Page 10 of Try Me

As the cameras flashed, Declan ducked back inside the club and leaned against the door. He closed his eyes for a moment, regret washing over him. He should have minded his own business, now his picture was going to be in every tabloid. He could only imagine the headlines. McKenna would be thrilled with the publicity, it played right into the bad boy image he strived to create, but Declan cringed at the thought of his family seeing his photo at the grocery store check-out lane. His mother didn’t deserve the humiliation.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

Declan opened his eyes, blinking to focus in the darkness of the club. There before him stood the goddess who’d been on the waves yesterday before the contest started. Declan had been there early to study the waves, and a few surfers had been catching waves before the beach shut down. She’d mesmerized him, and he couldn’t help thinking she was talented enough to be in the contest. She was more deserving of a spot than Sam Henderson.

He studied her face in the darkness, trying to place how he knew her. Big brown eyes, high-cheekbones, a lush mouth that looked sexy even while she frowned. He didn’t know her, but he wanted to.

“I can handle jerks like him,” she said, eyes flashing at him in warning.

“You shouldn’t have to deal with that shit,” he said. “Although, you did it with more grace and skill than I’ve ever seen. How’d you learn to fight like that?”

“My cousins,” she said, accepting the handkerchief he offered. “They were all bigger than me—” a little grin lifted her frown — “but not one of them could beat me.”

Declan watched as she wiped her cheek. “Have we met before?” he asked.

“No.”

Declan exhaled the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, relieved. “I’m Declan.”

“I know,” she said. “Everyone knows.”

Declan’s smile faltered. “Right.” Unconsciously, he reached into his pocket to touch the invitation. He could feel it burning there, like a match that still smoldered. “You’re from Hawaii,” he said.

“Maui.”

She smoothed her ponytail and offered him back the handkerchief, which he declined. “Keep it,” he said. “Are you okay?”

Her eyes sparked, and her chin inched up. “I’m fine.” She shoved the handkerchief in the back pocket of her very short shorts and glanced back toward the club. “I should get back to work,” she said. “My boss is probably looking for me.”

“Can’t you take a few minutes?” Declan asked. “That was pretty heavy.”

“I said I was fine, Declan. Don’t worry about me.”

His name on her lips had a strange effect on his body. His pants were suddenly uncomfortably tight in the crotch area, and a shiver raced down his spine.

“What’s your name?” he asked as she started to walk away.

“Pearl.”

Declan smiled. He didn’t know why yet, but the name suited her. “Okay, Pearl. Maybe I’ll see you around,” he said.

“Maybe.”

“Try to stay out of trouble, hear?”

She threw a glance over her shoulder, eyes twinkling. “That wouldn’t be much fun,” she teased.

Declan had never met a woman like Pearl. She’d just taken down a man twice her size without breaking a sweat, and now she was picking up her tray and getting back to work as if nothing had happened.

“You want a shot?” she asked, offering the tray.

There wasn’t a day, a minute, a breath, that he didn’t want a shot. “No,” he said. “No thanks.”

“They’re free.”

Declan shook his head. Everything was free when you were the winner.

“Okay,” she said. “I should go.”

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