The Vincent Brothers (The Vincent Boys #2)(43)

Laughter and squealing traveled across the water loud and clear. At least twenty or so people were already here. This was supposed to be the last party at the lake before everyone went off to college. I’d never been down here with more than just Sawyer, Ashton and Beau. Girls were lying out on the pier, guys were climbing the tree in order to do dangerous tricks off the rope swing and not one person had a beer in their hands. It was a miracle.

“You’re really not going to go on that rope with me? I’ll hold the rope; you hold me and no flips.”

“You promise no flips?” I asked him, watching his face for any sign of a fib.

“Promise,” he assured me reaching for the hem of my shirt and pulling it off.

He stopped and held it in his hand staring at the bikini I’d only bought because Jewel begged me to. It wasn’t something I’d normally wear but I figured if I was coming to Sawyer Vincent’s lake party as his date I needed to be able to keep his attention even with the other bikini-clad girls running around. Especially Ashton. When I’d seen the red bikini she’d laid out to wear, I knew I had to step-up my game.

“Uh, would you consider putting this shirt back on?” he asked me as he started to put it back over my head.

I reached up and stopped him, “No, Sawyer, stop.”

He stepped in closer and frowned down at me, “There isn’t a lot to this swimsuit, Lana.”

I glanced around and took note of all the other swimsuits girls were wearing. Mine was not even one of the skimpiest ones. Turning my attention back to him, I took the shirt out of his hand.

“It’s called a bikini, Sawyer. If you look around you’ll notice a lot of them. We girls tend to wear them when we swim.” My voice dripped with sarcasm.

“I’m aware of that, Lana, but I don’t like the idea of everyone seeing so much of you. This thing barely covers up your boobs. I’m scared even to see how much of your sexy ass it shows off.”

Oh. He was jealous.

“My bottom is covered.” I turned around and shimmied out of my cut-off blue jean shorts with my butt facing in his direction.

“Ah, hell,” he groaned and reached out and pulled me back toward him. “Could you at least not do that little booty shaking thing with little pieces of fabric being your only cover?”

I couldn’t help it, I laughed.

“You think this is funny?” he whispered, resting his hands on my waist.

“I think it’s hilarious,” I replied, turning around to press a kiss on his pouty lips. He really was very unhappy about this bikini. “Come on, I thought we were going to do the rope swing.”

His frown deepened, “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. One of those tiny strips of material may fall off on impact.”

Rolling my eyes, I reached for his hand and pulled him toward the tree, “You’re being ridiculous, Sawyer. Come on.”

Muttering under his breath, he followed me to the tree. He went up behind me with his hands on my bottom. I wasn’t sure if he was helping me up or trying to cover me up. Either way, it was cute.

Once we made our way out onto the limb and a guy I didn’t know threw the rope back toward Sawyer, I realized I may have spoken too soon. This was terrifying from up here.

“Don’t look down,” Sawyer directed as he held onto my waist and moved in front of me so he could grab the rope. He squatted down, “Steady yourself by holding onto my shoulders then wrap your legs around my waist.”

I studied his back and wondered if it would be that big of a deal if I just went back down the tree the dry way.

Sawyer glanced back at me. “Come on, Lana. I got this. You’ll be fine.”

I wasn’t so sure about the “fine” part but I gave in and did as instructed.

Sawyer stood up and I wrapped my arms around his neck and closed my eyes.

“Take one of your arms and put it under my arm. If you do it this way you’re going to choke me to death,” he informed me with an amused tone.

I hadn’t thought of that. I guess that might be a bad idea. I gripped his shoulder tightly with one hand while sliding the other one under his arm. I stretched both arms until I could clench my hands, tightening my hold on Sawyer’s body

“Perfect. Now hold on baby, ‘cause here we go,” and we were airborne on his last word.

I opened my eyes just in time to see him let go of the rope and closed them back again, squealing as we plummeted toward the water.

The lake water wasn’t as cold as I’d expected when we dropped down into it. I was extremely grateful. I released Sawyer and kicked my legs, pushing my way back toward the surface. It was then that I noticed my bottoms had slipped down underneath my butt. Reaching down and tugging them up, I was glad Sawyer wouldn’t know he’d been partially right about my swimsuit coming off during impact.

Sawyer’s head emerged a few seconds after mine and he was grinning like an idiot.

“What?” I asked

He winked and reached over and pulled me up against him. “I can see real good under this water,” he murmured and understanding dawned on me.

I slapped him on the arm and he laughed then dropped a quick kiss on my lips.

“Wanna go again?” he asked with a smirk.

Chapter Nineteen

Sawyer

After a week of dates with Lana—either at my house, at the field party, or at Hank’s it was time I took her somewhere nice. She never complained and was open to anything I suggested. Even the other day when I’d asked if she’d wanted to go with me to pick out stuff for my dorm room she’d gone with me happily. Granted, I had to rein her in on her decorating ideas. I was a guy and our curtains and quilts didn’t need to match. I just needed something dark enough to block out the sun on mornings I might actually get to sleep in.