He drew her trembling body closer. "You're freezing. How long have you been out here?"
"D-don't know." She barely stammered the words. "A-after M-Mel left."
Fear grabbed him by the throat. She was borderline hypothermic. He had to get her warm, in a hurry. "What are you trying to do, turn yourself into a human Popsicle?" He scooped her up, ignoring her startled squeak as he strode across the deck. He stepped down into the bubbling hot tub.
Her arms constricted in a stranglehold around his neck. "Wh-what are y-you doing?"
"Warming you up." He settled her on the bench, shoulder deep, and sat beside her. She continued to cling to him.
"Does the deep water scare you?"
Her face flushed in the moonlight and she jerked away. "No." Sighing, she slid down until her chin touched the fizzing water. Thick steam drifted upward, cradling them in an intimate cocoon of white vapor.
Relieved to see color return to her pale face, he smiled. "Better now?"
"Much."
"You'd be a lot more comfortable with your dress off."
She jerked upright. "My new dress! And my shoes!"
"Sorry. I'll replace them. I had to get you warm in a hurry. You should get out of those wet clothes. You'll warm up faster."
"I don't think so."
"Why not? You've got skivvies on. Your underwear is as good as a bathing suit." He shifted to the bench opposite her. "I can't see you in the dark, and I'll sit way over here."
"Well … these soggy clothes are uncomfortable." She nibbled her lower lip. "I … guess."
He fixed his gaze on the diamond arch of stars in the black velvet sky and tried to turn his mind away from Tessa splashing and wriggling out of her clothes across from him. He heard drops of water rain down, her shoes thud, and then a slap of wet fabric. The Righteous Brothers serenaded them through his bedroom window. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'. Not quite. The exact opposite in fact. He'd wanted her to feel comfortable and relaxed, but he was paying with his peace of mind. Why, oh, why did he suddenly think this was a very bad idea?
"Mmm. This is nice."
Against his better judgment, he lowered his gaze. Her luminous eyes shone in the moonlight, a lingering edge of pain darkening the amber depths. His equilibrium shattered. He sucked in a breath of cold, crystal-clear air tinged with pungent wood smoke, desperately trying to relocate his center of gravity. Crickets chirped from the shadows, mocking his feeble attempt.
She swirled her arms through the bubbling water. "I feel weightless, like I could float."
He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, letting the tingling warmth caress his skin and loosen his taut muscles. He'd always been more at peace in the water than anywhere else. "Zero gravity. I've always loved this feeling. You should try scuba diving in the Caribbean, where you can see the tropical fish and coral clear as day. Incredible."
He relaxed, letting his arms float. "Unchained Melody" began to play in the background. Drifting on the surface, he breathed in the tranquility.
Tessa's soft whisper broke into the silence. "Kiss me."
He sank like a rock. Hot water closed over his head and surged up his nose. He jerked upright, spitting water. "What?" he choked.
"You said you wouldn't kiss me again until I asked you to. I'm asking."
His stomach clenched. He wanted to. Too much. Which was why he couldn't. He shook his head. "I don't think—"
"Please." Her voice trembled. "Please, Gabe."
Her soft plea arrowed into his chest and wound around his heart. She was seeking reassurance after the debacle at her wedding rehearsal. Understandable. He could put his own feelings aside and give her that much, couldn't he? What felt like forever, in reality only took two steps to close the distance between them. He stopped inches from her.
She reached up and touched his face, her fingertips tracing the droplets of moisture trailing down his cheek.
In slow motion, his hands glided through the water and grasped her shoulders, warm and silky beneath his palms. "Are you sure?"
She melted into his embrace, sliding her arms around his neck. He breathed in her tantalizing vanilla scent, and his pulse hammered erratically. She raised her face. He gazed into the soft, golden pools of her eyes. Open trust glimmered in the wide depths, sweet and welcoming. An invitation he couldn't refuse if his life depended on it.
Gabe groaned. He was toast. Completely fried.
He lowered his mouth to hers, brushing her lips in a gentle,