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downed the last of his lemonade.
Paul only chuckled at his distress. Shit. You re too far gone to save,
pal. I hope you re ready for all this.
You and me both. KD caught sight of Kelsey emerging from the house.
Without casting a glance his way, she walked up to the pool and
announced, Coming in, ready or not! before stripping off her dress in
one swift move, revealing a perfectly modest, yellow halter-neck swimsuit
that had KD thinking entirely immodest thoughts. In a smoothly graceful
action, she dove in, eliciting a round of laughing splashes from Tash and
Thomas.
What are you waiting for? Paul asked, before heading inside. Go
get her.
Easier said than done. But if for no other reason than he needed
badly to cool down, KD stripped off his shirt and dove in after her.
Many times that afternoon Kelsey thought of escaping, but never
quite managed to make the move. She wanted to be around to help Paul
with the kids while Gabby had a much-needed rest.
At least that s what she told herself. She refused to examine the fact
that she was simply enjoying herself, splashing in the pool with the kids
and KD. He never tired of tossing the beach ball around or tossing Tash
in the air until she grinned from ear to ear. As studiously as she avoided
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swimming anywhere near him, she felt his presence in the pool as
though the water were warm as bathwater, not as cool and refreshing as
it was.
The sun was maybe an hour away from setting by the time Kelsey
gathered her things to leave. Are you sure you don t need me to stick
around and help with the kids bathtime?
I m sure. Gabby spoke softly so as not to disturb the baby, who was
resting peacefully on her shoulder after his latest feed. Though she
looked tired enough to fall asleep on her feet, Gabby s smile was sheer
contentment. Pure earth mother in her element. You two head off and
enjoy your evening.
With KD standing right behind her, Kelsey could do no more than
send her friend a scolding look at her suggestion. KD leaned down to kiss
the cheek Gabby offered him and followed Kelsey out the door.
Well, I know I m worn out, Kelsey announced as she headed in the
direction of her car.
Don t worry, Kelsey. I wasn t going to take Gabby s hint and suggest
we continue the evening.
She glanced over her shoulder, her brows hiking. You weren t?
He smiled at her expression. Disappointed?
Kelsey pursed her lips. Like I said, I m exhausted. What on earth
was wrong with her? She d spent the afternoon wishing he would leave so
the singular torture of seeing him naked to the waist, dripping wet and
gorgeous, would end. Now she longed for nothing greater than to spend a
few more stolen moments with him.
Me, too. And I m not going to make a mess of things like I did last
time.
Reaching her car, Kelsey spun around before opening the driver s
door. What do you mean?
I mean, I m not going to go all out to pressure you into bed.
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You didn t pressure me. Kelsey bent her head to hide her face when
she realized how much she d admitted. Still, she felt the need to clarify.
You know I& wanted you.
I know. He sounded more like the cocky devil she was used to. She
faced him, crossing her arms over her chest in a way that only made him
smile with very male amusement. But all things considered, I would
rather have waited until you were completely free of other entanglements.
I just didn t think it mattered to me at the time.
Kelsey held her breath. The lengthening shadow of Gabby s house
cast his face in partial darkness so she couldn t read his expression. She
swallowed. What about now?
His tone was gruff with feeling. It matters. After a heartbeat s pause
he prompted, Gabby tells me it s over between you and& him.
It was before we were together, Kelsey said without hesitation,
needing him to know that truth, at least. I broke up with Stefan earlier
that night.
At his look of surprise, Kelsey continued, hurt clearer in her voice
than she wished it to be. I m not proud of the fact I slept with one man
only hours after ending a relationship with another, but I m not the kind
of woman who enjoys toying with two men at once. It was you who
assumed otherwise.
He studied her face and she didn t try to hide the wound. His
expression changed from puzzlement to remorse. From there it moved on
pretty quickly to frustration. And you didn t think to tell me this at the
time?
Would it have made a difference?
He muttered an epithet that made her flinch. I deserved to know. I
thought you still wanted him, even after we slept together. Do you know
how that made me feel?
I think your ego can handle it.
Dammit, I m not talking about my ego, although it takes a hell of a
beating with you around. He looked away from her, toward the setting
sun, his hands on his hips and his profile so hard it pierced Kelsey s
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heart. At length he muttered, almost too softly for her to hear, You are
one harsh woman sometimes, Kelsey.
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