Ruby slung her beach bag over her shoulder and wandered down the paved pathway that led to her parents' backyard. A trio of butterflies floated past while trees and lush plants overflowed from raised garden beds, creating a shady oasis from the summer sun. She drew in a breath and let it out in a contented sigh. If it hadn't been for the two storey house looming over her, it would have felt like walking through a tropical rainforest.
She pushed open the side gate and stepped from the enclosed area into the open backyard. Late-afternoon sunshine bathed the in-ground swimming pool and gardens bordering the property in a warm glow. An expanse of decking accommodated a couple of wooden sun lounges at the water's edge. Ruby dropped her bag beside the nearest one and slipped off her sandals. She pulled her long black hair into a ponytail and secured it with the tie that she kept around her wrist.
Although she'd finished university and moved out of home almost twelve months ago, her new apartment block unfortunately lacked a pool. Since she'd grown up doing laps every day it turned out to be one of the many things she missed about not living here anymore.
She stripped off her t-shirt and dropped it onto the lounge, then shoved her shorts down and added them to the pile. Ruby wandered over to the pool in her bright red bikini, taking time at the edge to indulge in a long stretch.
Her parents weren't around at the moment and wouldn't be back for months yet. With both of them having recently retired they'd finally gone on the eighteen-month-long trip around Australia that they'd been planning since Ruby and her older brother Scott were in high school. Scott had moved back home to take care of the house while they were away. Since his job as a cop had him working afternoon shifts this week and the next, Ruby knew she had the place to herself for a while.
Just as she let out a breath and prepared to dive in, the creak of the side gate sounded behind her.
"Hey, Ruby-Lou."
She didn't have to turn around to know who stood there. If his deep, husky voice hadn't been a dead giveaway, the fact that no one else ever called her by that name told her it was her brother's long-time best friend, Liam.
Ruby turned to face him. "Hey. What are you doing here?" Her heart thumped harder at the sight of him. She hid her reaction behind her usual smile and let her gaze slide over him.
His board shorts sat low on his hips and his grey tank top showcased a lean, muscled body. The dimple in his left cheek and his dirty blonde hair unfortunately only added to his charm. She wanted to sigh at the vision then slap herself for being so easily affected by him.
The way his sensual mouth kicked up at one corner made her feel as if he could hear her thoughts. "I'm staying in the spare room while my place is being painted," he said. "Should be gone by Monday."
"Really? Scott didn't say anything." Ruby had developed a crush on Liam back when she was seventeen, and although he'd never shown the slightest interest in her, she'd figured making a move on him would help open his eyes to her appeal. With the benefit of hindsight and a little maturity she could see now why that idea had been destined for failure.
Six years later her cheeks still grew hot at the memory of him laughing at her inexperienced attempts at seduction. It had been so awkward she would have laughed too if she hadn't been completely mortified.
Liam smiled as he walked over to her. "I guess he didn't feel the need to tell you since...you know...you don't live here anymore." His gaze dropped to her breasts for a fraction of a second as he bumped his shoulder against hers.
Ruby knew she was in trouble when just that brief flicker of interest could get her pulse racing. "I guess you're right," she said.
It amazed her that he had this power over her and had absolutely no idea—or at least appeared to be oblivious. Many times she'd silently admonished herself for being such a wimp about the whole situation. She should have been having fun trying to turn the tables on him but the embarrassment from the last time she'd tried was still too fresh in her memory.
"Here for a swim?" he asked.
"Yep." She adjusted the tie on her bikini top, not intentionally trying to draw his attention back there but it had that effect on him. "Feel like having your ass kicked over a few laps?"
Liam's gaze returned to hers. He let out an amused breath as if he knew he'd been caught looking. "Yeah, why not." He pulled his keys and wallet from his shorts and strolled over to her clothing to drop his belongings beside hers.
Once he'd kicked off his shoes, he grabbed the neckline of his tank top and tugged it over his head. He let it fall from his dangling fingertips then turned to face her. Ruby had to fight not to close her eyes and sigh. He was just too damn appealing.
Her dark eyes followed his movements as he walked back toward her. She took in the relaxed set of his shoulders, his easy gait, the smile that hovered at his mouth. She'd only had the opportunity to be alone with him for brief moments in the past because Scott had always been around. Ruby wasn't sure she could handle the temptation and the torture now she had him all to herself.
"Why the frown?" he asked, coming to a stop before her.
She tried her best to shake away the thoughts and rolled her shoulders. "Just mentally preparing for a win, that's all."
He flicked her ponytail, the gleam of amusement in his eyes telling her he knew there was something more to it than that. "Well, are you going to get in or just stand there all day posing?"
Ruby tried to glare at him but laughter bubbled up inside her. "There's only one poser here and we both know it's not me."
He grabbed her wrists and held them out to her sides. "Why were you doing that thing with your boobs then?" he asked.
The rising laughter burst from her in a surprised breath. "What thing?"
"Pushing them out to get my attention. You don't need to do that. Believe me, I already noticed."
She made a show of trying to tug her hands free, even though the sensation of his fingers tightening on her wrists made her skin tingle with awareness. "I don't need or want your attention," she said.
"Really?" His gaze wandered down her body. Ruby held her breath, her heart pounding at his blatant appraisal. She had to keep reminding herself he was only teasing and trying to make a point, but a shiver passed through her and her nipples hardened under the weight of his stare. When his blue eyes met hers again, her breath hitched and her cheeks flooded with heat. "Liar," he said, smiling. "You're still into me aren't you?"
She tried to laugh but it came out more like a choking sound. "No!" Could he see it on her face? She'd always tried to keep it her own little secret. Not even her closest friends knew the depth of her feelings for him.
He tugged her closer. "You can tell me the truth. I won't make a big deal out of it."
"It's been six years. How sad would it make me if I'd been carrying a torch for you all this time?"
