than there was.
Aside from our actual attraction.
And the whole marriage thing.
She brushed her long, stick-straight brown hair off her shoulder and regarded me with just enough upturn in her nose to convey every message she intended.
James was hers.
I was nothing.
And there would be problems if I tried to be something.
And it was a situation only made worse when two of Lars’ friends and other groomsmen arrived, their stares hot and lingering an extra second on me—thanks to the itty-bitty yellow monokini—rather than on Lynn.
Thankfully, they went to change right at the moment when Suz’s parents broke into a heated political discussion with Kathleen, dragging Lynn into the mix since she was an aide to some Virginia congressman.
“You’ll be just fine,” Suz reassured me. “Unless you want to stay back with the rest of the group.”
I glanced over my shoulder, catching Lynn’s irritated stare as she was trapped in conversation while I was about to head toward a piece of her property.
“You’re right,” I squeaked. “I think I’ll take my chances with the balancing board.”
We waded into the water and I tried to ignore the brothers who began to paddle their way in our direction.
Resting on my knees, my heart pounded as the board wobbled underneath me, taking a moment to steady.
“It’s really easy. I was a total mess when we tried this in St. Lucia last year, but I’m sure you’ll pick it up much quicker than I did.” The bubbly blonde stood up way too easily and began a slow paddle. “Take a few minutes on your knees to get used to it and then try standing.”
“Got it,” I replied, though my whole focus was on not moving a muscle.
With each deep breath, I pushed the paddle through the water on each side of the board, keeping it moving in a relatively straight path.
“How’s it going?”
I gasped and choked, my gaze snapping up to the board heading toward me, James crouched down in the center of it.
I dragged my tongue over my lips, drinking in the close-up of his bare chest. Tanned muscles were stacked and cut tighter than a deck of cards on a poker table. And held far greater risk… and reward.
“I’m not good at balancing acts,” I confessed as he floated closer. “Bikes, heels, and boards… we just don’t get along.”
“I think you get along just fine when I’m around.” I held my breath, waiting for what he held back. “Because it means I get to catch you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t you get tired of saving the day?”
His smile widened. “Not for you, I don’t.”
Afraid of making the wrong move, I drew the paddle out of the water and laid it across the board in front of me, realizing too late that the position of my arms holding it had partially obscured me—and my attire—from his view.
“Jesus.” His reaction was instantaneous. Hot lust flared in his eyes as they greedily ate up the way the suit hugged my curves. “Is that what Suzanne gave you to wear?” He cleared his throat halfway through the question.
It was hot under the sun and the swimsuit wasn’t padded, which meant the hard outline of my nipples against the material was solely because of him. Because of his stare. His want.
It was like a drug—to feel this wanted. This desirable.
And it was the last thing I needed right now—to be desired by my husband.
“Yeah.” I swallowed hard, clenching my thighs together to stop the pool of desire his heated stare caused from spreading. “It’s—”
“Perfect,” he growled, staring at me like an orca eyes a seal on the shore—he couldn’t have me because it wasn’t physically possible, but as soon as I was in his domain—in his reach—I would be his. “You look perfect.”
“James,” I hissed. “This isn’t… I shouldn’t have…”
“Carrie,” he broke in, commanding my attention with no less desire in his eyes. “I told you I’d keep this from everyone, but when it’s just you and me.” He paused and motioned to indicate that we were a safe distance from everyone else on the lake. “When it’s just you and me, I’m not going to hide how much I want you… especially when you’re wearing that.”
I was going to kill Suzanne… if I survived how badly I wanted him first.
I drew in a long breath, hoping to drown out the way I’d drank down his compliment. I couldn’t let this continue.
“Fine,” I replied, hoping he would interpret the tightness in my voice to irritation rather than attraction. “Then,