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caught you, you need to give me my reward—a kiss.” He floated back to allow her to make a move, wanting to see if his kitten would continue to play.
    Her cheeks were red, and not from the sun. She gazed at his lips and gently bit her lower one, calculating her next move. A pinball of confused emotions rattled her but she wanted to keep him guessing. She slowly leaned in for a first kiss, lingering briefly before she whispered, “You forgot to say ‘Mac says’.” Without warning, she dropped underneath the water, arms over her head, and swiftly swam away. He had given her a way out. Smart girl.
    Mac dove in after her, not to chase but to watch her body slice through the water. She swam with the swiftness and grace of a dolphin. Her body moved fluidly as she broke through the sun-sparkled surface. As she walked up the stairs and out of the pool, his eyes followed those incredible legs. They were long, lean and athletic. Oh, yeah, he was a leg man, wondering how they would feel wrapped around his waist as he was snug inside her.
    As they reached the loungers, Mara threw her shoulders back in confidence and defiance. She beat him at his own game, keeping him at bay. But how long would that last over the next ten days? Mara turned into his hard chest, startled by his closeness, “Are you hungry?”
    Mac put her chin between his finger and thumb, lifting her face up to him. “You may have won this round, but I don’t give up easily. So yes, I am definitely hungry.” He leaned in closer so only she could hear his words. “I will have you, guaranteed.”
    A shiver ran through her; she was at a loss for words. He had hit every nerve in her body in a few sentences. He didn’t mince words, letting her know she was in his crosshairs. This encounter with him hit her core. There was a spark between her legs but she didn’t want to acknowledge yet. No one had ever made her desire so much. She leaned into his grip, letting the words wrap around her. Could she be the delicious woman he hungered for? Would he destroy her from the inside out, the way Brock had destroyed her? Was he a player looking for a quick lay? There were so many questions that ran through her head she didn’t know where to start.
    “Then let’s order some lunch and talk. You’re a very interesting man and full of...energy.” She glared at him with one eyebrow cocked. If he could read her mind, she would challenge him to reveal some of his secrets any way necessary.

 
    Chapter 4
     
    They stayed by the pool and ordered a light lunch of fruit, cheese and assorted small sandwiches. Sitting close enough for their legs to touch, they flirted with future possibilities. The hot air coming off the pool deck countered the fresh breeze from the shore reflecting the atmosphere between them. Mara’s hunger had started to come back since Brock’s death. The exhaustive, ongoing investigation into his accident kept her in limbo and depressed. She wanted some closure to his death and answers to her questions. Whenever depression set in, she tended to lose her appetite, dropping some weight in the process. Not that it was a bad thing, but she didn’t feel healthy being skinny.
    Once again, Mac stared at her, his gaze skimming her legs and torso. He met her eyes with a lazy smile and told her to, “Eat up. You could use a couple of pounds. I like my women with a little meat on them.” Then he winked at her as he fed her a strawberry from the fruit plate.
    His eyes watched the way her lips wrapped around the strawberry while he held his breath. Her mouth appeared tentative one minute and confident the next, devouring the strawberry to the stem. The dichotomy added to her sensuality. Mac ran his thumb along her plump lower lip, wiping away a drop of strawberry juice and licking it. Her eyes locked onto his thumb as it entered his mouth.
    Her eyes became hooded from his touch and his seductive play, but her body withdrew from him. As alluring as feeding her