Smitten (3 page)

“He definitely wasn’t the type of guy I expected her to end up with. He’s perfect for her, though.”

We both turned and glanced at them.

“They seem really happy together,” I said. “Love does crazy things, doesn’t it? It can step in and change people’s lives completely.”

“Tell me about it. Look what it did to mine.” He stared at me now, a smoky heat glinting in his eyes
, and he stepped closer. “I thought I was going to go crazy trying to stay away from you.”

“Now you don’t have to.” I couldn’t look away.

His heated gaze flared. “No I don’t.” He took my drink from my hand and placed it on the ground with his before straightening to wrap his arms around my waist.

I slipped my arms around his neck
, and he bent to kiss first my forehead, then my cheek, before pressing his lips to mine. He held me tightly, kissing me deeply, his tongue exploring my mouth as the fire instantly flared between us. One of his hands drifted downward, pressing us closer together.

Laughter echoed through the air from the group back at the bar
, and I broke away. “Hunter.” I slid my hands to his chest as I pushed back. I could feel the blush stealing across my skin. “Your family is watching.”

“Cami,” he said,
holding me tighter.

I pushed harder—embarrassed
at the show I was sure we were putting on for everyone.

“Cami, stop,” he
demanded again, but it was too late. I lost my balance, falling backward. Hunter tried to hold me, but the momentum was too much, and both of us tumbled into the pool.

Chapter Three

Hunter-

My head broke the surface of the water
, and I gasped, quickly scanning for Cami. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found her sputtering behind me. I closed the distance between us as laughter filled the air from the edge of the pool. I ignored them as I grabbed Cami’s arm and gently tugged her to me. She wiped her hair away from her face, and thin black rivulets of mascara streamed down her cheeks.

“Are you okay?” I asked,
concerned. I’d fallen on top of her when we’d hit the water.

Her skin immediately flushed a lovely shade of pink. “I will be after the humiliation settles.”

I allowed myself to grin then. “I tried to warn you.”

She grimaced. “I know, but I didn’t realize what you meant until it was too late. Sorry.”

“Are you two all right?” My mom’s concerned voice floated above us.

“You know they have suits you could’ve borrowed in the pool house. You didn’t have to shove her in,” Chris drawled out in a joking manner.

I glanced up at him as I started leading Cami toward the steps. “You’re hilarious. Why don’t you do something useful—like get us some towels?” I didn’t think Cami had realized her white blouse was practically transparent now. While I was enjoying the view, I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of everyone else seeing it. She’d be embarrassed if she realized.

Sheridan and Chris appeared at the end of the pool with stacks of the fluffy
, white towels my parents always kept in abundant supply. I helped Cami up the steps, and Sheridan had her quickly wrapped in a towel, for which I was grateful.

“What happened?” my mom asked, joining us as I tried wringing the water out of my pants.

“I took a step backward, not realizing how close I was to the water,” Cami stated mournfully. “Hunter tried to catch me, but I took him down with me, I’m afraid.”

“Forced into taking the plunge, eh?” Chris added with a laugh.

“Something like that.” I chuckled. “Sheridan, is it okay if I go raid any clothes you have left in your closet? I think you’re probably the closest size to Cami.”

“Of course you can. They may be a little outdated, but
she’s welcome to anything.”

“Thank you,” Cami said, graciously. “I’m so sorry for the trouble.”

“No trouble whatsoever.”

I quickly used a towel to sop the worst of the wet before taking my shoes off. “Follow me,” I said with a nod to my
heavily-bundled girlfriend whose hands were buried somewhere beneath a couple of fluffy towels.

She followed me into the house. “I’m so embarrassed,” she whispered once we were out of earshot of the others.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “Don’t be. Accidents happen. Besides it gives me the opportunity to have you all to myself for a bit.”

She smiled a little then. “But I’m a chlorine mess now.”

We climbed the staircase. “That’s okay. My old room has a private bathroom. You can get showered while I find something for you to wear in Sheridan’s closet.”

“Is there any chance she might have
a hair tie or something I can put my hair in a ponytail with? It’ll be a frizzy mess without all my hair products to calm it down.”

“I’ll check. I’m sure I can find something somewhere,” I replied, stopping to open the door to my room. I gestured for her to enter and stepped in behind her.

She stopped suddenly and glanced around. “This isn’t a bedroom—it’s a suite.” She stared at me with wide eyes. “Half my parent’s house could fit in this space.”

I chuckled as I tried to look at it through her eyes. I supposed to someone who’d never been here it would seem overwhelming. I stared at the sitting area with black leather furniture, complete with my own television and gaming system
, then glanced over the shelves on the gray walls, which held my trophies, awards, and pictures from my years in school. I paused when my gaze fell on my large bed covered in a black-and-red checkered bedspread, and I briefly wondered what it would feel like to see Cami in that bed with her gorgeous red hair spread out over my pillows. Heat streaked through me at the thought. I wanted her there.

I cleared my throat, knowing I needed to clear my head as well. “Um, the bathroom is through this door.” I ushered her into the large gray
-and-black tiled space. “Help yourself to whatever you need, and I’ll go find you some clothes. If you’ll leave the door unlocked, I’ll leave them here on the counter for you.”

She smiled. “Thank you. I’ll hurry so you can shower and change too.”

I was having a hard time controlling my thoughts. “You know, they say showering together can conserve water,” I replied, lifting an eyebrow suggestively. She blushed the deepest shade of red yet, and I couldn’t help my chuckle. I was teasing, mostly, but if I were being honest, I’d jump right in if she gave me the okay. I couldn’t seem to resist tempting her.

“Uh.” She faltered as her gaze traveled over my wet clothes
, and I knew without a doubt she wasn’t immune to me either. “Are . . . are you serious?”

“Are you seriously considering letting me join you?” I responded with my own question.

She shook her head and smiled. “No. Your whole family is waiting for us downstairs!”

I sighed. “Then I was
totally
joking—not serious at all.”

She laughed. “I see how it is.”

“Do you?” I laughed. I knew I was way more daring than she was. She was right, though. I needed to stick with our plans. I’d be able to have her to myself later tonight. “You’re right, as usual. I’ll be a good boy.” I gave her a wink, and she looked a little skeptical.

“Why do I doubt that?” She bit her lip as she took off her wet towels and laid them on the counter
, bringing her wet shirt back into view.

My blood roared. “Probably because you do know me.” I didn’t even attempt to hide my appreciative stare over her clinging
, white blouse. “I better go.”

She gave a little wave of her fingers
, and I had to force myself to shut the door before I was tempted to grab her and kiss her again. I leaned my forehead against it for a moment, taking a deep breath.

T
he simple thought of spending time with her tonight made me smile. I continued to think about her as I made my way to Sheridan’s room. I couldn’t believe how quickly Cami had gotten under my skin and into my heart. I’d never been what I considered a romantic—more like a player in my teen years—but she brought all that out in me. It had been such a struggle to stay away from her at the beginning, but it was nothing compared to what I felt now. I wanted to be with her always, and that was a subject I intended to approach her with this evening. 

Rummaging through Sheridan’s old clothes, I found a sunny
-yellow tank top I knew would make Cami’s red hair glow beautifully. I chose it and a pair of tan shorts before realizing she wouldn’t have any under things. I didn’t relish the idea of going through my sister’s underwear drawer, but Cami was going to need something. I quickly chose the first pair of panties and bra folded next to each other, hoping they might fit her okay. There was no way I was holding them up to look. Some things a guy shouldn’t know about his sister.

Remembering her request for a hair
band, I dug through the drawers in Sheridan’s bathroom and picked out several before heading back to my room.

I knocked on the bathroom door. “It’s me
—bringing your stuff in,” I called out as I entered.

“Okay, thank you. I’m almost done,” she replied over the noise of the shower.

I placed the items on the counter and opened my drawer to get out a comb and hairbrush for her, placing them on the counter. I closed the drawer and glanced into the mirror.

Immediately, I recognized my mistake, but I couldn’t look away from the outline of her body behind the frosted glass of the shower door. It hid enough to protect her privacy, but what I could see made my imagination run wild.
I closed my eyes and swallowed hard, clenching the edge of the counter. I needed to cool off in a big way. “Hey, I’m going to go shower real quick in Sheridan’s bathroom so you don’t have to rush. Go ahead and rejoin the others when you’re ready. I’ll meet you there shortly.”

“All right. See you in a few minutes.”
She was completely oblivious to the effect she was having on me.

I didn’t even bother to turn on the hot water, climbing
straight into the cold spray. My skin prickled, and I couldn’t help letting out a little gasp of surprise followed by a shiver. I braced my hands against the wall and hung my head as the chilly liquid sluiced over me for several minutes.

When I felt sufficiently frozen, and much calm
er, I finally turned some of the hot on and quickly finished washing. As I stepped out and dried off, I realized I hadn’t bothered to grab any clothes in my rush to get away; I was so intent on putting some distance between us. So, tucking the towel around my waist, I headed back to my room.

I wasn’t expecting the sight that greeted me
, and I stopped in the doorway. Cami stood with her back to me, studying items on my shelves, looking at pictures of me through the years and trophies I’d won. The clothes I’d picked seemed to fit her nicely from this angle, hugging her curves and showcasing her long, pretty legs. She’d pulled her curly hair into a loose, messy bun of sorts with several wild tendrils escaping to brush the creamy skin of her neck.

She turned and
instantly locked eyes with me before allowing her gaze to travel hungrily down my towel-clad form. Instantly, the effects of my cold shower were null and void.

“Sorry,” she said,
apparently completely oblivious to the way she was making me feel. “I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see pieces of your life from before I knew you.”

“No reason to apologize. I’m happy to share them with you.” I shut the door behind me. I went to my dresser and grabbed some clothes
, and she gave me a smile before she turned back to the shelves. I dressed quickly and went to join her, wrapping my arms around her from behind and resting my chin on her head.

“Where was this picture taken?” she asked, pointing to one of me in my red and white football gear.

“That was after the state championship my senior year.”

“Wow! State?
That’s awesome! I can understand why you’re smiling so big. It’s a huge accomplishment. I’m assuming your team won?”

“Yep,” I pointed to the hat sitting on the shelf beside the picture. “We got these after the game and this too.” I picked up a small box and flipped the lid to show her my championship ring inside.

“Holy cow! That’s enormous! I didn’t know they did that kind of stuff for high school football. Have you ever worn it?”

I laughed. “Heck yeah! I wore it the rest of my senior year clear
until I started the police academy. I had to take it off for training, and I never put it back on, but I still love it. We made it to the playoffs all four years, but this was the only time we got to the state game. It was pretty awesome.”

“I wish I could’ve known you then.” She leaned her head against my shoulder
, and I hugged her tighter.

“How come?” I was curious to know why.

She shrugged. “I think I really would’ve enjoyed getting to experience all these things with you.” She picked up a picture of me in my basketball uniform and ran her fingers gently over it.

“Did you have a girlfriend?”

I snorted. “Several,” I answered honestly. “And not one of them can hold a candle to you.” I kissed the top of her head.

She turned and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I think you’re just trying to butter me up now.”

“Always.” I grinned. “But it happens to be the truth too. No one has ever made me feel the way you do.”

“And what way is that?” We swayed together naturally.

“Like I might come apart at the seams if I don’t kiss you right now.” I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her gently at first. Her lips parted, and I eagerly took advantage of what she offered, deepening the contact between us. I loved having her here in my old room. She was the first girl I’d ever had in here, and it was like a fantasy come true.

“Will you do me a favor?” I asked in between kissing her lips and drifting down to her neck.

“What?” she replied in a breathy voice.

“Come lay on my bed with me.”

“What about your family?”

“Just for a few minutes. They won’t even know the difference.” I pulled her in the direction of my bed
, and she didn’t resist, so I took that as her consent.

She lay down
, and I crawled beside her holding my arms open for her to slip into them.

“So what brought this on?” she asked, running her finger over my chest.

“You’ll think it’s stupid.” I kissed the top of her head again.

“No I won’t. Tell me,” she urged.

“You’re the first girl I’ve had in my room besides Sheridan or my mom. I wanted you in my bed.”