Page 7 of Charm (Billionaire Buck Boys #7)
CHAPTER SEVEN
Greer
I didn’t have a lot to choose from when it came to bikinis. I only brought three with me because that’s all I own.
The one I finally decided on is red and fits like a second skin. The thin strings that hold the top up are tied tightly at the base of my neck and not as tightly behind my back. The strings on the sides of the bikini bottoms are secured in loosely knotted bows.
I don’t want Joe to struggle getting me out of it.
I laugh to myself as I gather up two towels and head toward the main living area. I’ve imagined everything that will happen tonight, right down to him removing my bikini.
In my mind’s eye, it’s a slow pull on the strings to reveal everything that’s underneath the material. For all I know, Joe will want me so desperately that he’ll rip the suit from my body.
The laugh shifts into a soft smile on my lips.
I should be nervous, but all I’m feeling is excitement. It’s been a while since I’ve slept with a man, but this feels right.
It’ll be a fun adventure, and I’ll leave East Hampton feeling satisfied and relaxed.
A soft rap at the front door tells me my neighbor is a few minutes early. I can’t say I’m surprised. I’m anxious to get the night started, too.
I swing open the door to find him smiling at me.
He’s shirtless and wearing a pair of striped navy blue and white board shorts.
When I saw him naked in the pool earlier, I got a glimpse of his bare chest, but up close, it’s hard not to stare.
He’s all muscle and tanned skin. I feel like I hit the lover lottery this weekend.
“Summer,” he says my fake name in a voice edged with intensity. “You’re incredible.”
A slow smile spreads over my lips. “Forgive me if it takes a minute for me to get used to you calling me that.”
“Forgiven,” he says with a smile of his own. “For the record, if you want to share your real name with me, I’m all ears.”
I’m keeping that to myself. When I leave here on Sunday, I can do it knowing this tryst won’t follow me back home. My life is too full for a man at the moment. “For the record, that won’t happen.”
A deep chuckle flows from him. “Understood.”
I move aside to let him in. His bare feet pad across the tile floor as he heads toward the kitchen. “I’ll open the wine.”
“I’m not sure where the corkscrew is,” I say as I trail him. “Or the wine glasses.”
“I know where to find them.”
I tap his shoulder right before he reaches the entrance to the kitchen. Just that light touch sends a pulse of awareness through me. It’s enough to make me freeze in place.
He glances back at me with one eyebrow perched in silent query.
“I…um, I…” I stammer through that before I take a deep breath so I don’t sound like a blubbering fool. “I wasn’t aware that you knew where things were in the kitchen. Did you know where the measuring cups were when I was looking through the cupboards earlier?”
He turns to face me. “Yes, but in my defense, I was enjoying watching you search for them. You tapped your chin every time you opened a cupboard and they weren’t there.”
I hold back a smile. “I didn’t do that.”
He taps his chin with his pointer finger. “Like this. When you do it, it’s fucking adorable.”
“I don’t do that,” I argue playfully.
“You sure as hell do, Summer.”
I drop the subject for one that fascinates me. “So, you know your way around the kitchen here?”
“I do.” He acknowledges with a brisk nod. “Mrs. Frye cooks dinner for me sometimes. Technically, she sits and sips wine while she instructs me on how to cook us dinner just the way she likes.”
Surprised by that, I smile. I only know the owner from our message exchanges on the vacation home rental app. She was incredibly friendly. I could have done without her trying to set me up, but I stepped right into that when I mentioned I’m divorced and traveling alone.
“I told you I was the neighbor,” he reminds me. “I’m a damn good neighbor.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
He rakes me from head to toe. “You’ll judge me a ten out of ten.”
Shaking my head, I laugh. “You’re a little too sure of yourself, Joe.”
“I know what I have to offer.” He steps closer to me. “You’re about to have a weekend you won’t soon forget.”
The assurance in his words is matched by the promise in his gaze. I know he’s speaking the truth. This man exudes a raw sensuality that I’ve never experienced before.
“But first, wine.” He flashes me a smile. “I’ll pour two glasses.”
I nod, suddenly struck with the overwhelming urge to ask him a question. “Are you single?”
His gaze finds mine again. “I am, but I’m not looking for anything…”
“Oh, no!” My hand jumps in the air to ward off what I know he’s about to say. “I’m not looking for anything either other than some weekend fun. I don’t want to overstep a line drawn by someone else. That’s all.”
“A line drawn by another woman?” he questions. “If you’re asking if I’m married or involved, I’m not. I’m happily divorced.”
“Me too,” I blurt out without taking a second to consider whether I want to share that with him.
His gaze drops to my bikini top. “Your ex-husband is an idiot of the highest caliber.”
Biting the corner of my bottom lip, I nod. “You have no idea.”
I could say the same to him about his ex-wife, but I don’t know what tore them apart. I don’t want to know. Dealing with my divorce has caused me enough misery to last a lifetime.
“We’re both available, so let’s take advantage of it.” He motions toward the wine bottle. “If I don’t open this soon, so we can savor the taste, I’ll be tempted to pass it over to taste you.”
“Who needs wine?” I tease.
“Not me,” he says, but there’s not a hint of amusement in his tone. “If you’re willing to let me dive right in, I’m more than ready.”
“Dive right in?” I question because I want to hear him say the words.
“I’ll spell it out for you.” He moves toward the large dining table to set the bottle down. “I’m going to strip that bikini off of you in the next ten seconds and dive between your legs because I’ve been craving you since I first saw you.”
To accentuate the point, he slides two foil packages from his pocket and tosses them onto the table near the wine bottle. “We’ll need these later. For now, I want you to come on my tongue.”
His words echo through me as I glance at the condom packages. This is happening. I’m about to give myself to a complete stranger. That’s something I never thought I’d do, but yet, in this moment, it’s the only thing I want to do.
“I want that, too,” I whisper so softly that it’s barely audible.
I know he hears it because a slow smile glides over his lips. “Let’s start with a kiss.”