"I - well - "
"I thought I was a goner." She pressed a hand to her chest, then gasped when she felt bare skin. Good God, she was only wearing her bra and underwear. "Where did my clothes go?"
"Over there." He motioned with his head, and she spotted a heap of wet clothes on the stone floor next to a chaise lounge.
"I don't recall taking them off." And what the heck was she doing on his lap? She lurched to the other side of the hot tub and glared at him. "What did you do to me?"
His jaw shifted. "I took off yer wet clothes."
"Did I give you permission?"
"Nay, ye were unconscious. And turning blue. I was trying to save you."
Heat invaded her cheeks. She wasn't used to men seeing her without her clothes on. And here she was in her boring white cotton bra and panties. Damn, if only she'd worn her black lace undies.
She winced inwardly. She'd come close to getting mauled by a jaguar, and all she could think about was the sexiness factor of her underwear? She must be in shock. Or suffering from hypothermia. Or fuzzy-headed from being unconscious. She rubbed her forehead. She was overanalyzing again. "I apologize. You did the right thing."
A corner of his mouth lifted. "It was a tough job, but someone had to do it. I could say that I refrained from leering or drooling, but that would be a lie."
Her blush grew hotter. "Well, thank you for your honesty. And your bravery. I can't believe you chased away that huge jaguar. You were incredible."
He shrugged one shoulder. "I couldna let it harm you."
Her gaze dropped to his broad shoulders, and then his bare chest. He'd run down to the beach in his underwear to rescue her. "You saved me."
"Ye tried to stop me," he whispered.
Her gaze lifted to his eyes and her heart fluttered in her chest. "Well, there was no sense in both of us getting mauled to death."
"Ye wanted to protect me."
The look in his eyes was so intense, she was starting to tingle all over. Now she felt strangely overdressed.
His eyes darkened. "Ye were willing to face danger alone in order to keep me safe."
She squirmed on the molded seat. She shouldn't have left his lap. She could be touching him right now. He could be touching her. "I¨CI assume you called the police about the jaguar?"
He hesitated.
She sat up. "You didn't call?"
"Ye were unconscious. I couldn't let go of you."
She stood. "We have to call. Right away."
"I - " His gaze shifted downward.
She glanced down. Her wet cotton bra had molded to her like a second skin, clearly showing her nipples, which were now reacting to the cold air. She ducked into the water up to her chin. "Can you make the call, please?"
A hint of red glimmered in his eyes, and he rubbed them. "I'll be right back." He surged out of the Jacuzzi, water dripping from his body and black boxer shorts.
She watched as he strode to the house. There was something odd about his eyes. They seemed to get irritated easily. Her gaze wandered over his broad shoulders and strong back, then zeroed in on his backside. The wet black cotton was glued to his buttocks, clearly showing the muscles at work with each step he took.
She licked her lips. "Could you bring me a glass of water?"
He glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door. "Aye. Just a minute."
She moved across the tub so she could see him through the large plate-glass window. His back was still to her as he talked on the phone. He'd left the back door open, so she was able to catch most of his conversation.