Page 6

Looking up at him, I tilt my head, trying to tame a smile. “You going to finish that sentence, or let my imagination run with it?”

I watch as his hand slowly reaches for my hip, and my breath gets caught in my throat at what he’s trying to say… Trying to do.

“Cash, honey!” Gigi’s holler fills the air.

We immediately break apart and turn to face her house. It’s a ways up the hill, so I doubt that at her age, she was able to see how close the two of us were standing. Who am I kidding? That woman doesn’t miss a damn thing.

“Yeah?” Cash shouts back.

“You ready for the food?”

“I’ll grab it!” Cash goes to take a step in that direction, motioning for some of his guys to come help, but not before he turns back to me. “We’ll talk more later.”

“Later.” I wink, then head toward the water, and this time, I don’t hide my smile.

After several hours of sun, water, and delicious food, I find the perfect circle float and lazily drift around the pond. The sun is beginning to set, but music still filters through the air as I bounce my feet in tune with the beat.

I giggle to myself as I recall Cash eying my every move tonight. The way he would settle beside me if any of his guy friends would linger for too long. I’m finding it very difficult to keep my attraction to him at bay. Not with the way he looks at me…

A shiver runs through my body as I picture his golden-brown eyes on me, as if memorizing every inch. Especially tonight, being in the teeniest bikini I own. And yes, I did it on purpose. I like his attention. Probably more than I should, all things considered.

The Leblancs have welcomed my mom and me with open arms and hearts, making it more than easy to fit into their daily lives.

At first, I thought my mom was crazy for agreeing to move here, but after getting to know Cal, I understand.

He really is a nice guy; I can't blame her for going after a good thing.

Unsure of how long I’ve been out here, I hear at least one truck start. Guess it’s later than I assumed. My thought’s confirmed when I hear another engine roar to life. I'm too far from the shore to say goodbye, so I just stay where I am instead. Besides, the sky is too pretty to look away.

I hear a big splash behind me, and I assume Mav or one of the remaining guys is using the rope swing for one last dip in the pond. A few moments later, my tube is tilting ever-so-slightly behind my head, making my body tense up.

“I swear, if you tip me over, you’ll regret it,” I chastise the jackass behind me.

“Is that so?” The cool timber of Cash’s voice brushes along my ear. My body breaks out in goosebumps at the warmth of his breath so close to my neck.

“Yup, trust me. You don’t want to test the theory.”

He spins my tube and latches onto the side where there’s room for his large frame to hook on. “You’ve been out here forever. I needed to make sure you were still alive, and the girls didn’t slip you something.”

“So you’re confirming they were death glares.

” I tilt my head to the side so he can see my smirk.

There was no confusing the way they all stared at me.

Regina George, aka Tori, was non-stop with the looks, even once her posse came down and actually joined the party.

Mav quickly mentioned she has a thing for Cash, so I'm assuming her glares were because we spent most of the party by each other’s side.

Well, that was, until I escaped into the pond.

He chuckles. “They’re not the friendliest, I’ll admit. Especially not to girls like you.”

My eyebrows pinch at that. “And what in the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Bella,” he says, then licks those frickin’ lips of his again. I feel his thumb slowly brushing along my leg. His green eyes bore into mine, begging me to understand what he’s trying to say, and I can feel the swarm of butterflies take off deep in my belly.

Bella… I thought I loved Bobcat, but I think Bella may be my new favorite nickname.

There’s only one thing I know for certain at the moment. I want him to kiss me. I want to feel his lips on mine. To be wrapped up in his arms again.

I subtly shift my body to the side, inviting him to make a move. His hand creeps farther up my leg, and I swear my heart skips a beat.

“Bella, I—” he starts to say, leaning closer, inches from my lips, but then a huge spotlight shines down onto the pond, and he stops.

“Fuck,” he growls, knowing our moment is over. “Papaw gets nervous with night swimming out here. We’re allowed to; we just need the spotlight to go on after sunset.”

“It’s alright, I get it,” I say, hiding the disappointment in my tone.

“Let me bring you back to the shore.”

“Lead the way, Stud.”

He quirks his eyebrow at me. “Stud?”

“Seems fitting.” I shrug, biting the inside of my lip, and he lets out a soft laugh. Fuck, I love the sound of it.

Cash swims alongside my float, pulling me back to shore, the tension somewhat lifted, but his hand doesn’t leave my thigh until we’re much closer to the edge.

And although I know I shouldn’t, I want nothing more than for his warm, strong hand to explore every part of my body.