Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

recommend a good dance teacher. I need to learn everything—even ballroom stuff like waltzes, tangos, whatever.”

“Will do. Can I get back to you this weekend? I’m having dinner with the family Saturday night.”

“Outstanding.”

“YackAtchaLater.”

With those plans in the works he turned his mind to more important matters. He needed to buy an engagement ring. He’d determined it was the only way to convince Emily he wasn’t going to move on to another relationship. His plan to earn money parking cars at one of the local hotels would take up most of his spare time, but he wasn’t getting any alone time with Emily anyway. He should be able to save enough for a good down payment on a ring in four weeks.

His other option was to admit the truth—that she was the first and only girl he’d ever dated. But he’d waited so long to tell her, she might not believe him. Besides, it was embarrassing. And he couldn’t help being pleased at her acceptance he was well versed in physical matters. His greatest fear had been she would suspect his inexperience—that she would judge him as inept. So his ego somehow wouldn’t allow him to insist he was unsophisticated and unskilled. No, his best choice was buying a ring.*****

“I invited Grace and Brad to come swimming with us. That’s okay, right?” Emily had decided she’d be less uncomfortable parading around in a swimsuit if there was another girl along.

Spencer frowned. “I guess. Is Josh coming, too?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Good. I mean, I feel sorry for the guy, but I don’t really want him ogling you in a swimsuit. I don’t really want Brad ogling you either, but I guess he’ll be busy ogling my sister.” Spencer looked a bit ill at this thought. “I may need to beat him up, either way.”

“It won’t be a problem,” said Emily. “I’m only planning to watch; I’m wearing jeans and a long-sleeved shirt.”

Emily couldn’t suppress a laugh. “Ohmygosh! You look like I just killed a kitten. I’m kidding. I’m going to swim.”

He grinned. “Awesome. Let’s go.”

The pool was practically deserted on a Monday night. “This is beautiful!” said Grace. The area surrounding the pool had planter boxes with lush greenery and the pool itself was made to simulate a lagoon, complete with a waterfall. They claimed four lounge chairs and the guys immediately stripped off their shirts and made for the water. Emily had always been a bit modest, but Grace had no such qualms. She pulled off her outer dress to reveal a cute red bikini and raised her eyebrows at Emily as she stood awkwardly by her chair.

“Come on, you can do it. You’re worse than Hannah.”

Emily turned her back to the pool as she shed her shorts and shirt, tugging and pulling to make sure everything was in place. She wasn’t as amply endowed as Grace, and she hoped Spencer wouldn’t be disappointed. She had on a two-piece suit, but had added a pair of short black board shorts over her swimsuit bottom. Convinced she was as secure as she could be while swimming, she turned around and headed to join the others in the pool.

Brad was talking to him, but Spencer couldn’t concentrate on his words. He had watched Emily slowly divesting herself of her garments with her back to him, and it might as well have been a striptease. And now, he was waiting for her to turn around. He must have been holding his breath, because when she turned around, he released it and almost passed out. She looked like she belonged in a James Bond movie. Her legs were long and slim, yet she was firm and muscular from years of dancing. She’d unbound her long brown curly hair, and it fell across her shoulders and down her chest. Doubtless, she was attempting to use her hair to obscure his view of her slim torso, but the hair and the flimsy material was an ineffective shield. She glided, as she always moved, smooth and floating, mesmerizing, to the side of the pool and dipped a single toe into the water.

He felt a slap on the back of his head. “Put your tongue back in your mouth.” Grace laughed.

His face heated at having been so thoroughly exposed in his frank admiration. But the hotness in his face was nothing compared to the fire that burned in the rest of his body. Why had he thought this would be a good idea? Now, he wanted to kiss her more than ever. And not only kiss her lips, but kiss every part of her. He swallowed convulsively. This was like torture, pure agony, to see her and not to be able to touch her. He tried to think of a way they could elope. Perhaps next week...

Emily’s face flamed as she moved toward the pool. Spencer was staring at her, and not in a casual way. He was gaping. She made an awkward attempt to move her hair to cover her chest. She gingerly tested the water, relieved the temperature was comfortable. She hurried to slide into the water and moved to join the other three, relieved at the protective covering of the pool water.

Grace suggested a game of chicken fight. The girls would sit on the shoulders of the boys, trying to push or pull one another off their shoulders. Emily was really glad she’d shaved again right before coming, since Spencer had to hold onto her legs to help keep her secure. She soon became engrossed in the competition and forgot to admire the strong broad shoulders she perched on. She and Spencer had a height advantage, and the first few attacks, she managed to easily leverage Grace from Brad’s shoulders. There was a lot of laughing and screaming and splashing involved.

Spencer thought the guy who invented chicken fight was a genius. He loved this game. Even when he was relegated to the deeper end of the pool to even out the height advantage, he didn’t mind