Bachelor's Special by Christine Warner

and juicy meat. She couldn’t stop herself from chewing and laughing at the same time as she reached for a handful of napkins to wipe up the massive amount of cheese oozing from the center of the burger and working its way down her chin.
    “I knew you could do it. What do you think?” Chet asked around his laughter.
    “I think the Juicy Lucy has a new fan.” She peeled back the top of the bun, squirted on a mound of mustard, and dove in for another taste.
    “Next time you’ll have to try the Mexican burger.”
    “I’m game. Aren’t you going to try yours?” She dropped her burger onto her plate and opened one of the many wet napkins Carrie had piled on the table. Jill cleaned her fingers before grabbing a fry.
    Chet pressed down the center of his bun with his palm. Before he lifted his burger, he reached across the table to take her hand in his. “Thanks, Jill.”
    “For what?”
    “For coming out with me tonight. I really needed to forget about work.”
    Jill didn’t want to press for details and spoil the mood. Her feet did a happy dance beneath the table, and she squeezed his fingers before pulling away. “I’m glad you asked.”

    Ah, Sunday . A day of relaxation by the pool. Jill floated on the blow-up raft, the glaring pink plastic a startling contrast to the blue water. She wiggled her fingertips in the cool water, a humid breeze blew across her skin, and the scorching sun beat down on her flesh. Life couldn’t be any better.
    She adjusted her oversized pink sunglasses and closed her eyes. Birds chirped in the background and the wind danced along the trees, rustling the leaves, a calming sound. In the distance a well-tuned lawnmower buzzed, and she inhaled deep, hoping to catch the scent of freshly cut grass. Nope, must be too far away. There were no neighbors nearby, so Chet’s groundskeeper must be working a distant section. Though she’d never laid eyes on the person in charge of yard upkeep, it had to be a full-time job.
    “You look like a fifties ad for a pool installation company.”
    Her heart jumped to her throat, but she swallowed it down and lifted her glasses to peer out from beneath them.
    Chet—shirtless no less. Damn. His broad chest filled her vision. She lingered over his well-defined pecs, which flexed whenever he moved. His biceps bulged as he gripped each end of the towel flung around his neck.
    Hadn’t his calendar noted he’d be gone today? They had a great time eating out as friends, but she didn’t want to tempt fate and had avoided him the last couple of days.
    “I thought your family had their Sunday lunch?” Her smile held steady, but her heart wasn’t so easy to control.
    “Canceled. Jared and Mel planned a company picnic for his Castle Real Estate employees and he forgot to tell Mom, so we’ll meet up next week.”
    For some reason it fit her tidy picture of Chet to think of him as an enigma unto himself, an only child. Even thinking of him having parents seemed odd. Someone so powerful was just placed on the planet, right?
    They shared a smile again and her knees would’ve buckled if she hadn’t been lying back on her floaty chair.
    “I still find it hard to believe the fashion-conscious, fast-talking, ditzy, redhead Melody is your friend.”
    “Yep.” She grinned at his perfect description. “I can’t believe I didn’t make the connection between you and Jared the night we met.”
    “Of course, I’m the better looking one.” He winked.
    “Hands down.” Jill dropped her sunglasses back onto her nose. Had she said that aloud?
    Her body hummed as his smile wavered. Although he wore sunglasses, she’d bet her last dollar his gaze swept across her chest, lingering on the betrayal of her pert nipples pushing against the fabric of her suit.
    Until this moment, shyness had never been a trait she possessed. Air stalled in her lungs, her palms grew sweaty, and she itched to cover herself with a towel. Even though her replica vintage swimsuit hid more than