Last Name - Dr. Rebecca Sharp Page 0,29

since it’s just you and me, how is our annulment process going?”

His eyes sparked.

Two could play at that game.

If he could remind me how much we wanted each other, then I could just as easily remind him that we were breaking up.

“My lawyer is working on it; I should have more details on Monday,” he replied with begrudging honesty.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I had to have him contact that owner of that chapel and get all of the details about what happened that night. Then, I’m assuming he’s going to draw up the paperwork for us to sign and submit to the courts,” he explained. “Though if you keep wearing things like that, I can’t guarantee I’m willing to sign anything.”

My jaw dropped. “It was a mistake. It won’t happen again,” I assured him.

“It may not matter,” he grunted and then, with a wink, flashed me a devious smile so unexpected it stole my breath. “I may die of blue balls before then.”

My flush turned into a full-blown burn as his promise seared straight through to my core.

“Your board is getting too close,” I exclaimed, the threat of an impending crash—and where that would send me and my board—broke the bonds of desire that held me in a trance.

But instead of turning away, he let himself get closer. “I know exactly where I’m going.” His grin grew even wider. “I’m coming to help you stand.”

My eyes widened into saucers. “No.” My head swiveled side to side. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not standing. I’m perfectly happy right here. Sitting. By myself. Floating casually.”

He laughed. “Carrie Bishop? Backing down from a challenge?” he mocked in disbelief. “That doesn’t sound like you… you can stand. You’re doing great,” he insisted, pulling up beside me.

“Do you not remember how uneasy that stupid gondola made me feel?” My fingers tightened on the paddle as I braced for impact.

“I remember you taking a chance on it anyway… with me.”

My eyes snapped up, blazing with the unwanted warmth from the memory.

“James!”

Both our attention shifted toward the shore.

Sure enough, Lynn had broken away from the older crowd and was paddling toward us on her own board wearing a skimpy two-piece that looked as though it had lost several pieces along the way.

And she was standing.

I shouldn’t have let it bother me. I shouldn’t have let it bring back the feelings of inadequacy unleashed when Andy cheated on me. And I definitely shouldn’t have let the surge of possessiveness inside my chest run wild and dictate my next move.

But I did.

Because James wanted me. And he was my husband. Sort of. For now…

“Fine. I’ll try standing,” I said, looking back and realizing that James’ attention had never left me.

My heart pounded—not from what I was about to do, but because of him. Because of the way he looked at me and the way I wanted to be looked at.

He extended his hands, waiting as I shifted and gingerly placed mine in his grasp.

Warm tingles spread through my skin, crafting a path from my fingertips all along my arms, down my torso, to add fuel to the fire I’d been trying to put out for days.

His grip tightened—just like it had that night when he saved me, when he danced and dipped me by the fountain, when he kissed me… and when I led him back up to my room. There was a different kind of firmness used when you held something that belonged to you, whether it was yours for a second or a century—and that always seemed to be the way we held each other.

“I’ve got you.”

I sucked in a breath. “That’s what I should be afraid of.” I wiggled one foot forward and flat on the board.

I ducked my gaze as soon as I caught a flash of his smile—that alone would send me teetering off into the water.

Relying on his support, I pushed up and planted my left foot flat on the top of the board.

“Perfect,” he said in a low voice.

I glanced up to see him staring down the perfect angle I’d given him of my chest. “Glad one of us is enjoying this.”

“Yeah.” His laugh was a deep rumble. “Look down to see how much.”

My small gasp was still audible as my eyes dropped to the front of his shorts. If I thought my bathing suit revealed too much of my body’s reaction to him, that was nothing compared to the way his swim trucks bulged out along the length of his erection.

“Well,