Touching the Billionaire - Holly Jaymes Page 0,50

in love with a man who I thought loved me.

I reached over and gave her a hug. “Well, the thing is, you probably have some time. You don’t have to decide right now. If he cares for you and you care for him, you can take this thing as slow as you want until you feel comfortable.”

She hugged me back and then released me with a wan smile. “I guess you’re right. Come on, let’s go for a swim.”

We each tugged off our shorts and our t-shirts, and then waded to the pond’s edge. As a kid, I could go running in. But now, as an adult, the cold water stopped me at around mid-calf and I found myself having to slowly inch in.

Nadine, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have that problem. Like a child, she ran in, and then dove under the water, coming up with a big smile on her face.

“Come on, just get in,” she called.

“I’m doing just fine, thank you very much,” I yelled back.

She ducked under the water, then popped up again a little bit closer to me with a mischievous grin. She was going to splash or dunk me, I was sure.

But then something behind her caught her eye. Her eyes narrowed and then widened in surprise. I had a moment to wonder if maybe there was a bear or something behind me, in which case I probably could run and dive into the water with no problem, assuming the bear couldn’t swim.

“Madeline?” she said. She pointed behind me with her finger. “I do believe Theo Wolfe is joining us.”

I whipped around and sure enough, Theo was walking across the meadow toward the pond.

Back in 2005, there was a version of Pride and Prejudice where at the end, Mr. Darcy was walking across a field as the sun was just rising. His coat was open and waving behind him, his shirt uncharacteristically opened at the collar. I could watch that scene over and over again, even though it wasn’t in the book, because it just was so swoonworthy. Everything that scene evoked when I watched it, welled up inside me as I watched Theo Wolfe walk toward me.

I realized I was standing calf-deep in the pond, wearing an almost-too-small bikini with my hair a mess on my head. It was ridiculous to be self-conscious about how little I was wearing considering that Theo had not only seen me naked, but also, his hands and lips had been over every inch of my naked body.

Still, we were supposed to be over that. So I did feel a little bit awkward standing there as he continued to move toward us.

I heard Nadine in the water behind me until finally, she was standing next to me. She leaned in and whispered, “You haven't been completely honest with me.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, not taking my eyes off the delicious-looking Theo Wolfe in those soft, faded jeans and tight-in-the-chest t-shirt.

“That man isn’t looking at you like you’re his co-star. He’s looking at you like you’re his prey.”

There was really nothing I could say to that. Although I wasn’t sure it was true. I wasn’t sure what to read in his bright blue eyes as they latched on me while he continued his forward momentum toward us.

“And I’m pretty sure that you’re looking at him like he's naked and you want to drag your tongue over every inch of him.”

That got my attention. I whipped my head to the side to look at her.

She grinned, and then left the pond.

“Where are you going?” I hissed, feeling a little bit panicked, although I wasn’t sure why.

“Three’s a crowd.” She picked up one of the towels that we had brought and wrapped it around her and then slipped on her swim shoes. “I’m going back to the house to help Gran shuck corn or whatever she needs help with for dinner because I suspect we’re going to have a guest.” She smiled and gave me a wave as she walked along the path. “Hello, Theo Wolfe,” she said, extending her hand. “I’m Nadine Fox. I believe we live in the same building and that you’ve already met my sister Madeline.”

He took her hand but his gaze held on me. “Yes, how do you do?”

She laughed. “I do pretty well, thank you. Now I’m heading up to the house.” She turned back to face me. “You two behave.” And then she headed back up the path, disappearing into the