Chapter 7
MAGGIE
“Are you threatening me?” I asked, and his hands tightened around my ankles.
He grinned as he pulled just enough to slide me an inch closer to the edge. The cool water lapped at the wood, splashing up onto the backs of my thighs, and I braced both palms on the edge of the dock.
“No,” he drawled, his voice warm, but the weight in his stare said otherwise. “But I’m saying you’re about five seconds from going headfirst into the water.”
I arched an eyebrow, refusing to give him the satisfaction of looking nervous. “You wouldn’t.”
His grip flexed around my ankles, and God, his smirk should be illegal. “You sure about that?”
I barely had time to brace myself as his hands slid up my calves, fingertips grazing the sensitive skin behind my knees before settling on my thighs.
“Hunter.” I tried to say his name in warning, but it came out breathless.
“Yeah?”
His fingers wrapped around my hips, and despite my grip on the dock, he lifted me as if I weighed nothing. I tried to grab his wrists, but he just tightened his hold, thumbs pressing into my hip bones.
Then I was airborne, my world flipping as he slung me over his shoulder. My hair dipped into the water as blood rushed to my head, but all I could focus on was the hard press of his bare shoulder into my stomach and the way his palm burned on my thigh, holding me firmly against him.
“Put me down!” I demanded, my fingers accidentally moving along the ridges of muscle along his back.
Why did he have to feel so damn good?
I tried to wiggle free, but his hand only clamped tighter around my thigh, anchoring me to him. I was hyperaware of every inch of skin pressed against his, and even though embarrassment should have been winning out, all I could think about was the heat blooming low in my belly.
“Hold your breath.” He laughed, that teasing low rumble vibrating through me, and he didn’t even give me a second to fight before we crashed into the water.
The lake swallowed me whole, cold water rushing between us before his thighs tangled with mine as we sank. His hands slid up my sides, and when we surfaced, his face was inches from me.
His arm locked around my waist, pulling me against his chest. I wanted to push him away, to wipe that satisfied smirk off his face, but instead, I found myself gripping his shoulders, my fingertips digging into slick skin as I balanced on my tiptoes.
Lake water dripped from Hunter’s hair, trailing down his jaw before falling onto his collarbones.
I swallowed hard as his body pressed against mine, the hard planes of his chest making my stomach clench.
Every inch where we touched burned despite the cool water, and when he shifted, the friction made my breath hitch in my throat.
“You all right there, Sunshine?” His voice was low and infuriatingly smug, and when his hands slid a little lower on my waist, his thumbs drawing small circles against my wet skin, my breath caught.
I shoved against his chest. “Stop calling me that.”
He caught my wrist, tugging me closer until there was no space left between us.
“You don’t like it?” he murmured. “I think it suits you.”
My pulse hammered as his gaze searched my face. He was so close I could see every shade of brown in his eyes, sunlit flecks against something darker. My free hand pressed against his chest, feeling his heart racing just as fast as mine.
“I don’t like you,” I lied.
His laugh was soft and knowing as he leaned closer. “Liar.”
His eyes burned into mine, and I should have told him to fuck off. But all I could do was stare at his mouth.
My thoughts spun out recklessly as his thumbs dug into my hips. I bit my lip to stop from gasping as my stomach tightened. The water suddenly felt too warm, too close.
Hunter opened his mouth to say something else, but just as he did, Blaire called out.
“Maggie, come on! Sutton and I have our floats and margaritas.”
I should have pushed off him, swam away and pretended I hadn’t just lost every ounce of dignity to his hands. But all I could do was stand there, my legs brushing his under the water, his fingers digging possessively into my hips while our bodies drifted together with every little ripple.
“I should— The girls are waiting for me.” I wiped a wet hand across my face, hoping to cool the burning in my cheeks, but his hands lingered on my waist for a fraction of a second longer, as if he didn’t want to let go.
I felt every inch of that touch, and it left a heat behind that the chill of the lake couldn’t touch.
We just stood there for a second, chests nearly touching, then Hunter shifted and his hands dropped as he took a step back.
“Go.” He jerked his chin toward Blaire and Sutton, who were floating on the giant flamingo, both of them waving plastic cups in my direction. “Have a drink. Unwind a little.”
I reluctantly turned away from him on wobbly legs. The lake lapped against my heated skin as I approached the girls. I hauled myself onto the mermaid float, sloshing water everywhere as Blaire pressed a cold plastic cup into my hand.
Water tickled down my arms and my swimsuit clung to me like a second skin, and I could feel Hunter watching my every move.
The first sip of margarita did nothing to cool the fire he’d lit inside me. When I risked a glance back, Hunter had already climbed out of the lake. He stood dripping on the dock with McCoy, Colt, and Brody, but his eyes were locked on me.
It was shameless, the way he stared at me. He didn’t even pretend to care that everyone on that dock could see the heat thrumming between us.
My whole body buzzed with the possessive way he was looking at me, but I was so damn confused over what the hell he was doing. I was not his, and he was not mine.
I took a long sip of my margarita, letting the cold tequila burn a path down my throat. My skin felt too tight, every inch prickling with awareness, and when I looked back at Blaire and Sutton, they were both staring at me.
“You want to tell us what the hell that was?” Blaire jerked her cup toward the dock, sloshing margarita everywhere.
“It was nothing.” I shook my head and looked to the bank where Ruby was playing with a shovel and bucket.
“It was hot is what it was.” Sutton laughed and looked at me over the edge of her sunglasses.
“He’s confusing,” I shot back as I messed with the tie on my bikini. “It doesn’t really matter how hot he is.”
“I don’t know, girl. The way he was looking at you didn’t look too confusing to me.” Sutton glanced in his direction then back to me.
“Okay. Can we stop talking about me?” I lay back on my elbows. “What about you? You’re the fresh meat in town. Has anyone caught your eye?”
Sutton snorted, one leg drifting over the side of their float as she considered it.
“Honestly, I haven’t seen much besides the inside of your bakery and a thousand damn boxes.
But…” She grinned, her eyes flicking toward the dock.
“I’m guessing there’s a reason every woman in this town has been warning me about McCoy? ”
I barked out a laugh. “Oh, he’s a menace, but he’s also one of the best men I know. He’ll charm you right out of your panties if you aren’t careful, though.”
“Has he charmed you out of your panties?” Sutton asked.
“No. Though things would probably be a lot easier if he had though.” I laughed and let my head fall back. “I’ve also heard that he’s an animal in bed.”
Blaire laughed as she leaned forward, and she was practically vibrating with excitement. “I heard he’s a giver too.”
“Where the hell do you all hear these things?” Sutton looked back and forth between us.
“Welcome to a small town.” I lifted my cup in cheers. “Where everyone knows everyone else’s business.”
…
I was still stretched out on the float, toes skimming the water every so often, with Ruby’s head resting on my hip.
Her breathing was deep and even, and I didn’t blame her.
We had been playing and jumping off the float for the last hour, and my own eyes were fluttering closed as I ran my fingers through her damp hair.
“It looks like you wore her out.”
I blinked my eyes open and looked down at Brody. He was waist-deep in the water and close enough to rest his elbow on the float, watching me with an easy smile.
“She wore me out.” I laughed softly, letting my fingers trail in the water beside the float. “I’m getting too old. I can’t keep up with her.”
He laughed, the sound warming something in my chest. “You are certainly not old. Just watching you two made me tired.”
“Wait.” I propped myself up on one elbow, careful not to disturb Ruby. “How old are you anyway?”
“Thirty-one.” His eyes dropped to my chest for the slightest moment before they flew back up to my eyes.
“A cougar?” I teased in mock horror.
Brody’s laugh was quiet as he glanced back at the bank. “I don’t think men can be cougars, and you’re making me sound creepy. How old are you?”
“Twenty-four,” I offered, watching his reaction.
“Oh, damn.” His brow scrunched playfully. “Maybe I am being creepy.”
“Definitely not.” I shook my head, unable to stop my smile as I let my gaze drift over him.
He really was handsome. Clean-cut black hair but with just enough scruff to look a little dangerous. His eyes were dark, but there was something softer behind them that made my stomach flutter when he leaned closer.
He was handsome enough for me to almost believe I could want something this simple. A nice man with a warm laugh and an easy way of looking at me. No tangled history. No complications. No risk of having my heart shattered beyond recognition.
For a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to fall for someone like Brody, but then the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I didn’t need to look to know Hunter was watching us, but I did anyway, my breath catching as our eyes locked.
God, it was brutal, the way he looked at me.
There was none of the easiness that came with Brody.
Hunter stood on the bank with a bottle of water in his hand, dripping wet, muscles cut and shining in the sunlight like he was there just to torment me.
I could barely breathe with the way heat crashed through me, raw and so fucking stupid.
I forced myself to look away first, sliding my gaze back to Brody. “I’m sorry, what?” I asked, and he just smiled.
“Does your family live in Willow Grove?”
I shook my head. “No. My family’s from Alabama. It’s just me here.”
Brody’s face softened as he watched me, his arms folded on the edge of the float, close enough that he could have reached out and touched me. “Just you? That’s got to be tough.”
I shrugged, my fingers tightening on the edge of the float. “My sister lived here for a while, but she moved back home.” The words tasted like old wounds, and I hated the way they left a mark even now. “She actually just got engaged.”
His eyes searched mine, lingering a beat too long. “Is this the sister that Hunter used to date?” He winced as soon as he said it. “Sorry. Sutton told me.”
“That’s the one.” I forced a smile while something familiar twisted in my chest. “What about you? Where’s your family?”
“It’s just me and Sutton.” He glanced over my shoulder. “It has been for a long time.”
I shifted on the float and adjusted Ruby higher against me. “You’re lucky to have each other.”
“Yeah. Sutton’s a good one, and she’s tough as nails. Been through a lot.” He seemed to be in his own head for a second before his eyes met mine again. “Thank you again for giving her a shot at the bakery. She can’t stop talking about it.”
“Don’t thank me,” I said with a small laugh. “I was being serious when I said she forced me into it.”
Brody’s laugh rumbled low in his chest as he dragged a wet hand across his stubble.
“Having her around has been a lifesaver, though. I just didn’t want to admit I needed the help.”
Brody’s eyes lingered on my face, and it felt like he saw right through me.
“I get it,” he said, his voice soft. “I’m the same way. It’s a habit that’s hard to break.” He reached out, wiping a small puddle of lake water off the float.
“It really is.”
Brody’s gaze snagged on mine, soft and searching. He tapped the wet vinyl, and he looked nervous. “You know, I was thinking…maybe you’d want to grab dinner sometime.”
I didn’t answer right away. I couldn’t. Something in my chest ached because, for a second, I wanted to say yes. But even as the word gathered on my tongue, I looked up, and Hunter was standing exactly where he’d been with his jaw clenched and his eyes still on me.
Brody was right there. Gentle. Kind. Easy in every single way that should have made him my first and last choice. My pulse flickered hard enough to make my ribs ache.
I felt exposed, like every thought I’d tried to bury was written on my face. Brody’s hand rested on the side of the float, his mouth parted like he was bracing for a no, but the only word I could get out was—
“Yes.”
The word hit the air and seemed to hang there, bigger and messier than I meant for it to be. Brody’s eyes widened, and he let out a breathless little laugh like he didn’t quite believe I’d said it.
But I had. I’d said it, even though my body thrummed with awareness of Hunter on the shore, and my cheeks burned hotter than the sun overhead.
“Yeah?” Brody smiled, and every instinct in me screamed to backpedal.
“Yeah,” I said, softer now. “I’d like that.”
And God, I truly hoped I would. It would be so simple with him. Easy.