Pool Boys Read Online Free Page A

a wave of nostalgia overcame her, and she almost burst into tears. That deodorant was just so last summer. As ludicrous as it was, it conjured up a swirl of fleeting images: their many games (his losses), their long walks around the grounds…their kisses.
    All at once, Georgia was remembering their first kiss from the summer before. It had been late afternoon, all dappled sunlight, and warm wind. They’d been flirting steadily, volleying compliments back and forth over thetennis net, for a month then. That afternoon, after a tough game, they were heading back to the cabana to change. Georgia had never noticed how amazing Ethan’s body was. She’d seen him with his shirt off before, but this time she found it hard not to stare. His muscles were defined in all the right places; his skin was tan and smooth. Their bare arms kept brushing together.
    Right outside the cabana they bumped into each other. They’d laughed awkwardly, and Ethan had said, “After you,” and Georgia had said, “No, after you,” and their eyes met, and the next thing she knew, he’d leaned in and kissed her on the lips, ever so gently. It’s not allowed , Georgia thought weakly. But all notions of rules flew out of Georgia’s head as she felt his warm, soft lips move against hers, and she tasted his sweet tongue in her mouth.
    Before she knew what she was doing, her arms were wrapping tight around Ethan’s waist and she was drawing him even closer, their bodies pressing together. As their kissing deepened, they moved farther into the cabana, and Ethan backed Georgia up against the wall, right next to where the monogrammed pool robes hung. There’s no going back now. The phrase echoed in Georgia’s head as she felt Ethan’s lips slide down her neck, and his hands grip her hips. Her skin flushed hot, so hot she thought they might both catch fire. Ethan pulled back to look at her, catching his breath, and his eyes were bright and hopeful. By way of answering his unspoken question, Georgia reached over, took his head in her hands, and kissed him again, relishing the feel of his curls beneath her fingers, his stubblescratching her chin, and yes, the scent of that stupid deodorant…
    Jesus.
    Now, Georgia gripped her racket and fought to compose herself. Her skin felt as flushed as it had that long-ago day in the cabana, and she wondered if it was possible to faint from the heat. Where had she learned that the sense of smell was the most powerful trigger for memories? She was pretty sure she once saw an E! True Hollywood Story about how an unstable celebrity went on a rampage after smelling her ex-husband’s aftershave on a pillow…
    “You’re not going to accuse me of being stoned, are you?” Ethan teased gently.
    “No—I just wasn’t expecting that,” she finally managed.
    “Don’t you see?” Ethan said. “It’ll be perfect if I take you to the ball, G. It’s the big summer event at Silver Oaks. Everybody will be there.”
    “Yeah, like I just said, I know what it is. Especially since, as you mentioned, at this particular Midsummer Ball, I’m supposed to be inducted as an official member of this club. So if you aren’t stoned, let me ask you something.” Georgia’s normally soft, shy voice picked up a few decibels. Her muscles tensed. She stared hard into Ethan’s wide brown eyes. “Don’t you think you might be putting your job as tennis pro in jeopardy? If we go on a date where everybody at this place is actually obligated to judge me—out in public—as opposed to judging us in secret, don’t you think that might be a risky call?”
    Ethan blinked at her.
    Georgia took a deep breath. Wow. She wasn’t quite sure where that little tirade had come from. It felt pretty good, though.
    “But it’s not a date,” he murmured.
    “What is it, then?”
    “We’d be going as friends. That’s the whole point. You’ll prove to your parents and everyone else that you can rise above the dumb Silver Oaks rules. You know, that