All morning he hadn’t thought much. At 5:15 that morning, his alarm had gone off. He arrived at work a few minutes before 6:00. He sat on the lifeguard stand and watched lap swimmers then the water aerobics class.

He rested in the backroom when he wasn’t on the stand.

Such were his Tuesday and Thursday mornings through most of the year. He didn’t have to think about it. His body knew what to do. Nothing ever went wrong. It was easy.

Except when Jules was there.

Jules always showed up around 8 am, looked at the schedule and checked attendance at the morning classes. Ben knew that she would stand at the front counter for a few minutes before dropping her bags on the floor in her office, stripping down into her swimsuit, and then walking confidently across the tile floor while adjusting her goggles. Then she would dive into the clear blue water, with practically no splash, and she would glide like an underwater angel before starting her nice clean stroke through the water for her morning swim.

Ben didn’t think that morning when his body moved forward, approaching her from behind as she examined the paperwork at the counter.

He felt like he was watching his own body, as it moved closer, his arms reaching out to touch her. She hadn’t noticed his presence yet, and his fingers were tingling in anticipation of touching her waist.

Before he knew it, his skin was touching hers. He slid his hands under her shirt tail, and felt her skin for the swimsuit he was sure would be there.

But he only felt smooth, welcoming skin.

For a moment, he thought she might like his hands on her.

He leaned into her, so that his chest gently rested on her back, and he whispered hotly into her ear, “Are you wearing your swimsuit?”