Yesterday had been hell. Today was going to be a different sort of hell.

Joy knocked on Dylan’s door at the ungodly hour of 6:00 a.m. She announced that she wanted to take a side trip and needed his agreement.

Was she serious? He didn’t make decisions before 7:00 a.m.

She wanted to spend the day sunbathing and had found a swimming hole with a waterfall about an hour south of Oklahoma City. It would take more than four hours to get there and she wanted to be there before lunch, which meant they had to leave now.

“You’re kidding?” he grumbled, his voice gritty with sleep. At least he’d gotten some, though not enough. He’d lain awake thinking about her and everything that was off-limits that he wanted to do to her.

Joy shook her head. She was serious about this trek.

“Whatever.” So long as he could sleep in the car and they were in Oklahoma City by 9:00 p.m. He had a gig at nine thirty.

“Sweet!” She clapped. “This will be fun.”

Dylan groaned. He wasn’t so sure about that.

He rolled his forehead against the doorjamb and stood there, holding the door open, wearing nothing but sleep shorts and a wild mess of morning hair. He squinted at her against the rising sun’s glare. He was still wiped from last night. Performing onstage wasn’t just a physical workout for him. It took an emotional toll. But the side trip with Joy wasn’t going to be torturous. It was what she was wearing.

Practically nothing.

He tried not to let his eyes bug out. She wore flip-flops and a white lace cover-up with way too many peekaboo holes, because underneath he saw strings. Lots and lots of turquoise strings.

Practical, prim Joy had a string bikini. And she planned to wear it all day. In front of him.

Pure hell.

Her gaze dipped to the sunburst on his pec.

“See something you like?” A single brow lifted, crinkling his forehead.

Her eyes rocket blasted back to his face. “What? No.” She blushed.

He smirked. “I need to shower and pack. Be out in ten.”

“Wear your swimsuit,” she gleefully ordered before he shut the door in her face.

Dylan faced the tiny motel room and raked both hands into his hair, holding back the waves. “Fuck.” He let his arms fall. He was not supposed to feel this way about her. About anyone. God help him, he was attracted to her and way more interested than he wanted to be.

When he came out to the car Joy drove to the park and he bought them sandwiches and snacks at the campground market. After a short walk to the swimming hole, she picked a spot near the water’s edge. They lay on their towels head-to-head and ate lunch.