“Holy shit!” He rubbed a hand down his face. “I wasn’t expecting the water to be so cold.”
With her long, wet hair cemented to her head, Avery laughed as she rubbed her arms and bobbed up and down. “It is a bit chilly.”
“You think?” He frowned. “And since when do feet not count?”
“Since always.” Her expression became serious. “For you to be the first onein, your entire body must be completely submerged before the other person’s.”
For a second, Garrett wasn’t sure how to respond. Then he saw her lips twitch and realized she’d pulled one over on him.
“You tricked me into going under.”
“Yep.” She didn’t look the least bit sorry.
Then it hit him. “You’ve already been in the water today, haven’t you?”
“Maybe.” She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.
“Soyou’rethe cheater!” With a playful swipe at the water, Garrett splashed her.
Avery screamed and turned her head, her arm flailing in a blind attempt to get him back.
After a few lucky shots, he decided to take things a bit further. Diving under the water, Garrett reached out and wrapped his arm around her center.
He could hear Avery’s high-pitched scream as he lifted her in the air and tossed her a few feet away. She landed with a giant splash.
Garrett laughed, but when Avery came back up, she was coughing and struggling to breathe.
“Oh, shit.” Garrett swam over to her. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to—”
He got a face full of salt water.
“Two can play at that game.” An arched brow topped off her defiant expression. “It’s game on.”
Avery splashed him again. Wiping his face, Garrett watched her swim gracefully away.
Oh, it’s definitely game on, sweetheart.
And this was one game he intended to win.
Chapter 6
A cool breeze took the bite out of the hot summer sun as it made its way across Avery’s exposed skin.
Her thoughts bounced between how relaxed she felt and how incredible Garrett looked wearing nothing but a pair of swim trunks.
She’d already known the man was fit. Even fully clothed, it was obvious he stayed in excellent shape. But when he’d taken off his t-shirt earlier…
Lord have Mercy.
The man wasn’t merely in good shape. He was incredibly fit and sculpted. Every muscle taut and firm. Every shadowed groove evidence of his discipline and hard work.
Even now, as she snuck a few peaks from beneath her dark lenses, Avery could make out the impressive ripples of his washboard abs.
Abs she’d had the pleasure of feeling when they’d been playing around in the water earlier.
Call it what it was, Aves. You were flirting.
It was true. Shehadbeen flirting. Shamelessly so. And the best part?