Down for the Count (Dare Me)

chapter Five


“You’re a married woman,” she told herself. “At least until the annulment.” Lacey watched her reflection, waiting for it to roll its eyes at her stern reminder.

She muffled a groan. Crap. She was in big trouble. No. Huge, ginormous, major trouble, because she was madly in lust with her best friend’s brother and it was so not okay. She bent at the waist and rubbed the towel vigorously over her hair. Just the feel of Galen’s hard body against hers had her senses rioting in a way that even the whole tamale with Marty hadn’t. If she wasn’t sure she’d made a mistake in her choice of husbands before, she was sure of it now.

Was that what it was supposed to feel like? Wild and crazy and like you would do anything…anything at all for another taste? Or was it the sand and sun coupled with her first taste of real freedom? She’d had some during college, but since her parents had insisted she go to a posh school only forty minutes from home, even that had been tempered by their influence. Now she was free to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted, and there was no one to judge her for it.

Except Galen.

She straightened and hung the towel on the hook behind her. Somehow, despite the jabs they’d exchanged over the years, she got the distinct feeling they were in a judgment-free zone. She could act a fool, and he would stand back, watch, and smile. She could drink and dance and act crazy, and he’d be fine with that. Was his only motive to try and help her through this transition, encouraging her to let go a little and enjoy this trip? Or was there more to it? If the hot ridge in his bathing suit had been any indication, she would have to guess the latter.

She suppressed a shiver and tugged her dress over her head. Why now? Why after all these years had he finally decided to notice her?

“Save me some hot water,” he called through the door.

If she’d had the balls he gave her credit for, she would’ve suggested he join her next time. But she didn’t, and she wouldn’t. Instead she smoothed the skirt of her cotton sundress and opened the door. “I’ve been out for ten minutes now. I was getting changed.” She stepped into the bedroom and gestured to the bathroom door. “It’s all yours. Make sure you wipe out the drain when you’re done. And hang up your towel.”

He smirked and flicked a lighting-fast hand out, snapping said towel at her bare toes.

“Hey!” she squealed and jumped back.

“Don’t take that bossy tone with me. I’m telling you right now, I’m going to leave stuff everywhere. Toilet seat up, towels on the floor, cap off the milk.” He tugged his T-shirt over his head and dropped in on the floor. “We need to break you of this control freakiness, and this is the perfect time to learn how to go with the flow and just let things happen.”

Inexplicably, his harmless words felt as weighty as the pressure in her belly. She tried not to stare at him but failed miserably. His board shorts hung low, clinging to his lean hips. She helplessly followed the trail of hair leading from his navel downward…

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you never saw a half-naked man before, squirt.” His voice had dropped to almost a whisper, and even the childish nickname felt like a caress.

“I have,” she protested and took another step back. “Plenty of times.” Okay, she might have exaggerated a bit, but he didn’t need to know that. “You have to admit, though, you’re bigger than most.”

“Well, I appreciate that, darlin’. You know exactly what to say to a man, don’t you?” He flicked her nose with the tip of his finger and chuckled when she flushed.

“I didn’t mean that.” She gestured to his general groin area in a circular motion and that only made him laugh harder. “You’re such a guy sometimes,” she said with a snort of disgust. “I meant, big like tall and…beefy.”

“I guess that’s better than being doughy or fragile, so I’m going to go out on a limb and take that as a compliment.”

“You do that.” The sparring between them felt so strange with the addition of this new sexual tension. Like she’d fallen down a rabbit hole or, more likely, into one of the decade’s worth of fantasies she had stored up. She crossed the room, waiting for the bathroom door to close so she could breathe again, but felt the heat of his gaze trailing her.

“By the way.” His voice had dropped low again, the silky, intimate tone sending her pulse careening. “I like your dress.”

“Uh, thanks. I g-got it at Target.” Oh, yeah. Very smooth. But still, she couldn’t stop the flow. “My mom hates when I shop there. She says it’s for poor people.”

Perfection. She must have picked up that tidbit in some trendy women’s magazine. If a super-hot guy compliments you, make sure to bring up your mom. And if you can squeeze in a comment about her elitist views, even better.

To Galen’s credit, he only smiled.

“Hurry up and take your shower. I’m starved.”

.

Half an hour later they were strolling down Los Rosales Street in search of food. It was a good thing, too, because sharing close quarters with him was getting to be an issue. She must have been crazy to agree to spending the next two weeks with him.

“That place looks good,” he said, pointing to a terra-cotta building dripping in exotic blooms. The elegant sign above the lanai read FLORES, which was fitting. As they approached, a nattily dressed waiter strode by carrying a heaping plate of lobster, orangey-pink and glistening with butter.

She eyed the tray longingly then gave a regretful shake of her head. “We can’t. My dress is too casual for a place like this, and you’d probably need a jacket or at least pants.”

“We won’t know unless we try. What’s the worst thing they can do? Say we can’t go in?”

His nonchalance baffled her. It would be mortifying to get turned away. People would probably stare, and the host would think they were a couple of idiots. “I’ll pass. The bistro across the street is fine.”

He took her wrist and stopped her on the sidewalk. “I thought this was going to be the era of pushing boundaries for you? Now you won’t even go to the restaurant where you want to eat? What a chicken.”

Her stomach growled at the mention of poultry and Galen sent her a wicked grin. She gnawed on her bottom lip, trying to work up the nerve to go up to the desk, but really, what was the point? They had a lot of time. They could dress appropriately tomorrow and eat there without causing waves. She was all for change, but probably baby steps were better.

“I’d rather go another night,” she said primly.

Was it her imagination, or did he look slightly disappointed in her? She refused to explore why the thought bothered her and instead led him toward the bistro.

A few minutes later, they stood by the outdoor bar less than fifty yards from the ocean. The room was long and narrow, with seating designed to take advantage of as much beachfront space as possible. Tables flanked the railing, offering both a breeze and a view, or with a few steps down, patrons could sit at a table in the sand if they chose.

A waitress bustled by with what looked like a mouthwatering plate of shrimp and Lacey grinned. “Nice place.”

He nodded. “But don’t let the fact that it worked out well this time go to your head. It’s always better to take a chance than to be left doing the safe thing and wondering what you’re missing. I bet that lobster was fantastic.” His tone was teasing but she knew he was only half kidding, just as she knew he was right.

“It’s been one day. I’m a work in progress. Don’t forget, half of Condado Beach saw my boobs earlier, so I need some recovery time.”

She climbed onto a stool, and once she was seated, he did the same. The bartender came over and set menus in front of them. “What can I get you to drink?” he asked with a thick accent. She responded in her high school Spanish, and the waiter grinned.

“What did you order?” Galen asked.

“A cubre libre sans the rum.”

He chuckled. “So, a Coke?”

“Yeah. With a lime.” He clucked his tongue disapprovingly and she gave him a light shove on the shoulder. “Don’t be a bad influence. I may be sitting at the bar, but there is no way I’m drinking after yesterday. Not tonight. In fact, maybe not ever again.”

Low, husky laughter met her pronouncement. She and Galen both turned toward the source. A beautiful woman with a pin-straight fall of ebony hair sat a few stools down from them.

“Oh man, I’ve been there before,” the woman said. She was a stunner, with catlike eyes so dark they were almost black. Her sun-kissed skin suggested she’d been in San Juan for a while, although her New England accent indicated that she wasn’t a native.

The handsome sandy-haired man with her nodded more enthusiastically than she must have liked, because she gave him a playful swat on the arm. “What?” he protested. “I’m not the one who tells you to mix like that. You’re drinking wine, you drink wine. You don’t then have a beer and then a mixed drink. Am I right?” This he aimed at Galen, who held up both hands.

“Whoa, no comment. I don’t get involved in domestic disputes like this, especially when she’s clearly violent.”

The couple laughed, and Lacey felt a spurt of envy at Galen’s comfort level with strangers. While she’d always been polite, there was a natural banter that his laid-back presence seemed to inspire in spite of his intimidating size. She liked people, but anxiety held her back from making friends very easily. Actually, now that she thought about it, she’d had the same few friends since childhood. Even then it had been the result of another person befriending her, not the other way around.

Cat had instigated their friendship. She’d taken Lacey’s Twinkie and pronounced, “We’re gonna be bestest friends, you and me.” In spite of Lacey’s reserved reaction—she was pretty sure she’d shrugged helplessly—deep down, she had been thrilled to bits. Over the moon that this crazy little girl with hair the shade of a new penny, who used her outside voice all the time, would want to be friends with a boring nobody like her.

The man’s smooth alto brought her back to the present. “I’m Cyrus, and this is my fiancée, Nikki. So where you guys from?”

“Rhode Island. You?”

“Connecticut.”

A long silence ensued, during which Nikki and her man exchanged a glance. “Would you like to join us?” he asked, finally gesturing to the four-top table behind them.

Lacey tamped down the familiar swirl of nervousness and nodded. Dinner with exotic strangers. “That sounds like fun.” She couldn’t squelch the little rush of delight that swept through her when Galen tipped his head in approval.

At the suggestion of their waiter, she and Cyrus ordered the pork mofongo while Nikki and Galen opted for the catch of the day. Conversation flowed easily, and by the time their meals were served, Lacey felt at ease.

“This is unreal,” murmured Galen around a mouthful of grilled red snapper.

He and Lacey ended up passing their plates back and forth for tasting, and Lacey agreed wholeheartedly. The native spices were new to her and sent her senses into overdrive in the best way. She scraped the last remnants of tender roasted meat from her plate and sighed with regret. “Just perfect.”

“I tell you, we haven’t had a bad meal since we got here,” Cyrus said, pushing his almost empty plate away with a groan. “It’s only all the walking that’s kept me from packing on the pounds.”

“Well if that works, I guess that means we can have dessert. Prepare for a marathon tomorrow, Galen.”

He turned a lazy, half-lidded gaze toward her. “Dessert? You’re going to have to roll me out of here as it is. I haven’t eaten like this in eight months.”

Cyrus raised a questioning brow.

“Galen is a boxer. He just came off a fight in Atlantic City. It’s months of intense training and piles of chicken breast,” Lacey confided.

“Ooh, how exciting,” Nikki said, eyeing Galen speculatively. “So did you win?”

“He did,” Lacey said, pride swelling in her chest. “Knockout in the fifth.” It had been a real nail-biter up to that point, and she had spent the majority of the fight pacing in front of the TV. In fact, Marty had snapped at her because she was distracting him from his word puzzle.

“Shit, man, I recognize you now,” Cyrus said. “Whalin’ Galen Thomas! That’s very cool. I don’t get the chance to watch too much boxing, but you held the heavyweight belt for a while, didn’t you?”

Galen didn’t answer, instead raising his brows at Lacey in a clear challenge. She flushed. “He did. From summer of 2009 until mid-2010 when Manny Hermosa stole it in a controversial split decision.”

His slow grin melted her insides like butter in the sun. She cleared her throat. “So, uh, hopefully he’ll get it back before he retires.” Although her gaze was on Cyrus, she could feel Galen’s stare.

“I’m impressed,” Galen murmured.

“I like boxing,” she said, her cheeks burning. “So what do you do for work, Nikki?” she asked, desperately hoping for a change of subject, which Nikki warmed to quickly. She talked about her job in advertising, which she joked was at least as bloody as boxing, but Galen’s gaze stayed locked on Lacey, and she struggled to keep from squirming under the weight of it.

Today marked the first time she’d ever admitted that she’d followed his career. Closely. She and Cat had spoken of it in passing, and she’d gone to a couple of the parties the Thomases had hosted on fight nights. Marty had been in the apartment when she’d watched the most recent one, but no one else knew her secret. She hadn’t only watched his fights; she’d studied them. In fact, she had an entire collection of DVDs full of every televised matchup he’d ever had.

She always figured, if anyone found out, she could rationalize it with a response like, Hey, if you went to high school with Britney Spears, you’d buy her albums. But that wasn’t it at all. It was an opportunity to watch him in his element without him seeing the truth on her face.

She was crazy about him.

“What about you, Lacey?” Nikki asked.

“I work for my family’s law firm as the marketing director.”

“Wow, big job. Do you enjoy it?”

She opened her mouth to give her standard affirmative reply but stopped short. Did she enjoy it? She considered the question carefully. More than some things. Like jury duty and going to the gynecologist. But it wasn’t as much fun as, say, karaoke or taking in an action flick on a rainy Saturday afternoon. That’s what a job was, though, right? It wasn’t called happy fun play time. It was called work.

“It’s fine, as jobs go,” she hedged. “It was a given that I would join the firm, and I really don’t have the heart for criminal law, so it seemed like a good compromise.”

Cyrus nodded. “That’s how I feel. I work in finance, and it pays the bills, but it’s nothing to write home about. My free time is when I loosen up and enjoy life.” He leaned closer to his bride-to-be and squeezed her thigh. “Speaking of which, I know you said you’re never drinking again, but we have mojito makings and an awesome patio back at our place. Hot tub, pool, the whole nine. It’s a gorgeous night, so why don’t you guys come with us and hang out a while? It’s only half a mile down the beach. We can walk off some of this food.”

His gaze lingered on Lacey for a long moment, and she got a weird whiff of attraction coming from him. Surely she was mistaken. A handsome guy like Cyrus with a beautiful fiancée like Nikki wouldn’t be checking out a seven like Lacey, would he? The moment passed so quickly, she was sure she’d imagined it.

“What do you think?” Galen asked.

She shrugged. It was a beautiful night, and she didn’t relish the thought of going back to their villa yet. Better to keep busy rather than stew over her wedding day debacle.

“Well, I guess I could have one mojito, but then definitely no dessert,” Lacey said.

“You guys get the check while me and Lacey powder our noses,” Nikki said, before planting a smacking kiss on Cyrus’s cheek.

Lacey hesitated. The other couple had assumed she and Galen were an item, and it had seemed less important to correct them than it had to avoid putting a label on what they were, so neither of them had objected. Now, though, sticking Galen with the check felt crummy. He noted her hesitation and made an are you kidding me face, shooing her away with a wave of his hand. Both of them were comfortable financially, and a meal certainly wasn’t going to break the bank. She vowed to pick up the next one and trailed behind Nikki to the ladies room.

“I’m so glad we met. We still have another week, and as much as I love being with Cyrus, all this one-on-one togetherness was driving us both a little mad,” Nikki confided as she rifled through her bright green crocheted bag. “I confess, an hour into meeting you guys, I was fantasizing about tearing you away from that hunk of yours so we could engage in some retail therapy. Maybe mani pedis?”

Lacey wasn’t sure how to respond. It sounded like fun, but could she really go hang out with someone she’d just met? What if Nikki spent an hour with her and realized how dorky she was and regretted it? Or maybe she was like Cat and would appreciate having a dorky friend. Still, she hesitated.

Nikki held up a hand. “No pressure. Just, after a few days, you might be bored, too, you know?”

Lacey wanted to reassure her, but what could she say without sounding like a lame ass? I’d love to go shopping with you but, boo hoo, I don’t make friends very easily so this is weird for me. No, that would be the old Lacey who hung around guys like Marty. She was with Galen. Well, maybe not with him, with him, but…

She opted to play it cool. “Yeah, I totally agree on the too-much-one-on-one-togetherness thing. Major snoozeville. I’m definitely up for shopping at some point, so count me in.”

Nikki flashed a big grin. “Fab.” She went to dab some coral gloss onto her lips but hesitated. Eyeing Lacey in the mirror, she said, “I kinda had a feeling about you. About the two of you.”

Lacey tried not to fidget under her intense stare. Great. She already suspected that she and Galen weren’t a couple. It shouldn’t bother her. Heck, anyone could see they were a mismatch. She didn’t have any illusions about herself. She was reasonably attractive but Galen? Galen was sex on a plate, extra spicy. Now that the jig was up, there was no point in pretending, but it stung a little. “Obvious, huh?”

Nikki smiled and popped her brows. “I had a hunch. Full swap?” She held the pot of her lip gloss aloft.

Lacey eyed the gloss in Nikki’s hand, then down at her own and shrugged. What the hell? The color would look great with her dress, and new Lacey wouldn’t even think about the germs. “Sure.” She handed over her pink passion and plucked the coral color from Nikki’s fingers.

“Cool.” Nikki grinned and dabbed some of Lacey’s gloss onto her full lips. “Ready?”

Lacey applied the other woman’s gloss and nodded with relief. “Yep.”

“Ooh, that color looks super sexy on you! You can keep it.” She gave Lacey a broad wink and Lacey winked back. Seemed like Nikki wasn’t going to press for details about her and Galen’s relationship, which was fine by her.

Nikki snapped her purse closed and linked her arm through Lacey’s. “Let’s go get ’em.”

She was so…so hip and seemed so together that even if it was for a couple short weeks, why couldn’t Lacey pretend she was one of the cool crowd? The past twenty-four hours had been filled with bikinis, worldly new friends, and the risk of herpes simplex B. If that wasn’t living on the edge, she didn’t know what was. Why, if Cat were there, she would’ve been cheering her on with two-fingered whistles and foot stomps.

She donned the most go-with-the-flow, cool expression she could muster and nodded. “Yeah, let’s skedaddle.”

…

Lacey Garrity had watched all of his fights. Not just watched, judging by her in-depth recollections, but studied. It humbled him, and he was buoyed by the revelation. He didn’t want to read into it too much, but maybe she’d been harboring a little crush on him at some point that had gotten her interested in his boxing. When they were younger, a few times he’d caught her looking at him when she thought he didn’t see, but he’d taken it as nothing more than girlish curiosity in the physique of a growing boy. Now he wondered if it had been more than that, and what things might have been like for them if he’d known sooner and had acted on it. Maybe she never would’ve married that a*shole Marty, and they could’ve had a shot at something. But that ship had sailed.

Hadn’t it? He was still mulling that over when the ladies emerged from the bathroom. Nikki was chuckling, and Lacey looked happy and relaxed. He marveled that, in such a short time, she was already so much more at ease than he’d ever seen her. He had to admit, it looked good on her. Their day at the beach gave her skin a warm glow, and he resisted the urge to trace the delicate line of her shoulder.

“Ready?” she asked with a smile.

The four of them filed out of the restaurant and headed by tacit agreement toward the beach. The sun had plummeted off the horizon when the palm trees started to sing. Co-kee, co-kee.

“What is that?” Lacey whispered.

“Coquí frogs,” Nikki said. “Isn’t it lovely?”

“So neat. Do they do it every night?”

“Every night we’ve been here.”

They fell into a companionable silence as they strolled along the shore. With the waves lapping against the sand and the coquí singing their song, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to take Lacey’s hand. She stiffened and looked his way, but a second later, her fingers curled around his. It felt nice. More than nice. It felt…strangely right. The thought unsettled him. The last thing he needed was to get too emotionally attached. If things weren’t so complicated for her, it would be one thing, but falling in love with a neurotic woman who just got jilted at the altar and only wanted a rebound guy? That was a recipe for pain. Not going to happen. When she was ready, he would be happy to offer his body for her as-yet-untapped bad girl to practice on, but he was going to keep both hands up and protect his heart.

Cyrus and Nikki pulled ahead a bit, but Lacey seemed content to stroll, so he didn’t increase his pace. Their actions certainly weren’t doing anything to dissuade their new friends from thinking the two of them were a couple, but that didn’t bother him in the least. In fact, maybe now was a good time to see if that bad girl was ready to come out and play. He tugged her to a stop and bent low to pick up a flat stone.

“The water’s pretty calm. Know how to skip?”

She laughed. “Well, duh. Your sister is my best friend. You think the undisputed champion of Pawtucket Lake would allow me to go through life without learning how to skip a rock?” She dropped his hand and began searching the sand for a suitable stone. “A-ha!” She squatted down and came up with two perfect specimens. “Ready? I’ll bet I can get more hops than you.”

He snorted. “First off, ‘undisputed’ is entirely inaccurate. I dispute the shit out of Cat’s claim. Second, you’re on. I’ll even make it easy for you. My one to your two.”

They made their way to the water’s edge. “I know your stance on the whole ‘ladies first’ thing, so why don’t you go ahead.”

He chuckled and stepped up. “Watch and learn.” Waiting a beat until the gentle incoming wave crashed, he flicked his wrist and sent his stone skimming across the surface. One, two, three, four skips.

Lacey let out a low whistle. “Not bad. Now me.” She took a deep breath and blew it out before snapping her arm out to send the rock skittering across the water. One, two, three, four, five…shit.

“Seven! Woo-hoo! I am the champion!” she crowed, pumping her fist.

He laughed and shook his head. “One win doesn’t make you the champ, squirt.”

She stuck a hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side. “Why not? You beat Mickey Lewis one time and became champ. In fact, I think I deserve a belt.”

“I’ll give you a belt all right,” he said with a grin. But when her words sank in, he stepped closer. “Speaking of that, I’m happy to hear that you watch my fights, Lacey.”

He stepped closer, brushing a lock of hair from her cheek, and her breath caught. When her body swayed toward his, he leaned in. “Picturing you, in front of your TV, rooting me on? It makes me feel real good, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. But I know that I like it.”

The air seemed thin suddenly, and their harsh breathing eclipsed the sound of the waves. They stood, frozen for a long moment, until she tipped her head up, almost imperceptibly. He swallowed hard and bent low, his lips just touching the softness of hers, and her arms slipped around his hips—

“You guys coming or what?”

Cyrus’s voice calling from ahead dragged him back to reality with a jolt and he reluctantly pulled away. Lacey’s lashes fluttered and she shook her head.

“W-we shouldn’t do that anyway.” She sucked in a ragged breath. “Or anything else. Probably.”

He pursed his lips together to keep from smiling. “Okay. Then you might want to get your hand off my ass.”

She snatched it away like he was on fire and took a leaping step back. “Right. Sorry. I want to…kiss you. But I’m married.”

Hearing those words come out of her mouth sent an irrational spurt of jealousy coursing through his veins. “Semantics,” he said. “You won’t be soon, and considering the circumstances, surely you don’t feel like you’re bound to those promises.”

“I don’t know how I feel.” She bit her lip and slowly shook her head. “Yesterday morning I was a newlywed. Today I’m a separated, soon-to-be divorcée, and I’m not really sure how to be that.”

“You need to learn to live for you and do what you want to do.” He brushed the hair from her face. “We’re here together now. In thirteen days, it’s back to life. I, for one, would love to spend those thirteen days with you. Touching you. Kissing you. Showing you all the things Marty couldn’t.”

Her face crumpled, and he swore under his breath. He’d pushed too hard. Just because it was obvious to him that she didn’t owe Marty a damned thing didn’t mean it was obvious to her. If and when she realized that, and recognized that she wasn’t suffering from a broken heart, but from a bruised ego, he’d be there, ready to blow her mind. The thought of teaching her about the pleasure her body was capable of made him ache. He pulled away. “You’re right. Let’s take a step back here. I want you to know that I’m here. For whatever you need.”

“Thanks,” she said softly.

“Hello-o-o?” Nikki yelled.

He took her hand and they jogged toward the other couple. “Sorry, we’re right behind you,” he called.

A little ways farther down the beach, Cyrus stopped in front of a sprawling villa made of white sandstone.

“This is you?” Lacey asked with a nod to the house.

“This is us.” Nikki grinned. “Pretty nice, right? Cyrus’s boss owns it and offered it up for the whole month after Cyrus closed a huge deal for them.”

“Nice,” Lacey agreed.

Cyrus unlocked a whitewashed wooden gate and they stepped into what looked like a miniature rain forest. Calling this setup a patio was the understatement of the millennium. It was an oasis. A slice straight out of The Blue Lagoon. The pool, which was illuminated from within by ethereal lights, was the irregular shape of a natural spring, encased in ochre-colored stone. A waterfall flanked by towering palms flowed over a shelf of heather gray boulders.

“Wow.” Lacey gasped. “Our villa has a little pool, but nothing like this. It’s breathtaking.”

“I know, right?” Nikki chuckled. “It’ll be hard going back home after this. You guys can get in or hang while Cy and I make some drinks.”

The couple went into the house, leaving him alone with Lacey.

She shook her head in amazement. “This place is ridiculous. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Let’s go in then,” he said.

“I don’t have a suit on under this, and I don’t want to borrow one from Nikki. I already shared lip gloss with her,” she confided. “It was in a little pot and I used my finger, though. You think that’s okay?” she whispered, shooting a glance to the patio doors to make sure their hosts didn’t hear.

“What do you mean, okay?” he whispered back, trying not to grin.

“I mean, I’m not going to get mono or something, am I? All this spontaneity is a little scary, if you ask me.”

“I’m thinking you’re probably okay on the mono thing. As for a swimsuit, a bra and underwear is no more revealing than a bikini,” Galen reasoned. “And we’ve already established that you’ve gone skinny-dipping, not to mention you flashing half of San Juan this morning. This should be a cinch.”

She groaned and covered her cheeks with her hands. “What are the odds of my living that down anytime soon?”

“Very slim. Now come on. We’ll hop in before they come out and they won’t see. I’ll even turn my back.” He did so and waited. A long, silent moment passed. “Well?”

“I’m scared,” she mumbled.

“We’re never going to be in this spot again. I don’t want to leave and for you to have regrets about the things you didn’t do while we were here. Besides, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I would never let anything happen to you. If I did, Cat would kill me,” he added hastily in case she confused his declaration of loyalty with something more.

She blew out a sigh. “You’re right.” The determination in her voice gave him hope and he waited. His patience was rewarded as the sound of rustling clothes came from behind him. He unbuttoned his own shirt and tossed it onto a lounge chair.

“Ready?”

“I’m getting in first, so don’t turn around yet.”

A light splash of water, a sharp hiss of breath. The instinct to turn around was so strong he fisted his hands at his sides and silently counted in Spanish. It took concentration, since his Spanish was only slightly better than his needlepoint, and he’d only gotten to seis when she called to him.

“Okay, ready.”

When he turned, Lacey waded toward him in the lagoon-like pool, long wet hair spread around her bare shoulders, looking like a water nymph from a fairy tale.

“Come on, it’s nice and warm.”

Oh, man, he bet it was. She dove to the side, breaking through the water with a splash. If an iridescent scaled tail had trailed behind her, it wouldn’t have seemed out of place.

“She’s a stone cold fox,” Cyrus said as he stepped onto the porch with a tray of drinks in hand.

“You’re not kidding.” Nikki stopped short behind her fiancé and added a low whistle for good measure.

“Thanks,” he said, not really sure how else to respond. It was a weird spot to be in because she wasn’t his girlfriend, but they didn’t know that. And, judging by the way they were both looking at her, it seemed prudent to keep it that way.

Cyrus handed him a drink. “You can take it in. There’s a bar in the center of the water about halfway down, past the waterfall, where you can set it before the water gets too deep to stand. You go ahead. Nikki and I are going to get some towels and put on some music.”

“Thanks.” He took a sip of the tart drink and padded to the water’s edge. It didn’t drop off like a regular backyard swimming pool. Rather, it sloped downward like a beach. He walked down the gentle incline until he was up to his waist.

“Are you in yet?” Lacey called. “You have to see this!”

Her voice seemed to echo from an outcropping of rocks she had disappeared around. Maybe nymph was the wrong mythical creature. Siren was more like it. He made his way toward the sound of her delighted voice, his pulse gunning like an outboard motor.

The waterfall’s applause must have drowned out his arrival because she startled when he came around the corner. Then she saw him, and her face stretched into a smile.

“Look.”

She led him toward what looked like a tiny pond inside the pool, set apart by a tidy row of stones. In the incandescent light, boldly colored fish swam around in lazy circles, gold, orange, and red. When he moved closer, a few darted away, taking cover under the creamy water lilies that dotted the surface.

When he turned to Lacey, he recognized her expression. She wanted to gauge his reaction. He knew the need to be the person who introduced someone else to something amazing. The phenomenon was one reserved for people whose opinions really mattered. The idea that Lacey wanted to impress him gave him a bone-deep satisfaction, because he sure as shit wanted to impress her. Show her new things. Blow her mind.

His cock twitched, and he struggled to keep his eyes on the fish. No way he wanted to backslide again like they had on the beach, not when they were just gaining ground.

“Cool, right?” Lacey pressed.

“Very. I’ve always wanted a koi pond, but this is over the top.”

“It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t care what I have to do, but some day I’m getting one of these.”

She looked so happy, so f*cking hopeful at that moment, he wished he had a camera. Something about a happy, hopeful Lacey made him feel damned good inside.

He handed her the drink. “Want some?”

“Yeah.” She turned full around to face him. Her nude bra was plastered to her like a second skin, but it had stayed fairly opaque. He must have made a sound, some indication of his disappointment, because she frowned.

“You okay?”

“Yep. Fine,” he lied.

She took the drink and sipped delicately. “Oh, yum. I could so get used to this place.”

“Are you glad we came?”

“To Puerto Rico or to Cyrus and Nikki’s?”

“Both. Either.”

She tipped her head to the side and regarded him for a long moment before nodding. “Yeah, I am. When I get back home, I’m going to try to do things differently. You were right about regrets. I think I’m sick of missing out.”

“Are you?” He hadn’t meant the words to sound loaded, but there they were. Dripping with challenge, ripe with questions.

“Yes. From now on, I’m taking every opportunity to try new th—” She paused and her eyes went wide. “Wait, th-that’s not the same thing,” she said, but her voice was so low, he wasn’t sure whether she was trying to convince him or herself, so he stayed silent. “I want to. You have no idea how much I want to,” she added with a short laugh. “But there’d be something hanging over it. Something ugly. And after all the times I’ve thought of—” She took a gulp of mojito, then turned her bourbon-colored eyes on him. “How about a compromise? One kiss, here under the waterfall, so I can remember this exact place and moment of freedom with you. No regrets.”

His mind was racing faster than Usain Bolt at the Olympics. He was so caught up with the After all the times I’ve thought of part, he almost missed the invitation. Almost.

He plucked the drink from her fingers and set it on a flat rock, then took her hand. He didn’t speak as they made their way toward the waterfall, afraid to break the spell. When they reached the shelf of rocks beneath the rushing water, he turned and put his hands on her waist. “Ready?”

She nodded, her eyes wide, and he stepped under the spray, pulling her in with him. For a second, they were pummeled with a hard blast, but then it was gone, and they were behind the wall of water, tucked into the hidden space behind the waterfall.

In spite of her obvious nerves, she stepped closer, bridging the gap between them until they touched. “This is for watching my fights and rooting for me,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “And this is for being brave and accepting my dare.” He pressed a second kiss on the tip of her nose. “And this is for dumping that dickhead Marty.” The next kiss landed on the corner of her mouth, and she parted her lips on a sigh. His heart hammered so loudly, he wondered if she heard it.

“And this one? This one is because I want you so bad, it’s making me question my sanity.” He tipped his head low as blood rushed to his ears, the grind of need demanding that he slant his mouth over hers and take and take and take. But when his lips touched hers, he was consumed by an even stronger desire to sip and nip and taste. He traced her plump bottom lip with the tip of his tongue, then sank his teeth softly into the tender flesh.

“Oh, my,” she whispered.

He breathed in her gasp and smiled against her mouth. “Oh your what?”

“That’s nice.” She shimmied closer to him, wedging herself between the V of his thighs, smashing her soft breasts against his chest. “Again,” she demanded.

He groaned and dove in for more. She wrapped her slim arms around his waist and clung to him, sliding her tongue against his, whimpering low in her throat. She sucked at his bottom lip, each pull of her mouth sending a pulse of pleasure through him. Her mouth was liquid fire, sweet and tart from the drink, and it took all of his will not to consume her. Take complete control of the kiss and more. So much more…

Only a kiss.

She nipped him then, sweeping her tongue over the sensitive flesh on the inside of his bottom lip. Her boldness sent blood rushing to his cock and he tipped his hips closer, trying to ease the ache. She responded with a moan of approval, grinding her pelvic bone against him in the most erotic of dances. Her breasts heaved against his chest, the softness beckoning him. He trailed his fingers from the soft curve of hip over the dip of her waist and traced her rib cage. The pulsing of her hips against him grew faster, harder as his thumb traced patterns right where her bra met skin.

“Please,” she murmured against his mouth.

Goddammit, this was only supposed to be a kiss, his conscience bellowed. But as he pulled back and saw the naked hunger on her face, he could no more deny her at that moment than he could sprout wings and fly away.

He held her gaze as he slipped his index finger beneath her bra strap and slid it slowly down her shoulder. The upper swell of her breast came into view, inch by glorious inch, until the wet fabric caught on her tight little nipple. His cock bucked against his boxers, and he groaned.

“One taste,” he promised, not sure whether he was trying to convince her or himself.

He bent low as he flipped the last bit of satin away from the dusky peak. First, a close-mouthed kiss. Then, the flick of his tongue. She stiffened in his arms.

“Oh my God,” she whimpered.

She trembled against him, and he closed his lips over her, rubbing his tongue against the sensitive bud until she was muttering incoherently, her fingers digging into his scalp, urging him to keep going. The need to obey her unwitting and sensual command, to make her come until her throat was sore from screaming his name, battered him like the waves from a monsoon. Sweat broke out on his upper lip and he trembled with the effort of restraining himself.

Then she moaned low in her throat, a wordless plea, and he couldn’t deny her. Just a little more… He trailed his fingers over the thin fabric of her tiny panties, sliding beneath to cup her heat in his hand. She froze, then cried out, the sound echoing against the rocks. He slid his finger into her wet center, and she closed around him like liquid silk. He wasted no time, and began to f*ck her with his finger. In and out he slid until she bore down against him, trying to take him deeper. His heart jackhammered against his ribs, and a growl reverberated in his chest. Using the edge of his teeth, he tugged on her nipple and slid his finger deeper.

“Please, Galen, I—” She whimpered, clutching fistfuls of his hair in her hands.

Her hips fluttered now, moving counterpoint to his thrusts. His name was a litany on her lips and her body tensed, straining against him. She was close. God, she was so f*cking close. And his cock was loaded for bear and he was a suck, f*ck, or jerk away from the point of no return.

The last working part of his brain sent up a warning flare. They should stop. But, damn, she was so ready…

As if she could hear his thoughts, she froze. “I-I can’t do this. I’m not ready yet.”

He wanted to howl with disappointment, but he knew she was right. She’d feel guilty if they finished this, regardless of the fact that she had nothing to feel guilty for. And no matter what her body was telling him, he didn’t want to be responsible for her regret. Reluctantly, he pulled his hand away, slipping her panties back in place and releasing her nipple with a muttered curse. “You’re right. We should get back anyway.”

Their harsh breaths mingled in the warm night air and she nodded, looking dazed. She blinked up at him and disentangled her hand from his hair. She swallowed hard, her throat working. “I guess we were being rude.”

He held her gaze and traced his finger over the delicate line of her collarbone and adjusted her bra. “I, for one, couldn’t give a shit about being rude if it meant we could pick up where we stopped, but I don’t want you doing anything you’ll regret. This isn’t over, though. Something’s going on here and we’re going to need to figure out what to do about it eventually.” He let his gaze slide down her front to where her nipples still pressed taut against wet satin. “I have several suggestions if you want to hear them.”

Despite the heat in her eyes at his words, she shook her head vigorously. “Nope. That’s a bad idea.” She scrambled backward and then pitched forward into the water. A moment later she was wading toward the patio in a graceless, splashy breaststroke, a frantic attempt to get some distance from him before calling back over her shoulder. “But feel free to write down those thoughts and share them with me after my—”

“Look out!”

His warning came too late as she promptly smacked her head against a decorative stone.

“Son of a—” she mumbled under her breath. To her credit, she barely paused, navigating around the rock and propelling herself forward with a one-armed crawl. “It’s fine,” she called over her shoulder. “Seriously. All good. Barely nicked me. See you back at the patio.”

He winced, although part of him was glad to see some proof that she was as affected by what had happened between them as he was. He gave her a minute to collect herself, another so he could do the same, then followed her. He’d just rounded the bend when he saw Lacey standing in the middle of the pool, frozen to the spot with a bare-assed Cyrus next to her, his arm around her shoulder.

“So,” Nikki said, wading toward Galen. “Did you guys want to do this all together, or are we going our separate ways?” She stood when she reached him, bare breasts bobbing on the surface like buoys.

Cyrus turned to face them and Galen quickly averted his gaze, but not before he got an eyeful of Cyrus’s one-eyed Willy, locked and loaded for action.

“We’re down with either one,” Cyrus said with an affable smile. The call of the coquí frogs seemed to grow louder in the heavy silence.

Galen turned the evidence this way and that, trying to make sense of the scene. But after an endless moment, he knew there was only one plausible explanation.

Their hip new friends were swingers, and they wanted to do the old swap-around with Lacey and him.

Well, shit.