Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,242

couldn’t mask the bright pinpoints of starlight that cut through the black sky. She caught a glimpse of the silver moon on the horizon.

By silent consent, they bypassed the path leading to their cabin and instead took the short walk to the beach. Kendall paused to slip off her sandals. The sand was cool on her feet. The breeze blowing off the ocean tangled her hair.

“Have you ever skinny dipped, Frasier?”

“No, and I don’t intend to. Haven’t you ever seen Jaws?”

Vincent shook his head. “No great whites in the Caribbean.”

“Didn’t you see Jaws, The Revenge?”

He chuffed and nudged her with an elbow. “Chicken?”

“Hell, no. Just smart.” Kendall nudged him back. “If you’re so antsy, you do it.”

“Okay.”

She stared after him, stunned, as he walked toward the water’s edge, unbuttoning his shirt. It fell to the sand. The soft silver moonlight caught the ripple of his muscles. He undid the button on his pants and stepped out of them. Clad only in a pair of white boxer-briefs that shone against the darker tan of his skin, he paused and shot her a grin full of pure wickedness.

“Last chance, Frasier.”

“I think I’ll just watch.”

He shrugged, an easy and graceful movement that belied his size. “Okay for you. But that water looks mighty appealing.”

He strode to the water’s edge and dipped a toe in, then shot her a look over his shoulder. He wasn’t going to do it…was he? Wasn’t going to strip… Oh, wow. Vincent hooked his thumbs in his waistband and slid the briefs over his lean hips, down those thick thighs, and off. For one, heart-stopping instant, she had a full view of his tautly sculpted ass. In the next instant, he ran into the water and splashed beneath the waves.

He came up with a snort and a whoop that made her look around to be sure they were alone. “Water’s great, Frasier! You don’t know what you’re missing.”

The problem was she knew exactly what she was missing. Kendall shuffled the sand over her toes wondering what, exactly, was holding her back. She wanted him, there was no doubt about that, and she didn’t doubt that if she asked him to go to bed with her, he’d take her up on the offer. He was a handsome man. Charming. Sexy as hell. And she was on vacation.

But only here for a week. After that, another week at home before she went back to work, and what would happen the next time they faced each other over a spray of bullets? She couldn’t afford that distraction. And that’s all it would be, wasn’t it? All it could be? A pleasant distraction. She might no longer blame him for the death of her partner, but looking at Vincent would always remind her what tragedy a moment’s hesitation could create.

“What the—” Vincent suddenly bent over in the water. “Shit! Ouch!”

Even at this distance and in the dim light, she could see his face contort into a grimace of pain. “Vincent!”

Her mind filled with dorsal fins and sharp, gnashing teeth, Kendall ran toward the water. Vincent had begun splashing out of the waves, grunting in pain. She didn’t hesitate, but ran directly into the ocean toward him.

“Get out!” she cried and grabbed his arm. She expected resistance, but got none. He leaned toward her so suddenly, she lost her balance and fell, floundering, into the salt water.

It closed over her head briefly before she managed to get to her feet, and all she could think of was that she’d feel the sharp bite of fangs into her flesh in a minute. But she didn’t. As she surfaced, sputtering, she heard the low, deep burble of Vincent’s laughter.

“I stepped on a shell,” he said, and held up the offending item.

“What?” Kendall slapped her wet hair away from her face. “A shell? I thought—”

Vincent hummed the theme from Jaws. He let the shell drop back into the water with a plop. He cocked his head to look her over. “You were really scared.”

Her heart had been pounding so hard that bright sparks had flashed in front of her eyes. She forced her breath to slow, but she couldn’t keep her fists from clenching. Suddenly, she realized her teeth were chattering. She couldn’t speak.

Vincent looked at her in concern and reached to touch her shoulder. “Hey, Kendall, I’m sorry…”

She shrugged off his touch and began to push her way through the water back to the sand. Her foot caught on something, probably the same damn shell, and