Nick was watching me while I turned this idea over in my mind. “I think you might be a genius,” I said.

He shrugged. “Best-case scenario, he actually comes up with something usable. Worst case, he messes up, but it doesn’t matter because you’ve got it covered already anyway. Besides, imagine his face when you dump a load of work on him.”

I laughed. The mental picture of Carson being forced to work instead of prowling the office looking for trouble brought me great joy. I reached out and placed my plastic margarita glass on the cool deck. Then I slid from my raft into the water. I popped up on the side of Nick’s, and he smiled down at me.

“Would this be considered a fast break offense?” I asked right before I kissed him. His hand cupped the back of my head and held me still while he returned my kiss with enthusiasm. When we broke apart, we were both breathing heavily.

Nick slid off his raft, and we stood in the waist-high water, facing each other. There was so much I wanted to say to him but I didn’t know how. The weeks were slipping by so fast, and our three months would be over before I knew it. How would I manage to live here when we were no longer together?

“What are you thinking?” he asked. His hazel gaze was intent on my face, which I was desperately trying to keep blank. I didn’t want him to see my angst.

“Nothing,” I said. I shook my head. I wasn’t going to ruin the time we had by wishing for something more.

“You look pensive,” he said.

I felt like ducking under the water to avoid his scrutiny. Instead, I went right to my default setting.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

He shook his head. “No apology necessary.”

“It’s just work on my mind.”

“Is it?” he asked. “Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

I got the feeling he knew. My heart started to beat really hard. Did he know that I was having feelings that would complicate things? Should I admit it?

“Canonball!”

The universe saved me from my own stupidity in the form of Jackson, leaping into the air and tucking himself into a ball, before he splashed down into the pool beside Nick and me, sending a sheet of water over us and breaking the moment, saving me from probable disaster.

As water dripped off the two of us, I heard Nick mutter, “I definitely need to fire him.”

Nick

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