Cruel Money (Cruel 1)

But, somehow, my feet didn’t listen. I was intrigued. And I wasn’t easily intrigued.

I found the outdoor stereo and flipped it on, connecting it to my phone before turning on Matt Maeson’s “Cringe.” Then, I walked out onto the back deck. The rest of my crew and Natalie were down to their underwear and enjoying the heated pool. Even though I’d just seen her completely naked, my eyes were still drawn to her figure only dimly hidden by the water.

“Come on, Penn,” Lark called. “Don’t make me splash you.”

“Wait!” Katherine said. “I know you love your obscure music, but can’t you put on something a little more mainstream?”

“Some TSwift for Katherine,” Lewis said with a laugh.

“Hey, she’s nice!”

“Can we just agree you all have the worst taste in music?” I asked on a sigh.

“No,” Katherine and Lewis said together.

“I do!” Lark said with a laugh. “I admit it.”

I should have known they’d make me change the song. If it wasn’t from an artist they recognized they always complained. “Here.”

I switched it to Panic! at the Disco’s song “Don’t Threaten Me With A Good Time” and waited for them to roll their eyes at me, which they did, as if on cue.

A laugh escaped me. Typical. I kicked my shoes off and then slowly stripped off my button-up. I couldn’t help but look up at Natalie as I removed my pants and tossed them to the side.

Normally, I read women so easily. The hunger in their eyes. The desire painted on their faces like makeup. But Natalie wasn’t wearing makeup, and from the distance, she didn’t even seem to be paying attention to me unclothing. Suffice it to say, that wasn’t a normal occurrence. I was gifted with some pretty lucky genes, and the hours at the gym before I went in to lecture sure didn’t hurt. It was one of the few times I could get my brain to shut off, so I went religiously.

I slipped into the pool as Katherine dived into a story about the upcoming gala event she would be attending. I was only half-listening. I hated gala events. If I never had to go to one again in my life, I’d be happy.

But I wasn’t that lucky.

Not with a mother in politics and the last name Kensington.

I’d become a professor to escape it all, and it had only half-worked. At least I had an excuse now when I wanted to leave. Most people tended to zone out when I started discussing my research in ethical theory. Almost a guaranteed end to a conversation, which worked in my favor.

“Oh my god, Natalie, why didn’t I think about this before?” Katherine asked, downing the rest of her flute of champagne and refilling it.

She offered some to Natalie, but it looked like the alcohol was finally catching up with her. She declined.

“Think about…what?” Natalie asked, her words slurring together.

“You should come to the event. Come see me in the city.”

Lark and I shared a look. We both knew what that meant. Katherine had found her new project. She’d had a few since I’d known her. None had ended well.

“But Natalie is working here all fall,” I reminded Katherine.

“She could still come into the city. It doesn’t take that long, especially this time of the year.”

“Yeah. That’s a great idea,” Lewis said.

He moved over to Natalie’s side and slung an arm around her shoulders. I clenched the edge of the pool. My knuckles turned white.

“Is it?” Lark asked quietly.

Thank god someone was on my side. Lark, always the sensible one. We were the only two who had real jobs that weren’t because of our parents. But I also saw her the least. Her real job, like mine, kept her away from us far too often. If I wanted to see her, I had to fit into her insane work schedule. Between the two of us workaholics, it didn’t happen often.

“Of course it is,” Katherine said.

“Sure, sounds fun,” Natalie said.

She swayed on her feet, leaning into Lewis for support. He looked perfectly chummy about it.

“Great! It’s a date.”

Natalie nodded and then blinked. “That champagne kicked my ass. I think I need to…” She pointed at the door. “Before I black out.”

“Oh dear, okay,” Katherine said as if she hadn’t been pumping her full of alcohol all night. “Get some sleep. We’ll follow up tomorrow.”

Natalie nodded and then waded to the stairs. She stumbled on one step and reached for the railing before righting herself. She laughed softly. “Where did that step come from?”

“Always been there,” Rowe said seriously.

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped me. Classic Rowe.

But Natalie’s eyes narrowed at me. As if I’d been laughing at her near fall. I arched an eyebrow in her direction and admired her body before she reached for a towel. She slipped it around her figure as if she were suddenly shy about it. Even though she’d been skinny-dipping and now nearly naked in front of the rest of my crew. It was cute. Like a glimpse into the Natalie I’d known for that brief time before.