“Hey,” Thea said. Even though she smiled, she seemed annoyed even to be talking to Gemma. She stared off at the ocean and ran her hand through her red waves of hair.

“And you’re Gemma, right?” Penn asked when Gemma didn’t say anything.

“Yep, I am.” Gemma nodded.

“We’ve seen you around, and we like your style,” Penn went on.

“Thanks?” Gemma questioned, uncertain what to make of that.

She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling naked around the three girls. Gemma knew she was pretty, and sometimes when she was dolled up she thought she was downright hot. But standing next to Penn, Lexi, and Thea, she felt clumsy and unattractive.

Water dripped off her body and onto the wooden planks beneath her feet, and all she could think about was getting to her clothes and putting them on.

“We love going swimming out in the ocean at night,” Penn said. “There’s something truly exhilarating about it.”

“It’s amazing,” Lexi chimed in, sounding a little too enthusiastic about it. Penn shot Lexi a look, and Lexi lowered her eyes.

“Um … yeah.” Even though Gemma agreed with them, she was afraid to admit it. It felt like Penn was setting some sort of trap she didn’t understand.

“We’d love it if you joined us for a swim,” Penn said, smiling wider.

“I … I don’t think so. Sorry.” Gemma couldn’t really think of an excuse to give them, but there was no way she would accept an invitation to join them doing anything.

“How about an afternoon swim, then?” Penn asked. “We were thinking of taking a dive right now. Weren’t we?”

“I’ve got my bikini under my dress,” Lexi said and gestured to the slinky sundress she wore.

“Well, I just got out,” Gemma said. “And I’m about to get dressed.”

She pointed to her bike, and then, seeing her chance to escape, walked over to it. Gemma had expected them to give up once she’d turned them down, but apparently that was wishful thinking. Penn followed her down the dock.

“I know you to love swim, and I’d really love it if you joined us,” Penn said. “If today doesn’t work, then let me know when you can.”

“I don’t know.” Gemma fumbled with her bike lock. Penn stood behind her, casting a shadow over her as Gemma crouched next to the bike. “I’ve got a lot of training to do.”

“You can’t train all the time,” Penn said. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

“I play,” Gemma insisted.

Finally managing to unlock her bag, she grabbed it and stood up. Her urge to get dressed had gone away, though. All she wanted to do was throw the bag over her shoulder, hop on the bike, and ride far away from Penn and her hungry smile.

“You really need to go swimming with us.” Penn’s voice was like silk, but it was clearly a command. Her dark eyes locked on Gemma’s, burning with an intensity that took her breath away.