They walked through the woods-around picnic tables and kids playing-to the sand at the lake's edge. Someone in their group had arrived early, because they had claimed the closest two tables to the beach. Marco dropped their stuff on a bench.

Alyssa waved to some folks out in the water, then grinned up at him. "Remember that time Brady cried when a school of fish swam around him?"

"I can't believe you remember that. That was even before..." Your mom died, he finished in his head, not wanting to remind her of that time so baldly. "And, anyway, I can hear him right now denying it."

She chuckled. "Yeah, but he totally did."

"Yeah. He did. I guess everyone is afraid of something. Not much else scares your brother."

Alyssa's good humor slid off her face and she edged closer to him. "He's not reckless, though. Right?"

Marco saw the pleading in her gaze and answered honestly. "Never." He kissed her forehead and resisted pulling her into his arms. "Don't you worry about him. If anyone can take care of himself, it's Brady Scott."

"Thanks." Releasing a breath, Alyssa retrieved her bag. "Come on, let's catch up with the others."

Marco followed her across the sand. Several of the other waitresses were sunbathing. He exchanged hellos and realized he didn't even know some of their names. Tommy sat on a towel in his usual gear, clearly not intending to swim but at least here with the rest. Eric and two waiters waded into the lake.

"Want to swim?" he asked Alyssa.

"Not yet. That water's probably freezing. I need to get hotter first." She pulled a towel out of the bag.

A choice response or two flitted through Marco's brain before one of the women responded.

"It is freezing," Tori said. "No way I'm getting in there." Marco knew her name because she'd made sure he knew it. That was before she'd realized he wasn't buying what she was selling.

Alyssa spread out their towels down by Tommy, giving Tori a wide berth, he noted. Marco sat beside her and kicked off his sneakers.

"So, I hear you're really good on guitar," Alyssa said.

Tommy looked at her over the top of his round black sunglasses. "I enjoy playing."

She grinned, and Marco wanted to tell him he was already a goner and just didn't know it. "I'm glad to hear you say that. I brought the new guitar my brother just bought me for my birthday, and I was hoping you'd play."

An eyebrow went up. "You play, then?"

"Not as good as you, from what I've heard. So will you?"

He pursed his lips and the breeze caught his long hair. "Why not? After lunch okay?"

"Yes, of course. That's awesome. Okay, then. Sun, swim, food, music." She whipped off her T-shirt and settled back against the towel.

"Got it all figured out, huh?" the other man said, amusement coloring his voice.

She smiled, her eyes already closed. "Yup."

Marco reclined onto his elbows but was too wide-awake to consider laying back and closing his eyes. Besides, this way he could watch over Alyssa and silently warn off the brigade of assholes likely to drool in her vicinity.

Suck it up, Vieri.

Over the next half hour or so, he chatted with the others, enough to be social but not enough to get bogged down in inane conversation about which he didn't really care. Eric and the others joined them on the beach, adding their towels to the group so they formed a big circle. That Alyssa was being so quiet was unusual, and it clearly meant she'd fallen asleep. Once again, that got Marco's gut turning on what was causing her problems at night. Those shadows under her eyes were darker yet again, despite the fact that her mood was so bright.

Alyssa stretched beside him. "It's hot."

Marco chuckled. "I might know a way to fix that."

She sat up, her gaze searching for the others. About half the group had moved up to the picnic tables, where Eric and Van were heating up the grill. She stood and undid her shorts, then pushed them to the ground. With her toes, she kicked the denim to the edge of her towel. "You coming?"

Marco struggled to swallow. Jesus, she really didn't know what she did to him, did she? He damn well hoped that water was freezing. "Yeah. Be right there."

He pulled off his T-shirt and followed her to the water's edge. The view of her backside was just as good as the front. He fisted his hands against the sudden urge to feel the curve of her hips in his hands.

"I'm not going to test it. I'm just going in," she said, looking less certain than she sounded.

Marco walked ahead of her, entering the water at a steady pace. Good God. It was ball-shriveling cold. He turned and smiled at Alyssa. "It's actually pretty warm. Come on in. You'll like it." He kept the grin plastered on his face, the blazing sun his only saving grace.

"Really?" she asked.

Marco waved her in.

Alyssa darted into the water, up to her knees, then her thighs. Her mouth and eyes went wide and she screamed. "You are such a liar, Marco Vieri!"

Marco fought and lost the battle against his grin.

"Holy crap. It's like ice. You suck!"

She scooped her hands into the water and a shower of frigid water hit his front. Marco bit out a curse. Alyssa wore a satisfied smile and braced her hands on her hips.

He launched himself in her direction. She squealed and turned for the shore, but Marco was faster and easily caught her around the waist.

She gasped as he dragged her backward into deeper water, almost to the rope line. "Let me go," she said, laughing.

"Nope. You wanted the lake. I'm making sure you get the lake."

"It's too cold. Come on, Marco." She squirmed and pulled at his arms, giggles spilling out of her.

And damn if she wasn't rubbing all up against him as she fought. Good thing the water was too frickin' freezing for regular body function. But Marco's brain still operated enough to know just how good her body felt in his arms, pressed so tightly against his.

Suddenly the temperature of the water stopped mattering. Marco hardened slowly but surely. By the time they were up to her chest in the water, he was erect, and the sudden catch in her breath made it clear she felt it, too.

She moaned low in her throat. Under his arms, her breaths came faster, shallower. She reclined her head on his shoulder and whispered, "Let me turn around."