Stealing Hearts (Wild at Heart #1)(28)

He snorts. “I had no idea you were so funny.”

Hell, I didn’t know either, but now that I finally get to spend time with Rhett, I want to make him laugh all the time. I buff my nails. “It’s part of my charm.”

He chuckles and wraps his arm around my shoulders and hugs me. “I owe you big, Lewis.”

It feels so good to be so close to him, but I pretend like I’m unaffected. “We’re even. Beau said he’ll make sure I get on your health insurance this week, and then I can book my therapy sessions.”

“How’s your ankle feeling?”

“It’s a little achy, but that dip in the lake helped. I think I’m going to soak in the hot tub.”

“There’s a hot tub?”

I nod. “Out back.”

He’s quiet a minute. “Gonna skinny-dip again? Or can I join you?”

“You can join me. I’ll wear my underwear. It’ll be like a bathing suit.”

We enjoy the strawberries and champagne, and by the time I’m done, I’m feeling a little tipsy. The booze gives me extra courage.

“Come on. Let’s go soak in the hot tub.” I pull off my shirt, which leaves me in my bra, and head for the front door. He takes off after me.

Once I reach the hot tub deck, I tug off my shorts. A giddy shock of excitement surges over my skin as I feel his eyes travel over me. Finally, the little voice in the back of my head whispers. And since I have no shame, I bend slightly at my hips to jut my thong-clad ass back towards him.

When I turn around, Rhett’s eyes dart up, and he clears his throat. “Here.” He holds out his hand, and I take it to steady myself.

I groan as I sink into the warm water. “This is awesome. Get in.”

Sitting, I watch him shrug out of his t-shirt. In the low light, his muscles stand out in stark relief. The sexy tattoos on his arms and shoulders make an ache start low in my belly. Damn, he’s hot.

Then he slides down his jeans, which leaves him in black boxer briefs that strain against another erection. Don’t stare and make this weird, Paige. I look away as he climbs into the hot tub.

The sun is starting to set, and I let myself get lost in the brilliance of the sky. “In high school, I couldn’t wait to get out of Wild Heart, but now that I’m taking the time to appreciate how beautiful it is here, I’m starting to regret being away for so long.”

“I’m sorry shit was so tough for you back then. I had no idea that people found out about our discussion, or that Irma was such a bitch about the whole thing.”

I shrug. “It’s my own fault for butting in. I had no business doing what I did. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

My heart races as I carefully choose my words. “I know I was young, and I’m sure to you I was just Danny’s kid sister, but I considered you one of my best friends. I cared about you, and I didn’t want to see you get hurt.”

When he doesn’t say anything, I look over and find him studying me. “It took a lot of guts to do what you did, wildflower. If I’d had more sense at the time, I would’ve taken it more seriously. You were right about Amber all along, and I hate the idea that you’ve changed because of what happened back then. You’re perfect. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

My throat gets tight, and I nod. “Thank you.” If I’m so perfect, why is it so hard to find a good boyfriend? One who actually cares enough about me to introduce me to his family?

“And since you know all my dirty laundry, you gonna tell me what happened between you and that ex of yours? How long did you date?”

It’s eerie how he nearly read my mind. “Ten months I’ll never get back, though he did let me live with him after a tree destroyed my house.”

“What happened?”

I pull my hair out of a ponytail and twist it into a messy bun. “We had a crazy storm that uprooted a tree, which slammed into the house I was renting. It actually pinned my roommate down.”

“Holy shit.”

“Abby was fine, but it scared the hell out of both of us. We couldn’t stay in the house any longer, and Marcus invited me to stay with him. I had nowhere else to go, so I took him up on his offer. But he and I were a mistake.”

His face goes hard. “Did he not treat you right?”

“He was always preoccupied. I always felt like an afterthought.” I look down. “And then…”

“Then?”

I sigh. “I overheard him talking with his friends, and one asked if he was bringing me to his parents’ anniversary dinner, and he said, ‘Fuck, no. My parents won’t like her. She doesn’t have any real goals. They won’t think she’s marriage material.’”

“Are you serious? What an asshole.”

“It would’ve been fine if he hadn’t strung me along. If he’d just been honest that he was only into me for sex.”

Rhett rubs a hand over his face. “Not sure I wanna hear this.”

“Don’t be so parochial. I lost my virginity when I was sixteen in Adam Olsen’s backseat.” I don’t mention that I did it solely to get over Rhett. “Had a couple of boyfriends in college. Nothing noteworthy, though. What about you? Have you met any special ladies since you and Amber called it quits?”