Page 49 of In Doubt
We all turn our heads as a group of her friends make their way towards us.
“We thought we’d come and find out how you were getting on,” the one with her hair in a plait down her back says.
“Nowhere fast,” Giorgie replies. “It’s taking them forever to build the trench.”
Her friend peers in that direction. “Bummer. We’re about to grab some lunch before we head back to the hotel. Wanna come?”
“Actually,” I say. “We were about to decamp to the villa for a swim.”
“Really?” the friend asks in surprise, her gaze immediately swinging towards Jake who is examining his boots.
Giorgie shuffles on her toes. “Well, I hadn’t …”
“You guys wanna come too?” I ask, ignoring the distressed looks Jake is throwing my way. Giorgie’s more likely to come along with her friends.
“A pool does sound good,” the friend says, the other two girls by her side nodding enthusiastically. It’s the kind of response I’m used to when we invite girls around.
“I think I’ll head back to the hotel,” her male friend with the scraggly facial hair mutters.
“But I didn’t bring a swimsuit, Sia,” Giorgie says.
“You can come back with me.” The guy throws Giorgie a knowing look with those beady eyes of his like he is offering to rescue her from a swim with sharks.
“There’s a drawer full of suits in all shapes and sizes back at the villa.” I smile at him with a hard stare. “Plus a room full of towels.”
“Sounds great,” Sia says, weaving her arm through Giorgie’s. “Jees you’re hot!” she tells the omega. “Doesn’t a pool sound good?”
Giorgie nods.
The guy-friend leans in towards Giorgie and Sia, whispering. What he doesn’t realise is us alphas have a heightened hearing. I can make out every word. “I think it’s a bad idea. Alone in a villa with those dudes.”
I keep that smile of mine fixed to my face, pretending I haven’t heard.
“Tsk, we’ll be fine,” the other friend says. I like her. “Let’s go!”
Leaving their friend sulking, we follow the girls through the site, back towards the waiting transport, and I pat Jake on the shoulder.
“What the fuck,” he mutters.
“Look,” I say. “She’s practically expiring out here in the heat. What did you want me to do?”
“Not dangle any more bloody temptation in front of my nose. Where’s your loyalty, man?” he grinds out between his teeth.
Dylan laughs. “You know Aidie can’t resist the whole knight-in-shining-armour act.”
“It’ll be fine,” I insist, hoping as her seductive scent wafts our way that I’m right.
13
Levi
I’m sipping cold water by the pool when the car pulls up, my packmates piling out. Jake has a face like thunder and I wonder what shit’s gone down this morning. Then another car swings into the drive and Giorgie and her three friends climb out.
Right. Giorgie again. For the second day in a row. For a girl he claims to hate she sure shows up a lot.
Jake storms through to the pool area as Dylan and Aiden show the girls into the villa. They are all squealing in that excitable way girls do. Which is hardly surprising – this place is fucking impressive. As they skip inside, Giorgie’s gaze drifts in the direction of my packmate and she catches my eyes. I lift my hand in salute and she smiles at me brightly.
Seems I made a good impression on her yesterday. For some reason that leaves me feeling rather smug.
