Page 10 of Wildest Dreams

When I reach their side of the shore I push my hair back from my forehead, roughing up my fringe and letting my gaze settle on Aisling.

She’s fucking beautiful. She’s got these big sparkly eyes, soft bouncy hair, and she’s wearing a tiny pair of denim shorts that show off her toned cheerleader legs.

She’s also narrowing her eyes on me in a bone-chilling kind of way.

My voice comes out deep and husky.

“Aisling,” I say, unable to resist giving her another once-over. My eyes pause on the padded bag that she’s clutching and I tip my chin at it, holding out a palm. “Pass that to me. I’ll help you get your stuff inside.”

She clutches it tighter and closes the tiny gap between us.

“What are you doing here?” she snaps, the bag in her arms now pressing up against my abdomen. My Adam’s apple slides heavily in my throat as we search each other’s eyes.

“You know,” I say levelly, “I was just asking the same question.” I stare at the bag for another few moments, and then suddenly I’m frowning. “Wait. Is this a sleeping bag?”

She drops her chin, looking up at me from under her lashes, momentarily making me forget what we’re talking about because she’s so goddamn pretty.

“Right. So you’re saying that we just randomly happen to be vacationing at the exact same lake, in houses that are situated exactly opposite from each other?” she asks in that light raspy voice of hers.

I swipe my tongue over my lower lip. Then I start trudging towards her porch.

“Hey!” I hear the sound of her angry footsteps marching behind me, her voice kind of breathless as she tries to keep up. “Where are you going? Your cabin is overthatway.”

I mount the steps two at a time. When I reach the top I almost put my boot through the porch slats.

“Christ,” I murmur. “Who the hell did you rent this place from?”

I look down at her over the swell of my shoulder and she’s watching me with an unnerving amount of focus.

She huffs prettily. “That’s none of your business.”

I grunt and get back to scoping out the front of the property. I move over to one of the large first floor windows and as soon as I look through the glass I’m thrusting my fingers through my hair.

“Jesus. Hunter wasn’t kidding.”

I turn back around to face Aisling, a little gratified when she has to force her eyes away from my pecs.

“What the hell are you thinking? Staying in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, two small chicks and not one piece offurniture? Is Hunter right?” I ask her. “You’re renovating this entire lake house on your own?” I look back down at the bag in her arms. “And you’re gonna be sleeping in sleeping bags. For how goddamn long?”

She swishes her ponytail. “What’s it to you?”

Fallon sighs beside her and looks longingly across the lake towards our cabins.

I breathe out a laugh but after a sharp glare from Aisling I drop it, because we’re all thinking the same thing anyway. I mean, Fallon’s got a point. There are some perfectly good beds just over the water there, but I’m hardly going to suggest Aisling dropping the hostility and nuzzling into my chest for the foreseeable future, when it seems like one night in the sheets was all that she wanted from me.

No longer laughing I move around her and start making my way to the front door.

Aisling gapes, incredulous, as she pads quickly behind me.

“Have you lost your mind?” she asks. “There is no way that I’m going to let you–”

I give the handle a twist and the door swings wide open.

Not a single bolt or working lock in sight.

I look down at her dryly. “You were saying?”

She stares wide-eyed at the door handle as I walk cautiously inside.

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