Page 27

Despite Nicole all but ordering me to wear a bikini, I change into an understated bright-red cutaway one-piece. It’s a little safer. And after sneaking through the back door like a criminal, I need whatever illusion of security I can get.

My clothes tucked inside, I slide my bag under a bench for safekeeping and follow the signs to the pool. The closer I get, the stronger the bite of chlorine in the air. My eyes and nose burn by the time I open the heavy door and step into the humid room.

Blue ripples dance across the ceiling, courtesy of the underwater light—the only light in the cavernous space. My bare feet slap against cool concrete as I make my way to the pool, where Caleb effortlessly glides from one end to the other. His lean body glistens as he slices through the glassy surface like a fish.

He meets me at the edge of the water, gazing up at me as he folds his arms over the side. “You coming in, or are you planning on ogling me the whole time? Don’t get me wrong, I like the attention, but I’d rather you join me.”

Giant butterflies flutter around my stomach. “Is the water cold?”

Caleb shoves away from the wall and floats on his back, leaving every ridge and groove of his torso on display like a bronze statue. “Why don’t you see for yourself.”

My knees wobble as I dip a foot into the cool water. “Not bad.”

Caleb’s intense gaze locks on mine. “Go for it.”

Is he talking about the pool . . . or something deeper?

The unsettling sensation that’s plagued me since we pulled in across the street resurfaces. I don’t plan on sleeping with him—not tonight, anyway—but the tension stretching between us is bigger than the Olympic-size pool before me. Coming here with him—alone—was probably a bad idea, but I’m here now. May as well make the best of it. Letting go of my fear, I plunge feetfirst into the clear blue water.

My head breaks the surface, and I suck in a deep breath. “Holy shit. It’s colder than I thought.”

“You’ll get used to it.” Instead of swimming toward me, he turns and heads the other way, switching to a butterfly stroke as he reaches the halfway point.

I barely get in half a lap when Caleb emerges from beneath the water and wraps his arms around me, holding me hostage in the chest-deep pool.

“What are you doing?” I shriek, squirming in his arms.

His slick skin is hot against mine.

“What I’ve wanted to do since that first day you sat next to me in calculus,” he whispers, bringing his face to mine and surrounding me in the scents of chlorine and mint toothpaste. “Can I kiss you, Kennedy?”

Half a heartbeat later, his mouth closes over mine, swallowing my breathless “yes.”

And holy hell, can Caleb kiss. He’s all plush lips and juicy tongue—wandering hands roaming my body as if he owns me. The attention is too much and not enough, and the sensory overload makes my ears ring as if a dozen tornado whistles are going off inside my head.

“Wait.” I gasp for breath.

This is all too much. Too fast. But either he can’t hear me over my pounding heart, or all the blood from his ears has traveled south and he’s gone completely deaf.

“Caleb, stop!” With my knee poised and ready to ram into his junk, I shove him hard, effectively slamming the brakes on our over-the-top make-out session.

“What’s wrong?” He towers over me, out of breath and confused.

“I’m not ready for all this . . .” I flap my hands until he steps back, then drag myself out of the water to sit on the side.

He rests his hands on my knees, parting them to stand between my legs. “But I thought . . .”

Before he can finish his sentence, the ringing in my ears gets louder until the whole building is one big siren.

“Are we under a tornado warning?” I glance at the dark windows, wondering if a freak storm moved in while we were otherwise engaged.

“I don’t think so.” Caleb hops out of the pool and grabs the nearest towel—mine. It doesn’t look like he brought one for himself at all. “Probably an accident. Hopefully no one got hurt.”

His concern over the well-being of hypothetical individuals involved in a hypothetical accident makes me suspicious.

“I should check on the car.” He jogs over to the locker room door still wrapped in my fluffy white towel. “Stay here.”

“What? No! I’m coming with you.” The thought of staying here in the dark . . . alone while sirens go off in the distance makes me squirm.