The Wharf Read Free

damned.”
    Kacie Manning’s eyelids drooped and her body went limp again. He swept her up in his arms and carried her to a chaise longue. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.”
    He dashed into the gym next door and grabbed his bottle of water from the floor next to the fly machine. By the time he’d returned, Kacie had opened her eyes, but they still hadn’t lost their glassy look.
    He held the bottle to her dry lips. “Drink this.”
    She parted her lips and he tipped the water into her mouth. She sputtered and coughed, then chugged half the bottle.
    He poured some of the water into his cupped hand and splashed her face. She blinked a pair of impossibly long lashes and sniffled.
    “Sorry, but you need to cool down.”
    “I—I’m okay.” She reached for the bottle and downed the rest of the water.
    “How long were you in there?”
    “I have no idea. Was it locked from the outside? Why didn’t it open?”
    He held up a finger. “Hold on.”
    He grabbed the empty bottle, filled it up from the water dispenser in the gym and swung by the sauna to pluck the pool net from the tiled floor.
    He sat in the chair next to Kacie’s chaise and handed her the bottle. “More.”
    While she wrapped her lips around the bottle, he held up the pool net by its long handle. “This was shoved across the doors.”
    “What?” She dropped the bottle onto the tile, where it spun, its mouth ending up pointing his way.
    “I was working out in the gym. I just sat down on the fly machine and noticed the handle of the net wedged between the door handles of the sauna. I didn’t know if it was a joke or what, but it looked dangerous.”
    “Someone shoved that across the handles while I was in there.” She dabbed wet fingers across her forehead. “But it was no joke. I was getting weak and dehydrated.”
    “Was there anyone out here when you went into the sauna?” Her flushed red cheeks and bright eyes made her look younger than her picture.
    “There were some teenage boys horsing around in the hot tub when I first came down, but they’d left by the time I hit the sauna.”
    “They could’ve come back.”
    Her eyes darkened to rich chocolate and her nostrils flared. “Maybe. I’m reporting it to the hotel.”
    “Of course.”
    It seemed ridiculous to introduce himself now after he’d held her half-naked body in his arms, but protocol demanded it if they were going to work together. He cleared his throat and thrust out his hand. “I suppose we should start from the top with a more formal introduction. I’m Ryan Brody. It’s nice to finally meet you in person, Ms. Manning, even though the circumstances could’ve been better.”
    “Kacie Manning.” She gripped his hand in a firm shake and then her face reddened even more as she glanced down at her wet bikini, plastered to her body and covering just the bare essentials.
    Dropping his hand as if he had the cooties, she jerked upright and swung her legs from the chaise.
    He hunched forward in his chair, ready to catch her in case she toppled over. “Whoa. You shouldn’t be making any sudden moves. Do you want more water?”
    “I want,” she said, her gaze darting across the pool, “my robe.”
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea yet.” He swirled his finger in the air. “You want to give your skin plenty of ventilation.”
    It sounded good, anyway. Truth was, he didn’t want her covering up that beautiful body just yet. The small triangles covering her breasts and nestled between her legs left the rest of her curves on stunning display. The photo on her book cover of her in a blouse and jacket hadn’t done her justice. She’d probably sell even more books if she posed in this bikini.
    Good thing she couldn’t read his male-chauvinist thoughts. His earnest look must’ve won out over his lustful one because she collapsed against the chaise longue, crossing her legs primly at the ankles.
    “You’re right.” She pressed the back of her hand to her cheek. “But I