However, he looked over to me and poked me in the arm again before looking back at his movie. The simple touch sent a weird rumbling in my stomach. Yup, this was high school crush vibes for real.
I tore open my premium snacks and looked away from him. I would not fall for this guy, even if my father had literally hand selected him. And my dad had done a thorough job at picking the guys. I’d finally opened the box to find his grimoire and extensive notes and pictures of the men. They were all fine as hell. How did a group of sexy guys find each other? I would have to learn that eventually. I also needed to know more about what happened to the last omega. The notes were pretty vague on that. Kai would have a lot of talking to do on this trip.
When we got to the hotel, we were lucky not to have a long wait to get our rooms. Once again, Kai got us an upgrade overlooking the beach, and we got rooms right next to each other. Our room was huge and bright with all the modern touches, along with a seating area, a microwave and a tiny refrigerator which was fully stocked. Kai made a point of saying we could take what we wanted out of there. What kind of investments had this man made all his life? Actually, how old was he?
Once in my room, I began to unpack.
Lila put her hands on her hips, a bikini in her hand. “Let’s head to the beach before the sun goes down. It’s already after two. I think your clothes will be okay if they stay in the suitcase a couple hours longer.”
I pulled out a few dresses and hung them up in the closet near the door. “At least let me hang these up so the wrinkles can come out. You know how I am.”
She nodded, stripping out of her clothes. “Yeah. I don’t see how that demon is going to win you over. But he’s kind of likable.”
I raised my eyebrows in surprise. “Hey, hey, can you change in the bathroom? The curtains are wide open!”
She looked behind her toward the balcony. “Maybe some cute guy will like what he sees.” Seeing my shocked face, she giggled. “We’re on a high floor. Unless there’s a flying peeping tom, I think we’re okay.”
I grabbed my black one-piece and stomped to the bathroom. “Well, there could literally be a flying peeping tom. Some paranormals fly.”
I closed the door to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the jacuzzi tub. A nice soak sounded good right at the moment. Then again, I was sweating like a pig. My temperature had been set on high all day so far. I hadn’t even bothered leaving the apartment with a jacket to go to the airport. And I had been feeling a little achy in my back. Almost like when my period was about to start. Except I had just gotten off of it a couple of days ago. Maybe I’d make a spa appointment. A massage could do me some good. Oh, who was I kidding? I knew these were all signs of my impending transition.
I heard a knock at the door. “Come on, girlie. We got surf and sand, well, mostly sand, to tackle!” Lila shouted.
“Coming!” I called, stripping out of my clothes quickly and putting on my swimsuit and a colorful coverup. I piled my hair into a high ponytail before leaving the bathroom.
Once we got situated on the beach right in front of the resort, Kai in tow, I began to relax a bit more. I had my e-reader, a frozen pina colada, and the sound of the waves. I was ready for my happiness to come.
Lila let out a huff. Clearly, she wasn’t on the same vibration I was on. “You know, with Kai around, I’m not sure how I’m going to meet any guys. He’ll scare them all away.”
I pushed my thumb back at him on my left. “I have him sitting beside me, so you aren’t even near him. They’ll, unfortunately, think he’s my guy.”
He grumbled something I couldn’t hear and sat up in the lounger to look over at Lila. “I can be your wingman.”
She raised her frozen margarita in salute to him before taking a sip.
It took nothing to pacify her.
I turned to him. He was stretched back down again on the lounger. He was wearing black trunks. The muscles in his olive tanned arms, stomach and legs popped under the sunlight. His body was a mass of black ink, but it didn’t detract from his shape, and my eyes kept glancing down at his sculpted thighs glistening under the sun. He could have been a middle-weight boxer or some type of athlete at one point, but the guy kept his six-pack. A slight line of dark hair ran the navel of his hard stomach to the top of his trunks, and I fought with all my might not to trail it with my fingers.
I made the mistake of looking up at his face, and he was grinning, probably at me. Dang it, he knew I was checking him out. That was very much not what I wanted. “Will you be a wingman for me?” I asked jokingly.
He lost his smile. “Absolutely not. I will cock block you this whole trip. I should have mentioned that as a disclaimer. And if you test me, I might just kill any guy who steps toward you.” He seemed very serious when he said that, his eyes flashing red.
I groaned in annoyance. Maybe this trip wouldn’t be so relaxing.
CHAPTER5
BILLIE
By the second day on the beach, I began to wonder if I should extend the trip. With the afternoon sun’s rays beating down across my legs, I wanted more. It was also an escape from home. From the memories of my father I would have to face when I looked at his things. Thinking of him again twisted my heart. If he were alive, I’d be face timing him, showing him the ocean. He’d ask me to drink a margarita for him and then proceed to tell me to be safe and watch my drinks.
Currently, I was seated partially under a cabana facing the expansive pool area and the beach. Lila and Kai thought they’d continue the superstar treatment and book the cabana for the rest of the trip. It was a smart idea. I loved the sun, but I didn’t want to be burning under it all day, nor was a tan a priority for me.
I looked over to Lila playing volleyball in the water with a group of other vacationers. She was so extroverted, and it didn’t hurt that there were a few cute guys in the group that seemed unattached. I put my e-reader down beside me, needing a break from my book. Kai rolled over way too close to me, and I gave him a warning look. Just because I found him sexy didn’t mean I was going to give in to his playfulness. I wanted him as eye candy only. That was it. That had to be it.
He didn’t move. He really was testing me. “Want me to call for another drink?” He motioned his head over to my empty mojito.
I shook my head. “I need to take a water break. I don’t want to over drink. It’s only Thursday. I want to be fresh for the trip to the El Yunque rainforest and the bioluminescent bay.”
