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‘Come over here. You have to meet… Daniel… Black. He’s a very important, erm, writer.’ She drags me behind her, then pulls up an extra stool, nearly falling out of her tube dress in the process. The bartender returns with my ginger ales and crackers.

‘That’ll be nineteen seventy-five.’

I nearly choke, but whip out my credit card and hold it out to the bartender.

‘Sorry,’ I say to Serena, ignoring Daniel for as long as I can even though I can practically feel his gaze burning me up. ‘I actually need to get this back to my roommate. Food poisoning. Not pretty.’

But Serena is already shaking her head, grabbing my arm to pull my credit card back and pulling out a Riovan-branded credit card of her own. ‘No, no, nooooo. I’ll have someone else get it to her. Please, let me…’ She presses her credit card into the bartender’s hand. ‘This needs to go to room…’

I sigh and make a ‘sorry’ face at the bartender. ‘2208. Vista West?’

With a quick nod, he disappears.

‘So,’ says Serena, returning to her perch and indicating the stool on Daniel’s other side.

‘Sit. And tell Daniel… Black … all about why you keep coming back to this… amazing place. Tell him about how great it is here. Hey– hey– Danny– did you know Lily met… Carli Elle ? The singer ? Didn’t you, Lil?

Vic said… Didn’t you go to a party on her yacht last year?

God, I love Carli!’ She starts singing an off-key faux-rap, running her hands down her own body.

‘ My body is a temple, you’re callin’ me your goddess, the hottest, your queen, not sorry, not modest— ’

Yep, she’s a step past tipsy. Maybe not the best of looks for the VP of Branding?

Daniel and I finally meet eyes. His are twinkling with suppressed amusement.

I can’t help but wonder who made the first move tonight– him or Serena.

He’s wearing a simple white button-up and jeans.

His five o’clock shadow has thickened since this morning.

Basically, total werewolf energy. I’m in trouble.

‘Hi,’ I say.

‘Hi,’ he says back. His voice is warm, questioning. Somehow, that single word conveys so much. I detect both a Why did you stand me up? and also, I’m not mad. Just curious. Very curious, based on the way his eyes seem to be stripping me down.

A not-unpleasant chill goes over me and I wrap my arms around my chest, cursing silently. Second time today.

‘You two know each other?’ says Serena, leaning in and tugging up her tube dress again.

‘Not at all,’ I say quickly at the same time as Daniel says, ‘Yes, we met earlier.’

We laugh.

Our eyes are locked, just like this morning. He tilts his head. I tilt mine. Who’s going to talk first?

Don’t do this , I remind myself. You’re not here to get close to people.

Serena leans on the bar and signals for another drink for herself. ‘Lily… anything for you?’

‘No, thanks.’

‘No, really, you should get something…’ urges Serena, already signalling the bartender again.

‘I’m not really a huge drinker,’ I say.

‘She likes to be in control,’ Daniel explains to Serena, his eyes daring me to contradict his annoyingly correct assumption.

What happened to no assumptions? I want to tease, because something about this man makes flirting easy, but… a Riovan higher-up is sitting right there who could get me fired quicker than she’s knocking back those drinks.

‘How did you know my last name?’ I say instead.

Daniel gives a satisfied smile, like he’s pleased I caught this detail.

‘To be completely honest, Vic was talking about his high standards for the staff, and mentioned you by name. He couldn’t sing your praises highly enough.’

‘Well… Vic is an enthusiastic communicator,’ I say.

‘Lovely man,’ says Daniel, taking a sip of what looks like a pina colada, complete with a little umbrella and a cherry. For some reason, I find his choice of drink fascinating.

‘Oh, Vic,’ laughs Serena, slapping the bar top. ‘We love him.’

‘I’m guessing you’re interviewing Vic for the article?’ I say.

‘Absolutely. He’s a veritable fount of information about the hotel, its values, its history, all the famous people who’ve stayed here…

’ Daniel begins, as I try not to panic. Surely Vic wouldn’t bring up what happened last year if he’s looking for good publicity with three exclamation points. Or was it five…

‘We were talking yesterday after the amazing kick-off seminar by that author,’ continues Daniel, ‘with the book, what was his name—’ He snaps his fingers. ‘White hair. Earring. Hippie vibes—’

‘Pat Burton,’ Serena fills in. ‘We love him.’

Daniel looks at me. ‘Did you catch his seminar, by the way?’

‘Unfortunately, no. Was it good?’

‘Mesmerizing,’ says Daniel with a half-grin, and it drives me a little crazy that I can’t tell if he’s being sarcastic or just plain old flirtatious.

‘I booked him,’ volunteers Serena, her words mushed since she’s drinking from her fresh beverage at the same time. She sets her glass down. ‘He’s a…’ She swipes her lips with the back of her hand. ‘Friend of a friend.’

‘Must be nice to have those kinds of connections,’ says Daniel, raising his pina colada half an inch off the bar top before setting it back down, without drinking. ‘Cheers to that.’

‘Oh, networking is… everything . Believe me . ’

Damn, she’s sloshed. I don’t want to be a killjoy, but she really should be focusing on hydrating right now, not imbibing more gin. Even with Daniel sitting between us, the smell is rolling off her, as strong as car fumes. I move to breathing through my mouth.

‘Can I get you some water, Serena?’ I say.

‘Sure,’ she slurs.

Now it’s my turn to flag the bartender, who understands immediately and gives me a thumbs up.

I make a discreet throat-cutting sign– I’m pretty sure it’s time for the VP of Branding to be done for tonight.

The bartender gives me a subtle nod, with a concerned look back at Serena, who’s slumping down further on the bar, now trailing a single finger in a lazy circle in the wet ring her glass left on the wood top.

‘Out of curiosity, did you know the previous VP of Branding?’ says Daniel, angling himself a little more towards me. ‘Serena was saying she’s only been in the position for a few months…’

‘Of course. Audrey Lawali.’

‘Wasn’t she VP for under a year?’

‘They turn over often.’

‘Why do you think that is?’

I shrug.

‘So, about the last one,’ Daniel persists. ‘Audrey. Serena said something about her getting fired… Do you know anything?’

‘What exactly is your article about?’ I say with exaggerated caution, glancing at Serena, who’s still lazily tracing circles in the moisture, apparently oblivious to our side conversation.

He laughs. ‘Sorry. Not for the article. Just my natural curiosity.’

‘I’m a lowly lifeguard, Daniel,’ I say in a quiet, amused voice. ‘Whatever happens in the upper echelons is beyond my pay grade. Now, if you want to ask about our rigorous lifeguard protocols, or my favourite sunscreen, or my feelings about the new swimsuit…’

Under his intent gaze, another wave of goosebumps goes over me, and something perverse must be operating through me, because I uncross my arms and turn fully to face him. My tank top can’t be hiding much. His smile widens, but to his credit, he keeps his eyes on my face. Good man.

‘Well, Lily Lennox,’ he says, rubbing his thumb in little motions over the centre of his lower lip. Which is remarkably full, for a dude. Pillowy is the word that comes to mind. ‘What are your feelings about the new swimsuit?’

‘Have you seen it in action?’

‘Refresh me.’ That thumb is still rubbing his lip. My eyes keep drifting to it.

I laugh. ‘Let’s just say it doesn’t leave much to the imagination.’

‘Shame,’ says Daniel, and I swear this man could make love through eye contact alone. ‘Imagination can be a powerful drug.’

My breath catches; I am officially turned on.

‘I, for one, stay away from drugs.’

‘Good girl,’ he says, his voice barely audible, for my ears only, and suddenly I imagine the Sunset Bar emptied of people, mostly dark, with just Daniel, me, and the warm glow of the champagne chandeliers.

His breath, hot in my ear– Good girl . If I braced my feet on the middle rung of the bar stool, it’s the perfect height for—

Trash bin! Now!

But instead, the image sharpens, and heat surges between my legs as imaginary Daniel steps between them, his eye contact unwavering as he fingers the bottom edge of my tank top and—

His eyes break away from me and the vision shatters, leaving an uncomfortable pulsing still working its way through places in my body that haven’t felt any pulsing in years. Damn it– I’d forgotten how fucking good it is to feel this way—

No! Intimacy is dangerous!

‘I’m afraid we have a situation…’ Daniel says, and for a second I think he’s talking about the next-level attraction simmering between us, but there’s a loud snort, and I follow his line of sight.

Ah. Serena. You wouldn’t think such a mighty snore could come from so petite a frame, but the universe likes to have its little jokes.

I slide off my bar stool to approach her and jostle her arm. ‘Serena? Hey, Serena? Wake up…’

Her head lifts infinitesimally. ‘Hmm?’

‘Hey. Good, you’re awake…’

She immediately slumps back down on to her arms.

‘Please tell me you didn’t buy her an irresponsible number of drinks,’ I say with a touch of crankiness, because it’s pretty clear now that I’ll have to attend to Serena’s needs instead of Daniel attending to mine.

Damn it, Serena. Not that I actually would have done anything with Daniel, of course…

‘I’m afraid she’s the one who bought me drinks.’ Daniel stands, giving a sorrowful look at his unfinished pina colada. ‘Come on. We should get her back to her room.’

I scrunch her shoulder. ‘Hey. Hey. Serena? What’s your room number?’

Her eyes open and a sleepy smile drizzles over her face. ‘It’s… four zero zero… zero.’ She draws the zeros in the air. ‘Why?’

‘Bedtime,’ says Daniel. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll deliver you safe and sound.’

‘Aww, you guys are the sweetest.’ She loops an arm around me, and Daniel positions himself under her other.

‘On three,’ he says.

‘Three?’ says Serena with a slur to her voice. ‘Heeeey, awesome! I’ve always wanted to do a threesome! It’ll be sooo fun… You guys are soooo hot… I’m up for anything, seriously…’

My cheeks burn. I don’t look at Daniel, but I can feel him shaking with laughter as we lug the VP of Branding back to her room.