California Nights (Rich Boys of California Duet 1)

I punched out a text, deciding I might break my dad’s rule this summer. Maybe she’d even keep me distracted until I had to go back to college. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend my summer break.

Miss me?

I dropped my phone into my pocket and went back to packing. I didn’t need to wait for a response. I knew damn well she had missed me.

She always did.

Chapter Two

Nevada

I stared at my phone, frowning. Lucy raised an eyebrow.

“Another guy, Nev?”

“Yeah. I mean, not really.”

I smiled sheepishly at my roommate and picked up the dustpan again.

“He’s kind of a guy?”

“Sorry. No. He’s definitely a guy. Just someone from home.”

“Uh huh. I thought you said you were a late bloomer with boys.”

“I was! I am I mean. He’s just… a friend. Kind of.”

Lucy laughed.

“A friend whose mind is going to be blown when he sees you all grown up?”

A blush tinged my cheeks. I’d gone away to freshman year in the fall as a skinny little 17 year old. Now I was 18 and I’d somehow, miraculously, finally grown up. My mother had told me it would happen eventually but I hadn’t believed her.

Up until seven months ago, I’d been flat as a pancake and smooth as a stick.

But not any longer.

Now, I stopped traffic with my figure. My long honey colored hair and big turquoise eyes only added to the allure, or so I was told. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t put out. Not yet anyway.

I’d become quite the hot commodity on campus but I wasn’t really impressed by all the attention. It’s what was inside that counted anyway. I guess people always wanted what they couldn’t have. But either way, I couldn’t help hoping that he saw me that way too.

Clayton Westfield.

The bane of my existence.

Also the most gorgeous boy I’d ever laid eyes on.

I sighed, admitting the truth to myself. I had been hoping he noticed that I’d finally grown up. Just for the satisfaction of seeing the look on his face.

“I hope so.”

“I’m sure. Just don’t forget, books before boys.”

“Yes, mama bear.”

Lucy was a sweetheart. A flamboyantly feminine girl with a solid head on her shoulders. Even if that head was topped with a mountain of poofy blond hair. We were very, very different on the outside but inside, we were far more alike. We both had the same values. Girls, before guys. Work hard. Be nice. No pretensions.

I was beyond lucky that we’d been assigned to the same dorm room.

The very same dorm room we were now frantically trying to clean up. It wouldn’t mean as much to Lucy, her being from a well to do family and all, but I did not want the three hundred dollar charge for leaving a dirty room to show up on my mother’s desk. Things were tight as it was, even with the partial scholarship she got me as part of her job.

“Nev, what time does your bus leave again?”

“Two o’clo – oh FUCK!”

I glanced at the clock on the wall. It had been in the room when we moved in so we’d left it for the next girls who would live there. But right now it said something ominous.

It said 1:45.

“Oh my God! I have to go – I’ll never make it!”

“Yes you will if you go now! I’ll finish cleaning up, don’t worry.”

Lucy tossed me my bag and I hugged her tightly.

“Love you!!!”

“Love you too. Don’t forget to text me, Nev!”

I slung my backpack over my shoulder.

Then I was out the door.

Chapter Three

Clay

I adjusted myself in my seat and leaned back. The stewardess brought me my drink, a bloody mary. I slipped her a twenty and dismissed her from my mind. She stood there for a moment, confused. Then she tottered off on her impossibly high heels, her firm ass wiggling suggestively.

I knew it was for my benefit.

I wasn’t particularly impressed. I did take a moment to wonder how she walked in those things.

What the hell did she do if it got turbulent?

I was sure she was used to guys throwing themselves at her. She was cute and the warm invitation in her eyes had been unmistakable from the moment I boarded. Being in first class did have its perks. Like having the occasional flight attendant take you into the private bathroom to lick your johnson. But I was tired. I wasn’t in the mood. Besides, who knew if she was even good at it?

Been there, done that.

Trust me, the mile high club is not all it’s cut out to be. Not that I ever let a tight squeeze get in the way of getting my rocks off. But I was distracted.

Nev wasn’t texting me back.

Everyone else from Pembrook was though. My phone was on vibrate but it was still blowing up. It had been all day.