I reluctantly tear my eyes from Sloane to look out at Wes. He’s now standing on a surfboard. He’s a little shaky but standing fairly well as he glides down toward us.
“How did you do it?” Sloane looks at me with wide eyes.
“I’m a good teacher, and your fiancé isn’t that bad of a learner.”
Sloane turns back to Wes, who is still up on the surfboard. “He’s a terrible learner. He has no coordination and no athletic ability really. He occasionally runs and lifts weights, but beyond that, nothing. I’ve been trying to get him up on a surfboard for years.
How did you do it?”
“Like I told you, I’m a pro. I’m very good at what I do. I never lose. I always get what I want. If I want to get someone up on a surfboard, I will. And, if I want to get you in my bed, I will.”
“I’m thankful to you for helping Wes, but I’m very happy that I will be the first time you lose. You will never find me in your bed. In fact, you will never see either of us again. It’s clear that Wes doesn’t need your services any longer, and we still haven’t decided where we will be making our permanent home after we are married, but I can assure you, it won’t be anywhere near you.”
I lean in close to her ear and smell the flowery perfume she is wearing. “Actually, you’ll be seeing a lot of me.”
Wes falls off the board, and Sloane’s mouth falls open as she watches him hit the rough water.
“What do you mean?”
“Just that, since I’m Wes’s best man, I expect that you will be seeing a lot of me. So, make sure you are strong enough to resist my charm if you are going to make promises about being the first time I lose.”
Wes runs toward us, carrying his surfboard. “What do you think?” he asks.
“You were incredible. I can’t believe you were able to do that,” Sloane answers. She kisses him on the lips, but it’s a chaste kiss.
“I’m ready to go again. Want to join me?” Wes asks Sloane.
Sloane looks over at me and then back to Wes. “No, I’m not feeling the best. I’d rather just sit here and watch you.”
That’s when I notice the strings of Sloane’s bikini sticking out from the neck of her T-shirt. I’d love to see her in nothing but a bikini.
“You going to join me and make me look like a fool?” Wes asks.
I laugh. “Well, I did come here to train, but you don’t need me to make you look like a fool. You already do that by yourself.”
Wes laughs and starts heading back out into the water. I turn back to my truck and grab my own surfboard.
I walk slowly past Sloane, knowing full well that the only reason she didn’t take Wes up on his offer to go out surfing with him is because she wanted to stay back and have it out with me. I raise an eyebrow as I walk, daring her to talk to me.
“You can’t be Wes’s best man,” she hisses.
“And why not?”
“Because you are a horrible person who is just doing this to try and sleep with me.”
I grin. “That’s exactly why I’m doing this. But it’s also exactly why you can’t do a damn thing about it. You love Wes, and Wes chose me as his best man. And, if you really think you can resist me, there is no harm in giving Wes what he wants.”
Her mouth drops open, but no words come out. I take off toward the ocean, knowing that her eyes are on me. She can’t help but watch. And, when she sees how awesome I am at surfing, how I glide over the water like it’s in my control, she will want me to control her in the same way.
I step foot inside the building that Wes texted me in order to get fitted for my tux or whatever he, his cousins, and I are wearing at the wedding. It’s a small building jam-packed with tuxes and men’s formal attire.
I spot Wes in the back, standing alone, talking to one of the salespeople.
I grin. “Thank God it’s just us. I wasn’t sure if I could deal with your cousins today,” I say, bumping fists with Wes.
“If you want to avoid them, then you’d better try on your tux quickly. They’ll be here any minute.”
I frown. “Let’s get this started then.”