! What knickers had she put on this morning? With such an early start, she couldn’t remember what she’d grabbed in the dark. Offering a silent prayer to St. Agnes, the patron saint of chastity and purity, she hoped at least that they matched her bra.

Josh stood in the shallows and threw a stick for Wendy, waiting for Kitty to join him. His broad back glistened with light perspiration, and its muscles jostled for supremacy under his skin as he moved.Kitty shivered.

She really had to get a grip. She was only taking a near-naked swim with an achingly sexy and unattainable friend. Kitty hadn’t read the instruction manual for these types of situations, but as long as she looked and didn’t touch, things would be fine.

Taking a deep breath and a leap of false confidence, Kitty stripped off Josh’s T-shirt and her shorts, glancing down to check what undies she was wearing. Relief flooded her as she noted they matched. They were utilitarian and plain black, but at least they matched.

The giggle that escaped her lips caused Josh to turn around. When their eyes locked, his lit up, and a flash of embarrassment swept through her. What if he thought she was too gangly? He’d already used the word once. Did he prefer bigger boobs? Why hadn’t she checked if her bikini line was fuzz-free?

Wendy barked in the shallows, urging Josh to throw the stick again. But as if the moment locked him in time, he stood there, a smile settling on his lips. Kitty was on the verge of turning around and running all the way back to Rose Cottage, even if it meant sprinting up High Street in her bra and knickers. Steeling herself, though, she took a deep breath and untied her hair.

Okay, so far, so good. Her clothes had been removed with little fuss. Now to enter the water. Kitty set off down the bank, trying to muster all the poise and grace of a classic movie star. Instead, she trod on something sharp. A full-throated “Fuck!” left her mouth, and the offending stone sent her tripping and hopping right into Josh’s chest.

She caught him off balance and almost bowled him over into the water. His muscular arms and legs kept them both upright, and he set Kitty back on her feet, laughter in his eyes. Their bodies were so close that she swore she could feel the molecules dance under her skin, attempting to join with his. It would be so easy to reach out and touch him. To run her lips across his glowing….

“So sorry. I’m so clumsy,” was all Kitty could say as their lips drew level.

The corners of his mouth twitched. “Been hanging out with many sailors lately?” he said quietly, his soft breath brushing her cheek.

“Shit! I’m sorry for my language,” she said, wincing at the irony of her statement.

“I’ve heard worse,” he said. “Shall we do it?”

Kitty’s eyes widened.

“Do it?”

“Take a swim,” Josh said.

“Oh, yes. Take a swim. Sure, you go first.”

Kitty breathed out the minute he turned away. What the hell did she think he meant, for goodness’ sake? And why had she suddenly turned into a gibbering wreck unable to form proper sentences?

Taking a few more steps into the river,Josh dived straight into its cool depths. The sight of his body slicing through the crystal water was glorious, every muscle on his hard, chiselled flesh defined in the sharp sunlight. He came up out of the darkness and pushed his wet hair back. He looked like a Greek god. Kitty licked her lips.

“I thought you were joining me?” he shouted.

“Sorry. I got side-tracked.”Very side-tracked.

Kitty walked into the river, wading in until the gurgling water covered her thighs. She held her breath before executing a tidy dive into the dark green water.Grateful for not belly-flopping, the river's cool tendrils wrapped around her hot skin. She stayed under as long as possible, working out the perfect angle to exit the water. If she judged it right, she’d come up with her long hair fanned out behind her. If not, she’d look more like Cousin It.

Much to Kitty’s relief, her exit from the depths went according to plan, and with her hair in place, she trod water alongside Josh.

“This is amazing. Thank you for bringing me here.”

A stunning grin lit up his face, and Kitty’s heart fluttered.

“We can go back down memory lane if you like,” Josh said. “Swim down under the bridge where it’s shallow. We used to fish off the bank there. Do you remember?”

A furrow hit Kitty’s brow. “I’d forgotten. But coming here brings it all back. You taught me how to spear worms on hooks,” she giggled.

“Is that all you remember from my fishing lessons? Worm spearing?”