Waxing His Board (Filthy Dirty Summer)

I barely stifled my snort of disbelief. I had made it onto the series because I was the Regional Champion. The top eight female surfers in North America made the cut, but Bethany’s point tally hadn’t even put her close to being in the running. How she’d managed to land herself a wildcard spot in the US Open was a mystery to me—unless they weighed her living in the area for the past few years heavier than her performance in the qualifier series.

Ignoring her verbal jab, I kept my focus on what—and who—was important to me. Listening to Wilder go on and on about me, my smile was so big that my cheeks hurt when he finally said, “And the winner of the women’s event is…Chloe Bannister!”

Hurrying around to the side of the stage, I raced up the steps to join him in the middle. After he handed me the trophy, he surprised the heck out of me when I slid my palm against his to shake his hand and he tugged me forward. Showing none of the grace I’d had on the waves, I stumbled against his chest. Then he tilted my head back and cupped my cheeks before laying a big kiss on my lips. “Congratulations, baby. I’m so damn proud of you.”

“Thanks.”

I was in a bit of a daze as the judges and event sponsors offered me their congratulations. Big changes had been made recently, and the women’s purse was finally equal to the men’s. I’d just won twenty thousand dollars, but it was the title that was important to me. And the ten thousand qualification points that practically clinched my spot on the WCT next year. Even better, I’d done it with Wilder cheering me on.

Although my trophy was clunky, I felt as though I was floating on air as I walked down the stage steps. Bethany was waiting for me at the bottom, and if looks could kill, I would’ve dropped dead right then and there. But that didn’t bother me. I couldn’t blame her for being upset about being bumped out of the competition during the first round of sixty-four competitors, but the accusation she threw at me was a different story. “How does it feel to know the only reason you beat me was because you slept your way to the top?”

9

Wilder

“What did you just say?” I growled as I hurried down the steps to stand behind Chloe, taking the trophy from her since it was so big.

Bethany lifted her chin stubbornly. “Her ride wasn’t even that good. No way should she have had a score that high. Obviously, you influenced the judges for her. Or she’s slept with all of them, too.” My hands balled into fists, and rage coursed through me. Both at this bitch and the thought of Chloe with another man.

“Says the competitor who wasn’t good enough to win a spot on the Challenger Series for our region and blew the chance she’d been given this week by wasting her wildcard spot with the lowest scores out of everyone in the first round. We all have bad days from time to time, but you barely scored a two, Bethany,” Chloe replied dryly.

“You bitch.”

I went to take a step forward, but Chloe put her hand on my chest. When she glanced up at me, I was glad to see fiery anger rather than tears. “Just ignore her. She's not worth the drama.”

She was right, but I was still going to set the record straight. “I won’t let this petty, jealous witch spread rumors like that about you.”

Bethany gasped and put her hand on her chest, clearly offended. Which would have made me laugh if I wasn’t so fucking pissed. “How dare you call me those things! Just because I’m speaking my opinion doesn’t make me petty or jealous.”

“No, but stepping on someone else’s career in order to knock them down so you can boost your own does. And I suggest the next time you spout bullshit accusations, you should check your facts. The only help I’ve ever given Chloe was surfing with her before the competition and cheering her on from the sidelines. Because that’s what boyfriends do.”

“Boyfriend?” Chloe whispered.

I chuckled. “Yeah, baby. I told you, I’m keeping you.” Unable to help myself, I gave her a quick kiss. When we parted, Bethany was staring at us with a smug smile.

“See? I knew he helped you get to the top.”

“Bullshit,” I growled. “If I did anything at all, it was to make sure Chloe won on her own merits.”

Chloe’s head fell back, and she looked up at me with wide eyes. “Did you do something?”

“Is everything okay here?” Kendric stepped up to our little group, his expression concerned.

I mentally sighed in relief. Perfect timing.

I gave him a grim smile. “Would you mind sharing what was said in our conversation before the finals started?”