Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
His eyes dropped to my sundress. “To get rid of that dress so we can swim. Or better yet, get in the hot tub.”
“I’m not doing this … with you,” I said. “This flirting you’re doing? You’re wasting your time. I know your game. It’s not for me. Also, I don’t intend to bare my boobs, if that is a requirement at this party.”
His smile faded, and he ran a hand over his still-damp hair. “You think I’m playing a game? We just met. You barely know me. I could be the most genuine guy you’ve ever met,” he replied.
Even though he looked sincere as he said it, there was a twinkle in his eye that told me he was teasing me.
“I know your game, millionaire. I’m not interested in playing it.”
“Ouch,” he replied, placing a hand over his heart, as if I had hurt him.
“But we can be friends. If you want to be my friend, that is.”
He said nothing at first, then finally nodded. “All right then. Friends it is,” he said. “But only if you go topless.”
I shot him an annoyed glare, and he threw his head back and laughed. Shaking mine, I started walking toward the pool house that a family of five or six could live in comfortably.
“Hey, Maddy,” he called.
“Yeah?” I asked, looking back at him.
“I’m not a millionaire,” he said.
I frowned and held out my hands toward the pool house. “Oh, is that so?” I asked sarcastically.
He nodded his head. “Yeah, it’s so,” he replied, then reached past me to open the door. “I’m a billionaire,” he replied, then winked.
Four
“I didn’t even have the luxury of Section 8 housing, my dad was an alcoholic who struggled to keep a job, and now, I’m a penniless orphan,” I whispered to myself as I looked in the mirror.
What was I doing in this house with these people, wearing a hot-pink bikini that, on second glance, really didn’t cover my boobs that well? Turning so I could see my butt, I winced at the lack of fabric. Did Melanie not realize I wasn’t built like her? I wasn’t overweight, but I also wasn’t as thin as she was.
Sighing, I thought about letting my hair back down so it could fall over my shoulders and cover my cleavage some, but then it would get wet and do very little for coverage.
A knock on the door startled me.
“You ready yet? My glass is empty,” Trev called out.
I gave myself one more look and grimaced. I should have just stayed at the Houstons’ house and read a book. This was not what I had expected when we were invited to a pool party. But then this was the first pool party I’d ever been to.
“I’m coming,” I replied and headed for the door.
When I opened it, Trev was near the pool table and picking up a ball.
“Do you pl—” He stopped talking when he turned to look at me. “Pool. Play pool … ” He trailed off and then held up his glass. “Yep, gonna need another drink, buddy.”
He went to the door and opened it up. “After you,” he told me.
“I don’t have a towel,” I told him.
“We have them out by the bar in a warming closet. You can grab one when you need it.”
“Of course you have a warming closet for towels,” I replied, smirking as I walked past him.
When the door closed behind us, he let out a breath he had been holding. “Jesus,” he muttered, and I glanced back at him to see he was staring at my butt.
“Trev,” I said, and he jerked his attention back up to my face reluctantly.
“Yeah, uh, right, a drink,” he muttered.
I waited until he was beside me before walking. I was not going to walk in front of him if he was going to look at my backside. I might not want to date Trev, but he was a guy, and I didn’t relish the idea of him studying me close enough to see my flaws.
I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. I focused on getting to the bar so Trev could get his drink and I could get a towel to wrap around me.
“Uh, you, uh, going for a swim?” Saxon asked, and I turned my head toward his voice. He was alone, sitting on a lounge chair with a drink in his hand.
“I was going to get her into the hot tub,” Trev replied.
He moved to stand up. “I’ll join you.”
“Great,” Trev drawled.
Saxon narrowed his eyes as he looked at his friend. “You don’t sound like you want my company.”
“Where is Declan?” Trev asked him.
Saxon shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t you need to find her?” Trev asked.
“No,” Saxon replied.
Trev set his glass down on the bar, and the bartender gave him another without needing an order.