9. Luke

Chapter 9

Luke

Princess startles,again, only this time, instead of dropping something, her face dips underwater.

“Shit.”

I dart my hand out and place it against her back, helping to lift her head back above water.

She comes up coughing, sunglasses off kilter on her face, looking way too cute as she spits saltwater out of her mouth.

“Sorry.” My apology would probably be better if she couldn’t hear the laughter in my voice.

Her foot connects with my knee, and another chuckle breaks free from my chest.

She spits again and shoves her glasses up off her face onto the top of her head. “Are you always such a menace?”

It’s deep enough here that we have to tread water to stay afloat, but she uses one hand to wipe the water off her lashes, clearing her vision.

Which means she can see me grinning.

Her hand slaps down across the surface of the water, sending a splash into my face.

I deserve it, but it doesn’t dim my smile. “Sorry.”

She looks at me the same way my teammates do when I make a hilarious joke that they refuse to find funny. “You don’t look very sorry.”

“I am.” I place a hand over my heart. “I just don’t know my own stealth, apparently.”

She runs her tongue across her teeth, making a face.

And I get it. A mouthful of ocean water is nasty.

“Sorry,” I repeat, going for a more contrite look this time. “Please, forgive me.”

She purses her lips. “I will if you let me splash you again.”

I like this girl already.

“I’ll do you one better,” I tell her as I shift my hand motions underwater. “I’ll let you push me under.”

Sucking in a big breath, I let my chest expand as I lean back, kicking my feet toward the surface until I’m in the same position she was in when I scared her.

“You are ridiculous,” she huffs.

“Aw, come on. It’s only fair.” I goad her.

“I’m not going to⁠—”

I can’t hear the rest of her sentence because she does exactly what she was just about to refuse, and she shoves me under the surface.

Clever little Princess.

If I hadn’t laughed underwater, I’d have been fine. But the beginning of her comment had me lowering my guard, so instead of being calm and collected, I get a nose full of ocean.

But the burning in my sinuses is worth it to feel her palm against the bare skin of my chest.

She pulls her hand away while I’m still beneath the surface, but I reach out and grab it.

As I lift my head above the water, I keep my grip on her wrist.

“You’re a sneaky girl,” I laugh, turning away from her and blowing the water out of my nose.

“I literally did what you told me to do,” she argues, but I can hear her humor.

I clear my throat and use my free hand to wipe my eyes before I go back to treading water.

“You gonna survive, Mr. Muscles?”

Mr. Muscles.

She’s smiling at me. Full-on smiling. And it fills my chest with a lightness I haven’t felt in forever.

“I dunno.” I try to keep a straight face. “I might need mouth to mouth.”

She rolls her eyes. “This is Mexico, not The Sandlot.”

I smirk. “Every time you open your mouth, I like you even more.”