Billionaire's Island Bride(2)

She was almost there now. She could see the damp hair curling at the nape of her victim’s neck. He was laughing, a deep rumble that emphasized his masculinity. Was this a man she could flirt with? She bit her lip and kept walking. Too late to turn back now.

So focused was she on getting to her target that she forgot the curved metal bar that ran underwater behind the stools. She bumped her foot, lost her balance and began to pitch forward toward the man.

She panicked.

Flinging her arms up Erin grabbed for the nearest support, anything to keep herself from falling. That happened to be the dark stranger’s shoulder. She pulled him off his stool, throwing him backwards into the liquid blue of the pool. There was a shout and a huge splash and, to her horror, he disappeared beneath the surface.

“Oh, my God, I’m so sorry.” Her hands flew to her mouth and she stared wide-eyed as her victim jumped up, coughing, black hair pasted down on his head, water streaming down his face.

Her eyes rose to his face and she took an involuntary step back, suddenly overwhelmed by the sheer height of him. While sitting he had looked tall but now, face to face, he towered over her five feet four inches.

He was still coughing and by now his friends at the pool bar were laughing heartily at his demise. Even her friends’ giggles had turned to peals of laughter.

But Erin did not take her eyes off the man in front of her. His black hair curled wetly around his tanned face and the set of his jaw emphasized his square chin. But it was his gray eyes, so unusual in his dark face, that held her gaze. She could not look away. Like a wild cat he was watching her. Now she was the prey. The look on his face made it clear she was in deep trouble.

He took a step toward her and she backed away.

“You want to play, do you?”

Before she could move another inch he caught her wrist and pulled her up against his hard body. She was pressed so close that she could feel the ripples of his stomach muscles against her chest.

When he dipped his head she jerked back and clamped her lips shut. What in the world? Was he trying to kiss her? Was he crazy?

Suddenly Erin felt herself falling backward and as she hit the water she shrieked. It was cut short when she went under but in seconds she was up, coughing and spluttering, glaring at the now laughing man who stood before her.

“You beast,” she yelled. “What are you trying to do? Kill me?”

“Two can play, my dear.”

His smug expression, his laughing mouth, the amusement in his eyes so incensed Erin that, before she knew what she was doing, her hand flew up to shove him in the chest.

But he was quick, too quick for her. As it went up he grabbed her wrist. Then, staring deep into her eyes, he turned her hand slowly and bent his head to plant a searing kiss in the middle of her palm.

The touch of his lips sent an electric jolt shooting up her arm and through her body.

She snatched her hand from his. With all the haughtiness she could muster she held her head high, turned and pushed through the water and away from the laughing man.

“I’m leaving,” she said to the girls, her voice clipped and cold.

To her surprise and relief they followed her out of the pool without protest, saving her the indignity of listening to the man’s mocking laughter.

***



Dare watched the curvy brunette leave the pool, her posse of giggling friends in tow. She’d looked very young but she was obviously in charge. Although the smallest in the group, she held herself like a queen and the three girls tripped after her.

“You’re getting old, man.” His attorney, Ed, slapped him on the back, still laughing. “Normally you don’t let them get away that easily. Are you losing your touch?”

He shook his head, still watching the girl’s delectable tush in her hot pink bikini as it disappeared around the corner of the pool hut and out of his view. Only then did he turn to Ed.

“No, still on the ball, but you’ve got to know how far to go with girls like her.”

“Girls like her?” Ed raised his eyebrows. “You know her?”

“Don’t need to. I know those kinds of girls and that’s all that counts.”

“Meaning?”

“Didn’t you see that was a set up? That was no accident. That girl and her friends were after something.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Meaning…you.”

“I’ve had enough of them throwing themselves at me to know when there’s just another groupie around.”

“Somehow she didn’t seem that way to me.” It was the first time Roger had spoken. He’d done his share of laughing but had made no comment throughout the whole episode. Now Dare’s accountant sounded amused but mildly protective.