7 Dirty Lies: a Tease Novel Page 2

  He was a good friend. “I’ve thought about it. I actually had an idea yesterday on the beach.”

  His face lit up with excitement. “See? You needed a little relaxation. You know what helps with that, right?”

  “Don’t push it.” I warned.

  But he just grinned, leaning closer. “Sexy. Alone. Freakishly serious while on vacation . . . he’s your soul mate.” Ted said it with a dramatic flare. “He’s barely cracked a smile, just like you. Maybe you can make each other smile.”

  “Is that why you haven’t found any lady friends on this trip? Are you waiting for me to do it first?”

  “Get a lady friend or just get laid?”

  “Ted. Please don’t avoid having fun on my account.” I completely ignored his joke.

  Damn. I really wasn’t fun anymore.

  He shot me a stern look. “Lily Lawrence, you are my best friend but even you couldn’t keep me from someone if I thought they were worth my attention. There hasn’t been . . . ” His eyes shot up over my shoulder and held, his attention clearly stolen by something fascinating.

  When I turned around I found a stunning brunette with the best Resting Bitch Face settling into the lounger across and down from us. She was athletically built with gorgeous hair and skin, but clearly had zero interest in being friendly with anyone—especially Ted. I could tell by the glare she sent his way.

  “Down boy. That one’s not interested.”

  But his gaze stayed locked on the woman. “Never hurts to try.”

  Which surprised me since this particular woman was neither blonde nor leggy. “I don’t know Ted, this one might hurt.”

  The corner of his lip twitched up. “The best ones always do.”

  He hopped up. “Well since you seem to be doing better and I have finally found someone worth getting punched in the nuts for, I’ll leave you to it.” He was gone before I could even wish him luck.

  I snuck a peek across the pool . . . and caught Cowboy staring.

  At me.

  A shiver raced down my spine as our eyes collided. The heat I saw there combined with the fact that he didn’t flinch or look away when I caught him? No, instead he owned it, drank me in for another long moment, then gave me a curt nod before putting his sunglasses back on and closing his computer.

  The blood pounded in my ears as I processed my reaction. What was this thing I was feeling? I was attracted to Cowboy, there was zero doubt about that, but it was more. Something I couldn’t quite name. My skin tingled just thinking about him but when he looked at me? Those tingles turned to fire. And it wasn’t just because I liked the way he looked in that hat and those trunks. It was him. His mood, his attitude. The way he focused on his work at a pool in the middle of paradise, the way it seemed to irritate him even as he took care of it. I was attracted to his commitment.

  That was something very important to me. I grew up with two parents who lacked that word in their vocabulary. I got lucky being the favorite child, not that it was much of an improvement over what my older sister put up with. Having a crown hanging over your head is hard enough to live up to, but when your parents make your family dynasty look like a joke?

  Well, let’s just say there are more than a few memes floating around about my lack of talent.

  Which is fine. It hurts to see people judging me and making fun of me because of my name, but it also gives me something to work for. Every time I step onto a new set it’s with conviction. I will play this role as if it were my sole purpose for living. I will be better than everyone else. I will live up to my grandmother’s name.

  Eventually I will have done this enough that the jokes will stop and people will start taking me seriously.

  That is . . . if I could get my parents to act like adults for a few months in a row.

  “Um . . . did you order a shrimp cocktail?”

  I turned into a wall of muscle. My eyes traveled up the well-defined abs, over the gorgeously strong shoulders, and up into the eyes of my cowboy. He had a golden glow around him thanks to the bright blue sky, but it was really hard to miss the fact that it matched the blue in his eyes.

  “Ummm . . . no?”

  He shifted uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, you see the kid who’s been running all our food today? He stopped me at the bar and said the redhead across from me needed this right away and I needed to take it to you. When I asked why he said to tell you ‘You’re welcome, Princess. Now have fun.’” He made a face. “I really hope that made sense to you because it sounds crazy to me.”

  Ted was going to die. He was the only person on the planet who called me Princess and it was an old joke that went back to high school. “Yes, that actually does make sense. I’m sorry you got pulled into that.” I took the cocktail and set it on the table, surprised by how much I felt the sexy cowboy standing next to me.

  Weird.

  “It’s okay. I mean, I’m always happy to lend a hand.” He shifted onto his heels and shrugged. “Are you really a princess?”

  “No!” I laughed. “I just have a nosy friend with a terrible sense of humor.”

  “You never know at a place like this.”

  “True. Are you a prince?”

  He grinned. “Not even close.”

  “Would you like to sit?” I gestured to the empty chair beside me.

  He hesitated. “The gentleman you’re with?”

  “Is currently working on getting himself killed.” I pointed over to where Ted was attempting to put the moves on the brunette who’d caught his eye. “Ted is my best friend. We are most definitely not together.”

  “Then yes, I’d like to sit for a minute.” He’d left his hat by his chair but I found that he didn’t look all that different. Still rugged. Still masculine. The man had presence, that was for sure. He held himself with authority. The kind that my father, “the war hero”, was known for. Except Roger always came off as arrogant to me, as if everyone should fall at his feet simply because he was Roger Lawrence, whereas this cowboy had an ease that went hand in hand with his confidence, as if he were very comfortable being a man of authority and he’d give you a dozen reasons why if you needed it. There was intelligence in his eyes as he quickly observed his surroundings, and a kind smile for each person he made eye contact with—until he reached me.

  That kindness seemed to grow into something quite different each time our eyes locked. Maybe I was imagining it because I wanted him to crave me the same way I was already craving him, but I didn’t think so.

  “I noticed you were working a few minutes ago. I think that’s against the rules of the resort, Mister . . . ”

  “Colt,” he said quickly, his voice rumbling. “My name is Colt, no mister or sir, if you please. And you are?”

  “Annie,” I said without thinking. It was the name I always used on vacation but the minute it was out of my mouth I regretted it. The way his eyes lit up when I gave him my name made me wish it were really for me, not the persona I took on in the name on anonymity.

  “Nice to meet you, Annie.” Then he nodded at the ear buds hanging around my neck. “What are you listening to?”

  Not much since you’ve been distracting me all day. “An audiobook. I thought it would be easier than trying to read by the pool but it turns out I prefer the real thing.” I loved to read, to escape into a story and live another life for a few hours. A sure sign I’d gotten too stressed—I couldn’t remember the last book I read. At the airport I grabbed two books out of desperation but I never made it past the first chapter of either book. I couldn’t tell if it was the writing or my brain. That’s when Ted suggested the audiobook.

  “What’s it about?” Colt leaned back on his hands and crossed his feet at the ankles, giving me a fantastic view of his long, lean, muscular body.

  I swallowed. “Um . . . ” Not your abs, damn it all. “It’s a mystery, but the narrator is very dry. I’m bored to tears.”

  His blue eyes danced and his lips curved at the corners as he caught me ogling his washboard
stomach. “Do you usually read mysteries?”

  I should feel embarrassed being caught like that, but I wasn’t. Probably because of the smugness I saw in his eyes. He knew I liked what I saw. The question now was, what was he going to do with that information? Would he be an ass or a gentleman? Some men would take that as an open invitation to turn our conversation directly toward a one-night stand. “Sometimes. I like a little bit of everything and I thought a mystery would make a good audiobook. I was wrong.”

  That’s when he surprised me. “I’ve really been into the spoken word podcasts and poetry lately. There’s something so passionate about—what?” He stopped midsentence and narrowed his eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “You like poetry?” My heart beat faster. Suddenly I didn’t really care about smugness anymore. Not if it came with a love of poetry.

  “Yes,” he said slowly. “Do you?”

  “Very much. And sometimes I write it.”

  His smile returned, even warmer than before. “Really? See, I don’t think I could write it, but I love to read it.”

  My heart took off in triple time. Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to explore the reasons why. Behind me a woman’s voice rose up.

  “I think you need to cool off, pretty boy,” she shouted.

  I spun around just as she picked up her glass of ice water and . . . no . . . she wasn’t . . .

  Splash.

  She doused Ted right in the face, the water dripping down his bare chest and pooling at his feet.

  All with a grin on his face.

  Then he shivered. “That’s better,” he said. “Nice and cool. Now, where were we?”

  Her eyes narrowed, her lips pursing as she scowled, but not in a terribly upset way. No, actually, she looked a little turned on, to be honest. As if his antics were exactly what she needed.

  I was fascinated to see how this unfolded. My money was on Ted getting carted off by security five seconds after she kneed him in the balls.

  “You can go back to your girlfriend and leave me in peace,” she shouted, waving at me.

  Me?

  I shook my head, holding up my hands in protest, at the exact same time Ted laughed. “Her? Oh no, sweetheart, we aren’t together.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Sweetheart?”

  He stepped back. “Princess?”

  “Princess?”

  He stepped back again, white as a sheet. “Angel?”

  She stood up. “Do I look like a fucking angel to you?”

  Then she stepped toward him as he stepped back . . . and right into the pool.

  Splash.

  Well, one thing was for sure, he’d be really cool now.

  “Princess?” Colt murmured. “Your friend sent that shrimp cocktail over, didn’t he?”

  I spun back around, catching Colt’s gaze in hopes that he wasn’t freaked out. “Ted is the only one allowed to call me that, so yes.”

  He glanced back at the tall crystal glass with six large shrimp curled over the sides. “Why?” His voice was deeper now. Rougher. Like he’d gone on the defensive.

  Interesting.

  Did he think this was a setup? I mean, it was, sort of. Ted had sent the cocktail over in the hopes we’d talk, but it was just a gentle nudge. It wasn’t as if I were trying to trick him into a date or anything. This was about setting me up with an opportunity to flirt, but maybe from Colt’s side it looked more like a trap.

  And by the way his eyes had narrowed into two wary slits, I had to wonder how many times Colt had gotten used for his position—because that was exactly what his reaction had to be. I knew because I’d been in the same situation more times than I could count.

  At least this would be easy, if not slightly embarrassing, to explain.

  “My guess?” I took a deep breath and blurted out the truth. “He knows I find you attractive, and since I’m here to forget about my real life and relearn how to relax, I’m pretty sure Ted saw a chance to put us together in the hopes something fun would happen.”

  Colt’s gaze snapped up to mine and held. For a few moments I didn’t hear the splashing behind me or the laughter of the woman who’d pushed Ted. I didn’t hear the pool or the crashing waves of the Atlantic beyond. I didn’t even hear the murmurs from the other guests. Because in that moment an understanding passed between us. His eyes softened as he realized his mistake, and then grew darker with what I could only describe as protectiveness.

  “Do you want something to happen?” he asked, watching my reaction carefully.

  Yes. I wanted him to look at me just like that for the next two days. I wanted to feel free to be anything I wanted to be with a man who’d appreciate the rarity of it all. “Are you single?” I held my breath.

  His gaze dipped, studying the curve of my lips as a sadness seemed to fall over him. “I’m very much married to my work. So yes, I’m single.”

  There would be no work on this island. “Then yes, I’d like to see what happens.”

  He searched my eyes. What he was looking for, I couldn’t tell. “Relearning how to relax, huh?” He kicked up an eyebrow. “Sounds like we’re here for the same reasons. I’m a workaholic and you’re?”

  “Too invested in things I can’t change.”

  He nodded, seeming to understand. “Can I take you to dinner? I’m sick of eating alone and I’d really like to keep talking to you.”

  He really was on vacation at an exclusive resort all alone? That seemed . . . well . . . lonely. “I would enjoy that.” Even if it was just an hour of conversation over food with a sexy man, and nothing more.

  He stood up and held out his hand. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable so I won’t ask for your bungalow number, but I’ll be waiting in the gazebo in an hour. I really like the food at the Starboard. Have you eaten there yet?”

  I shook my head, struck by how considerate he was. It was a very pleasant change from what I was used to.

  “Well then we’ll go tonight.”

  I slid my hand into his, knowing before it happened that touching Colt would feel a lot like magic. I was glad I was sitting. His hand tightened around mine like he needed it to stay steady, and when I glanced up I found his eyes just as wide with surprise as mine were.

  Holy hell.

  What was this?

  But I didn’t have time to dwell on it because he smiled and released my hand, his gaze darting up and over my shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  He started back toward his chair and then turned, grinning back at me with a boyish charm. “An hour, Annie. Be ready!”

  My heart leapt into my throat. Colt was . . . well, he was unlike any man I’d ever met before and that scared me a little. My whole life I’d wondered if I would ever feel what my grandmother had described in her memoire about the day she met my grandfather. The detail of how electric it felt, the way her toes curled in her shoes when they kissed. It had seemed unfathomable that a stranger could make you feel that way.

  It wasn’t so unfathomable any more. I was pretty sure Colt’s handshake had just proven that.

  CHAPTER 2

  “She loves me,” Ted sighed, breaking into my thoughts as he collapsed, soaking wet, onto the chair beside me.

  “How do you manage to come away from that encounter thinking she loves you?”

  He folded his hands behind his head and grinned up at the sun. “I can feel it.”

  My skin tingled, drawing my attention across the pool. Colt had packed up his laptop and slung a towel over his shoulder, but his eyes were on me as he sauntered away.

  I can feel it, too. “That’s ridiculous, Theodore. She hates you.”

  “She loves me. She wants me. And she shall have me—any which way she prefers.”

  He was insane. “Just remember, noses can be fixed.” He may be harmless but I wouldn’t blame her if she clocked him in the face.

  He sighed. “I promise if she says no again I’ll leave her be.”

  “Good boy.”


  “And you. Did you enjoy your shrimp cocktail?”

  I glanced at the still uneaten food and plucked one from the rim. “I don’t like being set up, but considering I have a date in an hour I won’t have time to be mad.”

  Ted hooted and fist-pumped the air. “I knew it. What did you think? Does he have a twang? One of those deep, rough cowboy voices like Eastwood?”

  This was probably why Ted was my best friend. He was a man eight-five percent of the time, but that last fifteen? He was all girl. It was the perfect mix.

  “No twang but his voice is rough and little on the deep side. He has good rumble.”

  Ted leaned forward on his hands and batted his eyelashes, his voice falsetto. “And you were all swoony when he flashed that dimple.”

  Well, there was that. “I told him my name was Annie.”

  Ted dropped the Gossip Girl act. “Good. Stick with that. It’s safer for you.”

  “Do you really think anyone here is going to out me?” There was only one way on and one way off this island, and all of it went through resort security.

  “No,” he said carefully, “but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt you to have to answer those questions. It will bring up all those things you came here to forget. Be Annie with the cowboy. It’s not like you two are starting some sort of love affair that will turn into forever, right?”

  I felt a little ache at that possibility being wiped right off the table before we even had a meal together. “No. This is vacation fun and nothing else.” But it didn’t mean I liked being told I had limits. I fucking hated limits.

  “Then go get dressed up for your date and stop worrying. Is this a habit now? Do you worry about everything?”

  “No.”

  “Good.”

  Then my stupid phone vibrated on the table between us. Ted snatched it right out from under my hand. “Ah, ah, ah. Careful.”

  “It’s my phone.” He’d been big brothering me the entire time and it was getting annoying.

  “True, but you shouldn’t even have the cell service on. Airplane mode is the only way to properly vacation. You’ve forced me into this.”