Wet (The Water's Edge #1) (19 page)

My blood boiled, but I bit my tongue and waited, curious what this was all about.

“Those photos of Aubrey came out really nice,” another one said, elbowing the other girl in the side.

Aubrey smiled. “Of course they did. She might be rather plain-looking herself, but she knows how to capture real beauty with a camera. It’s truly a gift. And I told her I’d help spread the word so she could expand her business. I’m sure she’d like to have a real job by now, instead of just playing lifeguard at her age. You ladies will help me with that, won’t you?”

Reaching out, she patted my arm. “Good to see you again, Sadie.” As she pulled her arm back, she rubbed her fingers together like I’d soiled her. Slipping her sunglasses back on, she sailed past without waiting for a response, her friends following dutifully in her wake.

I stood there, dumbfounded.

What. A. Bitch.

She’d just insulted me to my face. Yeah, she sort of wrapped it in a compliment, but,
damn
. And I hadn’t even tried to speak up for myself, which pissed me off just as much. Not that there was anything I could say with the way she worded it without sounding ungrateful. Plus, she was a hotel guest, and I was an employee. I was here to serve her weasily little ass. I forced my fingers to relax from the tight fists I had made and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. She wanted to get a rise out of me, and I didn’t plan on giving her the satisfaction.

Aubrey could go to hell. And if West wanted me, he could have me, regardless of his status with Aubrey. It would serve her right either way. Pushing her from my mind, I dumped my trash and got back to work, spending the rest of the afternoon being the bad guy to a bunch of kids intent on playing water volleyball without a net.

By the time my last break of the day rolled around, Chelsea had reappeared and was once again fixated on all things Theo. I rested my elbows on the counter, watching Theo make me yet another lemonade. Chelsea eyed me and then turned back to Theo, reaching out to touch his hand. “Doesn’t this place close soon, baby?”

Theo shot me a desperate look. “Yeah, but—”

“But we have plans,” I interrupted, adjusting my bikini straps and batting my eyes at Theo. “Don’t we, baby?” I mimicked Chelsea’s tone on the last word. She scowled at me.

“Right! So, as much as I’d like to, I can’t hang with you tonight.” Theo tried to let her down easy.

I was annoyed. It had been a freaking long day, and she wasn’t one for subtlety. He’d ignored her most of the day, giving her one-word answers to her questions, and she seemed oblivious to all the times he and I had flirted and touched. Chelsea was alone in her own little Theo bubble, and he needed to pop it, stat. From what I had gathered during my breaks, she had about as much substance as her fake boobs, and he was going to have to spell it out for her, or this would never end.

“Where are y’all going?” she purred, leaning forward so most of her chest spilled out of her bikini top.

I shook my head at him, trying to warn him off, but he answered, “The Wreck,” before I could stop him. Fuck! I hadn’t told him I was planning to go to the Wreck tonight to meet West, and I didn’t want him showing up there too. This day just kept getting better.

“Where’s that?” Chelsea asked, looking puzzled.

“It’s kind of a far drive,” I interrupted, shooting Theo a hard look. “Back roads with no names, things like that.”

He finally seemed to pick up on my clues. “Yeah, it’s just this hole in the wall. Not your style at all.”

She looked thrilled that Theo knew
her style
. I wanted to bang my head on the countertop. Taking my lemonade from him, I headed back to my lifeguard stand. “See you in an hour, honey!” I called back over my shoulder, blowing him a kiss for good measure. He so owed me.

By the time I dropped Theo back at Starbucks and got home after work, it was six-thirty. Taking a quick shower, I debated the wisdom of even meeting West. My gut warned me that he wasn’t going to be easy to forget when this was over, regardless of his baggage with Aubrey. Should I risk it? Maybe I was better off just sticking with tourists for the summer, like Rue did. But then I looked at my bed and remembered our night together. Who wouldn’t want more of that?

Besides, it would be rude to cancel at the last minute.

Ugh. I wasn’t normally like this. Indecisive. Unsure. Questioning my own motives. West just stirred me up inside, like shaking a soda bottle and opening it up too soon. I was a soggy mess, and it was all his fault.

Wishing I had time to do my hair and makeup up right, I ended up going super casual, knowing I was already running late. It was better this way, anyway. I didn’t want to seem desperate. After throwing on a skinny olive green tank, an oversized white v-neck t-shirt that fell off one shoulder, cutoffs, and leather flip flops, I sprayed my hair with a massive amount of my favorite sea spray and hoped it didn’t look horrible when I arrived. I swiped on a quick coat of mascara, grabbed my bag, and ran out the door.

The clock on the dash read seven twenty-six as I pulled into the Wreck’s parking lot. I glanced in my rearview mirror and cringed. Yeah, my hair had seen better days. Sighing, I twisted it up into a loose bun, so at least the mess would look like it was on purpose.

When I walked in, I spotted West immediately. He was sitting at one of the picnic tables between the door and the pool tables, a small mountain of peanut shells in front of him. He looked up as I slid onto the bench across from him.

He looked at his watch. “I was starting to think you weren’t gonna show.”

“I thought about it.”

His eyes roamed my face. “I’m glad you did.”

I shrugged. I still wasn’t sure if this whole thing was a smart idea. But West looked good tonight, relaxed in a faded tee and dark jeans, his nose a little sunburned.

He stood and gestured toward the bar. “Can I get you something to drink?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t come here for drinks. This isn’t a date.”

West looked wounded. “Why did you come then?”

“I’m … not sure. Why did you leave the note? I figured I wouldn’t hear from you again after our… one-night stand.” My voice trailed off at the end to an embarrassed whisper.

“Who said anything about a one-night stand?” He growled.

I scrunched my eyebrows, confused. What would he have called it? I picked a peanut from the bucket and cracked it open to give my hands something to do. “I just didn’t expect to hear from you again, that’s all.”

Didn’t expect to, but had crossed my fingers and toes and wished on a star for good measure. Until Aubrey had ruined my fantasy.

“So, you were just using me?” He sounded amused by the idea.

I almost choked on my peanut. “Not any more than you were using me!”

His eyes darkened, the gray more prevalent than the blue. “I’d like to use you again.” His eyes dropped to my lips. “And again and again.”

I forgot to breathe for a long moment, the look in his eyes so similar to the way they’d looked the other night. But I reminded myself who I was dealing with — and Theo’s warning — and steeled my resolve. I cocked my head at him and pretended to consider his offer. “You got any tricks left up your sleeve?”

“Not my sleeve. Lower.” He gave a wicked grin. “Go out with me this weekend.”

I was annoyed that he didn’t make it a question. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. What about Aubrey?”

“You want her to come too?”

“No!”

He smirked. “But you do want to go.”

Again, it wasn’t a request. “You seem like trouble,” I told him. “Maybe more trouble than you’re worth. I’m just looking to chill and have fun this summer.”

“I’m fun,” he countered. “Let me prove it to you. This weekend.”

“You could try asking, you know.” I was exasperated.

“I am.”

“No. You’re telling me. I don’t like to be told what to do.”

He leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest. “How ’bout this? We play for it. If I win, I get to take you out this weekend. If I lose, I can just be your back-up booty call, and we’ll leave it at that.”

I copied his stance. “What game?”

“Lady’s choice.”

I sucked at pool. “How are you at air hockey?”

“Hopefully better than you.”

“Doubt it.” Losing to Boone the other day had been a fluke. I had mad air hockey skills. “And I’ll take that drink now.”

“What can I get you?”

So he did know what a question was. “Rum and coke… and cherries.”

He groaned and looked at my mouth before standing up. “Be right back.”

While West was at the bar getting our drinks, Theo showed up and made a beeline for me.

“You came! I wasn’t sure if you would.” He plopped down next to me and grabbed a handful of peanuts.

“I came to meet West, not you.” I pointed to the bar.

Theo did a quick scan of the room. “That’s fine, I don’t see Chelsea anyway.” He cracked a peanut and popped it in his mouth. “So, you and West? Things are over for sure between him and Aubrey?”

“Either that or he’s blatantly cheating on her with me. I’m not sure I care if he is. Aubrey’s a piece of—”

“Shit,” Theo finished for me. “And West wouldn’t cheat.”

“How do you know?”

“West doesn’t do girlfriends. Can’t cheat if you’re not together.”

Before I could reply, West returned and handed me my drink.

“Theo. What’s up, man?” West and Theo bumped fists.

“Not much. Listen, if this redheaded chick shows up later, I might have to borrow Sadie.”

“As long as you give her back at the end of the night.” West took a drink from his longneck.

I glared at both of them. “I’m not a library book! You can’t just pass me around.”

West cocked an eyebrow. “No? ’Cause there sure are a lot of guys here checking you out.”

“Did you steal that off one of the dollar bills? That was bad, man.” Theo shook his head.

“It wasn’t that bad. It was funny.”

“It was
that
bad,” I confirmed. I picked up the stem of one of the maraschino cherries and put the fruit in my mouth, tugging on the stem until it broke free.

West paused in the act of lifting his beer again. “If they weren’t watching before, they sure as hell are now.”

I flushed and took a quick peek around. There were a few guys looking my way.

“We’re up next.” West nodded toward the air hockey table.

“Any stakes?” Theo asked.

“She has to go out with me if I win.” West smiled.

“And if you lose?”

“I won’t lose.”

“You sure?” I appreciated Theo having faith in me at least.

“Yeah. Sadie doesn’t really
want
to win this one.” West winked, infuriating me.

Oh, hell no. He did not just challenge me like that. “You don’t think I can beat you?”

“I didn’t say you couldn’t. I’m saying you won’t.”

“Finish your beer, West. I’m taking you down.”

“Oh yeah? Right here?” West’s arm swept across the table, clearing it of peanut shells. “I’m not usually one for exhibitionism, but I’m willing to try anything once.” He patted the picnic table.

“Not here,” I said. “On the air hockey table.”

“I can work with that too. It’s just about the right height, if I took you and laid you back, for me to—”

“I think I’ll leave you two alone,” Theo cut in, hopping to his feet.

I couldn’t look at him as he left. West took one last swallow and set his bottle down. “Ready when you are.”

I picked up my other cherry and looked right at West. I put it into my mouth and pulled it back out, licking off the rum and Coke. Lifting the cherry high, I extended my tongue and sucked the cherry back in, twirling the stem a few times before popping it off. When I finished, I licked my lips. “Sure you’re ready?”

He cursed under his breath and glanced at his lap. “Well, if I wasn’t before, I damn sure am now. Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll be there in a minute.”

Smiling victoriously, I sauntered over to the air hockey table, picking the same side I had played on last time. Sliding the puck across the table, I got a feel for how much resistance there was. I’d bent over to retrieve it when I sensed West lean over behind me, pressing his chest to my back, and letting me feel his hard length against my ass.

“Sure you don’t just want to forfeit?” he whispered against my ear.

I was not going to fall all over his feet like every other girl did. If he wanted me, he was going to have to work for it.

I pushed against him as I stood up. “I’m sure. I got this.”

He stayed plastered to my back. “I have no problem with the woman coming out on top, just so you know.” He squeezed my hip before moving around to the opposite side of the table and gripped the other mallet. “Game on, Sadie.”

I hit the puck with a sharp snap, bouncing it off the side and toward his goal. With a lightning fast flick of his wrist, he slammed it back my direction, straight into my goal. He glanced up from the table, a smirk on his face. “I think I just scored.”

Taking a deep breath, I placed the puck on the table and decided this was serious. My pride was at stake, if nothing else. I narrowed my eyes and sent the puck flying his way.