Keep (Seaside Pictures 2)

“Was he hot?”

“He was shirtless.” I swallowed past the constant dryness in my throat, the dryness that had been there since yesterday when Zane stole my chapstick and asked me to make a house call.

“You’re blushing!” She pointed and laughed. Why were we best friends again? “I can’t believe it! The last time you blushed was in fifth grade when Jason asked if you wanted to partner with him on a book report.”

“Bastard did absolutely no work! You know I have no tolerance for group projects.” I kicked a rock with my shoe and crossed my arms as the wind from the beach picked up, tossing my wavy hair into my face, and of course, getting caught in my chapstick.

“Bitter much?”

“We got an A minus.”

“It was fifth grade. Besides, I think you got your revenge when you grew boobs and turned him down at Homecoming.”

I rolled my eyes.

“And prom.”

I kept walking.

“And homecoming again.”

“Okay.” I smiled. “I get your point. And yes, I’m blushing, and yes he was hot, he had no shirt.”

“You said that.”

“Because it’s true…”

“Good one, Fallon.” She patted my back then started rubbing as if I needed to calm down.

But I was fine. Perfectly fine, totally in control of my emotions. It was a weird run-in with a celebrity. Whatever. They’re just like us, except richer, prettier, more naked… A small cry from Maggie had me jerking my head in her direction. “What? What’s wrong?”

“I love you.” She sighed. “Just remember that.”

I didn’t have time to brace myself before she pushed me off the boardwalk and into the sand. It was a good four-foot fall.

My skinny jeans ripped across my knees the minute they hit the sand.

“Son of a monkey!” I yelled.

“Do sons have monkeys?” A deep, toe-curling voice asked, and then a head followed as it peered over the ledge, followed by two more. I was afraid to blink.

I’d hit my head.

Either that.

Or rockers AD2 and Zane Andrews were all staring at me from the boardwalk, an amused Maggie smirking behind them. Great. I’d be lucky to get a full sentence out.

“It’s been a while since I’ve met a purist.” Demetri nodded. “A girl who doesn’t swear. Quick, say something else.”

Zane glared at him while I tried standing and dusting off my sandy jeans. It was no use. Sand was in my hair, my ears, and my torn pants.

It was tempting. To run away toward the ocean, forget to hold my breath, but then, what would my parents do? Ugh, drowning never looked so awesome and appealing, and I had a very serious fear of sharks.

Instead, I pressed my hands on the cement ledge and heaved myself over it. My strength wasn’t all there, so basically I flailed over the ledge, and landed on my ass peering up at Zane, much like the day before.

“And so we meet again.” He swept his hand out in front of me. “Do this often?”

“She’s very accident prone,” Maggie said in a sweet voice behind him. “Some would say, she needs a good knight in shining armor.”

Dead. I was going to kill her.

“Is that so?” Zane’s eyes twinkled a bit before he pulled me to my feet and brushed a piece of sand from my cheek. “I see that your glasses are intact this time.”

“Not your first run-in, I presume?” Alec asked, his talking voice was just as deep as his singing voice. It had a type of rasp that had me blinking at him in a trance before I opened my mouth to speak.

“Yesterday. Dog shit. Trash cans. Chapstick.” Zane grinned. “And basements. Did I leave anything out four eyes?”

I gaped. “Did you just call me four eyes?”

“I was going to go with cupcake, I also had sweetie pie, buddy, and little slugger, but something about four eyes just feels right, don’t you think?”

“It’s rude!” I clenched my fists. “Is this payback for giving you the wrong phone number?”

Maggie gasped at the same time Demetri did.

And then everyone burst out laughing while Zane held my gaze in an epic and very tense stare down, the type that I felt everywhere, like his eyes were laser beams. I suddenly felt naked. Stripped. Raw.

I hated that I loved it.

His eyes were dark, as though God had brushed kohl along his lash lines in order to make women everywhere both love and despise him. Long eyelashes, perfect skin, strong cheekbones, and a smile that caused many a woman to sin.

But not me.

Because of Maggie, I knew exactly the type of guy he was.

He loved women. All kinds. All types. All ages. He really didn’t discriminate, and I didn’t want to be added to that list just because he thought I was amusing.

“Dude, she gave you a fake number?” Demetri slapped him in the chest then bent over and laughed harder. “This day, right here. Hell, I’m going to make a plaque for this stone on the boardwalk, the day Zane Andrews is rejected. Epic.”

Alec bumped fists with Demetri while Maggie gave me a “have you lost your mind,” look.

“You looked…hungry.” My eyes narrowed. “I practically saw ribs through that shining six pack of yours, figured you needed carbs.”

His expression darkened like I’d offended him, which had to be impossible, he knew how good-looking he was! Women everywhere chanted his name in every language known to humanity! His tag line was I’m Saint, wanna be saved?