Chapter Thirty-Nine
Out by the pool, my neighbours have been busy laying plates of nibbles and coolers of beer under the cabana. Placing my own jug of sangria on the table, I discretely readjust the sarong over my half masticated bum, and grab a beer from the esky or cooler or whatever it’s called here. With the intentions of taunting Niamh from a safe distance, I take a wedge of lime from a baggy and stuff it into the bottle-neck with a grin.
Foodandbooze—suck it, Niamh!
It’s pretty hot still, the air heavy with a moisture that clings to my bare skin as I follow Niamh to a table of girls, turning when a deep voice calls my name. Matt saunters across the tiles, casual in loud board shorts and a tee, his blonde hair tussled in a way you know there has to be product involved.
‘Hey, Matt.’ Taking me by surprise, he wraps me in a tight hug. I’m immobile in his embrace for a beat, bangle-covered arms suspended awkwardly in the air before I settle on an ineffectual one-handed pat on his back, the other still holding my beer.
‘You look great.’ He holds me by the shoulders, his warm, brown eyes fixed on mine. But at least he isn’t staring at my boobs.
‘Thanks.’ I grimace awkwardly, glancing away. ‘I’ve been meaning to apologise about my dummy-chuck the other day. Sorry,’ I add, with a small shrug.
‘Yeah, sure... I think.’ His words trail off in a confused sounding chuckle.
‘My outburst? Bawling at you then bailing. In the car?’ I was a little abrupt when he’d asked if I’d like to go for a drink, but then again, he was a bit rude about Kai. ‘And I never really said thanks for the drinks and the distraction after my mum... well, her call.’ Self-conscious and entirely uncomfortable, I step away, swallowing a mouthful of my rapidly warming beer.
‘Any time,’ he answers. ‘No worries, right?’
His mimicry of my accent makes me smile. I’m relieved and grateful at his efforts to ease my discomfort. He’s a nice guy, if a little bit overprotective, though God knows why he feels the need to be. I’m glad we can be friends, now I’ve set him straight. Told him I’m seeing Kai.
‘Hey, I see you’re not just a martini girl?’ He eyes my bottle, gaze remaining at my mouth when the bottle does not. ‘Listen, Kate—’
The remainder of his sentence goes unheard as I’m lifted from the ground and swung around by—
‘Kai!’
His eyes burn bright for a moment before he kisses me thoroughly, his hands on my bare back. Overt PDA’s are usually a total turn-off—I’m normally the one muttering ‘get a room’—but I respond to him almost on instinct, melting into him and rising on my toes to better reach his mouth. Thoughts disappear in an instant, discomfort ebbing away at his touch. I’m insensible to our surroundings until he literally sets me back on my heels, turning me. Arms draped around my waist, he rests his chin on my shoulder from behind. I’m all heaving boobs and jelly legs from his swoon-worthy kiss and I wonder if he can feel me tremble.
‘I’ve missed you,’ he whispers into my hair.
His intimate admission thrills me, but as Matt coughs, my wits return from love central, discomfort colouring my face. In the efforts to re-establish a sense of decorum, I decide official introductions are in order, even though each man is aware of the other, in a slightly uncomfortable way.
‘Kai, this is Matt, my neighbour. Matt, this is Kai, my...’Friend? No, we’ve already established that isn’t appropriate. The man I’m trying not to love? Nope, that cat’s staying in the bag and I’ll drown it if necessary. What about my current pash? Squeeze? The man who fucks both my body and mind?
‘Boyfriend,’ Kai finishes succinct, stepping around me and offering a hand to Matt as the other lies at my hip, possessive still.
Did I miss that announcement somehow? Maybe he whispered it to me while I was asleep?
Matt looks sceptical for a beat, and why wouldn’t he be, especially as I look surprised myself. ‘I thought you said—’ With an intake of breath, he seems to swallow something that looks suspiciously like anger before starting again. ‘Have you known each other long?’
Another tricky one to answer. I purse my lips against telling him we’ve been together since his drunken advances pushed me into Kai’s arms.
Standing by my side, Kai glances back at me with entirely too innocent eyes.
‘Strange, I can’t remember a time before.’ Vomit inducing? Not at all. His tone is so rich and buttery, it practically melts along my neck. Wrapping both arms once more around me, he rubs his cheek against my hair. ‘Did I hear someone’s making martinis?’
I wonder what the Arabic forah, shitis?’
‘Not today,’ Matt answers, slightly amused as he gestures to the bottle still in my hand. ‘I made Kate martinis last week. I was just saying I didn’t realise she was a beer girl, too.’
‘That’s Kate,’ Kai drawls, placing his lips at my temple.No, not that one, even if I do love it when he worships there. ‘She’s just fullof surprises. I think I remember the day. I should probably thank you, if you had a hand in that. Dirty martinis for avery... dirty... girl.’
I’d like to say his words draw off into a whisper, but no. Whatever shade is redder than scarlet, I suspect I’m it. I squirm with discomfort as Kai’s arms tighten on my waist.
‘There you are!’Thank God for red-headed Irish mercenaries, I mean mercies. Niamh’s voice travels across the pool to where we stand, the pair sizing each other up like bulls in a field. I suppose that makes me the prize heifer they both want to mount.
‘You two have met before, yeah?’ Niamh places her hand on Matt’s shoulder as she draws him slightly away. ‘Ah, but you haven’t a drink, man! Come on, I’ll show you the way to the grog. Better still, I’m sure Jen was looking for you.’ Her voice falls away but not before I catch, ‘Did I ever mention that woman would get up on a stiff breeze?’
