20. 20
It’s not easy buckling a seat belt when you’re as hard as Captain America’s Vibranium shield.
Cady, of course, looks as unruffled as a tube of Pringles, even though, not a moment before, she was thisclose to dry humping me.
At least I think she was. I would have been all for that.
And now she won’t even look at me. She sits back in her chair and buckles her seat belt, without even a hint of a smile on that perfect face, that perfect mouth that I now know what it tastes like.
I want more of her taste.
“Cady,” I finally say.
“Maximus.” She glances up, oh so casually, amber eyes darkening to the colour of a fine Scotch.
“What the hell was that?”
Finally, those lips curve into a smile. Not a smile—a smirk. “I thought you wanted to kiss me?”
“I did, but I didn’t expect…”
“Was it not to your liking?”
Was it not— “Get over here and ask me that,” I growl.
“The seat belt sign is still on,” she says pertly.
I laugh. I have to laugh or else I’m charging the four feet between us and yanking her out of that seat to kiss her again.
I could kiss her while she’s in the seat, but I want that body pressed up against me again. The feel of her thigh straddling me… “We’re going to have a good time this weekend,” I manage.
“Are we?”
“I’m going to damn well make sure of it,” I promise.
That’s when she finally meets my gaze and I can tell that kiss rocked her as much as it did me.
Cady is quiet as we deplane. The hot sun beats down on our bare heads as we cross the tarmac. Security in their black shirts stand watching us, each one bigger than the last.
I fight the urge to take her hand and content myself with carrying one of her bags. “Have you ever been here?” I ask.
She only shakes her head, gaze skating from one thing to another. It almost looks like she’s nervous.
That’s when I take her hand. “Everything okay?”
“Of course.”
She seems to have relaxed by the time the van pulls up in front of Sandflower Resort—Grace Bay. “This is yours?” she asks, studying the lemon-yellow buildings, the riot of pink and purple bougainvillea against the bright green rows of ficus.
The pool lies calm in the distance like the water is resting under the hot sun.
“It’s one of the properties the company owns,” I clarify.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a beautiful place. Wait until you see the beach. But first—” —I wave at Henri, the manager— “Let’s show you the condo.”
I haven’t been here in a few years and the company man in me scours the place for any issues on our way to the elevator, and then up to the fifth floor.
Cady waits behind me as I unlock the door. I don’t give a preamble as I push it open for her. “After you.”
I can’t see her face, but I know she’s impressed. It’s an impressive place.
“Holy shit, are you finally here?”
“Dude! It’s about time.”
Cady jumps back as Nick and Dexter erupt from where they’ve been lounging on the couches, bottles of beer in hand.
I forgot to mention to Cady that the boys are staying here, too.
And I forgot to tell them about Cady. “Whoa…” Dexter halts in place when he catches sight of Cady, but Nick keeps coming.
“What do we have here?” If Nick was a dog, he’d be sniffing Cady’s ass. She looks as disgusted as if he actually tried it. “Bring us a treat, did you?”
“A treat?” Acid drips from Cady’s tongue.
“Nick,” I manage. “Cady, let me—”
“You brought me here as a treat? Is that the favour you want? That you think I’ll go along with a four-way with the three of you?”
Silence greets her words. Does she actually—? “What? No! Oh, god, no!”
“That sounds like a pretty good idea, actually,” Nick says, leering at Cady.
“Nick, shutthefuckup.” I turn to Cady, holding out my hands. “Cady, look, this is my friend Nick, being an asshole, and that’s Dexter. They’re both staying here in their own rooms, and no one is expecting anything from you. Just want you to have a good time.”
“Hey.” Dexter nervously waves from a distance.
“Hel-lo.” Nick watches Cady appreciatively. “Apologies for offending, but I can’t see how—”
I hold up a hand to his face. “Guys, this is Cady. She’s doing me a huge favour letting me drag her to this thing.”
“The thing being the wedding?” Dexter wants to know. “You brought a date?”
“I—” Cady still looks stormy and I swallow. “I guess I did.”
“Might have been nice to mention that fact,” Nick mutters.
“It was very last minute,” I tell him.
“All cool,” peacemaker Dexter says. “It’s great to meet you.” He steps forward, hand outstretched and a cheerful smile on his face. Cady’s shoulders relax and I heave a deep breath.
That did not go as planned. I make a mental note to text Marcus that I’m now a plus-one for the wedding.
“Yeah,” Nick says, still caught in a stare-down with Cady. If he doesn’t stop soon, I can’t see him making it out alive. “Just give us a heads-up next time you spring a lady on us. And dude, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but two rooms?”
“What are you talking about?” I leave Cady’s side and step away from the door. The hallway leads to the kitchen, and into the living room, both done in off-white and tranquil blue. The master bedroom is off the living room, with a private balcony, and the other two rooms are here—
One room. There are two doors, and I know one is the storage closet.
This condo has only two bedrooms for four people. And one of those people doesn’t want to be anywhere close to me right now.
“My fucking father,” I mutter.