Risking the Crown

by Violet Paige

  “Now you’re just showing off for our guest.” Cal crossed his arms.

  Lance jutted the stick forward and made the two shots from the impact of one hit. “And that’s how it’s done. Want to bet me on the next one, Cal?”

  So, this is probably why I never played pool. Two strokes in and my new hosts were ready to gamble.

  Cal winked at me from under his hat. “He is definitely trying to impress you.”

  I smiled, but tried to ignore the comments and what Cal was insinuating. I wasn’t interested in Lance like that. Both of the boys were sweet, but playing pool was enough for me.

  After three rounds, I mastered enough of a stroke to sink a few shots. Cal and Lance were fun to hang out with. I learned that they attended the local community college, and spent much of the graduation season at Lance’s parents’ beach house. They had been best friends since the age of five. I also learned Cal was short for Calhoun, a family name that had been passed down for four generations.

  “Looks like we taught Carolina here how to play eight ball.” Lance slapped his friend on the back before taking a sip from a longneck bottle.

  “I think I have a long way to go.” I handed the pool cue back to Lance. “But, thanks for the lesson. I had fun.”

  “Anytime. Wait. Can I buy you a drink before you leave?” Lance’s expression turned sheepish and his gaze hit the floor.

  I looked at him and knew then Cal had been right, Lance was crushing on me. “Thanks, but I’m pretty tired. Long day with the flight and the lost luggage, you know? Maybe another time.” I didn’t want our fun night to turn awkward. I was hoping he had put me in the friend zone from the beginning.

  “Sure, darlin’. We’ll do it another time. Good night.” Lance grinned. If he was disappointed, he didn’t show it. He leaned over and tucked a folded napkin in the crease of my fist.

  I didn’t need to open it right now to know what was on it.

  The guys tipped their hats in my direction as I waved goodnight.

  I walked across the street, and headed down the few blocks to the Dune Scape. The vacancy sign flashed in the office window. On the other side of the glass, Cole was sitting at the desk facing stacks of receipts and paper. An opened beer rested next to him. His hands were grasping either side of his head, and he was lost in a mound of paperwork. I noticed the clock above his head read almost 1 a.m. My pool playing with Cal and Lance had lasted longer than I realized.

  I paused for a second in front of the window, watching Cole sort through the piles and punch figures into a handheld calculator. It looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. I hesitated. I wanted to walk inside and tell him all the things weighing on my heart for over ten years.

  But it would be the confessions of a margarita.

  I walked past the office, knowing I never had a chance with Cole.

  “Wake up, baby,” his voice growled in my ear.

  “I can’t,” I whined.

  “This will help.”

  I felt a wide hand slide between my legs and begin to work over my clit.

  “Ohh.”

  “You awake yet?’

  I nodded. “God that feels good, Cole.”

  “How many times can I make you come tonight?” he teased.

  I shook my head. “I keep losing count.”

  His thumb pushed inside me. “Fuck, you’re wet. You like it when I come to you at night to fuck you, don’t you?”

  “Yes,” I answered. It was why I slept naked.

  He pumped in and out of me. “Good. Because it’s my favorite part of the day. Now spread those gorgeous legs and let me fuck you until you wake up from this dream.”

  Dream? I moaned. I sat forward. The air conditioner hummed in the wall and I reached down, my panties were soaked. Shit.

  I fell back on the bed. It wasn’t the first time I had dreamed about Cole and it wasn’t going to be the last.

  8

  Cole

  “Excuse me. Could you move please? You’re blocking my sun.”

  I stood directly in front of Kaitlyn, casting a wide shadow around her chair.

  “Sorry, princess. Didn’t mean to interfere with your busy morning.” I hid the smirk.

  She was the only one sunning at the Dune Scape pool. The pool was elevated above the parking lot, and from her guests could see the waves crashing on the beach. It wasn’t resort living, but it was a nice view.

  She sat straight up, grabbing her bikini straps and retied them. “Is the pool closed or something?” she asked.

  I exhaled. Her skin was glistening in the sun and she barely tied the top before I saw the pink of her nipples. Fuck. She was hotter than she should be.

  I turned around and grabbed the net from the fence and skimmed the top of the water. “No, but I have work to do. Not everyone can sit at the pool all day,” I joked.

  “That’s the point of vacation, isn’t it?”

  “Darlin’, like I said, I have work to do.” I scooped a bug into the net.

  “Does the management know you talk to guests like this?” I heard the teasing in her voice. When did Kaitlyn Sinclair turn into a sassy spitfire?

  I laughed. “Management? Huh, that’s funny.”

  “I know you saw me last night,” she blurted.

  I paused. “Yeah, looked like you met some friends over at Peabody’s.”

  “You could have at least said hi—or something.”

  “So could you.” I arched my eyebrows.

  What was I supposed to do? Tell her she couldn’t hang out with guys on the island? Lance and Cal were good guys. Ryan would never approve of anyone his sister dated, but at least knew she was safe with them. I’d made sure of that before I left last night.

  “True. You’re right. I just played pool—that’s all.” She sat forward and I eyed the curves of her thighs. “Thanks for sending me to Tassels Surf Shop. Lisa was really nice and she set me up with some clothes. I couldn’t get out of those bourbon-stained jeans fast enough.”

  “Good choice. That blue looks good on you.” My eyes trailed from her breasts, over her stomach, and down every inch of her legs. I wanted to peel the damn thing off her.

  “Thanks.” She adjusted her sunglasses.

  “Is that one of the room towels you’re using?” I pointed.

  “I-I didn’t bring my own towels.”

  “Damn it, Kaitlyn. There aren’t enough towels to use in the rooms and at the pool.” I slammed the basket into the hooks on the wall.

  “From the looks of it, you don’t have any guests other than me, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “That’s not the point,” I grumbled. “We have some reservations this week and I just bought those towels.”

  “You should have a sign or something. How was I supposed to know I couldn’t use the towels?” She leaned just forward enough that the straps slipped loose on the sides of her top.

  I had to get the hell out of here.

  “I’ll take care of it.” I pulled the pool gate behind me and headed to the office.

  I knew I was being a dick, but I couldn’t stop. It was safer to argue with her—to banter with her as if she was still the little sister interfering. Trying to ruin things.

  Ryan would always groan when we had to drop her off at a friend’s house, or worse—pick her up early before we were ready to leave.

  He made it known little sisters were a pain in the ass.

  I reminded myself that that was exactly what Kaitlyn was—a pain in my ass. And I wasn’t going to keep thirst after her tits, or her lush lips. I’d stop picturing her hips in my hands. I’d stop imaging her ragged breath in my ear when I made her come hard.

  Towels. I threw open the supply closet. She needed fucking towels. That was the mission.

  9

  Kaitlyn

  After three hours baking in the Texas coastal sun, I needed a break from the heat. I wrapped the forbidden towel around my chest and tucked the corner into the side. Luckily, Lisa
had convinced me to buy flip-flops along with a pair of sandals. I slipped them on my feet and traipsed back to room twenty-three.

  I had forgotten how mad Cole was at the pool. It reminded me of high school. Ryan would get so pissed. Did he think of me the same way? Was there anything I could do about it?

  It was early afternoon and I had nothing else to do. No one to hang out with or commiserate with—I was utterly alone. Mary Ellen and the girls were probably floating down one of the lazy rivers in Myrtle Beach, flirting with cute boys and sipping on fruity drinks. I didn’t want to think about what Branch and Miss Steal-My-Room were doing.

  I left another message with the airline. It was almost twenty-four hours since my luggage had gone missing, and I was beginning to think my calls and emails to the company were a lost cause.

  The shower in my bathroom at the Dune Scape was covered in blue and pink tiles—just one more leftover relic from when the motel was built in the 1950s. I reached for the faucet marked with an H for hot. Even though they were old, some of the features were cute and retro. They just needed some TLC. I hung my towel on the back of the door before I heard a knock at the door.

  I crossed the room and opened the door.

  “Towels?” Cole stood holding a stack of fluffy white towels.

  I stifled a giggle. It was obvious he was trying to balance the soft linens in his frame without touching them. He had new paint splatters on his arm.

  “I thought you said there weren’t enough towels to go around?” I put my hands on my hips, knowing full well he could see almost every square inch of my skin—almost.

  His eyes landed on the tops of my breasts, and I realized for the second time today how skimpy this suit was. Please, God, tell me he noticed.

  “I—uh—thought I wasn’t being the best host. Here. Plenty of towels.” He shoved the stack into my arms, and shifted his sunglasses to the top of his head.

  “This is too many. I don’t want you breaking any motel rules for me.” I chewed on my bottom lip, staring directly into the crystal blue eyes that caught me off guard every time I saw them.

  “You need towels, don’t you? Just take them.” It seemed like this was his way of a peace offering even if his delivery was a little off.

  “Thanks.” I held them in my arms, unsure what to say next. I searched for words, but couldn’t move past thanks. All of my banter melted under his stare. Damn him.

  “You need anything else?” His eyes locked on mine.

  I shook my head.

  “I’ve gotta go—uh—” He stepped back and pulled his sunglasses over the bridge of his nose. “—fix something.” He backed up and walked toward the office.

  I stood in the doorway, watching him hurriedly walk out of view. I was completely confused. He was hot and cold. It had been a long time since a guy had looked at me like that, but I recognized the look. It made me feel sexy, pretty, and just a little powerful, even if he did derail my ability to form a sentence. It was hard to ignore that every time he was around the energy in the air changed.

  I closed the door and hooked the chain on the lock. I placed the stack on the bed and unraveled the top towel. Maybe a hot shower would help clear my head, and push the questions I had about Cole out of my mind.

  10

  Kaitlyn

  My phone buzzed.

  Hey, it’s Sasha from the Island Sun. Want to hang out at a beach party?

  My prayers had been answered. The sweet girl from the hotel was asking me out.

  Absolutely.

  I texted back as quickly as my fingers could tap the letters on the screen. A party sounded amazing. It was my second night in South Padre. And after the lazy day at the pool and reading everything I had downloaded on my E-reader before the trip, I was ready for a real night out. I could only take so much solitude.

  Meet me at 9 at the Dune Scape beach boardwalk.

  Thanks. See you then.

  At nine o’clock, I closed the heavy room door. The Dune Scape parking lot was empty and all the other room lights were dark except for the room directly across from mine. I walked toward the motel’s boardwalk. After my shower, I intended to take a walk on the beach, but I fell asleep. I gave in to the nap.

  Sasha was waiting for me. Her auburn hair was pulled in a ponytail, and she looked relaxed out of her resort uniform.

  “Hey. I’m so glad you could make it.” She smiled.

  “Me too. It was a long day.”

  “How’s it going at the Dunes?” She stopped at the end of the boardwalk to kick off her flip-flops and collect them in her hand.

  “It’s ok.” I followed her lead.

  Sasha giggled. “It’s no resort, that’s for sure.”

  “No, definitely not, but I appreciate the recommendation. I was desperate last night. I would have stayed anywhere.” I debated whether or not to fill her in on the backstory with Cole.

  She grinned. “Well, I hope you’re not disappointed. This is an island party, so no grads here, but I think you’ll have fun. It’s a good group, even if they do get a little crazy sometimes.”

  Once we hit the beach, I could see a glowing blaze about fifty yards from where we stood. The Dune Scape was one of the last hotels along Gulf Boulevard before the state park began.

  “You can have fires out here?”

  “Not near the resorts. They are inside the city limits. As long as we’re out here near the north part of the island, it’s ok.” Sasha continued toward the party.

  There was enough light from the fire for me to perform a quick head count. I added up thirty people. They were scattered in small clusters. Sasha led me over to a group of people standing near a collection of coolers.

  “Everyone, this is Kaitlyn.”

  Two of the guys in the small circle turned around. I didn’t recognize them from behind without their hats, but I would know those smiles anywhere.

  “We know this girl. Hey, there, Carolina.” Lance loudly broadcast my new nickname. He and Cal each slung an arm around my shoulders and squeezed.

  “Wait, how do you know these guys?” Sasha looked confused.

  “I met them last night at Peabody’s. They volunteered as my pool coaches.” I shrugged my shoulders.

  Sasha laughed. “I’m sure they did. Always so eager to help out.” She jabbed Cal in the ribs.

  “Ouch, girl.” Releasing me from the hug, Cal grabbed Sasha by the waist, threw her over his shoulder, and made a circle around the fire.

  “Calhoun McCoy, put me down!” Sasha shrieked.

  Everyone had turned to watch Sasha and Cal circling the bonfire. I could hear some of the guys cheering Cal on. Someone suggested he take her down to the water and toss her in.

  “Didn’t think I’d get to see you again so soon.” Lance’s hand slid from my shoulder.

  “Crazy small world I guess.” I turned away from Cal and Sasha.

  “Yeah, crazy.” He shifted in the sand. “So, how do you know Sasha?”

  “It’s kind of funny. Remember how I told you the airlines lost my luggage?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, the other half of the nightmare story yesterday was that I lost my reservation at the Wave Oasis. That’s where I met Sasha. She was nice enough to recommend the Dune Scape and invite me tonight.”

  “You’re staying at the Dune?” It sounded like Lance tripped on the words.

  “I didn’t have much choice.”

  Cal had finally placed Sasha on her feet, and she was half-teasing, half-threatening him through a series of kisses.

  “You want a drink or something?” Lance asked, holding up his red plastic cup.

  Watching another couple make out had cast an awkward cloud on our conversation, as if we had somehow been paired together. “Definitely. What’s in there?”

  “All kinds of stuff.” He grinned. “Be right back.” I lost track of him as he disappeared into the crowd.

  “I didn’t take you for the bonfire type.” The deep voice carried over my ear. I wasn�
��t prepared for the chills it sent down my back and arms.

  I whipped around and tried to ground my senses. Cole stood inches from me. He was holding out a red cup for me.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” I took the cup and a cautious sip. The drink tasted like a lime-flavored beer combination. It was refreshing.

  “I don’t know. I thought you liked to dance.” He smirked as he held the cup to his lips.

  I almost choked on my drink. “You went to one of my dance recitals. One.”

  It might have been the flames from the bonfire, but his eyes flickered like he wanted to lure me into a confrontation.

  I thought back to how he looked at me this afternoon in the room. How his eyes followed every curve of my chest until he was almost speechless. I stepped closer to him.

  “Kaitlyn, here you go.” Lance walked up next to me with a drink. The second Cole appeared, I had forgotten about Lance and the drink.

  I took a step back from Cole.

  “Looks like Cole already got you a drink.” A frown formed on Lance’s thin lips. If he had any confidence before Cole showed up, I could tell it was quickly fading.

  Sasha had already told me this was a party for locals, so I shouldn’t have been surprised the guys knew each other, but the encounter felt a little testosterone-charged.

  “Are you two friends?” I asked Lance.

  “We know each other.” Lance wasn’t volunteering much information and Cole didn’t respond.

  “What, did you two date the same girl or something?” I giggled. That couldn’t be, but the longer the silence grew, the more I thought I had just stuck my foot in my mouth.

  “Lance’s not too happy with me these days,” Cole volunteered.

  “And why is that?” I looked at Lance, who was no longer his happy-go-lucky self.