Free Dancing with Deception by Kadi Dillon Page B

jogged toward the beached area.
    “Its solid ground about ten feet up from the water so we won’t slip on the sand.”
    “Kay.” Rebecca subtly increased her speed and smirked when Colin did the same. So he was competitive. Worked for her. She needed to burn off the calories from the waffle.
    Even while she was running, Rebecca took in her surroundings. They were completely surrounded by the big blue lake. She should have felt isolated but she didn’t. She felt secure and safe while they ran along the beautiful beach. They kicked up the little bits of sand beneath their feet as they rounded a sharp corner where the lake came up onto the land.
    She wanted to swim, she thought as her feet splashed through a shallow puddle. It had been so long since she had been swimming for any reason other than working out and the water felt deliciously cool on her bare legs.
    When Rebecca heard Colin’s breathing begin to strain, she grinned and kicked up to the next speed. She wanted to throw her head back and laugh when he managed to keep pace with her but she just kept increasing her speed. She would make him pay for making fun of her, she decided.
    “Do you run often?”
    He shot her a look that told her he didn’t want to talk and run but complied. “No.”
    Rebecca changed directions and headed back to the house. Colin kept pace but was beginning to grit his teeth. He wasn’t as built as Gideon was but he also had a smaller frame. He still had amazing muscles that were obviously worked out regularly, but Rebecca knew they were built from hammering and lifting more than from cardio.
    “Want to race?”
    Rebecca started. Maybe he had more stamina than she thought. “Sure.”
    “All right.” They were still jogging but he counted to three and Rebecca took off at full speed. She had enough breath left to growl at him when he kept pace with her still. He looked as though he would collapse at any minute, but he held his own.
    They rounded the corner that would lead them back to the house and Rebecca gave it all she had. Belatedly, they both realized they hadn’t sat a finish line, so Rebecca called out, “the fence!” And they plunged ahead.
    Rebecca beat him by a foot and they both collapsed on the ground laughing.
    “Son-of-a-bitch,” Colin wheezed. “I didn’t know ballerinas could run so fast.”
    “Neither did I.”
    They looked at each other again before dissolving in another fit of laughter. A shadow fell over them and an angry voice startled Rebecca out of her mirth.
    “Where the hell have you been?”
     
    Colin looked over idly at his brother. Rebecca all but jumped out of her skin as the laughter died out of her. “We were running,” was Colin’s lazy reply.
    Gideon’s blood was hot as he stared at Rebecca’s guilt ridden face. She was pale and withdrawn now where seconds ago she had been glowing. He thought furiously about the way she had kissed him back the day before and his sister’s words from that morning mocked him. “She wants to like you but she’s a little afraid of you.”
    “Why are you back so early?” Colin stood slowly rubbing his sore calf muscles.
    “The prick didn’t show up.”
    “Damn. I’ll call him later since I’m the one he talked to before.”
    “Yeah, do that. Tell him not to waste my damn time again.” Gideon had yet to take his eyes off Rebecca who was looking more reserved by the minute. It made him even angrier.
    “I need to go take a shower.” Rebecca looked up at Gideon then turned to Colin. “Thanks for the race. Sorry you lost.”
    “Yeah, I can tell how sorry you are,” Colin muttered. “Brat.”
    Rebecca smiled at Colin—damn her—then walked into the house. He watched her walk through the door and stared at it as it closed behind her.
    “Smooth.”
    “What were the two of you so chummy about?” Gideon hated the pettiness of the question. He fell in step with Colin as he turned to walk down to the boatyard.
    “I seem to recall you telling me to