Spicy (Palate #1) by Octavia Wildwood Page B

isn’t it?”
    “ I don’t know that I’ve shunned relationships,” I protested somewhat uncertainly.
    “But you’re suspicious now…guarded …closed off.  I’m right, aren’t I?”
    “ I have to be more selective about who I date now that I have Joel to consider,” I insisted.
    “Being selective about who you date and not dating are two different things,” Gavin pointed out.  Infuriatingly, he was right.  I hated when that happened.  “Do you at least have one night stands?” he asked with a wink that was intended to make me blush.  It accomplished its mission.
    “I don’t see how that’s any of your business!” I exclaimed, my cheeks burning hotly. 
    Gavin laughed.  “I’m guessing that’s a no?”
    “It’s a no.  I mean, there may have been some drunken fooling around at frat parties and stuff back before the professor came into the picture.  But nothing too crazy,” I replied with a touch of nostalgia in my voice.  “Just regular college stuff.”
    “Do you miss it?”
    “What, the partying?  No.  I think I’m past that stage of my life.  But I do miss the spontaneity.  I took it for granted back then.  I could do what I wanted when I wanted, usually without much regard for the consequences – I suppose that’s how I ended up getting pregnant,” I said wryly.  “But I don’t exactly get to be spontaneous anymore.”
    Gavin took my hand then and pulled me in the opposite direction.  “Come with me.”
    “Where are we going?” I protested, momentarily resisting.  “My apartment is the other way.”
    “Just trust me .”
     

Chapter 12
    Hand-in-hand, Gavin and I walked down the residential street.  I watched him as he looked around, surveying the area.  After a while I started to suspect he didn’t have any particular destination in mind; our route seemed too haphazard and impulsive for that.
    But then, just as I was about to call him out, Gavin appeared to spot what he was looking for.
    “You know the nicest thing about living in California?” he asked conversationally.
    “The weather…?” I wagered.
    “Good guess, but not quite.  The best thing is that you can find a yard with a swimming pool in almost any neighborhood.  See?   I bet there’s one back there.”  He pointed at a darkened house with a high fence at the end of the street.  Then he pulled on my hand.  “Come on.”
    “Gavin, what are you doing?” I hissed as he decisively marched me up the front walk.  “Do you even know the people who live here?”
    “Nope, but I can see they’re not home,” he informed me cheerfully.  “Look at that:  overflowing mailbox, no car in the driveway and no lights on inside.  I’d say there’s a pretty good chance we have the place to ourselves.  And I don’t know about you, but I could go for a midnight swim.”
    “We can’t go over the fence!” I argued as we approached it.
    “You’re right,” Gavin agreed with a grin.  He reached over the top of the gate and undid the latch on the other side.  “Why climb over when we can walk through?  After you, Ms. Sinclair,” he said, dramatically stepping aside so I could enter.
    Something about Gavin’s playful insistence made me comply.  I walked into the backyard which, sure enough, did boast a swimming pool.  He shut the gate behind us.  Then I turned around and saw he’d already removed his shirt.  The sight of those smooth muscles rippling in the moonlight rendered me momentarily speechless.  Gavin was gorgeous.
    “Skinny dipping is sort of like sex,” he announced with a smile when he saw me just standing there staring.  “It’s much more fun to do it with someone than by yourself.”  He looked at me pointedly and then motioned for me to undress.  “You’re not going to make me do it alone, are you Mina?”
    Immediately, I reddened. 
    I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d skinny dipped.  I’d probably been a teenager.  I was about to tell him he was