The Two Week Stand (Sizzling Beach 1)

Then, I remember about the shark. “That shark is still down there, sleeping, right? It hasn’t moved?”

West pulls down his goggles over his eyes and dips his head into the water. He resurfaces a moment later, pulling up his goggles, wiping the water from his face. “It’s still in the reef.”

“Good. Now, I’m going back to the boat and getting out of this water before that seven- or eight-foot shark wakes up and decides to be brave.”

West laughs. “I’ll come with you.”

I give him a look. “I’d expect you to. I mean, who the fuck would want to stay out here to be shark food? Maybe we should warn the others?” I give a quick glance. They’re quite far away. “Nah, they’ll be fine.”

West chuckles and holds out his hand to me. “Come on. Let’s get you back to the boat.”

nine

Dillon

Offering his hand, which I take, West helps me down from the boat and onto the jetty. I notice how callous and rough his skin is. I didn’t notice it when I held his hand in the water earlier. I wonder if that’s from his job. Whatever that might be.

I should ask, get to know him. It’d be nice to have a friend here on the island for the next two weeks.

But we want to be more than just his friend, Dillon.

That’s just my vagina talking. I’m choosing to ignore her.

“Wanna grab a drink?” West asks as we start walking down the jetty.

“Yeah, sure. That’d be great.”

“Bar we were in last night or the bar by the pool?”

“Bar by the pool.” It has nothing to do with the fact that I got shitfaced in the bar I went to last night and that I’m planning to avoid it for a good few days, so the bar workers forget who the drunken girl from last night was.

“Cool. They serve food as well if you’re hungry.”

“I can always eat.”

“Good. I like a girl with an appetite.”

“Well, I definitely have an appetite. A big one.”

“You still talking about food here?” he says.

I look across at him. He’s already staring down at me, and I feel myself starting to heat under his gaze.

“Of course,” I manage out.

“Shame.”

I look away, a smile on my face. Because he’s definitely flirting with me.

We reach the bar a few minutes later and take a seat at one of the tables closest to the water. I put my bag down on the floor beside me.

“It’s bar service here,” West tells me. “Let me know what you want, and I’ll go to the bar and order for us.”

I grab the small menu off the table and give it a quick look. “I’ll have a burger and fries.”

“Drink?”

“Beer.” Maybe I shouldn’t be drinking after how much I drank last night, but I’m on holiday, and it’s an unwritten law that you have to day drink. Especially when you’re at an all-inclusive.

“No cocktails today?”

“Was that what I was drinking last night at the bar?” I ask. A lot of last night is still blurry.

“Long Island iced tea. Margarita. Then, you moved on to Fireball shots.”

“Ugh.” I groan. “I really have no control once I start drinking.”

“You were going for it last night. It was pretty impressive. I’ve never seen someone as small as you drink that much liquor.”

“Thanks. I think.”

He chuckles. “It was a compliment.”

“Yeah. I was … letting off some steam, I guess. Coming here and it was supposed to be my … and seeing the card and champagne in the room … yeah, anyway, I just needed to get drunk.”

“Well, you definitely did that.” He smiles. “Did it help?”

“Kinda. Not really. I don’t know.” I look away to the water.

“So, beer,” he says, stepping over the awkwardness in the air that I put there. “Bottle or tap?”

“Bottle.”

“What brand?”

“I’m not fussy.”

“Okay.” He stands. “I’ll be back in a few.”

“Thank you,” I say as he walks over to the bar.

While he’s gone, I pull the tie out of my hair and give it a spray with my detangling-and-conditioning spray. I love having long, thick, wavy hair, but it’s a bitch to take care of at times. After being in the seawater today, it’ll need another wash when I get back to my villa. I brush through my hair, getting out the tangles, and then I tie it back up into a bun. Then, I get out my sunscreen and apply some to my arms, face, and neck. A little protection if I’m going to be sitting out here in the sun while I eat.

I’m just putting my sunscreen away when West puts down a beer bottle in front of me on the table and sits down in his chair.

“Food will be about fifteen minutes,” he tells me.

“Cool. Thank you.”

“So, Double D, I’d ask if you enjoyed losing your snorkeling virginity, but I think I know the answer.”