Hot Mistake

by Cara Lockwood

  “You didn’t enjoy that?” Lola pressed.

  “Do I look like I enjoyed it?” He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and frowned.

  Gabriela winced into her glass of ice.

  “And, Gabriela, you were right. Felicia is out of control.”

  Gabriela turned, glancing at him over her shoulder. “You’re admitting you were wrong?”

  “No, I’m admitting you were right. I didn’t say anything about me being wrong.” He flashed a grin.

  Lola laughed and playfully jabbed him in the ribs. “You’re incorrigible. Have you seen my groom?” she asked, glancing around the bar.

  “I think he’s in the corner. Save him from his obnoxious cousin, Bill. Please.”

  Lola nodded and headed that way.

  Felicia let out a loud whooping holler as she twerked in front of one of the dancers and he pretended to spank her butt.

  Gabriela let out a long, plaintive sigh. “How did she even get them on board?” she wondered out loud.

  “I don’t know, but she’s clearly paid off the bartender,” Sebastian said, nodding to the man behind the bar. He didn’t seem at all concerned that three of his patrons were dancing around his establishment in their underwear or that Felicia, who didn’t seem worried about having lost Sebastian as a dance partner, had moved tables and chairs to the side so there would be more room for dancing. He’d even set the lights to a lower setting and the music got louder.

  “I’d better go break all that up,” she said.

  “What’s your hurry, Gabriela Cruz? Why don’t you come sit by me? Let’s get caught up.” He patted the bar stool next to him. She hesitated. Was she really thinking about staying?

  Her phone dinged. A few times. Spark connections nearby. She was almost tempted to go find one of them. Quick, dirty sex in some stranger’s cabin might just be what she needed to turn the page on this party. Make her feel like a whole woman again, not the insecure girl she’d been in high school.

  What was she thinking? She’d shock the entire wedding party. Plus, Lola’s parents were on board. They were almost like her own. What if Mrs. Diaz got wind of her antics? She’d call Gabriela’s parents immediately.

  Then again, she was a big girl now. No need to ask permission for what she wanted to do.

  “You getting some better offers than this party?” Sebastian was glancing at her phone’s screen.

  “None of your business.” Gabriela hid the phone against her leg.

  “Was that a silver star? Next to your name?”

  Gabriela felt her neck grow hot. “It might be.”

  He slapped the bar with gusto. “Holy shit.” A sly smile crept across his face. “You’re a platinum Spark dater. That takes some...work.”

  She knew it, too. That meant communicating with more than a hundred Sparkees. Not all of them ended up with her naked in their beds, but quite a few did.

  Gabriela sent him a sidelong glance. “I’m sure you broke that record the first week you were online.”

  “Maybe.” He chuckled deep in his throat and Gabriela almost felt the vibrations in hers.

  “But I didn’t know you had it in you.” His hazel eyes glinted with something more. Respect, maybe?

  “Literally,” she said, and he burst out laughing. A big burst of a laugh.

  “Well, Ms. Cruz...” He moved a little closer so their arms were touching. “What else don’t I know about you?”

  She looked up at him, feeling daring. “Everything,” she murmured, voice low and throaty.

  He shook his head, slowly, deliberately. “That is what I plan to remedy.”

  What was she doing flirting with this man? Gabriela wanted to mentally shake herself. Yet...it was fun. A little bit dangerous. A little bit careless. Like stepping to the edge of a cliff high above a raging sea. He seemed to know it, as well, beckoning her to risk it all with a hint of a smile. Come on in. Water’s fine. It’s the jump that’ll get you.

  “What are you thinking about, Ms. Cruz?” he asked her.

  “I’m trying to figure out if you’re worth my time,” she said evenly. He didn’t seem the least bit put off. She could almost feel the confidence rolling off him like heat from the sun. How could a man be so sure of himself? But then again, she knew why. He’d practically been worshipped as a demigod since eighth grade.

  “Oh, I’ll make it worth it.”

  That sounded like a promise. Why did she find herself wanting to see if he could keep it?

  He glanced at the dance floor, where Felicia and Liv and their half-clad partners were hogging the makeshift dance floor.

  “You know, there’s one way to make sure they don’t take over this party,” he said.

  “Really? What’s that?”

  Sebastian slowly put down his drink and glanced at her, hazel eyes serious. “Let’s steal their spotlight.”

  “How?”

  He held out his hand. “Dance with me.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  SEBASTIAN THOUGHT FOR a split second she might turn him down flat, but then he saw the spark of rebellion in her dark eyes. Gabriela liked flirting with him, his whole body told him that. The way she moved. The way she flicked her dark hair back off her shoulder. But he could tell she was also conflicted. Jealous? Maybe about Felicia kissing him? Or annoyed he was injecting life into the party? Either way, he’d find out.

  “Okay, but this is just to get back at Felicia,” she murmured, as if wanting him to know she wasn’t doing it because she wanted to.

  “Sure,” he said. He didn’t care why she chose to dance with him. She just wanted to feel her body move with his.

  They drifted to the other dancers and started dancing to the beat of the up-tempo song. Gabriela moved with the ease of a cat. He couldn’t stop staring at the sway of her hips, the silky fabric that clung to her curves, leaving very little to the imagination. She also had rhythm, not the jerky clumsiness that Felicia called dancing.

  Sebastian watched Gabriela sway to the music. She held up her dark hair as she twisted her hips, hot and sultry. He watched the small tendrils of hair curl down the nape of her neck. She was by far the most beautiful woman in the room. He was mesmerized, unable to stop staring at her hips as she shut her eyes and lost herself in the dance. Sebastian had long believed that how a person danced predicted how they’d be in bed. The way Gabriela was swinging her hips right now told him she’d be amazing and his groin instantly tightened with need. Down, boy, he told himself. You’re supposed to be on the wagon.

  He took her hand and she let him as he spun her to the music. She laughed, the fabric of her jumpsuit clinging to her as she twirled.

  Then the song changed and the tempo slowed down.

  Sebastian reached out, took Gabriela’s hand and whirled her straight back into his arms for a little slow salsa, his feet guiding hers as he kept her pressed closely to his body. He could almost feel her heart beat, they were so close together. They moved so well, so perfectly, her body against his. The sex would be incredible, that’s what he knew. He pulled away enough so their eyes met and, in that instant, he knew she felt the electric connection between them. Their bond went far deeper than the surface; it was primal, animalistic. He knew she felt it, could feel it in the heat of their palms pressed together.

  They were going to have sex tonight.

  He knew it, even if she didn’t yet. It felt destined, an animal magnetism this strong shouldn’t be denied.

  “You’re a good dancer,” Gabriela said, her dark eyes on his. She seemed surprised.

  “My mother was a ballroom dancer,” Sebastian said. He was struck by a memory then. “She used to teach me in our kitchen. Sometimes really late, when she came home from the jobs she worked.”

  “She worked nights?” Gabriela asked, surprised. “What about your dad?”

  “He left u
s when I was two.”

  “Oh.” Gabriela’s face fell a bit. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. We were a team, Mom and I.” He smiled sadly, remembering the fierce woman who’d had no quit in her. She’d never faced a challenge she couldn’t overcome. Until she’d gotten cancer.

  He rarely talked about his mom because the grief still seemed fresh even though she’d passed three years ago. But Gabriela made him want to share.

  “She sounds like an amazing lady,” she admitted.

  “She was.” Before he could talk more about his mom, Felicia and her buff, shirtless dancer bumped into them.

  “Hey, watch it,” Sebastian cautioned even as Felicia laughed and bounded away. The shirtless man changed tack and headed for Marco and Lola. Sebastian watched as he gyrated between the bride and groom and then tried to steal Lola with a clumsy grab that looked like he cupped her rear. Lola squealed in distress as she scurried away from his hands.

  “Hey, stop it,” Marco said, holding his ground and pulling Lola back into his arms. “This is my bride.”

  “Just want to have a little fun,” the dancer said. “Isn’t this a bachelorette party?”

  “Oh, no,” Gabriela murmured, stepped back from Sebastian. He didn’t hesitate. He flew across the room, clapping the dancer on the shoulder and steering him away from the groom.

  “How about we talk about the end of your routine,” Sebastian said, moving the man back from Marco and Lola.

  “What do you mean? I’m supposed to be on for at least another half hour,” he said.

  Sebastian escorted the dancer all the way to the exit, the ship lurching slightly beneath his feet. “How about I pay you whatever is left on your tab and you just end the show now?”

  “Don’t pay him. Just get him out,” Marco said, his eyes full of venom.

  The man frowned. “What about my tips, man? I need to—”

  Sebastian had steered him out the bar door and they were now standing on the ship’s hall carpet covered in bright geometric shapes. Marco was hot on their heels.

  Sebastian reached into his wallet and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. “This will handle it.”

  “Maybe.” The half-naked dancer squinted. “But I’ve got tips, dude. How am I supposed to get them?”

  “I don’t care. You’re out of line,” Marco said.

  Sebastian ground his back molars together. He was going to have to spell it out for this lunk. “Look, you seem not to understand. This will handle it.” If he had to wipe the floor with this guy, he would. “The next tip that’s coming is one that you won’t like.” He held the bill out once more.

  The dancer seemed to get Sebastian’s meaning. Good. Don’t be a fool. The two men stared at each other for a beat. Go on, try it. Sebastian knew how to maneuver a body. He’d done it a million times on the football field and a few times in real life.

  The man grabbed the bill and turned. But then, out of nowhere, swung a wild punch at the groom. Marco easily ducked and Sebastian went in, instinctively rolling the man to the side and then grabbing his arm and slamming him hard against the wall.

  “Now you’re going to go quietly,” Sebastian growled in his ear, as he twisted the dancer’s arm so he flinched. “Or I’m calling security and you can spend the night in the brig.”

  “Okay, man. Okay!” Sebastian released the dancer, not so nicely shoving him along the carpet.

  He glanced back, holding up the hundred-dollar bill and grinning. “Thanks for the cash, anyway.”

  Sebastian, his heart thudding from the adrenaline of the quick fight, felt his pulse pound in his temples. He ought to tackle the man and take back his hundred, but he knew it wouldn’t be worth it. Best to keep the peace now and not make more of a spectacle.

  “Thanks, man,” Marco said, clapping Sebastian on the shoulder.

  “Yeah, no problem. What are best men for?” He made sure to watch that the dancer made it all the way into the elevator. He didn’t stop watching until the doors slid shut. “He’s gone now and shouldn’t be coming back.”

  “I’m going to go check on Lola,” Marco said, slipping back into the party.

  “You sure did handle that guy,” Gabriela said, sneaking up on him as she appeared at his left elbow.

  “Just trying to save the bachelorette party,” he said and shrugged.

  “Well, thank you. You did.” Her eyes shone with gratitude.

  “It wasn’t anything. Just taking out the trash, really,” he said. They both turned to head back into the party, but the rolling waves beneath the ship kicked up a notch and the boat tipped to the right.

  “Whoa,” Gabriela said as she stumbled in her stiletto heels. Sebastian reached out to steady her but before he knew it, she’d fallen straight into his arms.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  GABRIELA HAD SOMEHOW gone from walking independently to be pressed straight against Sebastian Lott’s very fit, very firm, body. She realized that despite a decade since he’d thrown a football on the field, he’d maintained his physique and was all muscle, not a bit of give in his entire torso, and she was flattened straight against it. She craned her neck upward and his hazel eyes flecked with green seemed amused.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  Was she okay? She hadn’t even known what had hit her. She was walking fine and then the boat lurched and now she was close enough to Sebastian Lott to kiss him. On the lips. She felt a surge of adrenaline pump through her body, running hot and then cold as her face flushed. A trickle of sweat dripped down her lower back. No doubt from all the dancing and not Sebastian Lott. Though part of her wasn’t sure.

  “I—I’m fine. Really. I...” Gabriela tried to pull herself away from Sebastian’s strong arms, but the boat lurched again and she fell back into them. The drinks plus the rolling seas made for rough walking but why did she keep falling into his arms? The universe was conspiring against her.

  Sebastian just laughed. A deep rumble in his belly that she felt through his shirt.

  “Maybe we should try that again,” he said. He glanced at her and for a moment she felt lost in his gaze. Those green flecks. So green. What had he said? Why did it even matter what color the man’s eyes were? He was Sebastian Lott, notorious player, and she was the uptight nerd from high school.

  Sebastian righted her as she took a step back, keeping a hand on her elbow. She felt even more unsteady on her feet, but that had nothing to do with the rock of the boat on the water. Her face was on fire. God, she hoped she wasn’t tomato red, though she felt her cheeks burn.

  “Thanks,” she managed.

  “Can’t have the maid of honor toppling,” he said. “Who’s going to keep the party on schedule with her clipboard?” He grinned a teasing smile, challenging her.

  “I think the schedule’s blown to hell now,” she admitted, shrugging one shoulder.

  “Probably,” Sebastian agreed, chuckling. He stared at her once more.

  Was he coming closer? Were those sensual lips getting nearer to hers?

  “Hey, there.” Lola’s voice broke the spell and Gabriela jumped away from Sebastian. Had the bride seen them doing...what? About to kiss? Lola and Marco were standing at the door now, Marco with confusion across his face. Gabriela had no idea what they must’ve looked like, bodies pressed together as they fought the sway of the ship.

  “The ocean’s really wild tonight,” Gabriela hedged as she tried to regain her composure, tucking her hair behind one ear. “I nearly fell.” Gabriela’s pulse pounded in her throat. She felt guilty, like she’d been caught trying to steal a cookie from the jar.

  “I saw.” Lola’s face was a poker mask. Gabriela couldn’t read it.

  “You guys okay?” Sebastian asked. “Lola, I’m sorry about that dancer.”

  Lola nodded. “It was so weird—him grabbing me like that!” she exclaimed, shaking he
r head. “So aggressive.”

  “Too aggressive,” Marco agreed, putting an arm around Lola and pulling her close.

  “Should I ask all the dancers to leave? I will,” Gabriela offered. She’d be more than happy to kick out the remainder of Felicia’s tawdry entertainment.

  “The rest are already on their way out,” Lola said. “They decided to pack it up.” She nodded backward and Gabriela saw the two others putting their clothes back on. “And—” she glanced up at Marco “—I think we’re going to head to our cabin, too.”

  “What? Leave already? It’s not even...eleven!” Gabriela exclaimed.

  “Yeah, it’s early. Have another drink,” Sebastian offered.

  “No thanks, man,” Marco said, clapping his friend on the shoulder. “We’ve got a big day tomorrow with the snorkeling excursion and then later the rehearsal dinner, so...” He trailed off, glancing at his bride with goofy affection.

  “And we need our beauty rest,” Lola finished. But she was grinning ear to ear, making it more than apparent that rest probably wasn’t on the agenda once the two retreated to their cabin.

  “You don’t need any beauty sleep,” Sebastian told Lola. “But this guy...” He play-punched Marco in the stomach. “Can he sleep from now until the wedding? Hell, I’m not even sure that would help.”

  “Hey, now,” Marco protested but laughed anyway.

  “You sure you won’t stay?” Gabriela didn’t want to imagine the party without Lola. This was her night and her weekend, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

  “No...and Veronica’s going to call it a night, too. She told me.”

  “Well, I’m not surprised. I don’t think Veronica’s made it to midnight since her kids were born,” Gabriela said. “Was the party at least fun? I mean, if that dancer ruined it for you...” Gabriela would stalk him and make his life a living hell. Sweet-as-pie Lola deserved the best bachelorette party of all time and if Felicia and her dumb dancers had messed any of that up...