Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Briar

" Y ou want me to do what?" Emmett asks, staring at the lake.

"What you usually do in the lake." I have my phone out, ready to take a video.

"I skinny dip." His tone is so serious, I can't contain my laugh.

"Skinny dip?"

"Yes."

"With someone?"

He grins. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"No, I really wouldn't."

I smother my urge to ask more questions. Whoever he skinny dips with, they're lucky. Since I started living with him, I've not only forgiven Emmett for what he did in high school, but I find myself attracted to him for more than his looks. Which I shouldn't be. Not that anyone could blame me for wanting the man. I'm pretty sure he doesn't walk into a room without all eyes following him. But I'm pregnant with another man's baby. I'm off a recent break-up that crushed me. So this pull toward Emmett isn't something I can entertain.

He narrows his eyes and smirks as if he can read my mind.

"Get in there and cool off after a hard day at the ranch. You're kind of dirty today, so that'll work."

"You want me to go in there fully clothed?" He looks at the lake and back at me.

"Yes. Then you're going to take your shirt off."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You trying to make me into a sex symbol?"

"As if you'd mind." I hold up my phone. "We're simply showing how you cool down on the ranch. If someone sees it as sexual, then that's on them."

"Way to twist it." He walks around me and onto the small dock. "Want me to just fall in on my back? Dive? What will it be, director?"

I rock my head side to side. "I love both ideas." Both are sexy, I think.

"I'll fall on my back like I'm exhausted. Then I'll swim to where it's waist deep and take off my shirt."

"Who's the director now?"

"I'm just helping you sell me. Obviously you think I'm sexy." Why does that knowing smile make my insides flutter?

"All right, I'm going to do the three-finger countdown, then do it. We only have one take since you have to be dry. And leave the cowboy hat on."

He takes it off. "Hell no, then I'll have to wait for it to dry to wear it again."

I wave the phone. "Do you want the views?"

"Fine." He turns around so his back is to the water.

The sun is descending, shining down on him, casting a shadow over his beautiful face. God, he's sexy.

I hold up my hand, counting down from three to one. As soon as I have one finger up, he flawlessly falls back into the water. There's a big splash around him as he sinks down.

Then he pops up, grabs his hat, and swims over to the edge where I am. He stands where it's waist deep and unsnaps his plaid shirt. He couldn't have picked a better outfit to wear. His chest glistens, his abs so firm and defined that my fingers itch to run down them like the droplets of water are currently doing. Then he puts his cowboy hat back on, and I have to squeeze my legs together.

"Nothing better than a dip in the lake after a hard day's work. Come on down to Plain Daisy Ranch," he says right into the camera.

I click to end the recording. "It's scary how good you were."

"I do love to entertain people." He walks toward the edge of the deck. "Let me see."

I step closer, holding the phone out to him.

"Closer," he says.

"Emmett, I can't come any closer without getting in."

He wraps his arm around my waist, plucking my phone out of my hand and tossing it over onto the grassy bank.

"Don't you dare!"

"What?" he says, but we both know what he's about to do.

"Emmett!" I shout right before he falls backward, taking me with him.

The water is cool, way cooler than I'm sure it is during the summer. It's only the end of April.

"Holy shit, it's freezing." I stomp out of the water, covering my body.

He's laughing and swimming to get his cowboy hat, then he walks up out of the water. I wish I had the video going then. Any woman would be drooling over him.

"I'll make it up to you," he says, stripping his shirt completely off and wrapping his arms around my waist, picking me up and drawing me to him. He shakes his hair and water droplets ping along my skin.

"Stop." I laugh and push against his chest, and he lowers my feet to the ground. As I slide down his body, my nipples feel every ridge of his muscular chest. This was a very bad idea.

My feet hit the grass, but neither one of us steps back.

"You're a jerk," I say, trying to break up the awkwardness of this moment.

"Oh, come on. It was fun." His eyes land on mine, and he raises his hand. I think he's going to cradle my cheek, but his fingers stop on my shoulder, pushing the strap of my dress back up. "How about a hot bath?"

I stare up at him, and my gaze falls to his lips.

What kind of kisser is Emmett Noughton? I don't see him as cautious; rather, he probably takes what he wants, putting every emotion into the kiss.

Both our breathing picks up, and it feels as if some invisible force is pulling us closer together. I inch up on my toes, and he bends his head down, sliding his hand to the back of my head.

"Emmett," I whisper, and I'm not even sure why. To stop this foolishness, or give him permission?

"Tell me," he says, his strong fingers weaving through my strands, tilting my head back.

Kiss me are the two words I want to say. Kiss me until my lips tingle and my core clenches.

But I can't make another bad decision for myself. I pull back right before his lips land on mine. "I'm freezing," I lie because I was warm in his arms.

He releases me and stops, staring at my chest.

"What?" I ask, looking down to see how very see-through my white dress now is. You can clearly see my nipples through my white dress and sheer bra. I wrap an arm around my chest and one between my legs. "Well, there you go. You've practically seen me naked now."

"Not even close," he says.

There's a drawl in his voice that confirms he was feeling what I was feeling with that almost kiss. We were so close to breaking past that barrier, but I was smart enough to pull away before we got in over our heads. Proof, I guess, that I don't only make bad decisions.