Читать книгу Crazy For Love - Victoria Dahl - Страница 13

CHLOE CARRIED A COUPLE OF BOTTLES of water and the last two doughnuts out to the darkened porch. There was just enough light squeezing past the curtains to see the chairs, but not enough to interfere with their view of the stars.

“Your phone is beeping,” she said, plopping down into the seat.

“It’s probably just the battery,” Jenn answered, her voice a little hoarse. The return ride had been bumpy, and Jenn had turned faintly green. She was exhausted, but Chloe was still pumped up from excitement.

The dive had been amazing. Absolutely like being on a different planet, as if they were the first people to ever see it, even though the dive site was well-known and heavily trafficked. The wrecked ship had been a steamer from the early twentieth century. It had so intrigued her that she hadn’t begun to notice the fish until five minutes in. Then suddenly they’d become visible to her, sliding in and out of holes and arches. She’d even spied an eel poking its head out cautiously.

Amazing.

And she’d been able to relax and enjoy it all because Max had hovered a few feet above her, moving whenever she’d moved, like a floating guardian angel. He hadn’t explored the site for himself at all, as far as she’d seen.

Frowning, Chloe took a big bite from her doughnut. Something wasn’t adding up. So far, she’d heard several stories about Max being some sort of overgrown good-time guy, but she’d yet to see him instigate any sort of adventure, aside from playing in the sand with a couple of kids.

On the dive trip, he’d made no effort to enjoy himself, he’d just watched and given the occasional thumbs-up to her excited gestures. And the beach fire… He’d deliberately inserted himself into the scene, but instead of building up a ridiculous bonfire as was the instinct of every other man on earth, Max had kept subtle control of the flames at all times. And though the men had fit in an early-morning fishing trip right at sunrise today, Elliott was the one who’d suggested it. So Max didn’t respond to fire, diving, flirtation or fishing.

Maybe he was just bored. Maybe beach bonfires and easy, shallow dives held no excitement for him anymore. But he hadn’t looked bored, he’d looked tense. And that tension had had nothing to do with her, even when she’d wanted it to.

For God’s sake, the man hadn’t even glanced at her in her bikini. Not until after the dive. Then he’d finally relaxed. Then she’d caught him watching her past sleepy lashes as she’d stripped out of her tight wet suit.

Yes, after the dive, Max had been all quiet, good humor and jokes, and “Oh, it’s too bad we won’t be able to fit another one in on this trip,” offered in a suspiciously cheerful voice. The rest of the group had been exhausted and disappointed that the day was over.

Chloe finished off her doughnut and glared at dancing glimmers of moonlight on the sea. Warning sirens were blaring in her head, and after her recent troubles, Chloe was inclined to heed them.

“I’m so tired.” Jenn sighed.

Chloe looked over to the faint outline of Jenn’s profile. Her eyes were closed, her forehead creased. “Are you okay, Jenn?”

“I’m just sleepy,” she said quickly, eyes popping open.

“Are you sure? You seem a little tense.”

“No!” Jenn yelped, making Chloe jump. “I mean, I’m fine. You’re the one who’s been thrown under the bus by life.”

“Ouch.”

“I just mean, whatever I might worry about, mostly it’s you. What Thomas did to you…”

The words prompted Thomas to make an appearance inside Chloe’s head like a looped video. He was laughing at a joke, pretending to be the perfect fiancé. Even now, she couldn’t see the selfish, panicked thoughts that must have been turning behind his eyes for months. The truth was unavoidable, but her 20/20 hindsight wasn’t kicking in. He’d seemed fine. Would he look different now?

She hadn’t seen him since the day before the crash. Hadn’t talked to him. What was he supposed to say, anyway? “Hey. Sorry I faked my death in order to escape your love.”

Acid burned in her stomach, but, strangely enough, nothing else hurt very much. Could love wear off that quickly? And if it did, had it really been love at all?

Chloe shook her head, afraid to poke too intently at that question. “The whole point of coming here is to not think about it. Just for a few days. If I can manage that, you can, right?”

“Yeah.” Jenn tilted her head, looking in Chloe’s direction. “I just don’t want you to be hurt any more.”

“What’s going to happen? What can be worse than finding out that your loving fiancé would rather give up everything in the world than marry you? He jumped out of a plane, Jenn. He abandoned his house and his family and his job and he jumped out of a fucking plane in hopes of never seeing me again.”

“Chloe…” Jenn sounded like she might be crying.

“Come on, sweetie. I’m sorry. It’s okay. Thomas was obviously a coward. I knew he was a mama’s boy, but I should’ve seen something more than that, right? I should’ve seen something long before he faked his own death. So part of this must have been my fault, too. I’ll get over it someday. And right now, I’ll just pretend that I’m great because this is a beautiful place and I’m happy.”

“Are you? I’m so glad you like it here. And maybe, after we get back and the hearing’s over, things will get better.”

“Yeah, the press can’t possibly be interested for much longer.” Chloe’s vision had fully adjusted to the dark, and now she could make out the pale, sugary circle in Jenn’s hand. “If you’re so upset that you can’t eat that doughnut, you should give it to me. I’d hate for it to go to waste.”

“Here.”

“Jenn—”

“I’m awful company. I’m tired and the waves gave me a headache, so I’m going to bed. I’ll be more fun tomorrow, I promise. Why don’t you go see your new boyfriend?”

The coyness in her friend’s voice pushed a hesitant smile onto Chloe’s face. “Come on. He hasn’t even pretended to accidentally touch me.”

“I’ve seen him shoot you a few hot looks. And then there’s your lustful staring.”

“There is that.”

“Wander over and see him. He looked wide-awake when we got back.”

Chloe shrugged. She was thinking of wandering over, but she couldn’t decide if she should go in the hopes of luring Max into a make-out session or solving a mystery. Maybe both? The light of his front window beckoned.

Yeah, maybe both.

Jenn stood. “I’m turning in. Go get some nookie for me.” She pressed a kiss to Chloe’s head.

“Get your own nookie,” Chloe said, but Jenn just shook her head.

It was only ten o’clock. The boys were going to be awake for a while yet. Taking a bite of the last doughnut, Chloe craned her neck, trying to see if they were on the porch or not. A slightly darker area of shadow on the porch might’ve been one of the men, or it could’ve just been a chair.

She thought of Max frowning down at those dials, thought of the way he’d checked the hoses and tanks over for long minutes before any of them had splashed into the water.

He was none of her business, really. She’d only been single for a few weeks. Even under normal circumstances, that would be too soon for anything, even a fling. But at least the puzzle of Max Sullivan was taking her mind off her own problems.

Chloe dusted off her hands and headed for the men’s cabin.

Aware of the crabs that scuttled frantically around from the moment the sun set, she stepped carefully across the sand, trying not to cringe every time her foot touched something hard.

“Hi,” a deep voice said. Though she could only make out the outline of a man, she recognized Elliott’s voice. The clink of dishes drifted through the window behind him. “Max is inside.”

“Thanks. I just wanted to ask you to keep an eye on the cabin for me. If Jenn comes looking for me, tell her I’m going for a little late-night swim.”

Glass crashed inside the cabin, and before the last pieces had fallen to the floor, Max jerked the door open from inside. “Hey!” he said brightly.

“Um, is everything all right?”

Elliott started to stand up, but Max waved him down. “Everything’s fine.”

Right. Fine. “Okay… I was just going to take a swim, so if you could—”

“Care for company?”

Despite her plan, Chloe couldn’t keep the doubt from her voice. “You want to go swimming? Right now?”

Dish towel still in hand, Max leaned against the doorjamb, pretending casualness. “Sure,” he said, the straight line of his shoulders giving away his tension. “If you’re going to be there.” Enough light filtered from the living room that she could see his flirtatious smile. He aimed it right at her, oozing charm.

Oh, my God, Max Sullivan was a total faker.

Chloe smiled up at him, letting her expression melt a little. “Sure, Max. That’d be great.”

His shoulders dropped half an inch on his next breath. He tossed the towel aside and jogged down the stairs to join her. Some of her analytical detachment faded as he drew closer. She remembered the way his thighs had flexed in those Speedos, as if the muscles were barely contained by his skin. Man.

“It’s a little cool to swim, isn’t it?” he asked, pausing to wait for her to turn and start their walk. It had taken him all of one second to try to change her mind.

“I like it. It feels…thrilling. Tossed around by the waves in the pitch-black.”

“Mmm. Well, sure, I like to swim at night, but I have a special connection with the sharks who swim after dark, too. It comes with the profession, you know.”

“Sharks?” she asked, just as he’d wanted her to.

“Yeah. They like to hunt at night.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

He nodded. “As long as you’re a strong swimmer. The riptides can be a real bitch this time of night.”

“Oh, sure. I’m pretty strong.”

Her feet finally touched damp, packed sand. She turned and followed the waterline, watching Max’s large feet make hollows in the sand next to her.

Max audibly sighed. “So tell me more about your job,” he said.

She tossed him a smile. “I’m an accountant at a big accounting firm. What do you want me to talk about? Spreadsheets?”

“Okay, then. Tell me about your family.”

“I have a mom and a dad and a big sister. I grew up in Richmond in a house with an honest-to-God white picket fence.”

“No way.”

“Yep. It was perfectly boring. No scandals. No drama. My sister and I aren’t close, but we get along fine.”

“Boring is nice.”

“Hmm. I detect a not-pleasantly-boring childhood.”

“Nah, it was fine. There was no white picket fence, but I was hardly Oliver Twist. So why did you decide to become an accountant?”

So he didn’t want to talk about himself? Well, she didn’t particularly feel like talking, either. “I like numbers. And puzzles. I like figuring things out.” Turning to face him, she smiled and began to walk backward toward the water, wondering what he’d do. She pushed down her shorts and tossed them up to the dry sand.

“Are you coming?” she called as she backed into the breaking waves and slipped her shirt off, as well. The wind touched her belly, warm air rubbing against her like a cat, and she hoped he was checking out her red bikini, since the blue one hadn’t thrilled him.

“Of course.” Max’s voice oozed cheer.

Chloe threw her shirt onto the sand and walked in deeper, smiling at the sound of Max’s splashing footsteps behind her. The water was up to her knees. She wasn’t the least bit surprised when he started talking.

“In Greek mythology, Amphitrite was the wife of Poseidon and the queen of the sea.” He was beside her within two seconds. She kept walking. “But in the beginning, she wasn’t simply Poseidon’s wife. Amphitrite was the sea. The ruler and the goddess and the sea itself. One day Poseidon saw her playing in the water, and he was overwhelmed by her beauty and power.”

“Oh?” The water lapped against her upper thighs. She stopped to gaze out at the beautiful moon reflecting off the water.

“Chloe.” His fingertips touched the flat of her shoulder blade, tentative at first, then his touch grew heavier, fingers spreading, palm touching her skin. His hand curved around her shoulder, holding her and pressing his heat inside.

She froze, afraid if she shivered, he’d move his hand.

“You’re beautiful. You look like part of the sea itself tonight.” His hand kept her still as he circled around to stand in front of her. A wave pushed him closer. “Natural. Peaceful.”

She knew he was going to kiss her, and she knew he was only kissing her to keep her from swimming, but she didn’t stop him. She wanted to be kissed. Only Thomas had kissed her in the past three years. She wanted those memories erased by someone new.

Max’s mouth curved in a charming, crooked smile. His eyes fell to her lips and lingered as if he were savoring the moment. But…something was off. His gaze wasn’t heavy-lidded. It wasn’t soft. Sharp thoughts turned behind his eyes.

Chloe wanted to be kissed, but more than that, she wanted to be wanted. For real. With no lies to dilute that wanting.

He lowered his head, edging his mouth close to her ear. “I can think of better things for a sea goddess to do on a dark beach than go swimming.”

She put effort into keeping her voice light and coy. “Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.” He stepped forward, and the press of his leg moved her back a step. She knew she was being manipulated, but when his lips brushed her temple, the warmth still sent sparks racing down her neck. Not fair.

When his hips nudged her, Chloe took a step back in frantic defense. Totally not fair. His mouth curved in triumph, as if he were thrilled he made her nervous, but Chloe was convinced his thrill had more to do with her migration toward the sand. When she planted her feet, sure enough, his eyes narrowed.

“Come up to the beach,” he murmured. “I want to show you something.”

“Really? Is it in your pocket? Because that sounds a little creepy.”

“Oh,” he said. Then, “No!” as he started to laugh. “No, not that. Jesus. I was talking about the moon.” But even past his laughter, he was moving her backward. The waves only reached her knees now.

“I just thought…” His hands slipped down her shoulders to her upper arms. “We’re finally alone….”

God, this would be so lovely if he wasn’t faking it. She could just close her eyes and pretend…

Max dipped his head, easing a centimeter closer to her mouth. “So I thought maybe…”

“Oh, God, you’re really going to do this, aren’t you?”

His chin jerked back a little before he eased back into his role. “I sure am,” he said with a slow drawl.

“It’s not fair, Max.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re going to make out with me just to keep me from swimming!”

This time his whole body jerked back when his chin drew in. Chloe gave him a disappointed push to help him along.

“What?” he huffed.

“You don’t want me to swim at night, so you’re pretending you want to make out!”

Panic flashed in his eyes, but Max assumed an incredulous expression. “That’s ridiculous. What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you being a freak, Max.”

“Hey!”

Shaking her head in disgust, Chloe spun away from him and waded toward the sand. “I thought you liked me.”

“Wait…” His splashing tossed water high, making her shiver when the drops struck the small of her back. She’d felt confident and playful a moment before, but now she was left vulnerable in her swimsuit, exposed to a man who didn’t find her attractive.

She made it to the waterline and looked around for her shirt.

“Chloe,” Max said behind her. She jerked away when his fingers curled around her elbow. “Chloe, I do like you. So why are you calling me a freak?”

“Give it up, already. I’m on to you, okay? I see what you’re doing.”

“What?” He threw his hands up. “What am I doing?”

Though he tried to hold her gaze, Chloe turned away to search the beach for her shirt. Humiliation was a familiar enough feeling that it only stung a little when she realized how close she’d come to letting him distract her with his fake kisses. Even now she wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Or just opened it for him, actually. She could be rolling around on the sand with her hands wrapped around those big biceps right now.

“Last night, you weren’t interested in me or in Jenn, were you? You were checking on the fire. That’s why you came over.”

“Chloe,” he said, his voice warm with indulgent laughter. “Come on.”