Beyond Me (6 page)

“Can we refocus on my problem, please?” I said. “What should I do?”

“Well, you’re not allowed to stay here with us and hide,” Mackenzie announced. “Remember the rules. We don’t meet anyone unless we split up. Now take your gorgeous ass outside to the tiki bar near the beach and find someone else if you don’t want Mr. Blue Eyes for the week.”

Damn. I hated to admit it, but I tended to suck at going up to men, and how could I find one at this bar if James was here? I certainly wasn’t about to march up to his table after my departure this afternoon. Besides, maybe he was just hanging with his friends and it was a coincidence. Maybe he realized I was kind of lame and he’d rather be with one of those easier-type girls.

I drained the rest of my drink and stuck out my chin. “Fine. I’ll try.”

“That’s my girl,” Mackenzie said.

Cassie squeezed my hand. “Good luck. Be safe.”

“You too. Call me if there are any problems. Meet Tuesday morning for breakfast?”

They agreed. I tentatively got myself back on the ground, tugged my dress down, and headed for the door. I refused to look toward the back, but felt a burning gaze stripping off the little dress, finding skin, and stroking with pleasure. I fought the goosebumps, raised my head high, and pretended I owned this outfit and heels.

Of course, being me, I stumbled over the first step, grabbed the door frame, and had to pull myself back up.

Such is my life.

The sun was hot and my heels clicked on the deck as I got to the second bar. Groups clustered around, and Jimmy Buffett was crooning the pleasures of Margaritaville and sweet alcohol. Girls swayed and danced in their bikinis, and others were dressed up like me, but seemed a hell of a lot more comfortable and confident. I chewed on my lip, squeezed into an unknown group, and ordered another Sex on the Beach.

The bartender gave me a look of appreciation and winked. Hmm, not bad. But he was surrounded by a crazed crowd, and I could barely hear him ask what I wanted to drink over the noise. Not conducive to seduction. I gave him a nice tip, battled my way out, and tried looking approachable by the railing. I cocked my hip, screened my face to look approachable, and waited.

No one came.

Everyone seemed to be hanging with friends, overdrinking, and interested in their own conversations. Humiliation threatened, so I quickly gulped the rest of my drink and reconsidered the bartender.

“Hey, pretty girl, how are you?”

Relief flowed through my body as I turned to face my approacher. Kind of cute, average looking, blond hair, brown eyes. “Good, thanks.” I searched for something witty to say. “Umm, having a good time?”

“Better now that I found you. I’m Trent.”

Ouch. Kind of lame, but so was I. I smiled brilliantly. “Thanks. I’m Quinn.”

“You want another drink?”

I lit up. “Yes, please. Sex on the Beach.”

“The bartender’s free over there,” he pointed out. “I’ll wait for you.”

Disappointment flooded. He didn’t even want to buy me a drink? Oh, well, maybe he didn’t want to be taken advantage of. And I wouldn’t have let him get it for me anyway, since that would’ve broken the rules of always keeping your drink in view. I inserted myself in the vacancy by the bar, got my third one of the night, and went back. He’d kept his promise and was waiting for me. “So what brings you to Key West?” he asked.

“Spring break.”

His eyes lit up. I guess he wasn’t one for warming me up, because he stepped right into my space and began stroking my arm. “This is one hot outfit. I’m here on business for a few days. Got a luxury suite. You up for some privacy?”

His caress was kind of annoying. Probably thought he was being sexy, but he kept running his fingers up and down my arm like I was going to buckle with desire. And I didn’t like the way he bragged about his suite, like I was some poor kid who’d be dazzled. Geez, was this it? No sparkling conversation or lead-up? My stomach remained quiet, and I admitted I felt nothing. I certainly wasn’t going to sleep with someone who didn’t excite me—what was the point?

I sighed and stepped away. “Not really,” I said glumly.

His eyes widened with surprise, then turned ugly. “Whatever. Figured you’d be a tease.” He walked off without a glance back, and that’s when I knew I was done.

The hell with it. I’d face Mackenzie’s wrath at breakfast Tuesday. My tan would make up for it. I was outta here.

I walked down Duval Street and decided to head to South Beach. It was just past sunset, so the party was still going strong in the bars and on the sidewalks. I’d walk on the beach, then hit the room for some TV. No one would know—I’d tell my friends I tried but only met a bunch of dickheads. Which was true.

The thought of James tortured me as I strolled. What was it about him that made everything in my body shiver? Now that I had some distance, I wasn’t as pissed about his lie, but I’d never approach him again. Probably saving myself from a big mess. I hadn’t even kissed him yet. What if I got weirdly attached, or I discovered he lied about more stuff? Tomorrow was another day. Maybe I’d try again with some new guy.

My heel dug into a small crater on the road and I almost went down. Enough. I had no one left to impress. I leaned over and unhooked one strap, wiggled it off my foot, and hopped up and down while I tried to get the second shoe off. The leather string got caught, I jumped again, and felt my ankle begin to twist.

Typical me.

My ass headed south and I prepared myself for a rough landing, when strong arms grabbed me from the back and straightened me out. I opened my mouth to thank my protector, but he wasn’t done. Kneeling down, he reached for my ankle, and gently untangled my shoe. Then looked up.

“You!” I gasped.

His smile was brilliant. The sun flashed on those white teeth, and his ocean eyes gleamed with wickedness. “Yes, me. You didn’t think I’d let you walk away that easy, did you?”

Slowly, he rose, trailing his fingers up my bare leg and spreading fire over my skin. Definitely not annoying. In fact, my thigh quivered as he paused at my knee, then reluctantly pulled away as he got to his feet.

I was a goner.

T
HE MOMENT
I saw her walk into the bar, I realized I’d do anything to fuck her.

Anything.

The guys were babbling about some shit—probably a girl—and the pitchers of beer were flowing free. I recognized her as soon as the door banged open and she made her way to the bar, sitting next to her girlfriends. She wobbled on those dangerous high heels, and I resisted the impulse to jump up and make sure she didn’t fall. The protective instincts were strange, since females rarely aroused anything other than my desire to party and get laid. She slid on the bar stool and the skirt flipped up, revealing the long flash of pale white skin that stretched all the way to heaven.

My dick rocketed to life. I’d never been turned on so fast by anyone. The black fabric slashed across her breasts and left one shoulder bare. She had patches of light red on her skin, probably a burn. She was so fair she’d bake out here without enough sunscreen.

She’d done something to her hair, and the long silky length curled at the edges, giving her a bit of a messy look that was sexy as hell. Her friends seemed animated with conversation as they bent their heads together. One wore a wide-brimmed sunhat as if to hide from the crowd, but I could tell from the flash of her face she looked really familiar. The other one was also attractive, and seemed protective of Quinn, reaching out to squeeze her hand.

The beer pitchers emptied, and rounds of tequila began. One of my crew nudged my shoulder. “You buying, James?”

I nodded. Didn’t I always?

I sat and studied her, enjoying being able to stare as long as I wanted. Suddenly, her friend jerked her head toward me, and Quinn spun around.

Like a sucker punch in the gut, my head reeled. Those sinfully dark eyes pinned me down and held me in her grip without mercy. My cock jumped, my jeans shrunk, and in those few seconds, I knew she was just as attracted to me.

Her mouth made a cute little O, then she turned around so quickly I was surprised she didn’t get whiplash. Her friends spent awhile talking with her, but she never looked back at me. I waited. Bought another round. And watched as the woman of my wet dreams slid off the stool, adjusted her balance, and walked out with her head held high.

When she stumbled on the first stair, I laughed. Not at her clumsiness. At her magnificence. How could her discomfort in formal wear make me so happy?

Because she seems real
, the voice whispered. And I haven’t seen
real
for so long, I wasn’t sure it existed anymore.

I waited it out a minute or two. Flagged down the server and told her to put the next two rounds on my card. “I’m heading out, guys.”

Rich raised his glass. “Gonna try and tap the lottery ticket?”

Irritation hit. What an asshole. I leaned in. “Listen up. I think it’s best if you leave me and Quinn alone for the rest of the week. No interference. And keep your mouth shut about it. This is between me, you, and Adam. Got it?”

Rich sobered up and nodded. “Yeah, sorry, man. We settle up on Friday. No more screwing with you.”

“Good. See ya later.”

I headed out of Captain Crow’s and found her talking to some shithead by the tiki bar. I hung back, intending to break up their little party if it got serious, but a few seconds later the guy walked away, and she looked disgusted. She grabbed the railing as she almost tripped down the steps, hit Duval Street, and began walking.

I followed. The swing of her hips and the curve of her ass were better than Monet’s water lilies and sweeter than the
Mona Lisa
. I enjoyed the view, wondering if she was going back to her hotel, and that’s when she stopped in the middle of the busy street and tried to rip off her shoes.

I was distracted by the sudden flash of her thighs as she leaned over. Her skirt flipped up, but too soon she jumped, toppled to the right, and poised for a bad fall. I swooped right in and caught her.

Sweet heaven. Her body felt perfect in my arms, full of softness and heat. I righted her, then knelt to finish removing her shoes. The shock and arousal in those inky eyes confirmed I was right. All I needed to do was play on her body’s reaction, steamroll past her defenses, and get her into my bed.

Then keep her there.

“You!” she gasped.

I grinned. She was adorable. My hands tingled as I ran them up her leg and stroked the trembling flesh of her knee. I wanted to keep going higher until I dove into her sweet, hot pussy, but I kept my control. I’d already screwed up once. A second time would be deadly.

“Just your normal prince on horseback,” I said easily. If I kept it light and friendly, she may not give me a tongue blistering. At least, not the kind I wanted.

Her brows drew in a fierce frown, but she didn’t move away. Her face flickered with an array of emotions before she seemed to settle. “Are you stalking me?” she finally asked.

“Now, that would make me creepy. I was just barhopping with the guys and noticed you. Were they your friends? Mackenzie and Cassie?”

“Yes.”

“Did you leave because of me?”

She seemed surprised by my question. “No.” Letting out an annoyed breath, she backtracked. “Okay, yes. I went to find someone else.”