Vegas Two-Step by Liz Talley Page A

Sunlight glittered on the surface of the water, seductively inviting a plunge into the aqua depths. She momentarily wished she’d brought the bikini Kate insisted she buy. The thought of parading around in front of Jack with just two strips of glittery hot pink made her shivery inside. Shivery hot.
    “You want to take a swim?” Jack’s voice came from behind her. He handed her a bottle of beer then clinked his against hers before lifting it to his mouth.
    “I don’t have a suit,” she said, knowing her words invited suggestion.
    Sure enough, he lifted one eyebrow and tossed her his trademark wolfish grin. “No one can see you. The only neighbors who might are in Costa Rica canopy gliding, or whatever they call it.”
    “I don’t know,” she hedged, eyeing the perimeter of the backyard. The space did seem fairly hidden, but she’d never actually skinny-dipped. It seemed like total wild abandonment.
    Jack snapped his fingers. “Know what? I think my sister left a suit in the cabana the last time she and Drew were up. Let me check. You can change while I grab a shower and my suit. Then we can cool off in the pool.”
    Nellie nodded then took a big gulp of the beer. Icy cold, it slid down smooth and felt like liquid courage. She knew everything had been leading to this moment and was extremely glad they had not made love the first time they’d met. Correction. The second time they’d met. The first time hadn’t counted because she’d been just plain ol’ Nellie Hughes.
    Jack returned from the cabana off the side of his pool holding a bright green swatch of cloth.
    “Here you go. You two are about the same size, so I think it’ll do. Go ahead and change in the cabana. I’m gonna grab a shower and put some chicken in to marinate. We can grill tonight if that is okay with you.”
    Nellie took the suit from him. Her stomach felt like bats had taken up residence, but she delivered a breezy smile. “Sounds great.”
    Jack entered the house, leaving her to the intimate beauty of his backyard. She didn’t fail to notice it had been professionally landscaped. Fragrant hibiscus dominated urns while tropical palms provided a leafy background for the climbing Mandevilla and windmill jasmine. Trumpet flowers and bird of paradise dotted the beds surrounding the pool, and gentle bamboo swayed against the privacy fence.
    Nellie entered the cabana and slipped out of her clothes, folding them neatly, even the white wisp of a lace thong. She slid into the bright green suit, noting there were a lot of cutouts revealing a lot of flesh. Thank goodness Kate had talked her into the spray-on tan and bikini wax. She turned to check out her backside, just to make sure the cellulite wasn’t too bad and the suit was in place. She caught sight of herself in the mirror.
    The suit flattered her, dipping low between her generous breasts and skimming the lower part of her back. The heart tattoo looked bold on her tanned shoulder, and once again Nellie marveled at how different she looked. Yep, totally Elle.
    She took her white sleeveless shirt from the neatly folded pile, pulled it on and left the cabana.
    Jack wasn’t back yet, so she made her way to the steps and dipped one toe into the pool. The water wasn’t too cold, just refreshing. The sun glared down, making a small bead of sweat roll down her back. Now she felt stupid for keeping her shirt on. He’d still be seeing her in the bathing suit.
    But before she could slip the shirt off and toss it on a lounge chair, something swept her from her feet and lobbed her into the pool.
    She came up sputtering.
    Jack grinned from above her, wearing a red suit and looking way too fine without a shirt.
    “No fair!” she cried, wiping the rivulets of water from her eyes while trying to tread water. She didn’t have time to complain much longer.
    All she heard was a cry of “Cannonball” and a wave of water rushed toward her.
    Jack emerged next to her, grinning like a twelve-year-old