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‘You think?’ he breathed. ‘Why don’t you find out for yourself?’ He was a millimetre from her pretty face, willing her to take what he was really offering. ‘Go on, Skylar. Ask me anything.I dare you.’
CHAPTER FOUR
OH,SHE’DDARE...
But she didn’t. Old habits were hard to break. She just had to back away slowly. Take the exit via the beach.
‘You can’t go yet,’ he said softly.
‘Why not?’ She glared at him.
‘You really have to ask?’
A moment of searing tension strung her out before she shook her head sceptically. While she was thinking wildly inappropriate things about him, he was merely toying with her. That was what he did. ‘Oh, please.’
He stood very, very still—his hands still in his pockets—as a faint flush coloured his sculpted cheeks. He was insanely handsome but he didn’t mean anything in this moment. He could turn his charm off and on like a switch.
‘I didn’t get a thank-you,’ he said eventually.
‘You’d be satisfied with a mere thank-you?’
‘Yeah, no. You’re right. Actions do speak louder than words.’
What kind ofactionswas he thinking of? She glared at him. ‘You want a ticker tape parade for acting like a decent human?’
‘Maybe you might offer to get me a drink,’ he said.
‘You’re thirsty?’
His smile appeared. ‘You have to agree it’s very hot out here.’
She shot him another withering look, but she was the one withering inside.Run.
‘Still no thank-you?’ he said after a moment. ‘When I rescued you so gallantly?’ He tut-tutted. ‘You do intrigue me, Skylar.’
‘Am I supposed to be pleased about that?’ She folded her arms across her chest and wished for inches.
‘You’re saying you’re not?’ His grin widened. ‘But maybe you’re notquiteas polite as you’ve always appeared.’ His eyes gleamed. ‘Maybe you sometimes like to get dirty too. In fact, I’m sure you do.’
Her breath stalled. She couldn’t answer that.
‘Thanks or not, I’m glad I was here to help,’ he added. ‘Your hair is stunning. It would be devastating if it were damaged.’
Devastating?She felt an absurd pleasure that he liked her hair. And itwasabsurd, because she also knew this was just another of his lines. ‘You really can’t stop yourself, can you?’
‘Stop myself from what?’
‘Flirting.’
The corner of his lush mouth curved. ‘You think this is me flirting?’
Die. Again. Just die.
He walked so close that she had to step back. And she kept stepping until the backs of her legs hit the sun lounger. That’s when she was forced to stop. But he didn’t stop. Not until he was less than a breath apart from her.
‘You definitely weren’t at this party last year,’ he said softly. ‘You’reneverat these sorts of parties.’
She tossed her head. ‘What makes you so sure?’