Page 66 of This Could be Love

“You’re acting a bit weird.”

“I’m not…”

“You are. Does it have something to do with…your dad?”

“What?!”

“Because you associate this place with him?” I added carefully.

He took a deep breath and laughed as he let it back out. “It’s got nothing to do with my dad, trust me.”

Now I was really confused. “So I guess it’s got to do with me… Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” he said flatly but apologetically. “It’s got nothing to do with you. Or, well, you can’t do anything about it…not directly.” He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Wow, I’m really sticking my foot in it here.”

I decided not to respond to his joke. “What can’t I do anything about directly?” I tried to meet his eyes.

“About…” His hands made a gesture but then fell back to his sides. “…being you.”

That was something I hadn’t expected. And I didn’t understand it either.

“That you look the way you do in…your bikini.” It came out in a tortured voice. Almost bashfully. “And the way my dumb body jumps to attention immediately.”

“Jumps to attention,” I repeated stupidly before the penny dropped. “Oh.” I quickly looked away and felt my cheeks beginning to flush.

“Fuck, is this ever embarrassing.” He sighed, leaning his head back.

“No!” I hurried to say. Even though I was completely engulfed, I felt sorry for him.

“I feel like a horny asshole.”

“Nonsense!”

“That really wasn’t the reason I brought you here. I mean, I wanted to show you sea turtles, not…” He broke off and shook his head. “If you feel uncomfortable now, we…”

“My body reacted to you too.”

He stopped short. Blinked.

“Just now. When you were doing my back.” I took a deep breath, uncrossed my arms, and directed his gaze to my bikini top. The way my nipples were clearly visible beneath the thin fabric. “It looks like Gabe isn’t the only one with magic hands.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.

“That really wasn’t the reason I came here with you,” I began, grinning. “I wanted you to show me sea turtles. If you feel uncomfortable now, we…”

He grinned back and within seconds his expression grew relaxed.

“Now…seeing as how we’ve got the embarrassing part out of the way, can we finally go snorkeling?” I said.

Chapter 28

“Do we have to swim out pretty far before we see any?” I asked once we were in the water up to our hips, washing out our masks.

An incomprehensible smile darted across his face.

“What?”

“Well, you just got to have a look around.”