Page 13 of Viper

A whimper sounded from her throat. She lifted her arms out of the water and rested them on the board, placing her forehead on the silicon surface.

The flotation device jolted and she gasped, clutching the edges. Whipping her gaze over her shoulder, she met Troy’s face. Relief oozed from her body, and she let out an audible sigh.

“You scared the shit out of me.”

Holding the end of the paddleboard, he kicked them both toward shore. She was so relieved to see him, to be able to breathe for even a second, that she lowered her head to her hands. “Are you okay?”

Turning her head so she could see him better, a stab of worry hit her. His usually tanned and vibrant skin was pale. Rivulets of water coursed down his cheeks, and tension added thickness to his jaw.

“I’m fine.” The terse set of his mouth told her otherwise.

She knew him well enough to smell his anger a mile away. Whatever had happened, Troy was pissed.

Probably pissed at her.

Tears welled up in her eyes. Atlas would be angry too. After all, she’d gotten on a boat with a man she barely knew.

All because she’d wanted male connection. Had been attempting to bury the sizzling attraction between her and a man she couldn’t have. Shouldn’t want.

Needed to get away from.

Lots of women had one-night stands. She’d spent the last few days talking with Craig and getting to know him. Even Chantal had liked him. They’d also been seen around town together. All of that had made her feel safe. She’d let her guard down.

She shouldn’t have.

Shore grew closer. Troy’s grunting indicated he was tired.

She dunked her hands back in the water. “I’ve got it from here.”

He didn’t stop pushing.

“Troy, I can paddle.”

“Keep your arms out of the damn water,” he growled.

Anger scorched her face and pressure mounted in her sinuses. God, what was the matter with her? She didn’t normally cry. She was so close to tears she almost couldn’t hold them back.

The water lapping around them and the gentle splashes of Troy’s kicking were the only sounds. She glanced behind them at Craig’s yacht. Only its bright-white exterior was visible in the moonlight.

Was he alive? She couldn’t imagine Troy leaving Craig still breathing. No, he was surely dead. She expelled a long sigh. She just needed to get back to her apartment and fall into bed.

Minutes passed. Troy continued to swim them closer to shore. They’d drifted far from the beach restaurants and the marina. She could just make out the sand, and some bushes swaying in the breeze.

She shivered despite the warm temperature. Her back teeth clanked together. Reality was hitting. She was leaving behind the nightmare.

Troy stopped kicking and strode through the water that would’ve been over her head if she’d jumped in next to him. He moved beside the paddleboard and pulled her through the shallow water until the board skidded onto the sand.

He extended a hand, his chest heaving. His body was soaked and dripping.

She tracked her gaze up the tall, hulking length of him. Her breath caught and her belly stirred. Troy “Viper” Evans had always had an effect on her. An intense one. Not only was he huge at six foot five—he dominated every room he walked into with his persona alone.

He was quiet and intimidating when he needed to be, and bold and abrasive in the field. And lord was he imposing. Always imposing. He looked at her as if her every emotion was written on her face and dammit, when he was around, that was probably the case.

She placed her palm in his and he hauled her to her feet. Even in the dim moonlight, his gaze pierced through her. He dropped her hand.

She had so many questions. Why the hell was he here in the first place? She’d called her brother less than an hour ago. To see Troy standing in front of her made her head spin. The memory of his earlier snarky remarks in the water made her draw back her shoulders. But she couldn’t think about any of that right now.

“Are you all right?” His fingers reached out to snag the strap of her dress. Gently, he pulled the material back.