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“We were only talking,” I said. “We were in sight of the house.”

Colt nodded abruptly and loosened his grip. “It’s not you. I’ve known Justice since he was a kid, and he… has a reputation.”

“He was fine,” I said. “A perfect gentleman, actually.” Even when I would have been okay with slightly less than gentlemanly behavior.

Colt only muttered and led me to a side table where two glasses of champagne waited, still fizzing, as if he’d set them there. As he handed me one, I shook my head.

“I had one earlier, and it went straight to my head. I still feel woozy.”

“Lightweight,” he teased. “You’re walking and talking just fine.” He pushed the glass into my hand. “This is the good stuff. In thanks for helping me make Isabella very happy tonight.”

“Doesn’t Tiana need me?”

He leaned down and whispered, “I lied.” He straightened. “That was about getting you away from the clutches of a very unsuitable young man.” He enunciated the words in a proper English accent, and then his lips twitched in that crooked smile I knew well. “Do you forgive me?”

Not really. I’d been having fun with Justice, and I was irked to be pulled away, especially when Justice hadn’t given off any unsuitable vibes. If Colt was right, though, m aybe he’d been working up to that, lowering my guard so I’d let him lead me from the watchful eyes of my employers.

“You are forgiven,” I said. “The surprise went well earlier. Isabella didn’t suspect a thing.”

He grinned as his eyes danced. “She didn’t. And so we must drink a toast to our success, student and teacher.”

We clinked glasses, and I tried to just take a sip, but he lifted the bottom of my glass, leaving me sputtering as champagne spilled down my throat.

When he reached to do it again, I chugged it, which I was certain was entirely wrong for expensive champagne.

He sipped a little of his and then set our glasses aside and took my hand, his warm fingers enveloping mine.

“I have something to show you,” he said. “My secret stargazing spot.”

He tugged at my hand, and before I could protest, my feet were moving, following him as we jogged through the bushes that separated the beach house from the next property. The owners had left the first week of August, and the house was dark.

As we dashed onto the back deck, I giggled far more than necessary, the champagne making me so dizzy I could barely see straight. When I stumbled, Colt scooped me up, and I laughed, kicking half-heartedly.

He carried me across the dark porch to a gray square embedded in the wood floor. Then he kicked the square and managed to catch the edge on his toes, lifting what turned out to be a cover. Underneath, water glistened in the moonlight.

“A hot tub?” I said.

He hopped in with a splash that had me laughing anew as he turned and lowered me into the water.

“My secret stargazing spot,” he said.

“The neighbors’ hot tub? You just come over here and hop in?”

“Only when they aren’t home. They never remember to turn off the heater.”

As he sat, we sank into the warm water together, and I was dimly aware that I was on his lap, but my head swirled, thoughts flitting away before I could snatch them.

I did manage to seize one long enough to realize I should move, but when I squirmed, he held me there, chuckling, until my struggles dissolved in giggles.

As I settled onto Colt’s lap, he nuzzled my neck. Was he… kissing my neck? Whoa, no.

I struggled to move away again, and he let me get to my feet and slosh toward another seat in the tub. I made it two steps before he grabbed me, spun me around and pulled me to him, and this time, when I ended up on his lap, I was straddling him.

“You’re so sweet, Lucy-girl,” he murmured as he nuzzled my neck. “As sweet and delicious as cotton candy.”

His hands slid down my sides. My bare sides. I was still wearing the bikini.

I was on Colt’s lap, straddling him, wearing scraps of fabric, while he was in his bathing trunks, pushing up hard against me.

Pushing hard…

No, no, no.

He kissed my throat, whispering words I couldn’t hear as blood crashed in my ears, my brain and body warring. I had to go, go now , but his hands felt so good. He felt so good.

Colt was kissing me.

Not just my neck. His lips were on mine, and I wasn’t sure how they got there. Time had seemed to leap from his lips on my neck to his mouth on mine. His hands gripped my hips, and he ground into me, and oh, God, that felt so good.

No, no, no.

I went to shove his hands off my hips. Only they weren’t there anymore. They were on my breasts. My bare breasts. Where was my bikini top? How did his hands get there? What the hell was happening?

Stop.

I needed to stop him.

Except I didn’t want to. It felt so–

Isabella.

Her name was like a slap, and I reeled back, arching from the kiss, breaking it, pushing Colt, his hands gripping my breasts as something sounded behind us.

As a click sounded behind us.

A click-click-click , like the whirring of some giant insect. Light reflected off the side of the house. Flash-flash-flash , keeping time with the clicks.

I twisted out of Colt’s grip just as the camera flashed again.