Page 9 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“A slumber party?” Violet asked. She was the antithesis of Desiree, with long raven hair and colorful tattoos snaking down her shoulder and arm from beneath a black tank top. Her gray miniskirt revealed more tattoos on the side of her thigh. “Are you going to do each other’s hair and nails, too?”
Emery launched into Violet’s arms, squeezing her tight.
Violet wasn’t a hugger, but beneath the harsh exterior and verbal slaughter she’d dole out to anyone she pleased, she was a good, kind, and creative person who, Emery and Desiree believed, just needed love to soften her up. They were determined to break Violet of what they called her Wall of Warning.
“If you don’t hug me back, I’ll keep hugging you,” Emery threatened. “And it’s ‘we’ as in you, too, Vi.”
Violet sighed, her arms briefly circling Emery. “I thought we were going out tonight, getting our groove on…”
“We are! I can’t wait.” Emery went back for her bags. “Do you mind if I stay with you, Vi? Just until Wednesday, when the room in the big house is free?”
“Nope. Desiree already dropped that bomb on me. I just hope you brought your earplugs, because I plan to work off some stress tonight.” It was no secret that when it came to guys, Violet was of the opinion thatlesswas definitely notmore.
Emery followed them into Violet’s cottage. “Do you have a steady boyfriend?”
Violet scoffed. “Heck, no. You two better get moving,” she said as she headed for the kitchen. “That bar is packed on the weekends.”
“I promise to be fast, Vi,” Desiree said.
Emery followed her into the guest bedroom and dropped her bags. “Is Rick coming tonight?”
“Yes,” Desiree said. “Drake and Serena, too, but Mira and Matt are taking Hagen to the children’s theater, so you’ll have to meet them another time. And since they’re trying to get pregnant, I think they have better things to do at night anyway.” Mira was Rick and Drake’s younger sister. She and her husband, Matt, and their little boy, Hagen, lived in a cottage on the Bayside Resort property.
“I’ll have to remember to show Mira some fertility-boosting yoga poses.”
“She’d probably love that.” Desiree hugged Emery again. “I still can’t believe you’re actually here for good and you’re going to be working at the inn. Thank you!”
“Are you kidding? More like thankyoufor letting me crash your life.” Emery had missed her so much, she had to hug her again.
“Okay, Sappy Sues,” Violet called into the bedroom. “Move your pretty little butts or you’ll never get into Undercover.”
UNDERCOVER WAS ONE of the few happening night spots on the outer Cape, and as expected, it was jam-packed. Dean sat at a table with Rick and Desiree, while—like most of the guys in the bar—watching Emery and Violet dance like they were lovers: arms over their heads, breasts thrusting, hips gyrating, and sexy smirks challenging every man who tried to cut in. Emery looked like she might set the dance floor on fire in a skintight dress that showed every sinful curve. She’d done something with her makeup that made her eyes looktoosmoky and seductive. Dean couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Look at them,” Desiree said a little breathlessly. “Violet with her cutoffs and fringed belly shirt and Emery in that tight yellow dress. They look like they were put on this earth with the sole purpose to drive men crazy. I would give my left arm to be able to dance like that.”
Rick gave her an over-my-dead-body look. “If you danced like that I’d have to lock you up.”
Which is exactly what I’d like to do to little Miss Shake Her Booty over there.
Desiree leaned closer to Rick and said, “Careful.” Then, quieter, “I might like that.”
Dean slid his gaze back to Emery and ground his teeth together as another guy approached her. He was tall, built, and about to get his butt kicked if he brushed against her again.
“Wow, Dean,” Serena said as she arrived at the table with a pitcher of beer and Drake on her heels. Drake’s six-plus feet dwarfed her petite frame. She tucked her dark hair behind her ear and said, “You look like you’re about ready to kill someone.”
Dean’s fingers curled around his glass, mentally driving daggers into the jerk who was now deep in conversation with Emery.
“Why don’t you go out there and stake your claim instead of drooling from here?” Serena suggested.
Dean was glad Desiree was too busy with Rick to have heard the comment. The last thing he needed was to have the girls pushing him or Emery, when he knew it might only cause Emery to run like the wind.
Drake grabbed the back of her dress and pulled her away from Dean. “Causing trouble again?”
“Nope. Come on.” Serena grabbed Drake’s hand and tried to pull him toward the dance floor. As one of Mira’s best friends, Serena had grown up with Drake and Rick, too. When they’d bought the resort, she’d been between interior design jobs and had agreed to temporarily help them get the resort under control and manage the office. That was three years ago.
Drake plunked himself down in a chair and poured a glass of beer. “Thanks, but I think I’ll hang with the guys.”
“You stinker.” Serena turned pleading eyes to Desiree. “Dance with me?”
