‘Yes, you are. The reason I don’t picture you without clothes is because then I’ll start thinking about you in a way that would make Logan punch me.’

Her heart was racing. ‘Logan isn’t my keeper.’

‘Good point.’ He rose to his feet and tugged her up beside him. ‘Come on, then, Flora Harris. We’ll try the swim. See if it works.’

‘Now?’ Her voice was an astonished squeak. ‘It’s one in the morning.’

‘Less crowded than one in the afternoon.’

She gave a strangled laugh. ‘Yes, I suppose it is. I don’t have a costume.’

He gave a wicked smile and slowly undid the buttons on his shirt. ‘The point of skinny dipping is that you don’t need clothes.’ His hands dropped to the fastening at the waistband of his trousers and her cheeks warmed as she caught a glimpse of taut, muscular stomach and dark male body hair.

‘For goodness’ sake, Conner…’

‘What? You just said “Of course I take my clothes off.” So that’s what I’m doing.’

‘Obviously, I wear a costume.’

‘Obviously.’ He grinned. ‘Because you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. But me being me, I’m not going to bother.’ Completely unselfconscious, he stepped out of his trousers and boxer shorts and Flora gave a nervous laugh, keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the horizon.

‘You’re going to get yourself arrested, Conner MacNeil.’

‘It’s dark. No one knows we’re here.’ His hands were on the hem of her T-shirt. ‘Come on, Flora. Take a risk. Live a little. Get naked with me.’

Take a risk. Live a little.

Suddenly the world opened up in front of her and her heart thundered in her chest. ‘I am not swimming naked with you.’

‘If the water is as cold as I suspect it’s going to be, you’re at no risk from me, darling, but if it makes you feel better you can leave your underwear on.’ He gently pulled the T-shirt over her head and slid her shorts down her legs.

As his fingers brushed her skin and she shivered.

She knew she should stop him, but she couldn’t, and when he closed his hand firmly over hers and dragged her down to the water’s edge, she didn’t resist.

And then the water touched her feet and she stopped dead. ‘Oh, my goodness, that’s cold.’