That Second Chance (Getting Lucky #1)(69)

He shakes his head, his face growing serious. “No, I think we needed this time to get to know each other—the buildup made the satisfaction that much sweeter.” He lowers his head and presses a light kiss across my lips. “Want to go on a hike today, just you and me, bring a picnic?”

“I would love that more than anything.”

“Good. Then let’s get some breakfast in us, act like we’re interested in the group for a little bit, and then go off on our own. How does that sound?”

“Absolutely perfect.”





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN





GRIFFIN


I grip Ren’s hand tightly and hoist her up a rock. The terrain is a little rougher than I remembered, but Ren’s handled it like a champ, never once complaining, a smile on her face the entire time.

“You got it?”

She nods. “Yup.” She puts her hands on her hips and looks past my shoulder. “I better be wearing this bathing suit under my clothes for a reason, Knightly.”

“I promise there’s a perfect pond at the end of this. You’ll cool right down.”

“Good. I very well might belly flop right into it out of pure joy.” She wipes her forehead, little strands of her brown hair curling along her hairline. It’s adorable. “I will tell you this: the humidity here is the devil. California’s heat has nothing on it.”

Still holding Ren’s hand, I guide her down the narrow path. “It’ll take some time to get used to the humidity, but once you do, you’ll barely notice it anymore.”

“Are you just saying that?”

“No, it gets easier. At least your first season in Maine is summer, so you know what to expect when it comes to the heat here.”

“And what about the winter?”

“What about it?” I ask, stepping over a log. I turn around and help Ren over as well.

“I have yet to experience a snowfall. I think I might get lost in all the snow.”

“I’ll be sure to get you a bright-red winter hat so I can spot you if you do get lost. I’ve saved you once; I don’t mind saving you again, and again, and again.” I wink at her, and she stops midstride.

In a flash, her hand is on my cheek, and she places a tight kiss against my lips; the unexpected affection twists my stomach in all the right ways. I cradle the back of her neck as our tongues meet. She moans into my mouth before stepping back, putting some distance between us, her cheeks flushed. “You can’t say things like that and expect me to act casual.”

I wiggle my eyebrows at her. “Oh yeah? That do something for you?”

Her eyes narrow, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth as she starts to walk away. “You’re annoying.”

“But two seconds ago, you were all about me. I could see stars in your eyes.”

She scoffs. “Just remember, it’s not hard to fall from that pedestal.”

“Aw, you put me on a pedestal?” I swoop in, kissing her on the neck. She giggles and fights to get out of my grasp, but I keep her close to me as we break through a few trees and come upon the pond. My very secluded pond.

Thank God.

Not answering me, she stops midstride and takes in the serene water before us. Trees line its diameter, providing a much-needed wall of privacy and giving the entire area an enchanted feel. I’ve loved this pond for years.

“It’s beautiful,” she says in awe.

“It’s one of my favorite places ever, and for some reason, the water is never too cold.”

“Wouldn’t matter at this point,” she answers, pulling off her tank top in one smooth lift over her head. My eyes immediately travel up and down her torso, taking in her flat stomach, her smooth curves, and the fullness of her breasts, which are barely being contained by a small bikini top.

She tosses her tank top on a rock, quickly unbuckles her jean shorts, and pulls them down her legs, toeing them into a pile with the tank top.

As she takes in the pond in front of her, she undoes her hair tie only to pull her hair up higher on her head, tying it into a messy bun—but I don’t pay that much attention. I’m so focused on the tantalizing curves of her body and the way her bikini bottoms rise high on her perfectly round ass cheeks.

I can’t believe I haven’t noticed before, but Ren has a fucking bubble butt, and it’s hot as shit. Her red bikini does nothing to hide her curves, and I’m not mad about it as she walks into the water, keeping her hands at the nape of her neck, sighing as if it’s the most soothing thing she’s ever experienced.

Slowly, she lowers herself into the water and then pops back up, never getting her hair wet but letting the water hit her chin. When she stands back up, she turns toward me, her nipples hard and poking against the thin fabric of her bathing suit. Fucking hell. “Are you coming?”

I’m about to if I stare at her nipples any longer.

Wanting to give her the kind of show she gave me, I reach behind myself and pull my shirt over my head. I toss it to the side with her clothes and watch as her mouth parts a centimeter and her eyes home in on my abs.

Not going to lie: the look she’s giving me is every man’s wet dream. Wet woman in a bikini with a look of pure arousal in her eyes—it’s so fucking perfect.

I quickly kick off my socks and shoes and unzip my cargo shorts, letting them fall to my ankles. I step out of them, leaving me in my boxer briefs. I charge into the water, going right for her. She squeals as I catch her in my arms and pull her underwater. We resurface quickly; she wipes at her eyes and then swats at my chest. “You jerk!”