Twenty-six

ANDREW

“What the hell has gotten into you?” Gabriel asks as we make our way back to my house after a six-mile run around Montauk.

My longtime friend is feeling blindsided by the fact that I’ve invited Lilah on this trip and I can’t say I blame him.

“You’re bringing sand to the beach,” he puffs out still trying to catch his breath.

I stare at him amused by his obvious annoyance. I waited until the end of our run to sneak in the fact that I’d be having a guest for the long weekend and that he’d be surfing for chicks on his own.

“And since when can you tolerate a girl for more than a few seconds?” he quizzes, posing a question that I really don’t have an answer to.

That night on the yacht words just started falling out of my mouth unchecked and I can’t even blame it on being drunk. I should have left well enough alone after achieving my goal in her apartment that night.

But the body wants what it wants. At least that’s what I tell myself because it’s the most comforting. I’ve developed an appetite that only Lilah has the ability to satisfy, leaving me weak to resist her pull on me.

“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly, using the towel tucked into the waist of my shorts to dry the sweat on my face.

“She’s put a spell on your ass, that’s what. I’ve never seen you with a chick for more than one night,” he continues as we make our way up the residential area leading to the more sprawling estates.

It’s easy enough to ignore him until he takes his final jab.

“I can’t believe it,” Gabriel grumbles in awe. “You’re pussywhipped.”

“Watch it,” I warn as my beach house comes into view. I spot an unfamiliar Range Rover in the driveway and assume it must belong to Lilah’s friend, Charli.

When I stop walking, Gabriel has no choice but to do the same. I take a moment to size him up. He’s a couple inches shorter than my six-foot-three-inches but still tall by most standards.

I’ve known him since I was a kid but we only became close once our parents shipped us off to Columbia University ten years ago. His business degree made his dad a lot prouder than the fine arts degree I showed my parents on graduation day.

Now, he spends his days as an executive for his father’s marketing empire in the City. But our friendship had always remained solid no matter the different paths we took in life.

“Look,” I say, kicking at the gravel under my running shoes. “Just act like you have some sense when we get in there. Her friend is going to be here too and I don’t need you scaring them off.”

Looking amused, Gabriel shakes his but agrees while clapping me on the back. “Whatever you say, boss. How did you two meet again?”

“She’s my financial advisor,” I fill him in as we start walking again.

This time he’s the one to stop walking.

I pause and look at him. “What?”

“Your financial advisor?”

“Yeah,” I nod.

“I’ve been trying to get you in with my guy for the past year and some chick with a pretty face is all it took?”

Chuckling, I head for the house again but not before I hear him mutter something laughingly under his breath.

“Son of a bitch.”

***

Lilah’s voice reaches me before I see her. We’ve just stepped into the house, but I make a beeline for the sliding backdoor when I hear splashing and laughter.

Gabriel’s right on my heels, his shower forgotten.

Body glistening with tanning oil, Lilah is stretched out on a lounger with oversized glasses covering her face. Her bikini is barely there, the thin red straps crisscrossing dangerously and hardly covering anything.

I need to have a seat before I announce to everyone present just how excited I am to see her.

I’ve almost reached Lilah’s chair when movement from the corner of my eye steals my attention.

A petite woman in a yellow swimsuit is sitting at the edge of the pool with her feet dangling in the water. Charli.

She smiles and waves at me as if we’ve met before. The woman stands and starts walking to us when Lilah looks up at me from her lounging position.

“Hi,” she greets, shooting me an inviting smile.

I drop onto the seat near her feet and instinctively pull her feet into my lap.

“How was your trip, Cupcake?”

She twists her lips in a wry smile just as Charli appears at her side.

“Don’t you dare complain about my driving,” the small woman warns making Lilah laugh.

“I wasn’t going to say a thing about your lead foot,” Lilah jokes. Then she turns to me to make the introductions.

“So you’re the guy my best friend won’t shut up about,” Charli says, extending her hand in my direction.

Surprised, I stare at Lilah only to find her blushing. Even under the clunky sunglasses, her red cheeks are visible.

On my feet, I hug Charli and welcome her to my home.

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Charli. I’m glad you could make it with Lilah. Thanks for getting her here safely,” I say with an easy smile.

“Thanks for having me, but we’ve met before,” she informs me.

I frown and instantly look to Lilah for help but she ignores me. Payback for laughing at her secret.

“At the bar. But it’s no surprise that you don’t remember. You only had eyes for Lilah. Much like right now,” she teases.

The only thing I remember about that night is Lilah and that damn cupcake. Everything else is a blur…

I’m just about to apologize for my flightiness when Gabriel clears his throat from the door.

Shit.

I forgot all about him.

He steps forward and nods politely at Lilah after I make introductions. Then his eyes are trained solely on Charli.

As the two of them chat, I drop down into the oversized seat with Lilah again. Taking in her oiled body is going to be my undoing.

“You’re killing me with this bikini.” Reaching up, I tug gently at the strings knotted at her hip bone.

Lilah shivers in response before recovering and giving me a coy smile.

“Oh, do you like it?”

Groaning at her playful tone, I gaze at her unblinking. “More than like it.”

Tossing a furtive glance in the direction of the pool, Lilah seems to weigh our options before speaking.

“Show me,” she dares, her legs rubbing across my lap in open invitation.

Before she can finish, I’m standing with her thrown over my shoulder.

Her squealing draws the attention of Charli who looks on amused as I walk back through the double doors. And Gabriel is too busy gawking at her to notice us.

“What about Charli? I can’t leave her alone in a strange place!” Lilah says, smacking at my legs once I reach the staircase.

“She’ll be just fine without us.”