“You better not have let me win, asshole,” she pants out between trying to suck in breaths.
“Never.”
She gives me a little confused look then slumps down onto the sand. “Fuck, you’re fast. I can’t even breathe.”
“You could have let me win.” I laugh, lying down beside her and letting the rising sun warm my skin.
“You know that was never an option. I’m not living rent-free, I pay my way River.”
I give her a more serious look. “Looks like you will then. What about the second part of the bet?” My eyebrows dance with delight, she did sweeten the deal for me after all.
She pulls a face. “What do you want Riv?”
I lean in a little closer, inhaling her sweet scent. To fuck you right here on the beach. Fuck that would be the dream. There is a long list of stuff I want to do with this girl. But I’m not claiming her body through a bet. “A kiss.” I grin back at her.
Her brow pops up, confusion clouding her pretty features. “Just a kiss?”
“It’s never just a kiss with me baby.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes and leans in closer ready to kiss me.
I place a finger on her lips to stop her, a stupid smile painting my face. “Tempting Dove, very tempting, but not now, at a time of my choosing.”
She blinks back at me a few times. “You’re going to hold a random kiss over me?”
“If that’s how you want to think of it. I would prefer to keep things exciting, there is nothing better than the thrill of not knowing when I can claim my kiss.” I chuckle imagining her face when I finally take what I want.
Her face scrunches up. “You continue to surprise me, River.” The way she says it, I’m not sure if she’s impressed or annoyed with me. But I’m going to take it that I’ve impressed her. “When can I start work?”
“Today if you want.”
She glances at me like she’s not sure if it’s such a good idea anymore. “And Kasen is really okay with this?”
“Said he was.”
“Hmm.” She flops onto her back, staring up at the sky.
I roll over, flicking her forehead. “What is Miss Dove Dawson conjuring up? I don’t like that thinking face.”
“Ouch.” She glares at me. “Nothing. I just don’t get Kasen. Why did he throw that party last night and get Slater to invite those girls so they would bring me? Even you have to admit, it’s weird, River.”
“Honestly that party was already happening. It was K’s birthday, were you really gone so long you forgot that?”
Her mouth pops open, and I know she did. “Shit. Now I feel kind of bad.”
“No, you don’t.” I laugh.
“Well, he’s been a dick to me since I got back. All controlling and shit. Who just demands stuff and expects they will get it? He’s like an oversized toddler throwing a tantrum half the time. Why can’t he just be the guy I used to know?”
My smile softens. “He is the guy you used to know. He hasn’t really changed all that much, Dove, you have just been gone so long, and honestly, you’ve been through a lot, it’s made you standoffish and skeptical. You’ve forgotten that we are your friends and would do anything for you. K just wants to get close to you like you used to be. He’s not been the same since you left, and I know he has a dumb way about it sometimes, but his heart is in the right place. You’re important to him, and he would stop at nothing to make sure you’re safe and cared for. We all would.”
She huffs out a stressed breath. “It’s more than dumb. It’s manipulative. And besides, he was the one who wanted me to leave his place the other day, so it is weird he wanted me at his party.” She sits up. “Youknow what? Don’t you even dare try and make excuses for him. If he wants to see me or whatever, he can do it like a normal person. Come find me, have a chat, not post shit on the socials about me being his and manipulate nice girls into making friends with me so he can get his way.” She stands and strides back toward my club.
“The party was already happening, babe,” I try and tell her, but she’s already too far away. And pissed again. I let her go. At least I know where she will be today and who with. Bodhi might have been right about giving her some space to work out her shit and hopefully help us to get to the bottom of what’s really going on with her.
Around lunch time, Dove finally surfaces again, in her Beach Bar shirt and a pair of denim cutoffs, her long hair in two braids. She went and found Melanie and got straight to work. She looks happy here chatting to patrons about their day as she pours their drinks. Every so often she glances my way and gives me a half smile. Not the same showstopper she has for the customers, but it’s something. A distraction from watching the Brazil part of the World Surfing Tour I’m currently torturing myself with.
I glance at my phone screen when a text lights it up, expecting it to be Kasen wanting an update on Dove. He’s a wreck without her at his place, hardly containing himself from demanding she come back. I can’t help but grin when I see it’s someone a lot more fun.
