Page 24 of My Ex-Best Men (Ex Marks the Spot #4)

***Zane***

T he captain sat next to Claire and I heard Will growl.

Anthony wasn’t much better. They both looked like guard dogs on the prowl.

I didn’t feel much better but I was used to being watched and I knew how to put on a good face.

Slapping both of them on the shoulder, I stood up and pushed my hair out of my eyes. “I’ll handle it.”

Claire had taken off the shirt she’d worn all day and the tiny bikini she had on did nothing to hide her beautiful body.

The top had my breath catching every other second because I was sure a breast was going to escape.

Her eyes flicked to me when she saw me heading their way and I grinned at the way she bit her lip.

“Sorry to interrupt, Captain, but I need to borrow my girl for a minute.” I didn’t give either of them time to question my claim.

I caught her hand and tugged her up and into my chest. I wrapped my arms around her waist and gently swayed despite the lack of music.

“You looked too beautiful for me to stay away.”

She was red and I knew she was fighting the embarrassment at being on display but I knew more about Claire than she’d probably ever admitted to anyone else. In her wildest moments, she liked being watched.

“Zane…”

I smiled and pulled out a card I’d been saving for a rainy day. I quietly sang one of our favorite songs to her as we danced. I saw the moment she softened to me and pressed my mouth to her ear, finishing the song early. “Want to really make it feel like old times and sneak into my room tonight?”

She pulled back and laughed, lightly slapping my shoulder. That laugh did funny things to me and I knew she had no idea. “I never snuck into your room. You snuck into mine. I could barely get rid of you.”

“You’re lucky I let you out of bed for even a minute back then.” I slid my hands lower on her back and toyed with the hem of her bikini bottom. “You ruined me for all other women, Claire.”

She rolled her eyes. “Sure.”

Before I could tell her that I wasn’t joking her asshole ex bumped into me. I scowled as I acknowledged to myself that there were three other men on the boat who’d dated her. I only really hated one of them, though. Jordan, the little prick.

He ignored me and grabbed Claire’s arm. “Claire. Seriously, vacation you is so much hotter than work you. You tricked me.”

I was debating about which of his eyes I was going to black when Claire proved that she didn’t need my help.

She stepped out of my embrace and glared at him.

“Seriously, Jordan, I don’t even know why you’re here.

Since you are, though, just do me a favor and don’t talk to me.

There are plenty of other people on this boat for you to talk to.

Or, you could jump into the ocean and check for sharks. Either way, don’t comment on my body.”

He’d clearly had a few beers because he waved her off with a laugh. “You’ll come crawling back.”

“Alright, asshole, I-”

“You’re done drinking on my boat. If you can’t handle your alcohol, you go dry.

Go take a seat and be respectful.” The captain cut in and stole my thunder.

He rested his hand on Claire’s shoulder and squeezed.

“We’re going to take off for the second location soon.

We could always leave him here and pick him up on the way home. ”

She smiled at the man and my blood ran hot. He was lucky we were in the middle of the ocean and that I’d never learned to drive a boat. I wanted to toss him overboard.

“He’s not worth the legal trouble.” Claire eased herself away from both of us and ducked her head.

She was fucking adorable with her random displays of bashfulness.

It made me want to corrupt her all over again.

She bit her lip and tried to push her glasses up her nose, despite not wearing them. “I have to ask Soph something…”

She hurried to the other side of the boat and I couldn’t help smiling as she and Sophia fell into each other and started giggling like they were still little girls.

When they both looked over at where I was still standing next to the captain, I got the feeling we were the topic of their conversation.

“She’s a beautiful woman.” The captain crossed his arms as he watched her.

I stepped into his line of sight and scowled at him. “Not for you.”

He just smiled. “Yeah, I noticed the line of men following her around.”

“And yet you still thought you’d cut in.”

That smug smile stretched wider. “Just thought I’d give her a different option. Don’t worry, though, rockstar. I’m not a homewrecker. I don’t know what the fuck you three are doing with her but it’s obvious she likes it.”

I looked back and saw that Anthony was on Claire already, with Will hovering close by. Claire’s face was one of pure happiness. She glanced at me and I felt a bolt of heat as she winked at me. I couldn’t help elbowing the captain. “See that?”

He groaned. “I’m going back to my boat. She always chooses me.”

I tried to cut across the boat to get to Claire but one of Sophia’s friends cut me off. I couldn’t remember her name but she’d propositioned me at the beginning of the boat ride. “Excuse me.”

“Wait a second, stud. Where are you running off to so fast?” She leaned into me, pressing her breasts into my arm. “How about a song? Just one?”

I tried to stay polite but I wasn’t in Zane Wilson, rockstar mode. I was just Zane, a guy trying to get his ex-girlfriend back. I didn’t want to sing for anyone else. I didn’t want to think about work at all. “Sorry, I didn’t bring my guitar.”

The woman stroked my arm and giggled. “Come on! You can just sing. Your voice is amazing. It’s a dream of mine to hear you sing.”

I saw Claire look up and watched as her face shuttered when she saw the woman hanging all over me. Probably a little rougher than I needed to be, I pulled my arm away and held up my hands. “Sorry, but no.”

I walked over to Claire and nearly screamed when she stiffened. Unwilling to lose the progress I’d made with her, I gripped her hips and tugged her back into my chest. She sighed heavily at me but I wasn’t easily deterred.

I pressed my mouth to her neck and whispered. “I can’t control what other people do, baby. I can only control what I do and I never took my eyes off of you. Don’t get all stiff on me now.”

Slowly, her body relaxed into mine. She sighed again but it felt like an expulsion of the remaining unhappiness. “This is all so crazy.”

Anthony looked away from where he’d been talking with Will and Sophia. His eyes tracked down to where I was holding Claire but instead of scowling at me, he nodded.

Claire looked up at me and then back at him. “What the hell was that?”

There was something changing between us but I had no idea where it was going.

I’d already gotten comfortable with Anthony and Will and thoughts were starting to form in my head that I had no business entertaining.

Thoughts of how Claire liked being watched and how it’d work if the other guys didn’t just watch her.