Page 20 of Love Off Course

“Of course.” I kiss her head again. “I better go help board this place up so it doesn’t blow away.”

“You think this storm will be bad?”

“I have a feeling that it’ll make its mark.”

When she goes back to griping at my cousins, I sneak away. I end up stopping to help Linda tie down the restaurant patio furniture for a good half hour before Carson decides to grace us with his presence. The wind is beginning to pick up and I smell the storm coming.

“In the wild, the alpha males protect their cave from predators,” a high-pitched male voice sings. “The beta males with pink collars roar in appreciation.”

Carson busts out laughing and I cock my head at the dude in my face with a camera. It’stheDamian Birch. He’s found pink eyelashes and applied sparkly pink lipstick to his lips. His outfit is straight out of a bubblegum factory. So much pink. And spandex. And tight.

Look away.

I shudder. No man should ever be forced to look at another man’s junk so proudly displayed in pink spandex.

Lawton snorts nearby and I shoot him a glare.

“Don’t mind us, boys,” Damian chirps. “We’re just immortalizing this vacation forever by making a video journal. As soon as I get Wi-Fi, I’m uploading these clips.” He waves me off with a manicured hand. “Go on. Continue doing your manly deeds and I’ll continue to watch you sweat and flex.”

“I’ll watch too,” Lawton says with a shrug.

“Where is our waitress?” a hostile, prissy voice shrieks from inside Eddie’s.

I start for the door but pause to point at Carson. “Did you guys know he can dance like Patrick Swayze fromDirty Dancing? I saw it with my own eyes earlier. The way his abs move…”

Carson shoots me an exasperated look and I shrug. Fucker had that coming. I leave him to Damian and Lawton, who are giggling like a couple of schoolgirls. Inside Eddie’s, I let my eyes adjust to the darker environment and seek out the source of the diva meltdown. Sitting at a table in the middle is Sheridan, Estefania, and Kyle. Where Estefania and Kyle are happily chatting, Sheridan sits like she has a pole up her ass—straight and perfect posture—while she glowers toward the kitchen.

Their glasses are empty and the basket of chips in front of them is nothing but crumbs. I can see Eduardo sweating his balls off in the kitchen as he prepares dinner for everyone. I walk over to the bar and grab a bottle of Corralejo, tucking it under my arm. It’s cheap tequila and it’ll grow hair on your chest, but it’s a local fave around here. I peek in on what Eduardo’s working on, offer him a wink, and then grab another basket of chips before sauntering over to the table.

Sheridan’s eyes are everywhere but on me.

Fair enough. It gives me time to check her out. Her hair has been pulled back into a high, sleek ponytail and not a hair is out of place. She’s wearing less makeup, as though she showered and only reapplied mascara and lip gloss. It gives her a more innocent look compared to when I first met her. Her outfit screams boardroom bitch, but she’s still hot.

I drag a chair across the aged tiled floor, loving how the loud sound rankles her. She can’t help but look at me now. Her gaze roams up my bare, sweaty abs and along my chest before she settles her heated brown eyes on mine.

“What are you doing?” Her shiny lip curls up.

“Brought a peace offering.” I set the chip basket on top of the other one and then unscrew the lid to the Corralejo. “Drink?”

“Pass,” she grumbles, but based on the way she eyes the bottle, she needs a drink. “I’d wanted Hennessy or Chardonnay but apparently that request just gets you laughed at.”

I pour some into her empty glass before doing the same for both Kyle and Estefania. “We’re simple around here. What can I say?” I smirk at her. “So, what’s everyone up to?”

“We are threefriendstalking about—” Estefania starts but gets cut off by Sheridan.

“Idiot pilots.”

“Someone say my name?” Carson asks, pulling up a chair and sitting next to me.

I take a swig of the Corralejo straight from the bottle and pass it to him. “We’re outnumbered and not wanted here.”

Carson snorts. “Nonsense. Everyone loves a pilot.”

“Theyarehandsome,” Estefania tries, making Kyle laugh softly.

“I’m more of a seaman lover myself,” Sheridan says, lifting her chin primly.

Carson chokes on his tequila and Kyle’s face blushes. Estefania’s eyes widen.

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