Page 18

And then there’s this. The way she looks right now, laid-back and radiant, the picture of effortless beauty. It’s enough to make any man lose his freakin’ mind.
Then Lila sits up, stretching like a cat in the sunlight, and all my good intentions go up in smoke.
As if sensing my thoughts, she glances over her shoulder, her warm hazel eyes scanning the deck. I duck back, cursing myself for being so obvious, but it’s too late. She’s seen me.
“Luke?” she calls, sitting up slightly. Her hair falls over one shoulder, loose and golden in the bright sunlight. “Is that you?”
I step into view, trying to play it cool. “Yeah. Just got back.”
She starts gathering her things as if she’s done sunbathing just because I’m here.
Taking the steps down to the beach. Sand shifts under my feet as I make my way to where Lila’s wrapping herself in a white cover-up.
“You don’t have to leave on my account,” I say, trying to keep my voice light.
“I should get inside anyway.” She’s not meeting my eyes. “I have some recipe testing to do for that corporate dinner on Friday.”
“Right.” I shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her. “Need any taste testers?”
She looks up then, and something in my expression makes her breath catch. “Luke...”
“Sorry.” I step back, giving her space. “That was... I shouldn’t...”
“It’s okay.” She clutches her towel tighter. “We’re friends, right? Friends can taste test.”
Right. But friends don’t watch friends apply suntan oil like it’s soft-core porn. Friends don’t imagine tracing those oil-slicked curves with their hands, their mouth...
“We should go in,” I say roughly.
She nods but doesn’t move. The wind off the ocean plays with her hair, carrying the scent of coconut oil and the soft fragrance of Lila to me. My hands clench in my pockets.
“Luke?” Her voice is soft, uncertain.
“Yeah?”
“Why...” She takes a deep breath. “Why are you with Crystal?”
The question hits me like a punch to the gut. Of all the things she could have asked, this is the one I can’t answer. Not truthfully.
“It’s complicated—and It’s not what you think. I mean, we’ve never even—“
I cut off my words at Lila’s raised brows. She looks like she doesn’t believe me, and who can blame her? A famous rockstar would—could have his pick of women. Instead, I made a deal with the devil, which comes with a high-society girlfriend I don’t want. Someone I’m not even attracted to because she is too superficial. Crystal acts possessive and makes it clear to everyone that she’s dating a famous rockstar, but I’m just a means to an end—a way for her to advance up the social ladder and get more attention. There are times I doubt if she even likes spending time with me.
Lila just stands there waiting for me to finish my sentence, but I don’t. Instead, I say again, hating myself a little. “It’s complicated,”
“Right.” She gives me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Of course it is.”
She turns to go, but I catch her arm before I can stop myself. Her skin is warm and smooth under my fingers, still slick with oil.
“Lila, I—“
Her phone chimes from inside her beach bag. The sound breaks whatever spell we’re under, and she pulls away.
“I really should get inside,” she says.
I watch her climb the steps to our deck, the red swimsuit visible through her white cover-up. Just before she goes inside, she turns back.
“For what it’s worth,” she says quietly, “complicated isn’t always better than simple.”