Page 44 of Tempted Hearts
“My parents should have divorced fifteen years ago. Instead, they stay married, making themselves, and each other, miserable.”
“And you and your sister, too, I bet.”
Delaney must have told her I had a sister. We never talked about my family, for good reason. I looked off into the distance. The sea both calming and terrifying, now that the shore was so far off.
“Cole?”
The question in her voice was one I couldn’t answer. When she put her hand on my leg, the touch sent a jolt screaming through my body, landing in my chest. I looked at her.
Opened my mouth to speak.
“Here we are,” Marco boomed.
Juliette pulled her hand away as the ship captain started talking.
“Canneto Cove. More private than Vernazza Cove where most boats go.” He waved his hand toward the shore. “We’re halfway between Corniglia and Manarola, a beautiful spot. No?”
“Gorgeous.” Juliette stood as Marco continued.
“Swim as long as you like,sì? Sit on theponte di poppa.” He gestured toward the swim platform on the back of the boat. “Or on the rocks if you want,” he said, nodding toward the narrow shore. “I stay here and read”—he tapped the captain’s chair—“and you tell me when we go.”
And he did exactly that, his chair turned in the opposite direction. The guy must have read a lot of books.
“What’d you think?” Juliette looked around, clearly enthralled by the swimming cove. The place was a postcard.
“I think”—I took off my loafers—“we swim.”
Trying to mentally prepare myself as I lifted my tee above my head, I decided to rip off the band-aid and drink her in. But I was still not prepared for the full “Juliette in a white bikini without a cover up.”
“Dear lord,” I said, before thinking better of it. “You were made for that swimsuit.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Is that a compliment, Professor Ford?”
Wouldn’t I love to teach her a thing or two.
“Damn right it is. Take the point. Take two.”
She laughed, climbing down to the platform. I loved how comfortable she was in her own skin. I didn’t hesitate to join her. Diving into the Ligurian Sea and coming up for air, I watched as she sat and dipped her toes in. Apparently satisfied the temperature was to her liking, she stood, held her nose (adorable) and jumped.
She swam over to me, treading water.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, Juliette knowing exactly what I was talking about even though she’d deny it.
“I don’t know what you mean.” Her voice was all flirt and no apology.
“Uh huh.” I nodded to the shore. “Race?” I’d go easy on her. Or maybe I wouldn’t have to. In an instant, she took off in a perfect breaststroke. One executed by someone who had clearly done some competitive swimming. I beat her, but not by much and I’d been going all out.
“She’s full of surprises,” I said as we swam to the rocks. Climbing atop the flattest one, I stood behind her, just in case she slipped.
Squeezing out her hair, Juliette tossed it back and forth, leaned back on her hands to drew in a deep breath. “Heaven.”
Not quite. Watching her, an unfamiliar and fucking terrifying knot in my chest said otherwise.
Maybe heaven, or more likely, my own personal hell.
18
JULES
