Page 86 of Rule Number One

CHAPTER TWENTY

ETHAN

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The white soap sudsbuilt up as I scrubbed my brush down the side of the boat. I swiped my forearm across my head to wipe off the sweat from the tropical sun beating down on me. A few suds got in my hair despite my careful attempt to avoid them.

“Damn it,” I grumbled, then rubbed my forehead across my shoulder to dislodge them. Instead of removing them, I slipped, and my hair hit my hand, giving me a new wad of white foam to match the other.

“You auditioning for Santa Claus? Or some weird foam devil?”

I spun to the familiar voice and saw Alec walking down the dock toward me.

“Shut up, man.” I laughed and dunked my hands into the clean water bucket, then rubbed them across my head to get the soap suds off.

“Aw, that was a good look on you.” Alec grinned and leaned up against the dock post and crossed his arms.

I tossed a towel at him. “You gonna just stand there and make fun of me, or are you gonna help a friend out and wipe down this railing?”

“Hey, now! I already worked four doubles this week, and now you’re trying to put me to work again?”

I nodded and grinned. “Yep. I have more clients than I can handle, and I’m falling behind. Get your ass over here and help me.”

“Damn it,” he grumbled but hopped onto the yacht and started wiping down the silver rails.

“So, what’s up? What brings you down here today?” I dunked my brush back in the soapy water and started scrubbing again.

“Well, actually, I was going to ask you if I could crash at your place for a few nights.”

I stopped scrubbing and looked up at him. “Why? What’s up?”

He sat back on his heels and set down the rag. “Leslie and I broke up last night.”

My jaw dropped. “What? What the hell happened?”

I set down my brush and walked over to him, pressing a hand on his shoulder.

“Honestly, I’m not really up for talking about it, but I can’t stay at the house with her, and I need a place to crash until I can find something else. Is that cool?”

“Yeah, man. Of course. You’re always welcome. It’s not big, but the couch is pretty comfy. And I’ve got beer in the fridge, so help yourself.”

“Thanks, Ethan. I really appreciate it. You’re a lifesaver.”

“Anytime, man. Mi casa es su casa.” I pulled my keys out of my pocket and swiveled the cabin key off the chain. “Here. Go get a copy made of this, and you can just head on over. I’ve still got to finish the details on this yacht since they’ll be here tomorrow to pick it up, but I’ll meet you back at my place tonight, and we can have some beers and grill out some burgers or something.”

Alec stood up and took my key. “That sounds awesome, man. Shit. I still can’t believe this happened. I really thought we had a good thing going there. And thenbam.Fuck.”

He rubbed his hand through his hair, and I held my tongue on prying about what happened. He’d tell me when he was ready, likely over some beers and burgers later.

“Well, at least I’ve got you. Two single guys out on the prowl in Paradise Isles.” He grinned. “Look out, ladies.”

Single. I’d been single for the majority of my life and had loved every second of it, yet since the day I’d said goodbye to Ivy three months ago, being single felt like a curse instead of a blessing. And since that day we’d said goodbye, I hadn’tfeltsingle. Even though I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again, I hadn’t even been able to even look at another woman ... and I didn’t think I ever would again.

Instead of playing into the advances of all the high-end tourists flirting with me every day, I just brushed them off and stared at the photo of Ivy and me that my mom had texted. It was at the wedding, a candid the photographer had taken when I’d been spinning her around the dance floor. We looked so happy. So carefree. So in love. I stared at it night after night as I sat at the bar with Alec pouring the drinks to drown my sorrows ... and the drinks the single tourists kept sending my way. The old me would have accepted their brazen propositions and enjoyed a little island fling, but now I couldn’t even imagine another woman’s arms around me. No one woman could ever come close to taking her place in my arms or in my heart.

Ivy. All I wanted was Ivy.

“Yeah, about that.” I sucked the air through my teeth. “I know I’m technically single, but I’m not going to be a great partner in crime these days. Sorry, man. I’ll be a great wingman, though, if you need one. Just don’t try to set me up with the friend.”

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