“So do I.” Aria wasn’t about to teach a teenage girl to be insecure about her body. The world had enough self-doubting girls already. “Do you like swimming?”

Teri shrugged noncommittally. “It’s okay, but I suck at it.”

Interesting, then, that her brother enjoyed surfing. He couldn’t have picked the hobby up from their parents.

“Would you rather swim or sunbathe?”

“I might get some sun,” Teri said, studying the water as it rolled in to shore.

Aria followed her gaze wistfully, imagining the cool water splashing over her skin. It was too warm to bake on the beach. But she was here to spend time with Teri.

“I’ll join you,” she said.

Teri laughed. “Don’t be stupid. You totally want to swim. Go for it. I don’t give a shit.”

“Are you sure?” Aria was already turning toward the water.

“Yeah.” Teri laid a towel out on the sand and sat on it, then leaned back with her hands behind her head. As soon as she was settled, Aria made a beeline for the water and sighed happily when it flowed over her toes. She ran at the next wave and jumped into it head first, like she always did. Better to deal with the shock of being submerged in cold water all at once rather than gradually. She rose out of the water and laughed, shaking droplets from her hair, then stretched out and jumped in again, this time swimming until she reached the end of the bay.

After her swim, Aria lounged on a towel in the sun to dry off. Teri had wandered away with a cute boy she planned to go on a movie date with. A shadow fell over Aria, and a drop of cool water landed on her face. Shielding her eyes from the sun, she peered up and drooled over six feet of half-naked man. A shiver passed over her chest. Her mouth dried out. She had to stop having this reaction to him; it was ridiculous.

“Can I sit?” he asked, gesturing to the spot beside her.

“Go for it. It’s a free country.” Maybe she was still a little pissed off at him for his weird behavior earlier. He sank down next to her, smelling of salt and sweat. The Mr. Darcy fantasy returned. She sighed, wishing Teri were here to act as a buffer between them.

“I shouldn’t have thrown the towel at you,” he said abruptly.

Aria raised herself up on her elbows. “Was that an apology?”

He turned to her with a wry smile. “More like an admission. I don’t apologize well.”

“So, that’s as close as I’m going to get?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph.” She nibbled on her lower lip, thinking how damned sexy he looked in board shorts. Made it easy to forget how uptight he was. Also easy to forget all the reasons she shouldn’t encourage his attention. “Hmm.”

“What?” he asked, mildly irritated.