Free Heaven With You by Rebecca Julia Lauren

inhaled the new smell of his SUV even though I knew he’d had it for a couple of years. Hunter got in and my gaze caught his defined profile with a strong, chiseled jaw that was covered with a shadow of scruff and was sexy as hell.
    I glanced away, unsettled. Even though I acted normal, it was unusual for me to think any man was sexy but my body reacted to Hunter in a way that I’d never experienced with any other man.
    “What’s wrong?” he asked, glancing over at me. “Having second thoughts about our deal?”
    “I’m looking forward to it,” I told him with a smile.
    “I hope you like lasagna.” He glanced at me with concern. “If not, I can make you something else.”
    It fascinated me that he wasn’t the least bit cocky, despite how incredible he was. He even cared if I liked what he’d made for dinner. My heart swelled like a balloon.
    “I love lasagna. Actually, I love almost all food. I’m not picky. Did you make the lasagna?”
    “This morning.”
    “I can’t believe you’re still single.”
    “I was thinking the same thing about you.”
    When we got to his house, Hunter poured me a glass of wine and I sat on the back patio while he changed. I rubbed Jack on the head, admiring Hunter’s pool that included a spectacular waterfall and a hot tub.
    A few minutes later Hunter appeared dressed in navy swim trunks and white t-shirt that clung to his sculpted muscles when he moved.
    “The lasagna will be ready in about half an hour. You want a take a swim while we wait or do you want to get down to business.”
    My gaze flickered over the pool with interest. “I’ll race you to the other side of the pool. Winner gets to ask questions first.”
    “You like to make bets, don’t you? I’ll give you a head start.”
    I stood up, suddenly realizing that I was going to have to take off my dress. Hunter pulled the t-shirt over his head and I froze. My blood heated, heart pounded and I was light-headed. Hunter McAllister was all lean, tanned muscle and he even had a six-pack. I stared. A fine line of hair tapered from his breastbone, over his flat stomach and dipped into his swimsuit. I could not look away.
    Hunter stood still, watching me watch him.
    “You’ll have to take off that dress,” he said softly.
    With shaking hands I lifted the hem of my dress over my head and pulled it off, leaving me in only my modest swimsuit that made me feel completely naked and vulnerable.  Folding my arms across my breasts, I glanced up at Hunter and saw that his eyes were steady on mine.
    Hunter cocked a brow at me. “On your mark, get set…”
    I dove into the water before he finished and began swimming as fast as I could for the other side. A few feet later, Hunter’s hand caught my foot, pulled me back and passed me.
    Laughing, I swam on trying to catch up. It was a close race, but Hunter won.
    “You cheated!” I said, half-laughing, half-sputtering for air.
    He laughed and the sound rippled gently along my spine. “You didn’t wait for me to say ‘go’.”
    I smiled over at him. “Rematch?”
    He lifted himself easily out of the pool, sat on the edge, then turned and reached for me. I took his hand and he pulled me out of the water. “Maybe later. I’ll let you choose. You want to ask or answer questions first?”
    Grabbing a towel off a chair, he handed it to me and I wrapped it around my shoulders. His question was a no-brainer since I hated talking about myself, and I was dying to know everything about him. “I’ll ask the questions.”
    “Alright. Fire away.”
    Hunter was close enough to me that his bare leg almost brushed mine, and it was difficult to think. “What do you look for in a woman?”
    “I like women that I can have fun with, someone genuine.” Jack laid his head in Hunter’s lap. “She’d have to be someone that likes animals and doesn’t mind when I have to work crazy hours.”
    “I suppose she’d have to be beautiful too.”
    “That’s a bonus, but it’s not one of