Until Alex - J. Nathan Page 0,8

of four words to me. I hadn’t expected the words to roll off his tongue so smooth. So confident. So masculine.

I spun back around, taking a small step into the hallway so I wouldn’t wake my aunt.

With his hands buried in the pockets of his jeans, he made no attempt to disguise his wandering eyes still slowly raking over my pajamas.

Vulnerable under his gaze, and quickly remembering I wasn’t wearing a bra, I crossed my arms over my chest. “Any chance you can cure insomnia, too?”

He flashed a faint smile, one I would’ve missed if my eyes weren’t fixated on his lush lips. “Have you tried warm milk?”

I blinked, forcing my eyes back to his. “Every couple hours.”

He pushed open his door, but remained in the hallway. “Reading?”

“Just finished book number five.”

He raised a brow. “TV?”

I nodded. “Already ordered three infomercial products. If you need a body pillow, vegetable peeler, or lifetime supply of floss, I’m your girl.”

The corners of his mouth twitched, but he suppressed a smile.

I wondered why.

“A bottle of Jack usually does the trick for me,” he offered, before stepping into his apartment.

My heart dropped at his sudden retreat.

But then he stopped in his doorway and shot me one last look over his shoulder. “Goodnight.”

Before I could say a word, he closed the door behind him, leaving me alone.

Again.

CHAPTER THREE

ALEX

The following morning I threw on my black bikini, the cute one with the pink hearts. I spread my aunt’s floral beach towel on one of the lounge chairs surrounding the pool. Luckily, I had the pool all to myself.

I crept into the water. It was just the right temperature. Refreshing yet warm once submerged. I dipped my head under to cool my body while swimming leisurely toward the far wall. I grabbed onto the cement edge and gauged the length of the pool, wondering how many laps I could manage before needing to stop. Twenty? Maybe thirty? Either way, I’d be exhausted. And exhaustion equaled dreamless sleep. At least I hoped it did.

I pulled in a deep breath, then pushed off the wall with both feet. I made nice long strides, spearing the water like the swimmers in the Olympics. By lap three, I amped it up, kicking my legs as if a madman pursued me. If I kept up the pace, my legs would tire before my arms. I wasn’t an athlete. I’d never claim to be anything even close, but I—

Splash!

Stopping mid-stride, I spun around in the center of the pool, circling my arms and legs to stay afloat. I didn’t know what I expected to find. An animal. A small child. The pool man. But Hayden breaking through the water at the low end definitely wasn’t it.

I tried not to gawk as he stood waist-high in the water. But I found myself smack-dab in the middle of every teenage girl and desperate housewife’s most vivid fantasy.

The water dripped like honey down his face, over his broad shoulders, and onto his sculpted torso. His wet dark hair and bare chest practically glistened in the bright morning sun.

I tried to appear unfazed, but seriously? I was so far from it, it wasn’t even funny.

“I’m not used to sharing my pool,” he said, lowering himself so the water met his chin.

“Your pool? That’d be news to my aunt. She claims to own this place.” I shot him a smug smirk.

He moved toward the center of the pool—toward me—wading water effortlessly while concealing a smile.

I couldn’t fathom why someone so breathtakingly gorgeous would deny girls everywhere something as small as a smile. Wait. Maybe he wasn’t denying other girls. Maybe just me.

Fully cognizant that the awkward way I circled my arms wouldn’t keep me afloat much longer, I moved to the side of the pool. Grabbing onto the side wall, I spun around to face Hayden, extending my arms over the edge for balance.

Your move.

Hayden backed away, somehow keeping his eyes locked on mine. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“You didn’t ask,” I deadpanned.

For the first time since laying eyes on him, he flashed a grin. A wide grin.

Oh, sweet Jesus. Dimples sank into his cheeks. Of course he had dimples. Why wouldn’t he?

“How ‘bout we try this again.” His eyes studied mine. “I’m Hayden.”

“I know.” I played his words off indifferently, but my entire body hummed. If the mere sight of him and those to-die-for dimples could affect me so intensely, I could only imagine what his touch would do. Oh, my God. Who said anything about touching?

His