Bring It On - Kira Sinclair Page 0,19

maybe she could get us out of the picnic.”

Lena looked across the pool to where Georgie and Wesley had settled back into their own lounge chairs. Georgie waved. Lena lifted her hand in a half-hearted response.

“I don’t think even Marcy could stop her. I’m exhausted just listening to her.”

“Hey, on the bright side, we get to see the waterfall.”

“And on the dark side, they think we’re married.”

“I thought that was what you wanted.”

“Sure, but I didn’t think we’d be spending time with anyone but Marcy and Mikhail who already know. I figured if we talked to anyone it would only be for a few minutes and then it would be over.”

Colt looked across at Georgie and Wesley and felt a grimace turn his lips. They were so happy and in love they would surely pick up on the fact that he and Lena weren’t. “We could always explain.”

“Horror of horrors. I can just hear Georgie’s gushing sympathy right now.” She looked over at him, a pained expression on her face. “I don’t think I could take that. It was bad enough dealing with the chaos at the wedding.”

“Then I guess if we can’t get out of it we’ll be married. That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?”

Her eyes sharpened with a deep intensity that he didn’t quite understand. Slowly, she answered, “I suppose not.”

LENA HAD NO IDEA what they were doing. All they’d been told was to disappear for a while and to return to their bungalow at eight sharp. Obviously, Marcy’s next photo shoot had something to do with their room. Fine.

In the meantime, she and Colt had finally managed to get into the pool. The water had been heavenly. They’d skipped the dining room in favor of fattening fried foods at the snack shack. The atmosphere was completely different, which was a good thing. The last thing she needed was another romantic meal with Colt. Playing around in the pool had been bad enough.

Grabbing his ankles to dunk him in. Her fingers grazing across the tight wall of his abs. His body sliding against her beneath the water. Lena gulped, squeezing her eyes shut and hoping the building storm of awareness would disappear, like the monster that couldn’t hurt her if she couldn’t see it.

The problem was it was still there, eyes open or closed.

The more time they spent together, the more aware of him she became. Lena was beginning to worry that ignoring her stirring emotions wasn’t going to be enough. They were getting more powerful, more demanding.

She needed to get hold of herself and her libido. The problem was she no longer trusted that she could actually control either one. And she was starting to question why she needed to—why couldn’t she have him?

A shiver raced down her spine as she remembered the exquisite pleasure of his body rubbing against hers.

“Are you cold?” Colt asked from behind, his palm landing gently at the small of her back.

Ripples of awareness continued through her body like rings from a stone hitting a pond. She wanted him to go on touching her forever, which was why she shook off his hold and said, “No, I’m fine,” tossing a smile over her shoulder to take the sting of her rebuke away.

They rounded the corner in the path to see Marcy waiting for them, the door to their bungalow standing wide open behind her.

Marcy swept them inside and with a grand gesture of her arm, indicated the single room.

It had been completely changed.

The couch and end tables had been removed, along with the small table and chairs in the eating nook. The beautifully carved wooden bed had been placed in the center of the room, and draped with gauzy white material that fluttered on an easy breeze. Someone—probably Marcy—had flung open every door and window, letting in the scent of tropical flowers and the salty tang of the sea.

Drippy, mismatched candles had been placed across the few remaining surfaces—a faux mantel, the kitchen counter and even the floor.

There was no question, this was a seduction scene taken directly from the most romantic and unforgettable movie she’d ever wanted to see. And Marcy clearly expected her to star in it. With Colt. Lena swallowed and waves of heat washed across her skin. Anticipation mixed with dread. Her worst nightmare and hottest dream all mixed into one.

Colt spun slowly in the center of the room. “Someone’s been busy,” he drawled, leaving to interpretation whether his words were complimentary or derogatory.

Lena narrowed her eyes,