those big inner tubes over there?”
Gabe flicks a switch on the camera and glances at me. “When we’re open for real, we’ll have someone up top handing them out. This is just for practice.”
It’s taking all my self-control not to watch Dean walk across the wet concrete to grab one of the massive floatation devices the size of a small boat. I’ve seriously never seen such a perfect ass.
Lauren’s still watching me, looking like she knows I’d like to eat her brother for lunch. “You look a little flushed. You’re not afraid of heights, are you?”
I swallow hard and struggle to croak a reply. “Nope, not afraid of heights at all.”
That’s the least of my fears. I’d rather hang naked by my toenails from the top of this five-story staircase than let myself fall for Dean Judson.
Speak of the devil, Dean rejoins us with a massive yellow innertube anchored under one arm. It bumps his leg as he walks, and he catches my eye before gesturing to the giant column of stairs beside the waterslide. “After you.”
Squaring my shoulders, I turn and begin my march. My knees are Jell-O, and my tongue keeps sticking to the roof of my mouth. Halfway to the stairs, I realize I’d better ditch the robe. I drop my hands to the knotted belt and unfasten it with clumsy fingers. Shrugging off the terrycloth, I fold it neatly on a nearby table.
There’s a long, slow hiss of breath, and I turn to see Dean staring. “Fuck.”
“Close your mouth, bro.” Gabe slaps him on the shoulder so hard he lurches forward.
“Dean’s definitely afraid of heights.” Lauren’s smirk tells me that’s not true at all, though I admire that she’s covering for her brother.
Gabe gives Dean another nudge forward. “Give us a sign when you’re at the top. All that stupid lattice means we can’t see you, so stick your hand out or something.”
With a pained look, Dean trudges toward the steps. I’m relieved he seems to have forgotten the whole “after you” thing, since I’d rather not climb several hundred steps in a bathing suit with a hot guy walking behind me.
He starts up the stairs, and I wait a few beats before beginning my own ascent. No need to make this more awkward by placing my face at butt level, even if it is a fantastically fine butt.
I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other, enjoying the scratch of the sandpapery treads beneath my feet. I’m doing pretty well not staring at Dean’s ass when his voice startles me.
“So this is awkward.”
A bubble of surprised laughter flutters up my throat. “I don’t know what you mean. I always start new jobs by stripping down and climbing five flights of stairs with my new boss.”
“Not your boss.” He stops abruptly, and I nearly crash into the big inner tube under his arm. “Just so we’re clear.”
I throw him a mock salute. “Crystal.”
“Seriously, this shit matters. I don’t want this being any weirder than it needs to be between us.”
“Weird?” I fold my arms over my chest, belatedly wondering if he can see right down my suit from four steps above me. “You mean the part where you poisoned me during the interview, the part where I tackled you in my backseat, or the part where we’re both half-naked my first day on the job?”
Dean gives me a pained look. “Weren’t you supposed to go first up the stairs?”
“Hell, no.”
With a shrug, he continues up the steps ahead of me. We both fall silent, so the only sounds are the slosh of water and the thud of our footsteps on the sandpapery treads. Even Lauren and Gabe are quiet below, and I wonder if they can hear us.
“How come you didn’t mention the bug we found in your office?” I’ve lowered my voice so it’s practically a whisper. I’m not sure he hears me, and he doesn’t turn around. “Or the postcard with my picture. You didn’t say anything to them just now.”
Dean doesn’t respond at first. I’m figuring he’s not going to, so when he stops this time, I plow head-on into the tube. I start to bounce back, but Dean catches me by the arm. “Sorry.”
“No problem.” I swallow hard, conscious of the heat of his hand around my biceps. “Uh, sorry if I startled you.”
“You mean the questions?” He glances back to where Gabe and Lauren are working, though we can’t actually see them. “Coop will fill them in about the