Chapter Four

 

 

I took off my cover-up, revealing the new, neon pink bikini I bought yesterday on my shopping spree with Tammy. My first instinct was to dive straight into the water before anyone could see me.

Then I remembered that it didn’t matter.

The shared rooftop pool was surprisingly empty. Trying not to feel self-conscious, I dipped my feet in and sat on the ledge, leaning my head back and enjoying the last rays of sunlight before the day ended.

A nervous twinge shot through my belly. In just a few hours, I was supposed to have dinner with David, a man Tammy swore was perfect for me. I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe in deeply. I wasn’t going to let anything ruin the night.

Over the phone, David had said he had booked reservations at a French bistro in town, the La Vie en Rose. Probably the intellectual type, spoke a bit of French, wanted three kids in his future, and had a stable job.

Tammy said he was hot. In my mind, I pictured a tall man, his hair trimmed short, a stubble on his chin. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, nice eyes.

I was so lost in my fantasy that when a door slammed, I jumped in surprised and looked around in a panic. Blinking quickly, I turned and saw a man walking towards me. It took me a moment to realize that it was my neighbor, Liam.

Liam the guy who had turned me down.

Who had taken my cookies and never returned the plate like he said he would.

He saw me and stopped short. He seemed a bit lost for a second as if he was debating whether to continue walking or turn around and run. Eventually, he made up his mind and walked to a lounge chair on the other side of the deck.

I froze too, not sure if I should get up and leave. But why should I? I’d gotten here first. If he wanted to avoid me, he could leave. At the very least, he should have said hello or nodded or done something to greet me.

I didn’t realize I had been gritting my teeth until I heard a grinding noise. I forced my jaw to relax.

As he stripped off his shirt and exposed tanned, ripped abs, I tried not to stare. My eyes widened anyway.

Damn, he was sexy with just the right amount of tattoos and his trimmed beard.

Why didn’t he like me?

Ugh, I was pathetic.

I looked away when he headed towards the pool. He made a perfect swan dive into the deep end of the pool, even though the sign clearly said no diving allowed.

He emerged a few feet away from me, and shook his head, reminding me of a dog shaking to get dry. Water droplets flew from his hair, splashing my body. I gasped from the cold shock.

“Sorry,” he said, but there was a mischievous crinkle at the corners of his eyes.

“No, you’re not,” I said, covering my body with my hands. I pretended to be patting the water droplets away.

I stood and put my cover-up back on, though I knew I had already given him a good view. It wasn’t that I was ashamed of my body, which was athletic and slim. But I wasn’t exactly comfortable parading in front of a stranger in practically nothing.

Especially when I had to live across from the stranger and ran the risk of running into him every day.

I ignored Liam’s stare as I sat back down on my lounge chair and opened the magazine I brought with me. I stared blankly at the page, but even Ten Steps to Achieving the Best Orgasm wasn’t enough to distract me from Liam’s presence.

What was he doing there?

What right did he have?

Looking all sexy and dripping and brooding, staring at me like I was some mystery he wanted to solve...or a pastry he wanted to taste?

“How are you supposed to tan if you’ve got that dress on?” he suddenly asked.

His arms were placed over the edge of the pool, and his shoulders bulged and glistened in the soft glow of the sunset.

“It’s a bathing suit cover-up,” I replied. “I’m not trying to tan.”

“Well you’re not swimming.” He swirled a hand in the water. “What are you doing out here by the pool if not swimming or tanning?”

“Reading my magazine.”

I didn’t look at him.

There was a moment of silence as he continued gazing at me. He chuckled. “Suit yourself.”

He kicked off and began to do laps around the pool. I couldn’t help risking occasional glances at him when he wasn’t looking, admiring the smooth way his arms moved through the water.

He was a strong, graceful swimmer.

His body seemed to float through the water like he belonged there. He swam without stopping, his strong arms pushing through the water in a controlled rhythm.

“That must be one interesting article you’re reading,” he said, as he finished his lap and grabbed the edge of the pool with one hand.

I looked hastily back down at my magazine. “Why do you say that?”

“Because you haven’t turned the page or stopped reading it since I got here.”

I flipped a page angrily.

He laughed at me.

I heard water sloshing and was too aware that he had pushed himself out of the pool and grabbed a towel. When he sat in the chair next to me, I felt his presence like a hot brand against the side of my body.

My nerves sizzled at his masculine nearness. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and my heart pounded loudly against my ribcage.

I tried to ignore him. But when a few moments went by with only silence between us, I was forced to finally look at him.

“What?” I snapped.

He smiled—a real, genuine smile. I pressed my lips together to stop my mouth from returning the contagious expression.

“Did we somehow get off on the wrong foot?” he asked slowly.

“No. Why?”

“Because I feel as if you’re mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?”

He shrugged. “My question exactly.”

“I’m not mad at you. I don’t even know you.”

“That tone.” He pulled the towel over his hair and scrubbed. More water droplets splashed on me, but I ignored them. “Says you’re lying.”

I slapped my magazine down on my legs. “What tone are you talking about?”

He grinned. It transformed his face instantly. Which only infuriated me more.

I sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this out in the open then.”

He bowed his head in a mock gesture. “Yes, please.”

“I offered you cookies the other day and you rejected me.”

A frown appeared on his brows. “I accepted the cookies.”

“You accepted the cookies,” I said. “But you rejected me.”

“So in offering the cookies to me you were offering yourself?” His lips quirked up just a bit. “Sorry if I didn’t realize the cookies were a metaphor for your...er...body.”

I gripped the magazine so hard my fingers ached. “They’re not,” I said through gritted teeth.

“I’m confused. Now you’re saying you weren’t offering me your body by offering me cookies?”

“I was offering you...” I cut myself short. My mouth opened and closed as I struggled for the right words. “I don’t know,” I finally burst out.

Liam laughed. “Okay.”

“Just be quiet.”

“Okay.”

I glared at him.

His laughter subsided into a smile. He didn’t say anything.

“Not one word,” I repeated. Despite myself, I found my lips turning upward into a smile, even though my blood was still simmering.

“I think we might have gotten off on the wrong foot.”

I tried to soften my scowl. “I guess so.”

“How about we call a truce.”

He dropped the towel on the ground and reached out with his right hand. I swallowed, keeping my gaze focused on his face, or at least, anywhere above his neck, and shook his hand.

“Sure.” I tried to keep my mouth shut—tried to—really, I did, but I couldn’t have stopped what came out of my mouth next if I had sewn my lips shut. “Why didn’t you ask me out the other night? I was practically throwing myself at you.” I felt my entire body heat up with embarrassment. Crap, had I really just said that?

Liam didn’t seem shocked at all. “To be honest, I just got out of a relationship,” he said. “That’s why I moved. And I don’t think I’m ready to be dating yet.”

That was a relief. At least he hadn’t rejected me because he wasn’t attracted to me.

“Trust me, I would have hit on you if you’d found me months earlier.”

I laughed. “Thanks...I guess.” There was a brief pause before I asked, “So how long ago did you two break up, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“About three months.”

I raised my brows. “It took you that long to move out?”

He shrugged. “There were a lot of legalities involved. And we were still kind of...you know.”

Oh, I knew, all right. From how Liam looked without a shirt on, I didn’t blame his ex-girlfriend for wanting some post-relationship sex. But that didn’t mean I didn’t kind of hate her right now.

“Anyway, I thought I’d give myself a few weeks to get over it,” Liam said.

My heart sank. “Seems fair.”

“What about you? Any boyfriends?”

“Boyfriends? Plural?” I laughed. “What kind of a slut do you think I am?”

He held up his palms defensively. “Hey. Just asking.”

I took a deep breath. He was just trying to make conversation, I reminded myself. The only problem was conversation was all too secondary to what I really wanted to make with Liam.

“Sorry,” I said. “Two minutes ago I was still kind of resenting you. It’s difficult to remember that I’m supposed to like you now.”

He smirked. “No kidding.”

“I don’t have a boyfriend, to answer your question.”

His gaze moved over my body. Was it my imagination or did his breath sort of snag as he reached the length of my legs?

“Why not?” he asked.

I didn’t want to answer the question, so I changed the subject. “That might change soon, though.”

His mouth tightened. “How so?”

“I’m supposed to go on a really hot date tonight.”

His expression froze. His lips twitched. “Really?”

“My friend Tammy set us up.”

A frown tugged at his brows. “I see.”

“We’re going to the La Vie en Rose. Have you been there?”

“Yeah, it’s a lovely place. Very romantic.”

I smiled slowly, giving him my best. I was satisfied when I saw something in his eyes that might have been mistaken for desire. Or a glint from the sun.

“I can’t wait.”

“You haven’t even met the guy yet and you’re already hoping he’ll be your boyfriend?”

Did I? Of course not. Well, maybe I was hoping. If David turned out to be the love of my life and we got married in a few years and started having children, who was I to challenge fate?

“I’m just open to the idea that it could get serious.”

His laughter held a hint of falseness and irony to it. “Okay,” he said in a sardonic voice. “But don’t get your hopes up.”

I raised my brows. “What does that mean?”

“Just that. Don’t get your hopes up.”

I didn’t know why, but his expression, his tone, his words got to me. Who did he think he was? He knew me all of two seconds and he was already deciding what was best for me and what I needed in my life.

I didn’t even allow Tammy to do that. Well, not too much anyway.

“Are you saying I’m not good enough to have a boyfriend?” I said through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that maybe you should meet the man before you start plotting wedding plans and—” He sat up straighter as if preparing for battle.

I tossed the magazine to the floor. “Are you pulling this shit out of your ass?”

His mouth dropped open. “What?”

“All I said was that I had a date, and yet somehow you heard that I was making wedding plans?”

“You said he might be your new boyfriend.”

“I did not. I said I was open to the idea of a relationship.” My hands clenched into fists. “Jesus. Is that why you and your girlfriend broke up?” I searched his face for signs of a reaction. “She pushed you to make a commitment before you were ready?” When he was silent, I sat up straighter. “Oh. I’m right, aren’t I?”

Liam stood up quickly, swinging his towel over his shoulder. “I think I’m done for the day.”

“You aren’t going to answer my question?”

“Seems you’ve already answered it for yourself.” He walked away.

“Hey!” I swung my legs off the chair and followed him. My bare feet slapped on the deck of the pool. “Get back here. We’re not finished.”

“Why? Are you planning on snaring me into being your next boyfriend?”

I stopped short. A strange noise escaped from my throat.

“Yeah.” Liam didn’t even glance back at me. “That’s what I thought.”