Falling Fast (Falling Fast #1) - Tina Wainscott Page 0,102

his gaze elsewhere before Vivi caught him. “Where do you want us?”

Mollie gestured toward a spot by the edge of the pool. “Let’s do one of those corny standing-together-in-front-of-the-waterfall shots.” As soon as he and Vivi reached the spot, Mollie ordered, “Knox, pull her into your arms.”

Vivi actually stiffened. Damn, did she dislike him that much? “It’s just a job, Vivi,” he said, stepping closer. “Make believe I’m a guy you like.”

She swallowed, and for the first time he saw a glimpse of vulnerability before she slid on her hardened mask. “I don’t know one guy that I like.”

Ah, maybe this wasn’t personal at all. “Are you gay? Knowing that would help me understand you better.” And would soothe his bruised ego, too.

“I’m not gay. I just don’t like men.” Mollie’s uncomfortable silence only added to the tension. Which probably helped prompt Vivi to say, “I’m a little—a lot—prejudiced when it comes to gorgeous, confident guys. And when they come in a group I’m really triggered.”

Well, she was honest, anyway. “Because of what happened when you were a cop?” Knox asked.

“Yes. That’s it.”

But he sensed that it wasn’t only that, with the shadow that crossed her blue-gray eyes. There had been no allegations of assault in her legal complaints. But clearly something really bad had happened.

Not your business.

“Did Chase tell you?” she asked. “About my lawsuit?”

“Only because he asked us to be mindful of our actions and words. We’d never be disrespectful, but sometimes words meant in fun can be misconstrued.” He’d heard his comrades flirt often enough.

Then he realized that she’d called him gorgeous, or, at least, lumped him in that category. Well, wasn’t that nice? Course, she hadn’t meant it as a compliment.

She adjusted her swimsuit top and stepped close to Knox. “Let’s do this.”

Knox slid his arms around that nice, small waist, pulling her close. She stiffened again, then seemed to forcibly relax into his embrace. Her arms went awkwardly around his shoulders.

Mollie frowned. “I had Barbie dolls that looked more natural than you. Sorry, just sayin’. You have to look convincing in case they get suspicious and check. Believe me, I know how scary it is to be in a situation where the enemy suspects you’re not what you say you are. I could have died, quite literally.”

Mollie had put herself right in the midst of an outlaw motorcycle gang in her search for her sister. Knox had a ton of respect for her, especially considering she’d only been an ordinary citizen.

“Vivi, put yourself back in that role when you were trying to lure my sister’s ex to Chase’s plane where Risk could interrogate him,” Mollie said. “You were a hot babe with a broken-down car, totally relaxed in the role.”

Knox said, “I heard you pulled it off quite well. And if you could do that with some biker dude, certainly you can do it with me.”

“That was different. He was—”

“Was?” Knox prompted when she let several seconds lapse. Did she see him as lower than a gang banger named Brick?

“He wasn’t anyone I’d had interaction with.” She took a deep breath and put her hand on his back as she stood next to him, facing the camera. Her fingers tensed on his bare skin, and he felt the edge of her nails dig in slightly.

As Mollie took pictures while they moved into different positions, she said, “Couples lean in toward each other subconsciously. They have an ease between them.”

“An ease,” Vivi repeated, as though she’d never heard the word before in that context. “I can do ease. I can do this,” she whispered.

A different mask slipped into place. Vivi’s face transformed to a sexy smile, and she shook out her hair and pressed closer to Knox. He could feel her stomach against his pelvis, her boobs brushing his chest. She smelled good, a faint scent of flowers that he wouldn’t have expected on her. He inhaled, drawing it in and trying to guess what the flower was.

As she gazed lovingly up at him, she said, “Now who’s all stiff?”

God, he hoped not. Oh, she meant stiff in body, not cock. He’d shut down any sexuality in his psyche, but his body didn’t always get the message. With her lushness pressed up close, her sweet gaze, her lips glistening from her tongue running across their surface, damn…getting an erection would only prove that he was another “over-testosteroned pretty boy.”

“Yes, perfect,” Mollie said, angling into different positions to capture them.

Despite his efforts, his body was responding. It had been way too long. He didn’t want to explore the anomaly: Why was Vivi even inspiring such thoughts? And wayward body reactions?

He slipped into the same role that she had, pasting on his smile and dipping her suddenly, making her whoop in surprise.

“Yes, work it, work it!” Mollie said, snapping the shutter repeatedly.

He scooped Vivi up and pretended to begin to throw her into the water. She fought him, a sweet scream coming from her mouth. Her fingers tightened on his shoulder and arm.

“If I go in, you’re coming, too!” she threatened, and he actually considered going through with it.

There was a spark of humor in those narrowed eyes, and damn did it make her look beautiful. It might be worth getting wet just to have some fun.

But Mollie said, “Those were great. Now we’ll move to the chaise longue for some individual shots.”

They then took more pictures down at the boat in their second set of swimsuits to replicate another outing. Mollie scanned through the pictures on the camera. “I have enough to make some albums. Let’s call it a day.”

“Good,” Vivi said. “I’m so ready to call it a day.”

“Remember, you and Knox need to brush up on your Russian. You might as well do it together, since you need someone to practice it with. See me before you leave. I have a learning system and some of the key phrases you might use to communicate with the women.” Mollie flashed them both a bright smile. “Thank you for playing.”

Vivi watched her depart. “Do you think she enjoyed putting us through this? Maybe just a little?”

Knox couldn’t help his grin. “Maybe as much as you enjoyed trying to dress Sax up as a geek weenie.”

She shot him a challenging look that hinted not a bit of any chagrin. “That was just part of my job.” She started walking toward the pool area, her fine ass sashaying.

Just as this was part of their job, Knox reminded himself, pulling his attention away.

Love stories you’ll never forget

By authors you’ll always remember

eOriginal Romance from Random House