When she reached for it, he pulled his hand back. “Ah-ah. You have to tell me what you were thinking about first.”

She felt her cheeks heat.

His eyebrows jumped. “Again?” he asked with mock seriousness. “You filthy girl.”

The laugh that bubbled out of her only escalated when he rolled from the hammock and yanked her out of the beach chair. The book fell from her lap to the sand, and she stumbled to keep up with him.

His hands landed on her butt, and he squeezed her cheeks in his palms. “Let’s go play in the waves,” he said, lowering his head and stealing a kiss. “Deep, dark waves where no one can see what my hands are doing.”

She reached for the drawstring on his shorts. “Or mine?”

He grinned down at her, his thick hair blowing in the breeze. “Especially yours.”

When his arm banded around her thighs, she squealed. He tossed her over his shoulder and walked her to the shore while she held onto the waistband of his shorts for dear life. He carried her until they were knee-deep in the ocean and put her down, scooping handfuls of cool water onto her sun-soaked skin. She shuddered, her body going stiff against the surge of sudden cold.

“What are y-you doing?” she asked, shivering.

He dropped another handful onto her midriff and chased the rivulets over her bare stomach. “Acclimating you to the temperature.”

She smirked. “Copping a feel is more like it.”

“Yeah, that, too.” He poured water over her shoulder, trailing his hand down her arm slowly. His face grew serious.

She put her hand on his. “You all right?”

“I was just thinking about the mansion,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “If you hadn’t made that bet…”

They wouldn’t be here together now.

“If you hadn’t tried to scare me out of the house,” she added.

He smiled his wicked smile—her favorite. “If you hadn’t thrown yourself at me on the air mattress.”

She drew back and splashed him. Marcus squinted, saltwater dripping from his eyebrows and rolling off the tip of his nose.

He grabbed her waist and gave her a long, deep, slow, wet kiss. One she might not recover from any time soon. When they parted, he said, “Okay, that was me. Hard to admit…like other things I can’t admit.”

The uncharacteristically sheepish glance he cast to the side made Lily brace for impact.

“If I say it, don’t freak out.”

Doing her best to appear innocent, she widened her eyes. “I won’t.”

He quirked his lips. “No…I don’t believe you.”

“I promise.” She couldn’t keep the million-watt grin from lighting her face.

“No.” He shook his head. “Now it’s turned into a thing. I’m not going to say it.”

She tugged his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. “Silly boy, you just did.”

He frowned. “No I didn’t.”

“Oh, yes you did. You dropped your gloves, left yourself exposed. Gave away your position.” She waded out to deeper water, splashing and singing, “Marcus Black loves me, Marcus Black loves me!”

“I never said that,” he called, following after her, his thick legs slashing through the water as he walked.

When he caught her, he scooped her up, holding her thighs as she wrapped her legs around his waist. One of her top five favorite places to be. She put her arms around his neck as the tide sent water sluicing between their bodies.

“What about you?” he asked. “I don’t hear you making any heartfelt admissions.”

She traced his lips with one finger and avoided looking into his dark eyes—eyes that held more truth than she could handle some days. Not to mention that admissions, heartfelt or otherwise, weren’t exactly on her list of things she was good at.

“On three,” Marcus said, his voice low.

She lifted her eyes, her heart thudding with a combination of fear and anticipation. “One, two, three, then go? Or one—”

“I love you, Lily.”

“Oh.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Wait, you caught me off guard. That’s not what I meant to say.” She clung to his neck like a barnacle as Marcus grasped her butt in his palms. “Don’t toss me!” she shrieked. “I’ll say it! I’ll say it!”

He lowered her against his chest again, buoying her in the deep water. “You’ve got three seconds.”

She blinked up at him. “But that’s crazy, right? It’s so soon.”

He kissed her, and it was no different from any one of his kisses before, but her heart beat extra hard, her blood pumping extra fast.

“I knew you couldn’t say it,” he said when they parted.

“Can so.”

“Bet you can’t.”

“Bet I can.” She tightened her arms around his neck and leaned in, brushing her nose against his.

His wide, genuine smile warmed her heart. She admired his handsome face in the sunshine and swallowed down her fears. With great risk came great reward.

Marking his lips with a soft kiss, she whispered, “I love you, too, Black.”

He grinned against her mouth.

“Yeah,” he said, leaning his forehead onto hers. “I know.”

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Acknowledgments

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…I wrote a short story for a call for submissions. A little more than a year later, the story sat untouched on my hard drive while my agent continued to sing its praises. The timing wasn’t right until just now, and I’m thrilled Marcus and Lily get their day in the sun!

Thank you, first and foremost, to God, for gracing me with more blessings than I deserve. It’s a bit of heaven on earth, this job. I once read that writing was the act of taking “divine dictation” and I must agree. I am grateful every day for the words that come, even though I’m never exactly sure where they’re coming from.

Readers, it’s thanks to you I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Because of your willingness to spend time reading my words, I have a reason to write them.

Sincerest thanks to my critique partners for the former and current versions of this book. Michele Shaw, for your eagle eye and accuracy in pointing out errors. To Piper Trace: it is with pride I admit that there are a few lines in this story that belong to you. If I can return the favor, please let me know. Lauren Layne, you answer the tough questions. Shannon Richard, you laugh at my jokes (and thank you for letting me use your Donald Duck one).

To my agent, Nicole Resciniti, thank you for loving this story (and Marcus!). You worked for a year to help this book see the light of day, and your comments and editorial remarks were spot-on. Thank you for telling me the original short story had a great big heart. That compliment went a long, long way, and gave me room to grow it into a full-length novel.

Last but most definitely not least, to Liz Pelletier. When I met you at RT 2013, your comment to me was, “Someday…” I’m proud to say that someday is now and If You Dare is my maiden voyage at Entangled! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your editorial comments and your pinpoint honesty.

About the Author

A former job-hopper, Jessica Lemmon resides in Ohio with her husband and rescue dog. She holds a degree in graphic design currently gathering dust in an impressive frame. When she’s not writing super-sexy heroes, she can be found cooking, drawing, drinking coffee (okay, wine), and eating potato chips. She firmly believes God gifts us with talents for a purpose, and with His help, you can create the life you want.