Read Playing It Close for Free Online Page B

her towel. “Oh my God. Who the hell have you shared a hot tub with before? What kind of people would do that?”
    He didn’t answer, but his face said everything. Rugby players. They would do that.
    “Maybe I had your girlfriends all wrong. Do you go for the beefy, hairy types with digestion problems?”
    Finally he cracked a smile, and it was as if a ray of radiant light beamed down on her from heaven. “No. Actually, I’m partial to mouthy women who can put me in my place.”
    She bent to shove her towel in her bag, praying he couldn’t see her face. It was sure to betray the bizarre, pathetic hope that welled up before she smothered it. “Well, if I see any of those around here, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
    * * *
    The hammock on Liam’s balcony rocked Tess in a hypnotic back-and-forth motion. Her eyes were closed and her arms stretched over her head. Her belly was full of food and tizana , a fruity drink like a nonalcoholic Spanish sangria. Who would’ve thought she could relax so deeply without the aid of alcohol?
    Beside her, Liam let out a deep, satisfied sigh that told her he’d relaxed too. Turning her head slightly, she opened her eyes and watched him. He’d kicked back in a sling chair with his bare feet perched high on the post that her hammock was tied to. One of his feet pushed the end of her hammock, keeping the gentle rhythm going.
    “This is the life,” he murmured.
    Interesting, coming from a man many would consider to be living the life. What was he doing here on his own? She could understand needing a holiday and traveling incognito, but why not bring along one of the actresses or swimsuit models he was frequently photographed with? Why spend time with her instead?
    “I can hear you thinking, Tess. It’s stressing me out.”
    She grinned and turned her face toward the moonlit beach, where a couple lay on the sand kissing. “Sorry. I have a busy brain. It’s difficult to switch off.”
    He grunted, his foot never changing the rhythm he rocked her with. At some point she should think about getting out of this hammock and going back to her room. She’d thought he might make a move, but throughout dinner he’d never gone beyond mildly flirtatious.
    “Tonight the night?”
    She blinked and swiveled toward him, nearly dumping herself out of the hammock. “Pardon?”
    He sat up and grabbed the rope holding the hammock up, steadying it so she didn’t fall out. A suggestive smile touched the corners of his lips. “The night you go in the water starkers.”
    Ahh. Skinny-dipping. “Still too light out. And look.” She motioned toward the beach, where a couple were making out on the shore. “Three would be a crowd.”
    He straightened and peered over her toward the sand. “I see what you mean.”
    The faint sounds of muffled giggles and splashing water drifted over them. Tess watched Liam’s face as he took in the scene below. His brows rose at a feminine squeal. “Yeah. You can see everything from up here.”
    Unable to help herself, she glanced down at the couple. The now-topless woman laughed as she ran through the shallows, her wet breasts bouncing and practically glowing in the moonlight while the man chased her. When he reached her, his hands went straight for her tits and he covered her neck in openmouthed kisses.
    “I really don’t need to see this.” Tess swung her legs over the hammock’s edge and stood.
    Liam tore his gaze from the beach, but his attention seemed to catch on her legs. He let it glide lazily up her body, spreading heat like a laser beam everywhere it landed. When he spoke again, his voice had gone gruff. “It’s a good thing you didn’t do the deed last night. I would’ve hated to miss it.”
    Tess swallowed. She had nothing— nothing— to compare to the woman down on the beach, but Liam hadn’t sounded like he was mocking her. He’d sounded genuinely interested in seeing her naked.
    Adrenaline pumped through her. She surreptitiously wiped her