One thing good about Noah: He was actually interested in more than my boobs. He hadn’t once glanced at them, not that I noticed at least.

“Do you really think sexy sells?” he asked.

We’d been talking about my senior project.

“That’s what I’m set out to prove. But maybe I’m wrong.”

His cute surfer boy looks should have me panting. They didn’t. It was hard enough to ignore Gavin, who had arrived a short time earlier.

“If you need a stats guy, I’m your man.”

I pointed at him. “That’s right. You’re a statistics major with a minor in econ.”

“You remembered.”

His smile was nice and should have been blinding. What was wrong with me? Why did I have to like a guy who didn’t think I was worth his time?

“I did,” I said.

“Is there something going on with you and that guy over there?”

Why did I look? It was like my eyes were laser guided to Gavin. He captivated my attention like he had used some lovesick potion on me.

His expression was smug yet bored. Our eyes connected and he didn’t look away. He brought his cup to his mouth and continued our stare down.

Somehow I managed to break his spell. “Who?” I asked, feigning innocence.

“The good-looking one that can’t keep his eyes off you.”

I blinked. Did he just call him good looking?

“You’re into him?” I asked tentatively.

The space between his brows wrinkled. “No. I’m just man enough to admit when another guy is attractive.”

Gah, he even sounded like a surfer. But I could respect his view.

“The answer to your question is no. There’s absolutely nothing going on between us.”

As the words slipped off my tongue, Derrick approached.

“Can I talk to her for a second?” he asked Noah.

“Sure.”

Then Noah walked off. So much for being a man. He didn’t even ask my opinion on the matter.

“Are you with him now?” Derrick asked.

I let my mouth fall open. “Seriously? I believe we’ve had this conversation before.”

“We never finished it.”

I couldn’t fake shock. I was amazed at his brazen behavior.

“Well, here’s the replay. That’s honestly none of your business,” I said.

If I thought he would get it and walk away, I was so wrong.

“It is when you know I want you back.”

His accusatory finger aimed in Gavin’s direction. At least that time I didn’t look.

Frustration curled my fist. I forced a smile with teeth.

“Sounds like a personal problem. You should probably get that checked out. I hear they have counselors available twenty-four seven for delusional people.”

I spun around and got a face full of beer when I bounced off a wall of muscle. Something like a squeal crossed with a groan escaped my throat. I looked up to the heavens and saw the devil himself. I pulled my wet shirt away from my skin with pinched fingers.

“Is there a problem?” Gavin said, but not to me.

I wanted to stomp my feet and curse the ground he walked on.

“No man, no problem,” Derrick said in defeat.

What a wimp. He must have walked away because Gavin’s head bent to stare down at me.

“Wet?” He had the nerve to smirk at me.

I growled as words failed me and I couldn’t express how ticked off I was.

Next thing I knew, he tossed his empty cup in a bin and then reached for the hem of his Henley shirt. It was over his head and held out to me in offering seconds later.

In the flickering firelight, his rock-hard abs lit up one by one. There should have been a law that no one person could be that perfect.

When I met his gaze again, he was watching me. I snatched the shirt from his hands, because also on highlight were my diamond-hard nipples that clung to the wet fabric. I roughly pulled the shirt over my head and it swallowed me up. A smug smile grew on his lips.

“That’s better,” he said.

Then it dawned on me. He thought he had me covered up.

“Did you do this on purpose?”

“No, but now your tits aren’t on display.”

Well, watch this, I thought. His shirt was black as far as I could tell. I cinched at my waist with a knot, then I undid the few buttons at the top, leaving my cleavage to peek through. Though not as much as my V-neck, but enough I felt vindicated.

“Thanks for your shirt,” I snapped. “And don’t expect it back. I’ll consider it payment for ruining mine.”

He didn’t let me get one step before he blocked my path.

“Wait,” he said.

The arrogance was gone, replaced by something else.

“What?”

Couldn’t he tell by my tone I wasn’t in the mood for his shenanigans?

“I’m sorry.”

The apology was so unexpected since he’d taken forever to say it, I stopped.

“Sorry for what?”

He dragged a hand over his hair, making it sexier.

“For everything. You deserve far better than me, like how Tade is all into your friend. He can give her the world. I can’t give you anything. That’s all I was trying to say the other night.”

It would have been so easy for me to forgive him. But I wasn’t sure I believed him.

“You think all’s good now?” I asked.

“Isn’t it? I did what you asked.”

The next words clung to my throat like molasses because in all honesty, I wanted to forgive him. But I managed to get them out. “Not all of it.”

“What else didn’t I do?”

His face was in shadows, but I managed to see the muscles in his jaw clench.

“Just do us both a favor and stay away from me.” All the bravado had left me, but I finished it. “There’s a sweet guy over there who doesn’t think he’s too good for me.”

“Megan.” His voice was strained and pleading. “I said that’s not what I meant.”

“Yeah, so when did you earn the right to decide who’s good or not good enough for me? Because every time I see you, you’re making choices for me.”

His mouth snapped shut as the bonfire became twin mirrors in his eyes. My rooted feet wanted to stay put. But heavy as they were, like cement block, I managed to stomp away. I headed toward Noah, who was by the keg.