LITMIR.BIZ

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to air his family’s dirty laundry. Especially when his paternity had yet to be definitively proven.

      “Great,” he said. “But that doesn’t explain why you’re in my pool. You aren’t staying here, too, are you?”

      “Heaven forbid.” Audra pressed an open hand to her chest in feigned outrage. She nodded toward the house on the other side of the brick wall. “I’m renting the darling house next door. It has a proper workshop, great office space and plenty of security. But it doesn’t have a pool, and back home in Dallas I swim nearly every day.”

      “You’re in Dallas now?”

      “I moved there after grad school.” She shrugged. “I needed a fresh start and Dallas felt right.”

      Guilt churned in his gut. Did she need a fresh start because of our breakup?

      “Anyway, Sophie gave me permission to use this pool since her family owns the house and it’s empty. At least it was empty. In light of everything that’s been going on with her father’s death and the estate going to her stepmother… I’m sure Sophie had no idea you were staying here.”

      “Makes sense.” He stared at her, unable to tear his gaze from her expressive eyes. He wanted to take her in his arms and get reacquainted with every one of her sensual curves.

      “Sorry I disturbed you.” She broke their gaze. “I’m sure there’s another pool in town I could use.”

      “No. You don’t need to do that.” He objected far too quickly, and he couldn’t help but notice she was restraining a smile. “You aren’t bothering me. I only came out because I thought you were a trespasser.” He folded his arms. “Come over whenever you want. I doubt I’ll be using the pool while I’m here.”

      “That’s a shame.” She shrugged. “My time in the pool relaxes me and sparks my creativity. You should try it.”

      “You’re shivering. Can I make you some coffee or tea? Hot cocoa, maybe?” He gestured toward the house.

      What the hell was he thinking?

      The last thing he needed was to spend more time with Audra. Yet, he wanted her to stay a little while longer. Even if it meant he’d lie awake all night, revisiting his regrets.

      But he could never go back. There were no do-overs in romantic or family relationships. He’d burned that bridge when he’d walked away from her.

      “That’s kind of you.” She managed a polite smile. “But I’ll be plenty warm between the hot bubble bath with my name on it and the Sex on the Beach I plan to have…the drink, not the actual—”

      “Of course.” He ran a hand over his clean-shaven head.

      But all he could think about was that time they’d gone to Martha’s Vineyard and ended up having sex on the beach.

      It wasn’t nearly as glamorous as people made it out to be. They’d both gotten sand in places sand should never, ever be. But they’d had fun that night. A night he’d never forget.

      Audra began ordering Sex on the Beach cocktails after that. Initially, as a private joke between them which ignited that passionate memory. But then she’d actually started to like them, and it became her signature drink.

      As they stood awkwardly staring at one another, he wondered if she still regarded the memory fondly. Or was every memory of what they once shared now tainted?

      “Thank you for letting me use the pool. I’ll try not to disturb you. Good night.”

      “Good night,” he called to her retreating back.

      Audra disappeared through the iron gate that connected the two backyards.

      Darius rubbed a hand over his head and groaned. The universe had it in for him. He was sure of it.

      The collaboration project with Goddess had turned out to be a ruse to get him to Royal. He’d finally—probably—discovered who his father was, but the selfish bastard had gone and died before Darius had a chance to tell him to go to hell. The man was richer than God but hadn’t left any of his children a dime. Darius had siblings, but with them already fighting Miranda on the will, he doubted they would appreciate a surprise heir popping up out of the woodwork.

      And then there’s Audra.

      Not only was she right here in Royal, but she was staying next door and using his pool wearing a scrap of fabric masquerading as a bikini.

      Yep. Either he was being punked or the universe was having a nice laugh at his expense.

      His eyes were drawn to the light that suddenly went on upstairs in the house next door.

       Audra.

      Probably drawing a bubble bath with her Sex on the Beach in hand.

      He shut his eyes against the erotic images that flooded his brain, his body stiffening in response.

      There would be a lot of cold showers and sleepless nights in his future.

      Audra dropped her damp towel in the laundry bin and went to the kitchen to retrieve the pitcher of cocktails she’d made earlier and put in the fridge.

      She’d mixed her favorite drink the moment she’d returned home after seeing Darius. It was bad enough he was in the same Texas town where she was. Did he have to be staying next door, too?

      Audra pulled out a glass and filled it, the liquid sloshing onto the counter.

      Her hands were shaking.

      She sucked in a deep breath, her eyes drifting closed.

      “Of all the goddamn places in the world he could possibly be,” she muttered under her breath as she wiped up the mess.

      Not that it mattered.

      She was over Darius. So it didn’t matter how good he looked in those black basketball pants and a heather-gray performance shirt emblazoned with the Thr3d logo. A shirt that clung to the muscles of his chest and biceps.

      He was her past. A mistake she’d never repeat.

      But God, parts of her wanted to. And right now, those parts were drowning out her common sense, which reminded her that she should know better.

      She went upstairs and turned on the warm water, adding some of the decadent bath foam with a heavenly crème brûlée scent. It was pricey, but it left her skin incredibly soft and smelling sweet. And the luxurious bubbles it created were perfect for a day like this.

      Audra stripped out of her wet bikini and removed the belly chain before slipping beneath the scented bubbles.

      Her phone rang. Because…of course it would. She sat up and peeked at the caller ID.

       Cash.

      She groaned as she slipped beneath the water again.

      Some much-needed distance from her ex, who still didn’t seem to understand it was over, was the real reason she’d found Sophie Blackwood’s project so intriguing. Audra looked forward to immersing herself completely in the project without the possibility of running into her ex or seeing the local politician’s face splashed across television commercials and on the side of buses.

      The chorus of the old George Strait song, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” a favorite of her grandfather’s, suddenly came to her and she couldn’t help laughing.

      Cash was a good guy. She honestly felt badly about ignoring his call. But she simply didn’t have the energy to deal with another ex tonight.

       Besides, how many more ways can I explain that it’s over?

      Audra wouldn’t change her mind. She didn’t care that their mothers

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