Coldhearted Boss

“Here, take the cup then laugh wildly as if I’ve said something really funny.”

I frown. “What?”

He forces the cup into my grasp and chuckles loud enough for everyone to hear. Then he leans closer. “You’re not very good at this.”

“At what?” I frown, looking down at the drink.

“It’s a mimosa. I figured you could use some alcohol.”

He’s not wrong. I take a long sip and then level him with a glare.

He’s nothing but smiles as he turns me slightly so my back is to the group. Now they only see him, and he looks as if he’s having the time of his life over here talking to me.

“The way I see it, we can be mutually beneficial to each other.”

“How?” I ask, still skeptical.

“You’re new to the group and clearly feel like you don’t belong, right? Especially because of Ethan?”

“Oh, I—”

“And it’s probably obvious that I’m in love with Isla.” My eyes widen as he continues. “Ah, you didn’t know? Yeah, well, to make a long story short, when I first started working at the agency with her, I had a girlfriend. Isla and I became good friends—only friends—but one day she worked up the courage to tell me she had feelings for me, feelings that went beyond friendship. But, you see, I was still with Britt and we’d been together a long time. I couldn’t just end things on a whim like that. I owed it to her to really put in an effort. We stayed together for a few more months—the worst months of my entire life, I’ll have you know. By the time I finally realized what a fool I was being and broke it off with Britt for good, Isla wanted nothing to do with me beyond our friendship. I’d hurt her, you know? She really put herself out there telling me how she felt.”

“It was a brave thing to do.”

He nods, agreeing. “I also think Isla feels like she doesn’t want me to rush from one relationship to another. She wants me to really have my head on straight if we’re ever going to date.”

“So how long has it been since you ended things with Britt?”

“Two years.”

“TWO YEARS?!”

He laughs again, and I can feel everyone’s attention on us.

“So now you see why I’m desperate. I’ve given her time. Jesus, I’ve declared my love for her dozens of times. A man only has so much patience, so I think it’s time for a different tactic.”

My brows furrow. “What kind of tactic?”

“Isla knows how I feel about her, and I think she’s comfortable with the way things are because I’ve made it too easy for her. So, I’m asking for your help today.” His smile unfurls into a sinister smirk. “I want to make her jealous.”

Admittedly, I don’t feel completely comfortable with this arrangement, especially considering how nice Isla has been to me. I feel like an adult conversation where we all sit down around the campfire and discuss our feelings would be the mature thing to do, and yet it’s totally out of the question once Tanner fills me in on all the details from the last couple of years while I finish my drink.

They’ve had stolen kisses, heated arguments. He’s done the grand gestures and subtle sweet clues.

I feel bad for the guy, especially when he shrugs and looks out at the lake. “I guess a part of me realizes I’m coming to the end of the line. If we aren’t meant to be, we aren’t meant to be. I just want to make sure I’ve done every possible thing I can do to get her attention and force her to make a decision, even if it’s childish.”

My heart shatters for him in that moment, so I stand, retrieve a bottle of sunscreen from a chair beside ours, and slap it into his palm.

“Fine. I’ll play along, but only because I think you and Isla would be really cute together. Also, I can’t exactly put sunscreen on my own back, so if anything, I’m just killing two birds with one stone.”

I’ve left off the other crucial detail about why I’ve agreed to go through with this: I don’t want to spend the day moping by myself. These are Ethan’s friends, which means they’re going to follow Ethan’s lead. I really don’t want to sit around alone while they all have fun. This way, Tanner acts as a buffer, one I’m happy to use.

I know if I think too hard, I’ll find a million reasons to keep my clothes on, walk right back to the cabin, and hide out there all day. So, before common sense can set in, I stand and tug off my t-shirt, leaving the denim cutoffs on for now.

Then I sit in a chair in front of Tanner, gather my hair in my hand, and tip my head down so he can start lathering me up. The cool lotion makes me shiver and I close my eyes, finding myself wishing his hands were someone else’s.