“Ew.” Alex curled her lip. “He’s like a brother to me. Theyallare.”
“All except for Mason,” Chrissy countered.
“Right.” Alex’s shoulders drooped dejectedly as she rubbed more sunscreen between her hands. “Except for Mason, because he’s like…” Her voice trailed off. “I don’t know. There’s something about him. A steadiness. A…calmness. My entire life, my brain has buzzed nonstop. But when I’m near him, even when he’s grumbling and growling at me, everything slows down. Maybe that’s why I propositioned him. Because when he’s near, I can focus on one thing,thething, instead of the million other thoughts and ideas I’m usually dealing with.” Chrissy was watching her closely, so she hurried to add, “Plus, you know, it helps that he’s hubba-hubbahot.”
“They’reallhubba-hubba hot,” Chrissy muttered. “It’s like opening up a damnedGQmagazine every time I come out to Wayfarer Island. If they don’t manage to find theSanta Cristina, they can always join the exotic dancers of Chippendales.”
“One problem with that.” Alex lifted a finger. “Have you seen LT dance?”
Chrissy shuddered. “He looked like he’d broken his leg on the dance floor last night.”
Alex marveled at how a man with so much natural athleticism and coordination couldn’t seem to keep a beat. “But what he lacks in skill, he makes up for with enthusiasm.”
“It’s something that once seen can’t be unseen,” Chrissy agreed, and they broke into a fit of giggles.
Sobering, Alex returned to their previous topic. “You’re right about Romeo, though. He would’ve been the smarter choice.”
Chrissy lifted one shoulder. “Sometimes what our loins want makes no sense at all. That doesn’t stop us from following their lead anyway. And Mason does have that whole tough, gruff, ultra-alpha thing going for him.”
Alex sighed. “Which makes it doubly irritating that he refuses to believe me when I tell him all I’m after is a little theme-park-level fun in the sun. Or under the moon. Or, heck, I’d settle for out behind a dumpster at this point.”
Chrissy laughed. “What about Tinder? You put up a profile, and I guarantee you’ll be missing a maidenhead by midnight.”
Alex’s expression was one of disgust. “Come on! It’s my first time. At the very least I’d like to know the guy’s real name.”
“There is that,” Chrissy agreed.
Tired of being the subject at hand, Alex slid Chrissy a considering look. “Speaking of sex and alpha men, what’s up between you and Wolf?”
Chrissy frowned. “Nice segue.”
“It’s proven that a person’s ability to steer a conversation is directly proportional to their IQ.”
“Or the fact that they’re a Nosy Nancy.”
“That too.” Alex admitted freely. “But I mean, there for a while, I thought maybe you two might hook up and—”
“Yeah, me too.” Chrissy cut her off. “I mean, how could Inothave wanted that? The man is six-plus feet of steely muscles and smooth, dark skin. Not to mention his cheekbones. Have you seen them? They could cut glass. Then again, looks aren’t everything. And besides, it’s worked out. With all the new business I’m getting by teaming up with Deep Six, I don’t have time for penis-sporting humans.”
Alex snorted. “Yeah, but that won’t stop the penis-sporting humans from making time for you. You’re smart. You’re funny. And you can rock a tank top.”
She eyed Chrissy’s cleavage with envy. What she wouldn’t give to have C cups. But she was firmly and decidedly only a B. And without the help of a skilled plastic surgeon, she’d had to give up hoping for further growth.
“You’re really not going to tell me what happened between you two, are you?” she asked after she finished coating her legs with SPF 50 and recapping the sunscreen.
“No way.” Chrissy shook her head. “It’s too embarrassing.”
“Embarrassing?” Alex huffed. “I admitted that no one has ever punched a hole in my V-card! Nothing could be more—”
“Hold that thought.” Chrissy pointed a finger over Alex’s shoulder.
When Alex turned, she found Mason was no longer in the pilothouse. A quick glance assured her Wolf had taken over captaining duties. Now, Mason stood at the edge of the trampoline, looking all brown and brawny and…to steal a line from the Campbell’s Soup commercials…mmm-mmm good.
He should never wear anything but swim trunks, she decided. All those gleaming muscles? All that delicious skin? All that crinkly, black man hair that bloomed across his pectoral muscles and arrowed down his corrugated belly to disappear beneath his waistband? It should be proudly displayed.
Always.
“Alex.” Lordy, she loved the way he grumbled her name. “Can I get a word with ya?” His accent made it sound more likeCannah getta word witya?
