Page 9 of Beyond Me

I ignored him, choosing to turn and walk out the other way instead of trying to get past him.I took the outside path past the pool, the bar, and down the gorgeous bluestone steps circling back down to the driveway.He didn’t follow me.

I didn’t think he would.

CAPTAINCROW’Swas crowded, hot, and exactly what I needed to get my mind off this afternoon andhim.By the time I got back to the hotel, grabbed something to eat, and got ready to meet the girls, I’d burned off some of my steam but not enough.This time, I was done.I would find one super hot guy I could fall in temporary lust with—morals be damned—and sleep with him.Have my frikkin’ orgasm.And be happy.

“Whoa, that is not a happy face, darlin’.”Mackenzie peeked from beneath her wide-brimmed sunhat that made her look more movie star than disguised ordinary college student.“But at least you dressed appropriately.’Bout time.”

Her gaze was all appreciation and approval.I’d fished out the sexy black halter dress and fuck-me heels hidden in the bottom of my suitcase.I put on a bit of lipstick and mascara, then curled my hair so it had a nice wave to the ends.Halfway tripping on the killer stilts I wasn’t used to, I slid into the vacant bar stool they had saved for me.

Cassie slid over a drink, and waited till I sipped the familiar concoction of Sex on the Beach.Now if I could only get some on the beach instead of drinking it, I’d be set.“What’s up?We leave you for one afternoon and you combust.I told you, Mackenzie.It’s not a good idea to be split up.”

Mackenzie rolled her eyes and did a lovely snort that I could never pull off without sounding like a pig.“If we stay together, no one gets laid.You guys would stay at the pool all day and never talk to anyone but each other.”

My gaze met Cassie’s and I sighed.Yep, that’s exactly what we’d do and probably be happy.Maybe Mackenzie was right.Hell, she must be, since she already zeroed in on the guy with the tats and the lovely voice.If he was a musician to boot, she’d be toast.Goodbye technical virginity, as she liked to say.I always thought it was a hoot she was still a virgin, and she was the most outgoing, flirtiest in our crew.

Cassie sighed.“Yeah, I guess,” she said glumly.

“Oh, for God’s sakes, I’m not sentencing you to jail for the week!I swear, if both of you don’t find someone by tomorrow, I’ll find him myself.”

“I thought I did,” I muttered, burying my face in the drink.

“What?Who?When?Who?”Mackenzie demanded.

Anger still burned in my veins.I related the story briefly to my friends and my body relaxed a bit.Alcohol and girlfriends were the best antidotes to stupid men.

Cassie tapped her lip thoughtfully.“That’s an odd thing to want to hide.You’d think he’d be bragging about his money and house to snag you.Right?”

I shifted uncomfortably on the seat.“Well, yeah, but he had plenty of opportunities to tell me the truth.I felt like an idiot.”

“Did he defend himself?”Mackenzie asked.

“He said he wanted an opportunity to show me his real self, instead of me jumping to conclusions because he was rich.”

As soon as the words popped out, I knew I was doomed.They knew honesty was my sticking point, and that I was a bit overzealous when it came to the quality.Cassie spoke gently.“Sweetie, maybe he was telling the truth.Maybe he just liked you and didn’t want you to have expectations.”

“Was he hot?”Mackenzie asked.

I shivered from the thought of his broad, muscular chest, and piercing blue eyes.“Yeah,” I admitted.“Really hot.”

“Explain.”

“Curly dark hair, beautiful blue eyes.Tall.Lean.Perfect mouth.”

Mackenzie grinned.“Like that guy over there?”

My head swung around and I came face to face with James.

Holy shit.

He sat at the corner table with a few friends.A pitcher of beer served as the centerpiece, and they were all laughing at something, but he remained still, his gaze locked on mine just like he had at the party hours ago.

What was going on?Was he following me?Why was he here?

“I think that’s definitely him,” Cassie commented.“You’re right, Quinn.He’s smoking.And very into you from the looks of it.”

My heart pounded and my palms felt slippery around the glass.A weird ache thrummed in my lower belly, as if I was hungry or thirsty or something, but I had an idea of what it was.He turned me on.Big time.This was not good.Right?

“What’s he doing here?”I hissed, spinning back around.

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