Page 36 of How to Get Revenge on a Cheating Ex
Bailey makes up some excuse about how she decided to tag along at the last minute, but Ashley’s already steering her toward the cabin. “Don’t worry. I always keep a backup here in case I forget mine.”
Bailey casts me a pleading look that makes my grin widen. I could help her—but I don’t. I lift my can in a salute and she rolls her eyes as she gives in and lets Ashley drag her inside.
Uncle Ray’s chuckling beside me. “You’re a lucky guy, Zack. Bailey’s a sweetheart.”
A sweetheart? Hardly.
“She’s something, all right,” I mutter.
My uncle Tony joins us and I’m sucked into a boring conversation about the work he’s doing on his house. I’m one hundred percent tuning him out when Bailey reappears. I freeze with the soda halfway to my lips because...damn.
Bailey sees my stare and gives me this warning scowl which should absolutelynotbe sexy.
Sheshould not be sexy.
But try telling that to Ashley’s itty-bitty bikini. The white scraps do nothing to hide her curves or the perfectly taut stomach.
Holy hell, how long has she been hiding that body?
I try to swallow and end up choking on saliva. I’m still coughing when she reaches my side.
“Tell me you have a spare T-shirt in your car,” she hisses. “I can’t walk around with my butt hanging out like this.”
I’m torn between a laugh and a groan because...damn.I hadn’t seen the best part yet. Even in her prim and proper everyday clothes, it’s impossible not to notice this girl’s ass. It’s a freakin’ great ass. And apparently, it’s on display. It’s taking all my effort not to drop my gaze down to her toned thighs, her legs, her?—
“Zack!” Her high-pitched whisper has me coming back to my senses. I close my eyes and take a deep breath that will hopefully calm this surge of heat.
She’s tugging on my arm, pulling me back toward the car. “You have to have something I can use.”
I do, actually. I have a gym bag in the trunk, and while I’m tempted to lie and leave her hanging, I don’t.
Look at me being the gentleman, right?
I take out the gym bag and look away as she sorts through it, pulling out a T-shirt that’ll hang down to her knees. “There.” She gives me a satisfied smile before wriggling into the light gray tee and crossing her arms over her chest. “I’d almost forgotten how pushy your family can be.”
I laugh. “That’s one way of putting it.”
“They’re just as obnoxious as you are,” she adds. But she’s still smiling and the barb is more old-friends-teasing than outright harsh. “It’s nice to be back here.” Her gaze has moved past me to the lake where Ashley is shouting for us to come join them for a swim.
“Yeah?” I try to see it through her eyes. And for a second I’m back to being a kid. I remember how much fun we had—before it all fell apart.
I think of Ray’s comment and find myself echoing it. “It’s like hell, but hotter.”
“You don’t like it here?” She honestly seems surprised.
“It’s too hot.” Right now, it really is. It’s still early days of summer, but the sun is beating down on us and a bead of sweat is trickling down the back of my neck.
“That’s why you come here to swim,” she says with a laugh.
“I don’t swim.” And yeah, right now I’m the one being stubborn. But I can’t help it. She’s suddenly all happy-go-lucky and fitting right in with my family, and I don’t even know what she’s doing here.
“I need an answer,” I say.
Her smile fades and...I’m an ass. I know it, but I can’t seem to stop it. “You’re not here because we’re friends, Smurfette. And you’re not a part of this family.” I take a step toward her, blocking her view of the lake and my dad’s family. “You’re herebecause I saved you from having to deal with Grayson, and now Uncle Ray and everyone else thinks that you’re my girl.”
She blinks at that and my ribs feel like they’re going to snap from some pressure I can’t explain.
My girl.
