Page 37

“Can we keep this between us?” I ask.

For a split second, hurt is scribbled all over his face like lines from a toddler’s drawing. He clears his throat, rising to his feet and helping me up. There’s a trace of sarcasm in his voice when he says, “Whatever makes you happy.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

John

I shove the hurt down, not understanding why she wants to keep it quiet. We’re adults after all and both single. It’s not like I’m going to say she asked me to fuck her, although I did—thoroughly I might add. I lost count of her orgasms. But it was much more than a vacation hookup to me. I just thought we would tell her brother we’re together so I could at least kiss her in public.

“I’ll use the outside shower. You take the real one.”

I can’t look her in the eye, not yet anyway, so I pick up the lamp, the bent-in shade and set it upright, before walking past her. I head to the bathroom, wrap a towel around my waist, then grab my shampoo and body wash.

On a deep inhale, I walk out. She's slipping on her silky robe, which clings to her thighs—no surprise that she’s sticky after what just transpired between us.

“It’s all yours,” I say, biting my lip.

Imagine an open-air shower surrounded by bamboo screens with flowers dotting the lush landscape, and smooth teakwood beneath my feet. It would be romantic if she was in here with me, but I guess if she wants to keep our rendezvous a secret, taking a shower together outside of her villa isn’t a good idea.

I mumble to myself through the entire shower. “Secret, pff.”After I rinse the sand from all the crevices where sand doesn’t belong, I lather up my body. It only takes about three seconds for me to realize I haven’t rinsed everything off; every swipe of the washcloth is exfoliating my ass cheeks.

The rainfall-style shower-head trickles over my body when I wish it was stinging my skin. I turn off the water and rest my back against the back wall. I look up through the canopy of trees and tell myself to suck it up. She wants to keep us a secret, so what. I’ll take anything she’ll give me.

Slinging my towel around my hips, I step out of the shower and back onto the patio. I sit outside, pouring myself a glass of water from a full pitcher garnished with lemons. As I drink it, I wonder if that’s the noise I heard—the resort concierge setting out fresh water.

I open the glass door and hear the shower running, so I put on a nice pair of pants and a yellow button-up shirt. Then I knock on the bathroom door. She’s singing a Toby Keith song, “I’m Just Talking About Tonight.” I listen for a bit but then say, “Hey, I need to brush my teeth. Just making sure you’re decent.”

“Brush away. It won’t take me long.”

“I’m meeting the guys for a beer before dinner at the Sandbar, or do you want me to wait for you?”

She quiets. “Oh, um… no, go ahead.”

“I’ll wait if you want me to.”

“No, I’m sure you don’t want to wait. I know you’re not used to sitting still.”

I brush my teeth, removing any trace of Becca’s arousal from my mouth and stare into the mirror for a second. I run my fingers through my hair and tell her, “I’m leaving. I’ll walk so you can use the golf cart.”

She rubs a circle on the shower door, but I still can’t see her through the textured glass. “Thank you.”

I spot Becca glowing from across the dining room, wearing a floral one-shoulder dress as tonight’s master of ceremonies asks us to take a seat. Since it’s Logan and Harper’s anniversary, the Stallion crew that all roomed together in college are celebrating at a soccer game, leaving about half of us to be detectives tonight: Corbin, Oakley, Bryce, Emmaline, and two of the single guys who were freshman when Corbin was a senior, Austin and Julic.

“Welcome to Fatal Waves: A Tropical Whodunnit Murder Mystery. We’re celebrating a new novel by Tonya Kappes, but as the sky blackens and the moon appears, one guest is found dead, and everyone is a suspect. During the cocktail hour, you’ll go into a private soundproof room where you will find out the part you will play tonight. Do you want to use your real names or use character names?”

Austin points to his head. “Our names. I don’t have the best memory.”

“One too many hits,” Corbin says with a laugh bordering on a hiccup.

Becca raises her hand. “Will we be handed clues, or will we just have to figure it out?”

“If that’s the case, you’ll probably win. You’re the queen of analytics.” Corbin bumps his shoulder against his sister.

“Great question, madame. Clues may be hidden, or another person may reveal a clue by their backstory, not knowing it’s a clue, or maybe through performers outside of you.”

Becca claps her hands in excitement, and nothing can move my focus from the woman I just ravaged, except the waiter who serves watermelon shots. I take two.

Becca goes into the room and comes out a few minutes later with an ear-splitting grin. God, she’s gorgeous. Her hair shines with short bouncy waves, and she wears basic makeup except for a full deep-red lip. Less than four hours ago, those lips skimmed my cock. I’m getting hard thinking about it. I reach for her hand, spinning her toward me, and she flashes a bashful smile.