Scandalous Series Starter Set: Books 1-3

by R. Linda

  “No. Thanks.” Nate scowled and signalled the bartender for another round of beers.

  It was going to be a long afternoon.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Indie

  The bed was empty when I woke up again. This time I wasn’t surprised, partly because I slept until after noon and only woke up when Bailey banged on the door.

  “Why are you still asleep?” she asked, barging past me.

  “Because I’m tired.” I slumped against the door, hoping she’d get the hint and leave. She didn’t.

  “Well, get in the shower, wake yourself up, and get dressed. We’re going out for lunch.” She smiled and grabbed my shoulders, pushing me toward the bathroom. She was far too chipper considering how late we were out last night.

  After my shower, I returned to my room to find Bailey had laid out my clothes on the bed like I was child. “I can pick my own clothes, you know?”

  “Just saving time,” she said as I picked up my clothes and returned to the bathroom to get dressed.

  “Are we meeting Kenzie and Harper?” I called through the open door.

  “No, they’re still asleep.”

  “Okay.” I cringed at myself in the mirror. I really hated wearing dresses. Didn’t Jack buy me anything else? “Ready?”

  “Yep.”

  “Where’s Ryder?”

  “Golf with your dad and all the boys.”

  So that was where Linc disappeared to. “That’s the only reason you want to have lunch, isn’t it? Ryder’s busy, and you’re bored,” I teased as we stepped into the elevator.

  “No, of course not,” she gasped. “I just wanted to talk to you about Linc.” Her giggle was infectious. Bailey was one of those people who was brimming with happiness all the time—at least since Ryder came along like her own knight in skinny jeans and stole her heart—and if she was smiling, so were you.

  “Urgh. I don’t want to talk about him.”

  “The plan to sweep him off his feet isn’t working?”

  “No, I’m just making a fool of myself.” I sighed and followed Bailey out of the elevator as soon as the doors slid open. “Where are we eating?”

  “Thought we’d go to the restaurant. It’s after the lunch rush, so it should be fairly quiet.”

  Quiet was good. I wasn’t really in the mood for a lot of people. I wasn’t even sure I was hungry.

  Bailey grabbed us a table at the front, thanking the waitress for the menus.

  “Tell me about Linc.” She flipped open her menu and scanned it, no doubt for the chicken salad she ordered everywhere we ate. I would have sworn she didn’t eat anything else. Her eyes lit up, and I knew she’d found her meal.

  “There’s nothing to tell. He’s Linc, and I’m a hopeless idiot.” I groaned and skimmed the menu. I’d get a salad. Ha, who was I kidding? Pizza. I wanted a pizza.

  The waitress chose that moment to see if we were ready. We gave her our orders, and she returned a moment later with a pitcher of water for the table.

  I poured us both a glass and guzzled mine down in two gulps. The heat was killing me. I couldn’t wait to get off this island.

  “So…” Bailey pressed.

  “Nothing.”

  “Indie?”

  “You’re not going to let this go, are you?” I folded my arms over my chest and leaned back in the chair.

  Bailey shook her head.

  “Fine.”

  I told her everything while we ate, from falling asleep together while we watched Saw, and how he held me in his arms all night, him skinny-dipping at the waterfall, dancing at the club, the body shots—she happily pointed out that she was a witness to that sexy moment—and him giving me water and painkillers and staying with me last night to make sure I was okay after drinking so much.

  “I don’t see the problem.” Bailey set her fork down and wiped her mouth with her napkin.

  “The problem is, after every one of these moments, he’s dropped a comment that has made me feel like crap. Like last night, telling you there was nothing intimate about doing body shots with me. Well, sorry, but it was. It meant something to me, and it hurt that he brushed it aside so easily. It’s just like my eighteenth birthday all over again.”

  “I don’t understand.” Bailey frowned in sympathy.

  “When he laughed off my first kiss as if it never happened. He does it every time things get a little too close for comfort. I swear, it’s like he enjoys messing with my head.”

  “I don’t think that’s it.”

  “What else could it be?”

  “Lots of things. I’ve been watching him this week—”

  “Of course, you have.” I winked, referring to her walking into his room when he was changing. “Does Ryder know about that?”

  “Of course he does. He wasn’t too impressed, but I made it up to him,” she said.

  “Gross.” I stuck my finger in my mouth and gagged.

  “Not like that.” She shook her head in defeat. “Anyway, I’ve been paying attention to Linc this week, and I think he does these stupid things because he’s confused.”

  “Confused?”

  “About you. His feelings. Your feelings. Nate’s feelings.”

  “Umm—”

  “Hi, girls. What are you doing here?” I looked up to see my dad standing over the table with a smile, ending our conversation quickly. Maybe Bailey was right and Linc was confused about everything. I could only hope that was the reason and he wasn’t brushing me off just because he was a jerk.

  “Dad.” I stood and kissed his cheek. “Just having lunch. Where’s Mum?”

  “Spa day.”

  “Oh, that’d be awesome right now.”

  “Why don’t you girls head over to the spa and join her?”

  “Really?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “Thanks, Mr. Kellerman.” Bailey smiled.

  “Have fun!” He walked off to wherever it was he was going.

  “So, spa?” I asked Bailey. We didn’t have a lot of time before I had those stupid dance lessons, but we might fit in a facial or something.

  “Yes!” She clapped her hands. “I would love a massage.”

  “Ladies.” Jack’s voice sounded from behind me. I rolled my eyes. Bailey looked up with a bright smile, so I knew Ryder was there with him too.

  “Thought you guys were playing golf?” I said.

  “We finished, and your dad bought us lunch. What are you two doing?” Jack slid into the seat beside me and threw his arm around my shoulder, but before I could answer, he kissed me. “Mmmm, still a C.” He laughed.

  “Jerk.” I hit him in the chest.

  “You love me.”

  “Not much, at the moment.”

  “What? Really, baby cakes, I’m heartbroken.” He gave me his puppy dog eyes and looked so sad I almost I forgave him for doing this to me. “What have I done?”

  “What haven’t you done?” I leaned forward and rested my chin in my hands, dreaming about hot stone massages and facials.

  “She’s feeling—” Bailey spoke.

  “Nothing.” I glared at her, but she only ignored me.

  “Rejected,” she said then mouthed sorry at me, but she wasn’t sorry. She wouldn’t let this damn thing go, and if she didn’t let it go, Jack wouldn’t either. And if they didn’t, I’d never get over Linc, and I needed to get over Linc once and for all. All this back and forth and confusion wasn’t worth the pain in my chest every time he walked away.

  I studied Jack. Maybe taking him up on that offer and handing him my V-card, as he so eloquently put it, wouldn’t be such a terrible thing. He was Jack. I loved him dearly, and I knew he loved me, albeit in a platonic way, but at least I knew where I stood with him. He’d do anything for me as well; that much was obvious. He was going to all this trouble just to help me win the affections of someone who didn’t give a crap.

  But then I looked at Linc—who just appeared at the bar with Nate, making my
heart stutter in my chest—and I couldn’t imagine being with anyone other than him. It had always been him. My entire life had been about Lincoln Bloody Andrews. The way he smiled. The way he touched his hair, and the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed. The way he looked in a swimsuit, shorts and tank, a suit—in anything, really. The way he always came to my rescue. The way he played with me growing up when no one else would. The way he stood up for me when Nate threw my teddy bear out of the treehouse window into the mud. I had cried for days because it was ruined, until he showed up with a brand new one he’d bought with his own pocket money because he didn’t want me to be sad. The way he picked flowers from the old witch’s house down the road, risking being turned into a toad just to cheer me up when I lost the spelling bee at school. It had always been Linc.

  It would always be Linc.

  Dammit! There was no getting over him. No moving on. I was doomed to spend my life pining for a guy who didn’t want me.

  “Plans for the afternoon?” Jack asked.

  Bailey looked at Ryder, and he lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. “Whatever you want.”

  “Bailey and I were going to the spa with Mum.”

  “Oh, okay. Looks like it’s just you and me, Ryder buddy.” Jack laughed.

  “Piss off,” he said to Jack and turned to Bailey. “Don’t make me spend the day with him, please?”

  “You’re lucky you’ve got a nice ass, Jones, otherwise I wouldn’t put up with you,” Jack said. He loved making fun of Ryder. Any chance he got to tell Ryder how good looking he was, he took it and ran with it, making Ryder uncomfortable.

  “Suck it up, baby. We’re having a girls’ afternoon.” Bailey laughed at Jack’s comment before kissing Ryder quickly and standing to leave.

  “You guys wanna go surfing?” Nate called from over at the bar to Ryder and Jack.

  “Yeah.” Ryder stood. “Sounds good.”

  “I hate surfing,” Jack huffed.

  “They’ll all be shirtless,” I whispered in his ear.

  “Let’s go, fellas. What are we waiting for?” He jumped out of his chair and wrapped an arm around Ryder’s shoulder.

  “Get off me.” Ryder ducked out of his hold while Bailey and I stood back and laughed at the whole situation.

  “Bye, baby cakes.” Jack spun around and winked at me before pressing his lips to my…forehead. Not what I was expecting, but that was fine by me.

  The boys left, and Bailey and I made our way outside and across the grounds to the other side of the hotel where the spa was located and went in search of my mother.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Linc

  It might have been the best surf I’d ever had, except for trying to teach Jack-ass how to stay on the board. I’d never seen anyone so uncoordinated and terrible in the water. Teaching Indie when she was thirteen had been easier. Ryder picked it up quickly. He seemed to have a natural ability in the water, but Jack…I wanted to drown him…on many occasions.

  The water was beautiful, crystal clear and warm. I should have gone surfing sooner. I didn’t know why I left it so long. No, that was a lie. I knew. Indie. Normally, I’d go for a surf at dawn, but I’d spent the last two nights sleeping beside Indie, not wanting to leave in the morning until I absolutely had to.

  I was the only one in the water when Kenzie and Indie showed up on the beach. I wouldn’t have known they were there if Indie hadn’t put her fingers in her mouth and whistled. It was a talent, that was for sure. She could be heard over the loudest of sounds, even the waves rushing in my ears. I paddled back to the shore and wedged my board in the sand.

  Wringing the water out of my hair, I turned to Indie. “What’s up?”

  “You guys have to get dressed.” She pointed at me and Nate, her eyes lingering on my chest—which I may have puffed out somewhat when I noticed her looking—before bringing her gaze back up to meet mine. “Meet us in the ballroom in fifteen minutes.”

  “Us?” Nate stood and brushed the sand from his shorts.

  “Yes, us. Kenzie is your dancing partner.” Indie smiled widely while Kenzie groaned.

  I raised an eyebrow, and Nate tilted his head, studying Kenzie. “You are?”

  “Unfortunately. Only because my brother doesn’t want you dancing with Bailey. So I got roped into it.” She flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder and looked anything but impressed. She was so much like Ryder, it was freaky.

  We left them on the beach and headed back up to our rooms for a quick shower and change of clothes. We were having dinner with the Kellermans after our dance lesson. I was nervous. I didn’t dance, not really. I’d only danced twice in my life, one of those times being with Indie last night. The other time? With Indie at her prom. She was the only one who could get me to dance. It was ironic because she wasn’t much of a dancer, either.

  ***

  The ballroom was something else. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out over the resort, gold curtains lined the other walls, polished floorboards, a stage to the right that looked set up for an orchestra, detailed artwork, intricate gold panelling on the walls between the curtains. Crystal chandeliers—not one, but nine of them—put the room in a soft glow. I was impressed. It almost made me want to dance.

  “This is where we are having our reception after the ceremony,” Leanne announced proudly, spreading her arms out wide and twirling in a small circle. “What do you think?”

  “It’s beautiful.” Indie smiled and gazed around the room in awe. Her face lit with emotions I couldn’t decipher.

  “I’m glad you like it. Now, we only have tonight for this lesson, but I promise it’s not hard. It’s just a waltz, and anyone can do that.”

  Kenzie coughed, and I muttered, “Doubt it.” There was no way I could master the waltz after only one lesson.

  “Where’s the dance instructor?” Indie asked, drawing attention to the fact that there were only the six of us in the ballroom.

  “Right here.” Kenzie raised her hand and stepped forward.

  “You?” Indie said abruptly. “Sorry. I mean, I didn’t know you danced.”

  “Twelve years, until douche-face knocked me up and kicked me out of town.” Kenzie shrugged. She was honest, straight to the point, like her brother.

  “How is Cole?” Indie asked.

  “He’s great. He’s loving school. Very smart, like his uncle.” Kenzie beamed as she spoke about her son. She’d had him when she was about sixteen, I thought Indie had said.

  She’d dated Ryder’s friend Chace, fell pregnant, and he dumped her, demanding she terminate the baby, which she obviously didn’t do. He then went on to date Bailey, knowing Ryder was in love with her, only to dump her for Christina, Bailey and Indie’s friend. He was a real piece of work and deserved every single beating Ryder had given him over the years. I knew one thing for sure. I didn’t envy Chace being on Ryder’s bad side. He might not look it, but the guy was tough. I wouldn’t like to piss him off, and I could hold my own in a fight.

  “Well, umm…shall we get started?” Steve cleared his throat and looked around awkwardly.

  “Yes, please!”

  “Okay.” Kenzie pulled everyone into a line, with me between Indie and Nate, and stood a few feet in front of us. “I guess we’ll start with the basic square. Indie, you watch me. Guys, I’ll help you in a minute.”

  Thank God, because watching her step in a square was confusing the hell out of me.

  “One, two, three. One, two, three. Got it?” Kenzie asked Indie, and Indie gave her a thumb up, continuing her steps. “Think you can show Linc?”

  “S-sure,” she stuttered nervously.

  “Remember he has to step in the opposite way, so you lead him. I think it’ll be easier,” Kenzie said and turned to Leanne and Steve. “If you two want to dance, go for it. Don’t wait for us. Watching you will probably help.”

  “Okay, thank you.” Leanne ginned, a smile not unlike her daughter’s, before grabbing Steve and pulling him into the middle of t
he dance floor where they fell into a seamless waltz. Really, they looked like they were floating. I had no hope.

  “You ready?” Indie asked.

  “Sure.” I widened my eyes and smiled awkwardly.

  “Okay, boys, I’ll run through it with you as we do it this first time. Step forward with your left foot, bring your right foot forward but do not put it down, step it to the side. Good! Bring your left foot over to your right and put it down, step back with the right. Yes! Now bring the left foot back toward the right but slide it to the side. And then bring your right foot over to the left. See, easy? Now, do it together.”

  It wasn’t easy. Far from it. I kept stumbling over my feet, standing on Indie’s toes, putting my foot down when it was supposed to glide, stepping with the wrong one. How could anyone ever learn this dance? It was impossible. I looked over to see Nate and Kenzie had finally started waltzing around the room with his parents. He was a natural. I, however, was not. Put me in the water, and I could master anything, but dancing? No.

  “Can we try something?” Indie asked, blowing a strand of hair out of her face.

  “Anything, if it’ll help figure this out.” I tugged on my hair, pulling more dreadlocks free.

  Indie walked around behind me. “I’m going to lead you from here.”

  “What?” How could she lead me from behind if I couldn’t watch her feet to follow?

  Her arms wrapped around my waist, and I froze. What was she doing? Her family would see. Her face was pressed into my back, and I was sure she sniffed. Did she just smell me? Not that I cared. No, I liked it. A little too much. I closed my eyes and waited.

  Her left leg nudged mine, so following her lead I moved it forward, then let her guide my right foot forward. When I placed it on the ground, she growled and kicked it to the right. I chuckled, placing my hands on her arms to hold them there, in case she had any ideas of letting me go. She swept my left foot across to my right with hers and stood on my toe when I didn’t let it touch the ground. I felt her getting frustrated with me, but I didn’t care; I was enjoying having her pressed against my back far too much to care about anything else.