“Why wouldn’t I?” I smiled at him. We both knew I was lying. He just shook his head at me and pulled out his waiter’s pad.
“Care to order?”
“Burger, you know what I like,” I said, distracted by the fact that Trace was on a date out on the verandah. God, didn’t he know this was my place? Beau was my best friend after all. Trace should know better than to bring his dates here. Feeling extraordinarily put out, I kept my eyes trained on the bar as I heard him approach.
“Hey, Trace,” Luna finally said and I knew I had to turn or I would appear to be acting like a petulant child. Which I certainly wasn’t, I thought as I pulled in my lower lip and turned around with a bright smile on my face.
“Hey, how’s it going?” I asked, brightly.
Trace looked good. Like,reallygood. I hadn’t seen him in a couple weeks, as we hadn’t gone on our usual dive trips. Someone had been sleeping in more than usual, and I knew it had to do with the girl hanging on his arm. I included her in my smile, though mentally I was totally judging her.
“You guys remember Sienna, right?” Trace asked casually, his arm draped over her shoulders. Sienna smiled at us, though her eyes narrowed for a moment when her glance slid over me. I knew she was remembering when I’d been bitchy to her on Trace’s boat a while back.
I had to admit they looked cute together. Trace’s lankybuild, his lightweight plaid button-down rolled to his elbows to reveal his tattoos, and his sun-kissed hair pulled back at his neck paired nicely with her petite frame, sandy blonde hair, and perky-all-over cheerleader appeal. I could see why he’d gone for her.
I just didn’t have to like it.
“Did you guys come from a costume party or something?” Sienna asked, wrinkling her nose at our outfits.
“Yup, massive one. You weren’t invited?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. I saw the corner of Trace’s mouth quirk slightly in a smile.
“No, but I’m new here, so I’m not surprised,” Sienna said easily.
“Well, it was loads of fun. Maybe next time,” I added, deciding not to be a total bitch. I didn’t necessarily want to bully the poor girl for being new in town. It wasn’t like she’d stolen my boyfriend, I silently reminded myself. I’m the one who had chosen Cash over Trace.
So why did it bother me so much to see Trace with another girl? I’d been friends with Trace for years now and we’d never crossed the line that would take us from friendship into something more. At least, not until a little while ago, when we’d both been single at the same time and Cash had entered the picture. All of a sudden, Trace had been all up in my personal space.
And I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t liked it.
Let me tell you, it’s no fun picking between two hot men. There’s a good chance they’ll both get fed up with you and kick you to the curb, and there’s also a good chance you may pick the wrong one. I know itsoundslikea fun problem to have, but the situation had bothered me more than I’d cared to admit at the time.
Now I was looking at Trace in a new light – and it had nothing to do with being dive buddies, and everything to do with being bedroom buddies. I blew out a breath and scolded myself. Clearly, Cash had been out of town for too long and my hormones were overtaking my usual good sense. Strike that – my occasional good sense.
It figures that two men would come along in my life at the exact same time. Or at least make their interest known at the exact same time. I mean, where’d they been the past six years when I’d been dating someone once every six months at best and supremely unhappy with my love life? Yes, I’d asked the universe for some help with my love life, and it had certainly delivered. A little too abundantly, I might add.
“Well, we’re going to get going. We want to catch up on the last season of Scandal,” Sienna chirped.
I raised my eyebrow at Trace and he blushed a little under my scrutiny, shrugging awkwardly.
“Have fun, see you tomorrow,” I said pointedly to Trace.
“Yes, I can’t wait to learn to dive,” Sienna gushed and my eyes shot to Trace’s face as I tilted my head in question. Did she just say she was joining us on our dive tomorrow?
Trace shrugged his shoulders guiltily.
“Yeah, um, I told Sienna I’d teach her the ropes. When she heard we were going diving in the morning, she told me how much she wanted to learn.”
I glanced at Sienna and she met my look, her eyes wide and guileless.
Oh, I justbetyou wanted to learn, I thought.
“Great! I’m sure she’ll have fun seeing the sharks,” I said breezily, turning back to the bar as my food was served, but not before I saw Sienna blanch a little.
“You didn’t say anything about sharks,” I heard her saying as Trace led her from the restaurant.
“Where does she think the sharks live?” I demanded of Luna.
“Maybe I’d better go along in the morning to make sure you don’t drown her,” Luna said, taking a bite of her salad.
