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‘I know one more thing about you,’ he said.
She jerked up, instantly on the defence. ‘What, that I’m a slut?’
He laughed, kissing her frown. ‘No, definitely not that. I was going to say impatient.’
All the blood had rushed to her head anyway, so the blush came swift. She was getting paranoia around this man. ‘Waiting isn’t one of my best qualities.’
She didn’t think she’d ever get used to his smile. It was so far from mopey that she wondered if Elle had been exaggerating.
‘Round two we’re doing my way,’ he insisted.
Since the mad rush to rip off his clothes and have him any which way had ebbed, she could allow him that. ‘Deal.’
***
It took her a while the next day for all the details of the night before to come back. She remembered the movie, then the party and shit, they’d been bloody arrested! She sat up so fast she swayed a little. When the room stopped tilting, she looked down at herself. Her very, very naked self.
Fuckity fuck.
The rest of the night, and the early hours, came back in a startlingly erotic and overly sensory flash, making her blush. What had she been thinking? Jumping into bed with Elle’s cousin was like a normal, more put together person jumping into bed with her best friend’s brother. She couldn’t start anything with him, she’d never been able to hold down a boyfriend before and her ma was exactly the same.
The saving grace was that Zack wasn’t here. He obviously wasn’t making a big deal out of it – just a night of fun with one of his cousin’s friends. The relief lasted about five seconds before the slice of pain to kick in. Despite knowing last night shouldn’t have happened, she was pissed off that he could just drop her like a cheap hooker.
Gem could add him to another dick list – the fuck ’em and leave ’em one.
Ciara got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She braved glancing in the mirror. It wasn’t pretty. Her make-up was a streaky, dried sweaty mess and her hair would be better suited to a scarecrow. No wonder he’d left!
By the time she looked more human and was ready to go to the kitchen in search of coffee, the smell of steamy, ground bean goodness registered before Zack did. He brought in a tray topped with two cups of black and a little jug of cream and sugar. She couldn’t be bothered dressing it up, instead took a huge gulp and ignored the burn in her mouth/throat.
‘I doubt the others will surface for a while,’ he said, with an undertone that hinted at more mind blowing funny business.
Though happy he’d come back, and with coffee, she worried he might think there was more to last night than just… God, even she’d read into more. What was it about him that screwed with her head? She didn’t even know him!
‘Zack, about last night…’
His grin was just like it had been last night, or this morning, when she’d told him she didn’t scream ever during sex and he’d proved her wrong by going down on her for almost an hour until she felt raw and exposed and the orgasm was so intense she couldn’t not scream.
Ruthlessly, she pushed the memory away and pressed on, refusing to be distracted by the thrum in her blood that insisted she take him up on his offer. Right Now. ‘I’m not looking for a relationship, or to get involved with someone I know. I’m not a stayer.’
He just stared at her with amusement glittering in his eyes. That wasn’t the least bit insulting, she thought wryly.
‘So what I’m trying to say was that last night was a mistake. I’m sorry.’
‘You really believe that, don’t you?’ he asked, placing the tray down then putting her coffee on it. ‘You really think that last night was a one off.’
He grabbed her hips, pulling her closer and her heart took off full speed. ‘It was. It has to be.’ She tried to reply firmly.
His lips brushed her ear and she shivered. ‘You’re wrong. Last night wasn’t a mistake, and this isn’t over – it’s just on hold until you realise that.’
She was about to protest but he kissed her first and she was gone as thoroughly as she had been the night before.
He pulled away, far too soon. ‘When you figure it out, you have my number.’
Ciara watched him walk away, trying to fight with her body’s urge to chase him, her urge to chase him. She stumbled to the hall, but he was already out of sight. Before she could take off after him, Gem’s door opened.
Her friend looked scarier than she had. ‘Want to come in here? I have coffee.’
‘Gimme,’ Gem said, crossing the hall with her arms stretched out like a zombie.
She was thankful for the distraction and time she’d have to give herself a good mental talking to.
***
They spent their last full day at the pool topping up their tan, going over what the hell happened last night with Gem and eventually laughing a little about their run in with the law. It was so the Easter holidays all over again, except this time their lucky escape came quicker.
Though she knew being with Zack had bad idea written all over it, she couldn’t get him out of her head. When Gem asked what he was doing there anyway, her ears perked up waiting for Elle to answer.
‘Far as I know, he wants to do some freelance work as well as working on the company properties but I don’t know why he came here. It’s not like the buildings are his style. He prefers older, run down places with renovation potential,’ she said with a shrug.
‘Eh?’ Gem asked.
‘Oh, he went back to university to study architecture a few years ago. Zack doesn’t have what it takes to run the business.’ Elle laughed.
Ciara wanted to defend him, which was ridiculous. It had nothing to do with her, she had no clue why he’d switched to architecture – or whether he would have made a good CEO. She had no clue about him at all.
Except that he could reduce her to a screaming, begging, hussy who couldn’t get enough. But she doubted that little bit of info would be much of a defence for his business skills.
Then Zack appeared at the edge of the garden. He must have been jogging because he was shirtless and sweaty again. She had no idea where he got the energy but was sort of glad he had it, otherwise last night wouldn’t have been half as fun.
‘How are the heads today?’ he asked.
Elle answered, ‘Fine, darling cousin. Now run along.’
‘Thank you for last night,’ Gem said earnestly. ‘That was my fault completely.’
Zack grinned at her. ‘So I heard.’
Wasn’t he even going to acknowledge her? She tried not to show how miffed she was and picked up a magazine.
‘Any plans tonight?’ he asked, glancing in her direction and she made a point of lifting the magazine higher. ‘I’m not on call again, am I?’
‘No, Zack. You can run off and do what you like. We’re having dinner later then an early night. Our flight leaves first thing,’ Elle said.
‘Probably best you have a boring night. I think you’ve had enough excitement to last you a while,’ he quipped.
She ground her teeth and tried hard to ignore him. It was so obvious he was having a dig at her.
‘We’re saving our energy for Miami, right girls,’ Elle said.
We nodded.
‘And you’re not invited, by the way,’ she continued.
‘Since LA’s a bit further than an hour drive to Miami’s local police station, you better be careful,’ he said, then took off for the house. ‘Have fun.’
Elle rolled her eyes. ‘He’s so annoying, but he does have a point. We’ll need to dial down the crazy in Miami. There will be no one to bail us out.’
Gem and Elle kept talking but Ciara didn’t hear a word. She was too busy telling herself that one night with Zack was all she was allowed.
It was for the best.
Even she wasn’t convinced.
Miami (#ulink_96402483-b232-534f-9f19-894e55d1ab8b)
Chapter Four (#ulink_98f6eab2-47a6-5754-810a-09a143b0f652)
It didn’t take Ciara long to figure out why Elle had starved herself for days. On the way from Miami International Airport to yet another of the Muirs’ properties, she was treated to more styles of bikini than she’d ever seen.
And the women who wore them were thin and toned enough to be models.
The guys, on the other hand, were mostly huge, muscled up and tanned to the point she couldn’t tell what nationality they were. But they were very pretty to look at.
‘Tomorrow we’re hitting the beach,’ Gem said, her gaze glued to a group of guys that reminded Ciara of the rugby players back home, only less rough and more buff. ‘I’ve got rebounding to do.’
Ciara bit her lip to stop the giggle waiting to burst out. Elle wasn’t as subtle and her laugh had Gem whipping her head around.
‘What’s so funny?’ Gem demanded.
Elle pulled it together. ‘Come on, Gem. Hollywood megastar Aiden Price was never yours so you can’t rebound.’
Gem lifted her chin. ‘Rejection still hurts and what better way to get over him than with one of those guys.’
Elle smiled. ‘I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. I think a few nights with a guy like that would be fun. What do you think, Ciara?’
They both turned to her with scrutinising eyes. Her face flamed. She knew she should say yes, why not, let’s go grab one or something like that. But the words refused to come. Images of Zack flooded her mind instead. He wasn’t as ripped as those men on the beach, but he had definition that made her drool and she could still feel his skin under her finger tips just from remembering their night in LA.
‘I think she’d prefer someone a little darker haired. Maybe a man who likes to strip his shirt off and get all sweaty while pushing those thick, muscly thighs to the limit,’ Gem said with a sly grin.
The blood in Ciara’s cheeks burned so hot she was sure it would evaporate.
‘Who? Zack?’ Elle said, her mouth gaping. ‘Aw Ciara he’s… ewww.’
He was anything but, though she wasn’t about to tell his cousin just how hot and amazing in bed he was.
‘To you, maybe,’ Gem said. ‘But we don’t share his blood – thank God. We can perv all we like.’
Elle sighed. ‘You two have no taste.’
Actually, he was the most delicious thing Ciara had ever tasted. Again, not something she wanted to share with Elle. Despite what Zack said, their night together was a mistake – okay not quite. She’d wanted him more than she’d wanted anything and didn’t regret taking it. But it was definitely a one-time thing. There was no way she could start something with Zack when she couldn’t guarantee she’d be able to stick around, and with her track record and her ma’s, the odds weren’t good.
And to make sure she wouldn’t be tempted for a second round, she left his number in her room back in LA.
‘We’re here,’ Elle said as the taxi pulled into the grounds of a massive beach condo with its own private pool.
She thought that after the shock of the previous mini-White House at the bottom of Hollywood Hill she’d be used to luxury by now, or at least learn to stop gaping. But Elle’s granddad’s beach house was like something out of the movies. One wall was completely glass and she could see right inside to the open plan kitchen and lounge area.
Outside, there were padded sun loungers galore, an Olympic sized swimming pool and a sitting area with rustic style chimneas dotted all over. This was definitely a house for pool parties that went on to the early hours. She wondered if she’d get any sleep at all before they left for Europe.
‘Come on girls, I want to start getting ready for tonight. Miami here we come!’ Elle said, climbing out of the taxi at record speed.
Ciara wondered if she should warn someone before Elle got loose.
Their pub crawl – or bar bounce or whatever Gem called it – took them to hot, sweaty places full to the brim of surfers. Ciara was gutted when she didn’t get to hear at least one ‘cowabunga dude’ but stereotyping surfers on her favourite mutant turtle was probably way off.
Or maybe the assortment of cocktails they’d picked up in each bar was going to her head.
It wasn’t all bad. In the one bar they’d found with air conditioning, Elle had fluttered her eyelashes and gotten them table service, which meant they didn’t have to brave the crowds of perspiration to get a drink.
When the young bartender brought them the next round, he handed Elle a sheet. ‘For you, angel.’
Ciara grinned. ‘You seem to be attracting a lot of tweens on this holiday.’
‘Shut up!’ Elle said. ‘Anyway it’s not his number.’
‘Lemme see.’ Gem grabbed the piece of laminated paper. The excited glint in her eyes had Ciara on edge.
‘We’re so entering!’ Gem said.
‘My thoughts exactly,’ Elle agreed.
Oh no, what had they planned this time. ‘Entering what?’
Gem slapped the sheet down in front of Ciara.
Her first reaction was to laugh. They couldn’t be serious, a drinking game? They’d get ploughed by the regulars. But then she saw the grand prize being offered to the group still standing. A limited edition Gucci beach bag – masterfully structured, the most beautiful thing she’d seen with baby pink leather. And it was practical too. But that meant…
‘We’re entering,’ Elle said. ‘I want that bag.’
Ciara quickly scanned the rules. Everyone in the group entering had to buy a massive – and it really was massive – jug of either mojito or Caipirinha. The first table to finish and still be standing would get the bag – and possibly alcohol poisoning.
‘I’ll get a mix and we can share,’ Gem said, leaping off her chair.
‘Wait,’ Ciara grabbed her arm. ‘Have you two lost it completely?’
‘Dear Ciara,’ Elle said on a sigh. ‘Gucci is calling. And anyway, we’re newly ex students and we have an Irish girl on our side. This will be a walk in the park!’
‘Or a trip to the emergency room to have our stomachs pumped,’ she argued.
