Chapter 4

FOUR

Claudia

I can swim, but I’m usually in a pool, somewhere nice and sedate.

I’m not expecting a wave to crash over me in the otherwise calm waters, and I’m momentarily disoriented, thrashing around to get my footing as I swallow a mouthful of saltwater.

Then strong hands are around my waist, lifting me so my head and shoulders are above the water.

“You okay?” Anders’ blue eyes are filled with worry as I cough and sputter.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “Caught me by surprise.”

“I’ve got you,” Anders says, one arm around my waist as he holds me steady.

Damn, even as I get my bearings, I’m painfully aware of his hard, muscular torso. His strong, warm arm. The concern on his face as he waits for me to catch my breath.

He’s hot.

And nice.

And he thinks I’m attractive.

That has to be a joke, right?

I immediately hear Hana’s voice in my head telling me to knock it off. That there are nice guys in the world. That I need to learn to enjoy myself. That there’s more to life than school and work and computers.

Normally, I disagree with her.

But Anders…well, he makes me want to be someone else.

Someone confident and sexy and…interesting.

“I’m okay,” I say after a moment. “Just caught me off-guard.”

“You’re sure?” He slowly lets go and I wave to Hana, who was watching intently.

“I’m good!” I yell in her direction.

“I’ve got choice words for that fucker on the jet ski,” Johan says, shaking his head.

“I better not see him on the beach,” Anders says, scowling in the direction the guy on the jet ski had gone.

“I’m fine,” I murmur. “A little saltwater never hurt anyone.”

“No, but it was dangerous. There are kids who aren’t strong swimmers. Sloane is pregnant. Bad things happen when people are careless.”

“Oh, I agree. I just meant not to worry about me.”

“I’m glad you’re okay.” He smiles, and this time I smile back.

“Well, you were quick to rescue me.”

“The wave was very unexpected.”

“Who’s hungry?” Toli yells from the shore. “First round of burgers and dogs are ready!”

“I could eat,” Anders says. “Are you hungry?”

“I am.” We make our way back to shore, and I grab my towel as we reach the little area where Hana and I had set out our things.

“Hot dog or hamburger?” he asks me.

“Oh.” I pause. “One of each.”

“Cheese?”

“Absolutely.”

“I’ll be right back.” He heads toward the picnic table where the food was set up and I take a moment to appreciate his very tight, round ass.

“He’s hot, right?” Hana says, coming up behind me.

“Very. Why aren’t you interested?” I ask curiously.

“I told you—have my eye on someone else.”

“Do I get to know who?”

She hesitates. “It’s Felix.”

“Felix. The guy with the accent?”

She nods.

“He into you?”

“I don’t know,” she says, making a face. “Like, I think so, but he hasn’t made a move and I’m not sure what to do about it.”

“He’s not making a move at all?” I ask in surprise.

Guys are usually all over her.

“Nope. We’ve hung out in groups a few times, but he’s never asked me on a date or to spend time together just the two of us.”

“You think he’s afraid that Johan won’t like it?”

‘I don’t think so. Johan is very chill about stuff like that.”

“Is it possible…” I can’t believe I’m about to say this. “He’s just not into you?”

She nods. “It is. But he’s sending mixed signals. Like he put his arm around me at the fireworks show we went to a few weeks ago. But then nothing. So I don’t know and it’s driving me nuts.”

“He’s kind of…” I gaze in the direction where Felix has just put some kind of white cream on his nose. “Dorky.”

“I know. But he’s got a smokin’ hot body and underneath the goofy exterior, he’s really nice. Like, genuinely nice. Funny. Completely confident in himself and his career and his place on the team.”

“So why don’t you ask him out?” I suggest.

“I don’t know.” It’s not like Hana to be unsure of herself. “Something tells me not to.”

“Oh.” I’m the last person someone should ask for relationship advice considering I basically have zero experience with it.

I’ve never really had a boyfriend.

Just one disaster of a college fling.

I’ve gone out on a handful of dates but nothing I would consider fun or worth repeating.

I’m spectacularly unsure of myself, but I’ve never seen it in Hana.

“You could tell him you like him,” I say. “You know, like, drop some hints, see what happens.”

“I have. And he hasn’t taken the bait.”

“Well, you’re running out of time to make things happen. You’re only here another week.”

“I know, but you and I have plans, and frankly, I’m not going to chase him. He doesn’t seem interested, so I’m just going to live my life. Not much I can do.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.”

“Here you go.” Anders appears with a plate piled high with food.

“Oh, my God.” I burst out laughing.

There’s a hamburger, a hot dog, potato salad, grilled corn, and a handful of veggies.

“I figured I’d bring you a variety,” he says.

“Well, thank you.”

“Where’s mine?” Hana playfully complains.

“Tell me what you want,” Anders says politely.

“Oh, I’m kidding!”

“I’m not. I’ll get you a plate. Same thing I got for Claudia?”

Hana is momentarily surprised but then nods. “Yes. Thank you.”

“Be right back.”

“He’s nice ,” she says softly. “Do not let this one slip away.”

“You really think he likes me?”

“I do.”

“But what if…you know, what if he wants to…do stuff ?”

She arches a brow. “Stuff? You mean, normal, healthy, physical touch? Kissing and holding hands?”

I purse my lips. “You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Go out on a date first. Then we’ll worry about sex.”

“Fine.”

A minute later, Anders is back with a plate for Hana, and then he goes to get his own.

We wind up at one of the picnic tables because it’s too messy to eat in lounge chairs, and the group we sit with is a lot of fun. Johan and Sloane, Decker and Eden, Anders, Hana, and me. Felix ambles over to join us at the last minute, and conversation is lively.

“There’s going to be a fireworks show at nine,” Anders says. “It should be a good one. Mr. Knight arranged it, and he doesn’t do anything half-assed.”

“No, he definitely does not,” Decker agrees. “His parties are epic.”

“Mr. Knight?” I ask, wondering why the name sounds familiar.

“He owns the team,” Anders replies. He motions with his head. “You know, the Lauderdale Knights ? The guy over there with Coach Petrov, with the dark hair and beard.”

“Remy Knight,” Decker adds. “One of the youngest billionaires in the world.”

“ Remington Knight. Of course. I recognize the name now that you say it. I just didn’t realize he owned the Knights. He made a lot of his money in tech. The software program he sold right out of college is legendary.” This is a topic I know a lot about. “We studied it in school.”

“I forgot about that,” Hana says, nodding. “We did a whole unit on him in that Business of Computers class we took senior year. And I didn’t put two and two together until just now either.”

“You guys sound a little bit awed,” Sloane says.

“He’s renowned in our industry,” I say.

“Do you want to meet him?” Anders asks.

“No!” Hana laughs.

“Absolutely,” I say at the same time.

We both laugh.

“Probably the only time she’s ever wanted to talk to someone more than me,” Hana quips.

“Yeah, but Mr. Knight is literally a legend in tech,” I protest. “How did I not realize he not only owns the Knights, but is here today?”

“I can introduce you after lunch,” Anders says.

“Would you?” I ask. “That would be awesome.”

“Sure.” He nods and I can’t help but smile.

“Great. None of us will see her again until he leaves,” Hana teases.

“Oh, stop.” I chuckle.

She has a point, but I would never be that rude.

Okay, I might.

Not in this setting, though.

And not when a hunky hockey player is sitting close to me at the picnic table, his right thigh lightly pressed against my left.

Why does that feel good?

I should know better than to let myself get caught up in this kind of excitement, because I don’t date, and even if I did, I’m leaving in a week.

This is a lesson in futility.

Except I like the way he looks at me.

And how blue his eyes are.

The way he’s sitting close but not being creepy.

How it felt when he’d lifted me out of the water earlier.

The fact that he didn’t hesitate to offer to introduce me to someone I’d love to meet.

Why is he so attractive to me?

And what the hell am I going to do if he asks me out?

I can’t possibly say yes.

Can I?

Hana would say I absolutely could.

But the trauma from my only sexual encounter makes it almost impossible for me.

At least, I think it does.