“Poppi, if a man wants you bad enough he’ll make the effort.” I smile a warm smile. “Don’t stress, you’ll find someone soon.”
She sighs. “I know, I know. For now, I’ll just live vicariously through you.”
I laugh, but the laughter isn’t real. I don’t like seeing my friend upset, and I wish there was something I could do. “Want to eat ice cream?”
She shakes her head. “Promise, I’m not that upset.”
“Want to go to a party with me tonight?”
She contemplates for a minute, but then smiles. “No, I actually have a good book I want to snuggle up with tonight.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, go enjoy your night with Ellis.”
I give Poppi a hug. “I love you, girl.”
She swats me away, jokingly. “Go, get out of here.”
* * *
445 Cabana Way. See you at 7.
From my car, I read the text from Ellis with Urban’s address, to make sure I’m at the right house. The numbers on the two-story monstrous house match, but there are no cars lining the street. Maybe the other guests arrived by boat. The rich can transport themselves however they want.
Part of me thinks I should go back home and cancel this socialization with Ellis, but as I walk the pathway leading to the front of the house, the door swings open. “Hey,” Ellis greets me. He grins, effectively shutting down my qualms about being here.
“Hi.” I step onto the front porch. “This is a beautiful home.”
“I’m glad you came,” he says, placing his hand on the small of my back to lead me into the entryway, through the living room, and out onto a spectacular back deck with a view of the water.
“Hello there,” his brother says, rising from his seat at the patio table. “There was a little mishap, and I forgot to invite people.”
Ellis runs a hand through his hair and looks over at me. “Yeah, looks like it’s just us three.”
“Well, three is plenty,” I say, unsure how you forget to invite people to a party but relieved I don’t have to mingle with strangers. Apparently, I only kiss them.
We spend a few minutes chit chatting, and then Ellis says, “I have a surprise for you.”
“Should I be nervous?” I tease him.
“You’ll see.” He tells Urban we’ll be back soon, then takes my hand, and leads me down the stairs toward the boat dock. “Urban loaned me his sport fisher.”
It’s big. It’s like a yacht without the fancy title.
As I board, I realize my turquoise mini-dress was a mistake. The breeze catches the floaty skirt and I have a Marilyn Monroe moment with my ass in Ellis’ face.
“Fuck,” he grits out.
“Fuck is right,” I say back as I attempt to cover my thong. This is how I know for sure I avoided disaster with Henry—I never made an effort with my panties.
When I’m finally on board, I avoid looking at him. But I can feel his penetrating stare as I shrug on a life vest. I’m not required to wear one, but...I feel like I’m drowning.
He steers the boat into the Intracoastal Waterway, stopping to let the boat float in the water, and I peek over at him from my seat. He looks magnificent, like a rogue pirate, with the wind tugging at his dark hair.
“I brought some food too,” he says. “Hope you like sandwiches.”
I laugh. “I love sandwiches.”
He gazes at me with a look in his eyes, that tells me something is on his mind. “I just want to say something.” He bites his full bottom lip, and it makes me want to bite it too. “I understand if you want to take things slow. I’m still not really sure what this is, or what this pull is I have toward you...”
I stand, making my way across the hardwood deck until I’m next to him. “Let’s not put a label on things. It only complicates everything.”
He lets out a deep breath in relief. “I like that idea.” He inches closer, his eyes hazy. “You know what else I like?”
“No, what?”
“You. I like that you put this safety vest on, even though if you went over I’d jump in to save you in a heartbeat. I like the way you blushed when I saw your perfect ass. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss we shared that day, and how badly I want to do it again.”
He leans in, planting his lips over mine, and the next thing I know I feel like I’m floating away on a cloud of lust. Corny, I know, but oh so true.
I cling tighter to him as he deepens the kiss, stroking his tongue against mine.
His hands remove the life jacket, and then explore my back and hips. Somehow, we make our way down into the cabin of the boat still lip-locked.