Page 20 of Refuge

“I’ll tell them otherwise,” Cole replied as he toed off his work boots. He decided to wait to tell Leeza about the tracks because they could be nothing and he didn’t want to worry her when it may be nothing at all.

“Ah, what are you doing?” Leeza asked wide-eyed as he tugged his T-shirt over his head.

“It’s a pretty hot day, and that water looks very inviting.” Cole reached for his belt buckle and chuckled when she yelped, turning away.

“Cole, this isn’t funny,” Leeza said, then peeked over her shoulder.

“I’m not laughing, darlin’.”

* * *

“Oh. My. God,” Leeza hissed to herself, then screamed when she heard a loud splash behind her. She turned, but Cole was nowhere in sight. She started to swim backward, her eyes searching everywhere. Okay, in all fairness, she was just saying that if Cole was there at that very moment, she would open her…. Oh, man, she’d made this happen. “Where in the hell did he go?” she whispered to herself, still swimming backward and glancing everywhere.

“Looking for someone?” Cole’s voice said directly behind her.

Turning quickly, a small wave of water hit her in the face. Damn, he looked really good wet. His hair was slicked back, his strong features prominent and his wide, massive shoulders moved slowly in the water as he swam around her.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking today,” Cole said as he lazily swam toward her, then away.

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” Cole smiled at her. “If you really want to work for Lance Cutter, then I guess I’m okay with it.”

“Oh, I don’t remember asking your permission.” Leeza rolled her eyes, and then splashed him in the face with a spray of water.

Cole splashed her back with a half grin. “But I will warn you, if he even tries anything with you, he’s a dead man.”

Damn, her body responded to his dominant words. “Is that a threat?”

“To you, no.” Cole swam closer. “To him, yes.”

Leeza swam away, putting distance between them. She then glanced to see how close to the bank she was. Not close enough.

“I’ll catch you.” His grin grew, making him look sexy as hell.

“I have no interest in Lance, Cole.” Leeza kept casual, making her way toward the bank, but he was creeping up on her.

“That’s good for him.” He stalked her slowly. “Now what I want to know is if you have interest in me?”

Okay, that stopped her escape. She tilted her head and stared at him. “I don’t kiss every guy I meet behind trailers, Cole.”

Before she knew what was happening, he grabbed her foot under water and pulled her to him quickly. In the next breath, she was in his arms, their naked bodies plastered against each other. Leeza thought about fighting, but did she really want to? No, she didn’t. The feel of his body against hers was right.

“I better be the only guy you’re kissing behind trailers, or anywhere for that matter.” Cole’s breath was warm against her face.

“I don’t want to kiss anyone else,” she replied shyly. “Ever since the day you walked into my brother’s office, I’ve been yours.”

“Yes, you have.” Cole’s voice deepened, his dominant personality coming to the forefront.

“But—”

“But?” Cole frowned, leaning his head back to stare at her. “But what?”

“I want a partner. Not someone who is going to tell me every move I should make.” Leeza stared straight at him, not looking away from his intense gaze, even though she wanted to. But this was important to her, and she wanted him to understand.

“I wouldn’t do that unless it’s for your safety,” Cole responded, sounding believable.

“So you felt earlier that me working for Lance was unsafe?” Leeza cocked her eyebrow and knew she had him.