Sweet Little Thing(36)

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Continue reading for a sneak peek at my upcoming novel

Nowhere But Here, releasing May 5, 2014 and available for pre-order NOW.

http://reneecarlino.com/books/nowhere-but-here/





Excerpt from Nowhere But Here


I kicked my shoes off and rolled up my dress pants, then followed him to the edge of the pool where he set two towels down. He rolled up his jeans and sat gracefully before dunking his feet into the water. My fingers twitched with a desire to smooth back the disheveled hair that had fallen into his face. I watched intently as he reached up and ran his hand through it, displaying the flexing muscles in his arm. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. When he handed my wine over, he noticed me staring.

“What?”

“Nothing.” I shook my head. Looking down at my hands, I mumbled, “I just want to forget about everything for a little while.”

“Really?” He looked excited when I nodded. “I have a great idea.”

I dipped my feet in. The water was very warm, like bathwater. It instantly calmed my nerves.

“What’s your idea?”

“Well, curious Katy, I’ll show you.”

He jumped up, ran to the gate, tinkered with something, and everything went off. The lights in the pool and all around the patio area, even the waterfall went off and it was silent. I could see steam pooling on the surface of the water. In the sky a million more stars became visible. I sipped my wine and then heard Will Ryan’s soulful voice funneling softly through the outdoor speakers. Jamie appeared at my side.

“I love this guy. He’s so good,” I said.

“Yeah, he’s awesome. He and his wife are playing at a little local bar on Saturday if you want to check it out with me?”

“I’d love to if I’m still here.” I finally looked up and noticed that gorgeous Jamie was shirtless and undoing his belt buckle. Even in the dark I could see the sinewy muscles of his arms and his defined abs and chest. “What are you doing?” I whispered loudly, fighting to keep my voice low.

He smiled playfully. “We’re gonna get your mind off things and take a little dip.”

“I’m not!”

“No? Come on.” He yanked his jeans off and leaped into the pool, wearing nothing but a pair of dark-blue-and-gray-plaid boxers.”

When he surfaced, he held his boxers above his head, dangling on a single finger, and spun them around like he had done a striptease. He flung them toward me and they landed just to my left.

“Oh my god! I can’t believe you just did that.”

“What? You can’t see me. Anyway, I know you have the crazy in you. You’ll be in here in no time.”

“Oh, how do you know that?”

“The pretty ones are always a little cray cray.”

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?”

“You have no idea,” he said with no trace of humor. “Just get in here, Katy. I promise I won’t look.”

At that point, it’s fair to say that I was drunk, completely and utterly drunk from the wine, and Jamie’s presence was doing nothing to sober me up. His long, wet hair was leaving little glimmering droplets on his shoulders. I giggled. “Turn around, and you better not peek!”

“I promise.”

He waded to one end of the pool and turned his back to me, at which point I quickly stripped down to my black bra and panties. Looking down, I thought they could easily pass for a swimsuit except that they were silk. Oh well.

As quietly as I could, I slipped into the pool on the opposite end of where Jamie stood. There was at least thirty yards between us. The pool felt amazing. I relaxed for a moment and then realized I was in a pool with a naked man I’d just met, a very attractive naked man.

“Okay, I’m in, Jamie, but keep a safe distance.”

He turned around, grinned from ear to ear, and then disappeared under the water.

Good God, what is he doing?

I was suddenly very nervous; a small part of me was actually frightened. If it weren’t for Will Ryan’s sweet words pumping through the speakers, I would have been terrified. His hands on my hips didn’t startle me at all because I could feel him getting closer. He rose out of the water, his warm hands gripping my waist. He wasn’t smiling; he was searching my eyes. I looked around quickly and then back to his shoulders and rib cage as he lifted his arms and slicked his hair back with both hands. I could see his tensing neck muscles. There was very little stopping me from licking the drops of water off his arms. I closed my eyes as he closed the gap between us. I felt his mouth brush my neck and then move toward my ear. “Baby, open your eyes.”

“I…”

“I know. You have a boyfriend.” One side of his mouth turned up. He moved back a few inches. “We can be friends though, right?”

“Yes.” I sighed.

“You were crying earlier. Why?’

I shook my head.

“Please tell me it wasn’t because of how RJ treated you?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“Remember, I just want to forget everything.”

He nodded, looking away for a second. “Are you ticklish?”