Pursuing Miss Introvert

Chapter 11. Trouble

The soft glow of the pool lights gave the atmosphere almost an ethereal feel, with the low R&B music in the background, she lay there in the water, eyes half-closed, calm, and relaxed; totally unaware that he was there.

Laurence felt the lump in his throat as he gazed at her beauty. Her skin glistened in moisture as the clear water kissed her bare shoulders and neck, like a young lover teasing her with playful kisses. Laurence knew he was invading her privacy, not by intention, but he couldn't bring himself to leave.

Not just yet.

When Amelia slowly flapped her arms back and forth to move forward, he almost lost it.

Her light mint one-piece swimsuit hugged her body like a glove, not too revealing, but enough to expose the swell of her breasts, the water sliding smoothly between her cleavage. Her legs, long and smooth, were kicking in and out of the water as her movements began to go faster, creating bubbles of water in her wake.

Laurence felt glued to the spot, his heart hammered in his chest he thought he might be having a heart attack. Slowly releasing his breath, he moved closer to the edge of the pool and waited for her to see him.

Good thing the guys went inside the house first to get food. He felt a sudden urge to protect her from other guys seeing her in her most exposed and vulnerable state. Not that her being vulnerable right now hid her oozing sensuality. He had a hard time breathing normally since he saw her in there.

She spotted him right away when she came out of the water.

Laurence.

To say she was surprised to see him there couldn't fully explain what she felt when their eyes met. She would've screamed if it was someone else, but there was something about his unwavering gaze that held her speechless at the moment.

Amelia blinked, unable to avert her eyes from him, as he was with her.

With him standing directly above the pool steps, Milly slowly walked out of the water, held tense by his eyes on her, but she couldn't find the right word to tell him off. Instead, arms extended to the railing, she climbed the steps until her feet hit the concrete edge of the pool, standing just a few short feet away from him.

Laurence took the first step towards her, trying to gauge her reaction to him seeing her exposed that way. There was a look of wariness to her, but she held her ground as he stepped closer.

"Go, quick."

He said, in low voice.

"The guys will be here any minute now."

Laurence handed her the bathrobe and walked back to the direction of the house silently.

Only when Laurence's back disappeared in the dark did Milly make a run to the pool house. She had her change of clothes there and knowing the guys were inside, the safest way to go back in was her fully clothed.

Scrambling to get her stuff inside the canvass bag she used, Milly took less than a minute to grab everything and walked as calmly as she could back to the house. She figured the side door to the study might be the safest way, if the guys were in the kitchen. Otherwise, she could stay in the study for a while until they all go out to the pool house. That was what Laurence meant, right? Milly let out a soft sigh and twisted the door knob to the study room.

Twenty minutes later, Amelia sat by her bedroom window, overlooking the back garden and her shed from afar, sipping a warm tea. She still hadn't decided what to do with Laurence yet, and him showing up tonight hadn't helped with her dilemma at all.

Laurence leaned against the big maple tree overlooking the river. He'd been there for more than an hour, and no sign of Amelia still. He didn't know what he exactly expected, maybe he hoped she would show up, although deep inside he knew he shouldn't. But here he was.

Checking his watch one more time, he let out a sigh and turned around. He knew she wasn't ready, and if he was perfectly honest with himself, he didn't know if she felt anything towards him at all.

He rounded the corner towards the oval, and there she was, standing still under the dim-lit lamp post. Laurence stopped short.

"Hi."

He said softly.

"Hi."

She looked small against the towering streetlight behind her.

Laurence cleared his throat and stepped a few feet closer. Within arm's length from each other now, he could see the wary expression on her face. That made him nervous. She wasn't there to respond to his confession. He nodded in understanding before she even had the chance to tell him.

"I figured you weren't coming."

He admitted, focusing on every expression on her face.

Amelia let out a sigh and offered him a small smile.

"I just..."

She was nervous too, Laurence thought, by the way she would twist her fingers unconsciously.

He remained silent, giving her time to express what she wanted to say.

"I don't know what we have, Laurence."

She spoke softly, honest.

"I just...I need time to process all of this...I-"

Milly looked up at him, unsure of what he was thinking.

His silence wasn't helping her at all.

"I haven't been in a relationship before and I'm confused."

She continued.

"You confuse me the most."

Laurence had to smile at that.

"Is confusing you a good thing, or a bad thing?"

He teased.

She didn't expect him to say that and her face told him she was confused even more.

Laurence smiled at her and moved just a tad closer.

Milly raised her head and stared at him, both aware of his every move, but still wary of his closeness.

"I'm not rushing you, Mil."

He uttered softly, just for her to hear.

"Of course, that doesn't mean I won't pursue you every chance I get."

Her brows furrowed, and her lips parted but she didn't say anything.

"Can I add you on i-chat?"

He asked, abruptly changing the topic.

"What?"

Milly asked, still not used to how quickly he could change the mood without trying hard.

"I said, can I add you on i-chat?"

He looked amused at how slow her comprehension was.

He was teasing her yet again, and that pisses her off every time.

Amelia rolled her eyes at him, but he just smiled sweetly, unbothered and cool. Unable to think of any excuse, she averted her gaze but still pulled out her phone and showed him her user name.

"Perfect."

He quipped, a small smile playing on his lips.

"I see you're rather enjoying this."

Milly said sarcastically.

Laurence's expression turned somber, she thought she offended him.

"I enjoy you more."

His voice dropped lower, hoarse, hinting a sensual meaning. Amelia immediately felt the air around them switched to a different atmosphere. She suddenly felt hot and tingly, his eyes, hooded beneath the cap he was wearing observed her intently. She had to get out of there before she embarrassed herself.

Milly turned around and walked away in haste, eager to put distance between them.

How could he affect her that way? She wondered. How could he easily change her mood at will, it makes her terrified of what he could possibly do, or make her do if she allowed him completely in her life.

Laurence, as handsome and charming as he was, could be the trouble she always tried to avoid.

Trouble.

Every time he was near her he would mess up her feelings and that scared her the most.

He always looked so laid-back and collected, but from the moments they both shared in a short while, Amelia knew, she couldn't contain him if he got closer than arm's length. And that scared her a lot.

Laurence walked as silently as possible, maintaining a safe distance from her. It was almost seven in the evening, and the streets could be dangerous for a girl at any time of the day, more so at night. Hands in his pocket, he matched her pace.