Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,20

who knew what else if she wanted, but then he’d be gone, moving on to different women and crazier tricks on the water or the snow.

They’d eaten dinner later, about seven-thirty, and then cleaned everything up together. After dinner, he asked what she’d like to do, and she suggested Gin Rummy. So, they played cards, like two old people. She enjoyed it despite her angst. No matter the situation, Cruz made everything fun, but she worried he’d think she was more boring than ever.

Now it was only nine, barely dark this August evening, and he was already camping outside her bedroom window. He’d disabled the automatic lights, so if someone crept around, they wouldn’t be scared away, and he could catch them.

She felt guilty for taking Cruz away from Cat and his dad when she didn’t know what to do with him. She was confused and stirred up by being around him. Every flirtatious glance and phrase he tossed her way only seemed to confirm to her that he was indeed a vicious player—the type who had to have every woman fall for them and then would dump them and move on. It broke her to think that she was nothing special to him, but what did she expect? If only she could tell her heart not to fall in love with the player. Sadly, it was too late.

There was a soft rap on her side door. Meredith took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and moved that direction. At least Cruz wasn’t bursting in like he owned the place. She opened the door, and her jaw fell open. “What are you wearing?” she cried out, tempted to slam the door in his face.

Cruz gave her his irresistible smile. “Not much.”

“Oh, my,” she breathed out, putting a hand over her heart. He was wearing a pair of comfortable-looking shorts and that was it. Oh, my! Her eyes traveled over his defined chest and abdomen of their own accord. His body was tall and strong and incredible. She’d seen his bare chest yesterday at the lake, but they hadn’t been alone, and she hadn’t allowed herself to focus completely on his beauty.

She leaned into the door frame and repeated, “Oh, my.”

He just grinned.

“Where is your shirt?” she managed to ask in a breathy voice that humiliated her. “You’re going to … get eaten alive by mosquitos for heaven’s sake.”

“I don’t like to wear a shirt to sleep.” He winked. “Too many days spent in a swimsuit has made me really comfortable in only shorts.” He held up a small bag of mosquito repellant wipes. “That’s why I need your help to rub one of these all over my back. It’s too hard for me to reach.” He studied her and then put what he may have thought was a steadying hand on her arm. “Is that okay?”

“Oh, my,” Meredith murmured, feeling unsteady from his touch and dizzy from gawking at his superb chest. She was almost thirty years old and so pathetically uneducated about men. Her dad was the pastor for crying out loud, and though she’d dated her fair share, and even gone on dates swimming or boating, men didn’t usually walk around without shirts on. Plus, she’d rarely seen a man that looked this incredible. “Is this because of your job?” she asked faintly.

“This?” He gave her an appealing and too-confident look. He gestured to himself. “Oh, you mean all these impressive muscles?” He flexed his chest, and she blinked, stunned. “I have to be in tiptop shape to throw the tricks I do.”

“Apparently.” Then she had a stab of sickness hit her. How many women had googled this beautiful chest, touched this beautiful chest, or gone silly over this beautiful chest? Cruz was such a show-off, flirt, and player, that it was like every woman had the rights to him. Every woman but her.

She quickly yanked one of the wipes out of the bag and ordered, “Turn around.”

Cruz’s wide grin showed he knew exactly how he affected her, but he had no clue that she was getting farther away from him emotionally. With a lot of prayer tonight, she could be strong around him, treat him like a friend, and think of him as a thoughtful person who was sleeping outside to catch her creeper. That was all.

He slowly turned around, giving her plenty of time to admire him front to back. Meredith took a steadying breath. She unfolded the small wipe, reaching up and starting at his