Not really her type, but then her type was gay, so maybe disheveled and unshaven was a step in the right direction.
Unsure how to respond, she gave him a quick smile before letting herself float on her back, spreading her arms out to keep from being rocked too much by the roll of the tide. The water felt good on her head, soaking her hair. She reached up and dragged the clip out from where it was hanging and held it in her hand as she floated. She felt her toe being pinched, and she was dragged slowly through the water.
“Don’t want you floating away,” he said quietly in response. “My name’s Lane by the way.”
Vivi tucked her knees and stood, the water now up to her chin and his chest.
“Shane?”
“No. Lane.”
“Lane? I’ve never heard that name before.”
“Family name. You know, as in, Lois Lane? My mother’s maiden name is Lane.”
“Hmm.” She smiled. Couldn’t help herself. “You’re a Superman fan.”
“No. Yes. Well, I just use that as an example because everybody’s heard of Lois Lane. It’s easy.”
“Your mother’s name isn’t Lois, is it?”
“No. Bizzy.”
“Busy Lane?” Vivi said, wide eyed.
He shook his head and eyed her from the side. “You making fun of my momma now?”
“No,” she said, laughing. “No. I’m not. It is funny though.”
“Well, she’s Bizzy Kettering now, anyway.”
“So you’re Lane Kettering,” Vivi said, liking the sound of his name. “I’m Vivi DuVal. I’m with,” she looked up the beach and pointed, “my sorority sisters.”
“From Wake Forest,” he confirmed.
“Go Deacs,” she said. “I wasn’t being very pleasant so I don’t blame them for ditching me. I definitely needed a nap.” She floated backward keeping her head upright, but bringing her toes to the surface, using her hands to tread water. “Definitely needed an attitude adjustment.”
“They didn’t really ditch you. They sent me back to get you, but you were asleep.”
“Ah, so you’re with the Carolina Law students?”
“Ah, yeah, so to speak. My brother and his buddies are graduating next week. Beach Week and his bachelor party all rolled into one.”
“That’ll be fun.”
“Should be.”
“You sound a little skeptical.”
“I’m not…you know, one of them. I’m just here because Tray’s my brother. I’m the best man, so…”
“They had to invite you.”
“You got it.”
She felt herself smiling. “So are you graduating undergrad?”
“No. No, I…um…I’m not graduating this year.”
“Next year?” she quizzed.
“I’ll be a senior next year.”
“Oh. Well, I’m graduating a year early because I thought that was going to make me look smart. I think that’s my fatal flaw, always trying to look smart. Because it turns out that working hard enough to graduate early was a really dumb move,” she said, startling herself with the truth. She tried to find footing in the sand beneath her. “Whoa.”
Lane pulled her against him, the surf up to his chin. “I think we floated out a bit. Come on, I’ll drag you back in.” When she found her footing, he released her.
“How old are you?” he asked. “Because you look a lot younger than your friends. Maybe it’s because you’re wet, but…”
Vivi laughed. “I am younger. A lot younger in some cases. But my birthday is tomorrow,” she said, brightening. “I’m finally turning twenty-one.”
Lane choked. “You’re twenty?”
“Today I’m twenty. Tomorrow, I’ll be twenty-one.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes. Tomorrow. Tomorrow it’s goodbye fake I.D. and hello tequila.”
“Oh, Lord. I can just imagine Miss Thong after a couple shots of tequila. You faint in the damn sun. How are you going to handle tequila?”
“I can handle tequila. And what’s wrong with a thong?”
“Have you ever had tequila? Nothing’s wrong with your thong.”
“No, I’ve never had tequila. I’ve been…busy. Like your mom,” she snickered. “And I like my thong.”
“My mom’s name is spelled B-I-Z-Z-Y. Not busy like a damn bee. And I like your thong too. It’s just a little…”
“A little what?” she snapped.
“Distracting. Unconventional. Eye-catching. With that big bow just sitting there screaming âHere’s your present.’”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Look,” Lane said, floating her to him again. “It’s a great suit. Really great. And if anyone should be wearing it, it’s you, ‘cause there isn’t a girl out here on this beach with a finer ass than yours. But with that cute little bow and your…”-he seemed at a loss for words-“…ass,”-he shook his head-“you’re going to be attracting a lot of attention.”
“Maybe that was the idea,” she said, irritated.
“Well, then it’s working. Working really well.”
Lane’s green eyes held her silent. She couldn’t look away. Didn’t know what she was angry about. The moment stretched out. Finally he broke eye contact, looked up the beach toward his crowd.
Her crowd.
Their crowd.
“I meant that as a compliment,” he said, bringing his face back around to hers. “I’m not sure it came off like that.”
She felt herself sink inward, dipped down into the water to her chin, trying to figure out how she felt. Self-conscious for sure. Embarrassed? Maybe. Happy a man liked looking at her ass? Yes, she admitted.
Oh, God. She felt so uncertain of everything right now.
“Lane?”
“Yeah?”
“When we get out of the water, can I borrow your T-shirt?”
Chapter Four
Lane kept checking his watch. The Demon Deacon hot-babe contingent should have arrived over an hour ago. They’d agreed. All of them. On the beach this afternoon. While Vivi sat there all covered up in his T-shirt, which hung down to her knees. And the ball cap she stole from him too. They’d all agreed to meet at the Hot Fish Club after dinner for drinks and to listen to the band. Have a good time. But so far, they’d been a no-show, and his cousin Trevor was talking up the idea of moving their group to a strip club.
Shit.
He’d been nursing a beer, sitting on a bar stool, eyeing the door, waiting for Vivi to make an appearance. Not because he thought he had a chance in hell with her, but because he’d heard a rumor and he wasn’t happy about the impending consequences.
Seems while he’d been staring at Sleeping Beauty’s ass, her friends were feeding his brother’s buddies a story. A gossipy story. A very interesting, very gossipy, very telling story. Something about Vivi’s boyfriend of the last two years turning out to be gay. He was short on the details, but once they were all back in his uncle’s condo, he had heard plenty of suggestive comments about how Vivi was probably lookin’ for a very physical heterosexual experience-phrased not so delicately-as the guys laughed at her expense. He tried to keep his head down and bite his tongue. Tried not to be bothered by their suggestive comments. Tried to tell himself that Vivi DuVal wasn’t as vulnerable as she appeared earlier in the day and could probably handle herself. Until he remembered her tequila comments and how she had felt in his arms.
Soft. Soft-soft-soft. And little. And young. And fresh and pretty and self-deprecating about being too smart. She was vulnerable physically because of her weight and height, not to mention the lack of sleep and nourishment. And maybe she was vulnerable emotionally because of her recent breakup. Listening to those horny sons of bitches carrying on about Sleeping Beauty brought back the fear he’d felt as he stood over her body on the beach worried that she’d OD’d. He couldn’t just stand by and listen any longer. So he cleared his throat and spoke up.
“She’s only twenty. Leave her alone.”
Al
l heads turned and stared. Trevor started to make some wisecrack, but Tray stopped him by grabbing his arm and asking Lane, “You like her?”
He shrugged. “She said her life hurt. Fainted in the goddamn sun. She doesn’t need…this,” he said, indicating their ribald conversation.
“You’re right,” his brother said. “We’ll stop talkin’ about it and stand down.”
“Good,” was all Lane had to say. And he appreciated the nod Tray gave him.
Somehow, Lane Kettering had appointed himself Vivi DuVal’s protector. And beyond that, he just wanted to see her again. Talk to her. Make sure she was all right. But he hadn’t gotten her phone number, and she and the other girls appeared to be no-shows. So he was feeling a good bit of disappointment as he followed his brother’s crowd toward the door of the bar.
Since he’d never been to a strip club before, you’d think he might be feeling a little more excited. It was likely he’d never see Vivi DuVal again, so he needed to get a grip and stop pining for a girl he barely knew. Even if they did share the same birthday-something he never got a chance to tell her.
But glancing up, hope engulfed him as one of Vivi’s friends came through the door just as Trevor was moving out. The two of them stopped and chatted, a couple more of the girls joining the conversation as they entered, both of their groups now clogging up the doorway as they reunited.
Vivi was not there. Lane kept his eyes glued to the door as the rest of the girls kept coming. But Sleeping Beauty with her dark hair and soft little body had yet to make an appearance. Lane rolled his eyes as he caught wind of Trevor trying to convince the girls to come with them to the strip club-yeah right-while he moved through the group and out the door.
There she was, haggling with the bouncer who was studying her I.D. as if he were going to be tested on it later. He maneuvered to her side and even though it took her a double glance, when she did recognize him, she gifted him with a brilliant smile and her full attention.
“Hi,” he said quietly.
“Hi,” she breathed back.
The two of them. Just the two of them. That’s all they needed.
Acting on impulse, he snatched Vivi’s I.D. out of the bouncer’s hand. “It’s a fake. She doesn’t turn twenty-one until tomorrow.” He pulled her away from the bouncer, away from the door, away from the crowd.
“Ahh,” she gasped. “Why did you tell him that?”
“Because it’s true, and you don’t want to go in there anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Because the music sucks, the drinks are pricey, and my buddies and I are leaving for the clichéd strip club. Unless you save me by joining me for a walk on the beach.”
“Save you?”
“Yeah. Do I look like a guy who enjoys strip clubs?”
Vivi looked him up and down and laughed. “Yes. You look exactly like the kind of guy who would enjoy a strip club.”
Lane looked down at his attire. Clean T-shirt, pressed shorts and flip-flops. “What makes you say that?”
“Well…you’re all big and brawny and hairy and just seem to spout testosterone-”
“Spout? Testosterone?” he interrupted in disbelief.
“I just mean…you’re all man.”
“Oh really? Because the way you’re describing me you’d think I was all ape.”
“Oh my God, that is not what I said. At all,” she insisted, giggling, as he started walking them away from the club.
“Then you might want to start clarifying before I take offense and leave you to the boring, over-loud music and high-priced drinks instead of tempting you with this,” he said, pulling her in front of him and turning her in the direction he wanted.
He felt it take her breath away. The scene before them was captivating. Soothing. He had no idea there was going to be a full moon. It was just dumb luck that he’d maneuvered her to a vantage point where they could see the ocean. The moon seemed to be positioned just for them, bright as daylight, shooting its rays along the ocean, shining a wide swath of light across the water, up the beach, and through the buildings to where they stood. It was magic. Romantic. And Lane just kept right on following his instincts when he pulled her gently back to him, her back pressed against his front, bent down toward her shoulder, and leaned in to kiss her neck.
“Text your friends,” he whispered. “Tell them I’ve made you a better offer. I’ve got a car. I’ll make sure you get home safely and before curfew.”
“Curfew,” she snickered. “Fine, but I don’t know the address.”
“Ask them to text it to you.”
She pulled out her phone from a tiny little bag hanging off her shoulder and began to do as he’d instructed. He pulled out his own phone and texted his brother.
“Staying. Vivi. Walk on the beach.”
He shoved the phone back in his pocket and waited for her to finish up. The response was almost immediate. He felt the buzz against his thigh and pulled out his phone.
“Happy Birthday, Bro. If you need privacy, take my room. I certainly won’t be needing it.”
He texted Tray back.
“Fat chance. But I appreciate the thought.”
“What?” she asked.
“What-what?” he asked back, sliding the phone in his pocket and meeting her grin.
“You’re smiling.”
“Am I?” He felt his smile go even bigger. “Just figuring a pretty girl in the moonlight has gotta trump a dive strip club.”
“Oh, Lord.”
“What?”
“I’m not sure I’m gonna measure up to your expectations.”
“I have zero expectations.”
“I mean a strip club has some level of…”
“Debauchery?”
“Well…”
“Depravation?”
“I was thinking excitement. You know…for male apes.”
He laughed. “You don’t think you’re exciting?”
“Compared to a strip club, I’m probably a little tame.”
“Well, let’s see,” he said as he started to walk them across the parking lot. “You started my day off with a good look at your backside all tied up with a pretty bow. That was exciting.” She hung her head, shaking it, so he reached down and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. He laced his fingers through hers as he spoke. “You had me worried you’d died all alone on the beach from some unnatural cause. That got my heart racing pretty good.”
She grinned.
“You passed out in my arms while yelling at me,” he said. “That was exciting.”
“Was I yelling at you?”
“You let me hold you in the water,” he whispered close to her ear as he turned her toward him and crowded her against his car. Though she kept her chin down, her pretty brown eyes glanced up. “That was the best part of my day,” he confessed. “Until you finally decided to show up here.”
“Dinner ran late.”
“Excuses, excuses.”
“I’m glad you were still here.”
“I almost missed you,” he whispered, leaning in.
“You would have had the strip club,” she whispered back.
He shook his head and went in for the kiss. “No comparison,” he said against her lips-those sweet, seductive, holy-cow-I’m-kissing-her lips. Lust exploded and his body took control of his mind, sending his arms around her and his hands up into her hair. Long, curled, pretty-smelling hair. “I like your hair down,” he said against her lips.
She hummed.
“It’s long,” he said, tilting his head to go at her lips from a different angle. “I like long hair,” he said when he came up for breath.
He circled his hands around her waist and twirled them so he was now the one leaning against his father’s Roadster. He spread his legs and pulled her soft body against him, going back in for a long kiss. With tongue this time.
The words, “Oh, God,” tumbled out of him when she opened her mouth under his, causing him to stand up straighter and take t
his kissing business very seriously. He felt a shot of lust from his chest to his groin, and he groaned inwardly as the sensation engulfed him. Her kiss was wild, sexy, and so damn hot, he didn’t realize he had Sleeping Beauty’s ass in his hands until the third time he ground his erection against her.
Holy shit.
“I’m sorry,” he said, pulling from the kiss and dropping his hands.
“Sorry? Sorry for what?” Vivi said, looking bewildered. Dazed even. So he went back in. Hell, if she was riding this thing along with him, far be it for him to put on the brakes.
“Get a room,” he heard some asshole say as he walked by. Lane gave him a sneer as he clutched Vivi to him, ducking her head to his chest so Asshole couldn’t see her face.
“Come on,” he said, looking into her eyes when the coast was clear. “Let’s head out. You told your friends you’re leaving with me?”
She nodded.
“What did they say about that?”
She shrugged.
“Cat got your tongue?”
“No,” she said, feeding him her shy little smile. “I’m just feeling…woozy.”
“Christ, you gonna faint on me again? I thought you just had dinner.”
“Ha,” she barked out a laugh and moved off his body. “You made me woozy. That kiss. All,”-she flipped a finger up and down his form-“that. I guess a guy like you doesn’t need to spend time in strip clubs when he can do all that.”
“All what?”
“You know what.”
“I have no idea what,” he said, dragging her back into his clutches. “But I will pay you cash, right now, if you tell me what I did that got you so…woozy.”
“Your moves.”
“What moves?”
“Your kiss. Those hands. Your body. All those moves.”
He stared at her, uncomprehending. She may as well have been speaking Chinese. “All right. Well…this is interesting,” he said. “I like your moves, too. But I’m pretty sure you were well aware of that.” Vivi leaned in and kissed him quick with a smirky little smile on her lips before he said, “How ‘bout we take all our moves to the beach?”
“I’m yours,” she replied, moving around to the other side of the car.
Passionate Kisses 2 Boxed Set: Love in Bloom Page 60