I shook her hand and smiled. “That makes two of us.”
She smiled, then spread out her own beach towel, adjusted her sunglasses, and politely asked, “If you don’t mind, I’m gonna catch some rays too.”
“Sounds like a plan,” I said. I lay back down and turned my head in her direction. “Where do you live?”
“Not far from you. My parents split, and Mom’s—”
“Divorced?”
“You nailed it. Divorce, the future tense of marriage.”
I had to stifle a laugh, considering that her wounds were probably still fresh, but I appreciated her cynical sense of humor. “I’m sorry,” I said.
“It’s fine, and I’ll be fine too. I always bounce back. It’s like I have nine lives. My dad got remarried and lives in Washington, and Mom got a job as a manager for Sleepy Forest Cottages. Where do your parents work?”
“In their pajamas sometimes,” I said.
“Huh?”
“Heh. They work from home. They’re authors, so for them, this place is like a writers’ retreat, the perfect inspiration.”
“Oh. Well, that’s pretty cool.”
“I guess. They met at a writing conference and have been inseparable ever since. I guess you could call it love at first write,” I said with a smile.
She laughed. “Fairytale perfect, huh?”
“Well…sometimes. But speaking of fairytales,” I said, “I think I met Prince Charming.”
She lifted her glasses up and smiled. “Really? Where? Is he a lifeguard or something?” she asked, looking around.
“Not that I know of—at least not in the traditional sense. Yesterday, my dog Max took off into the woods, and when I ran in there to get him, I bumped into this super hot guy.”
“Whoa!” She lifted a brow. “A hot forest boy, huh?”
Just then, another vision of the Greek god flashed through my head, his black hair wafting in the wind like some majestic stallion’s mane. I grinned as I imagined the intimate touch of his lips on mine.
“Hello? Earth to Taylor,” Julie said, snapping me out of my trance.
“Oh…sorry. I was just thinking about him. He was just so…hot. ”
“Do tell.”
I lifted my sunglasses off my face. “Smokin’…really.”
She furrowed a brow. “As in…sizzling?”
I grinned. “Smoldering.”
“What’s his name?” she asked.
“Um…that’s the thing. I don’t know.”
“What!? You mean to tell me this gorgeous creature was standing right there in front of you, and you didn’t even find out who he is?
“Well, we talked for a few minutes, and I felt this amazing connection. I guess I was so caught up in the moment that I just didn’t think to ask.”
“You know what that was, don’t ya?”
“What?”
“Chemistry.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“So lemme get this straight. You met some hot guy who took your breath away, and you didn’t even get his name? Do you even know where he’s from?”
“You mean besides Heaven?”
She laughed. “Oh my gosh, that’s soooo corny.”
I laughed back at her. “I don’t know.”
She shot me a look like I was crazy. “Why didn’t you ask?”
“Well, there were mountain lions, and—”
“Mountain lions, as in plural?”
“Yeah. Why?”
She lifted a finger. “Clue number one. Mr. Wonderful doesn’t know much about the wildlife around here. I read up on it. Mountain lions travel alone.”
“Hmm. That’s odd. When we were out there, after we scared one lion away, my dog started acting funny, and he said, ‘They’re back’.”
“Only mothers and kittens live in groups, and I doubt a mama bobcat would come back with her babies. What happened after that?”
“He seemed jumpy and rushed me back home, then took off. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was gone.”
“Hmm. He does sound mysterious. I’ll keep out an eye for him. What does he look like?”
“He’s gorgeous.”
“Yeah, you already said that. What else?”
“Well, he has black hair to his shoulders.” I smiled even wider, recalling every detail of his features. “And he’s got these big, bright blue eyes, almost like he was wearing those colored contacts.”
“You mean, like, pastel or a piercing shade of bright blue?”
“I don’t know, exactly. When I was a kid, there was this crayon in my box of Crayolas that was called Periwinkle. It was kind of like that, the rarest eye color I’ve ever seen. It was the lightest blue ever, as blue as the sky. I don’t know who he is, but I’ve gotta find out.”
“So you’re calling dibs on the hottest guy on town already? Gee, I sure hope he has a brother.”
“I’m not even sure if he lives here,” I said.
“What would make you think otherwise?”
“Well, you said yourself that he made a mistake about the mountain lions. It seems like a local would know better. Maybe he was just hiking and is staying in one of the hotels.”
“Was he dressed like a hiker? Did he have a backpack and gear and hiking boots?”
“No, none of that.”
“Hmm. I do love a good mystery. We’ve gotta find your hunky hottie and see if he’s got an equally smoldering brother.”
I laughed. “And how are we supposed to do that? Stalk the resorts, hotels, and cabins?”
“No. I have a better idea. This guy named Jed is throwing a party tonight at his cabin. Lucky for us, I got invited. If this mysterious guy is a local, I’m sure he’ll be there.”
“And if he doesn’t show up?”
“Then we move on to Plan B.”
“Which is?”
“Stalking the resorts, hotels, and cabins.”
“Man, that’s gonna suck.”
She rolled on her stomach to get some sun on her back. “Yep. If he’s a tourist, he’ll most likely be here for no more than a week or two. But even if he leaves, I’m sure there are other cute guys around here somewhere.”
“I don’t want another cute guy. I want him.”
“Picky, picky, picky! When you show up tonight, make sure you look good. Wear something cute. If he happens to be there and he’s single, maybe you’ll snag him. At least you can find out his name this time.”
“Right,” I said and gave my new friend a fist bump.
“I need to meet somebody to forget about my ex,” she said.
“Yeah, I know the feeling. I did meet another guy who’s pretty cute,” I said.
“Wow. What are you, a guy magnet? How’d you meet that one? And don’t blame your dog.”
“He knocked on my door.”
She laughed. “Hey! How come I don’t have that kind of luck?”
“My dad hired him to do some yard work. His name is Fred.”
“So introduce me,” she said.
“I will.”
“Unless you want him.”
“Nah, he’s a cutie all right, but I’m all hung up on Mr. Blue Eyes. Fred’s are jade green, kinda like yours.”
“Well, anything to get my mind off my ex,” Julie said.
“My love life isn’t so great either. I was dumped about six months ago. Sean said we didn’t have the spark he needs.”
“Spark? The guy sounds like a jerk. Trust me, you’re better off with somebody else than a guy who’d ever say something like that to a girl. If he wants a spark, maybe somebody oughtta shove a lighter up his—”
“Hey! Gross!” I squealed, cutting her off before she made me visualize something I didn’t want to see.
She laughed, and I couldn’t help laughing too.
“Anyway, he is a jerk, like you said. He had a girlfriend one day after he dumped me.”
“Idiot!”
I sighed. “Tell me about it.”
She sat up and grinned coyly, a
s if she was up to something naughty. “So…are you ready to forget about him and have some fun?”
“Definitely.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up tonight. Mom already told me where you live. Is seven okay?”
“I’ll be ready and waiting.”
“Cool. And look, Taylor, if your fiery forest friend isn’t there, don’t worry about it. I’ve got a feeling there won’t be a shortage of hotties around here—or at least I hope there won’t.”
I smirked. “I’ve got a feeling we’re going to be really good friends,” I said, and I knew it was the truth.
Chapter 3
Julie’s bright blonde hair was in long, beautiful waves, and her green eyes really popped, thanks to the brown eyeshadow she’d chosen. She was dressed in tight black pants, and her black, glittery shirt sparkled from a mile away.
“You do know we’re going to a party in the woods, right?” I said.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You look red-carpet ready.”
“Too much?” she asked.
“Maybe a tad,” I said, gesturing with my index finger and thumb.
Her eyes twinkled like green jewels. “When I get the hottest guy in the room, I’ll be sure to give you my Academy Awards speech.”
I smiled. “Love your confidence.”
“Get in.”
I pretended like I was talking into a microphone. “And the Academy Award for best dressed goes to—”
“Julie Winters!” she said with a laugh.
When she pulled into the driveway of our destination, my jaw dropped. For some reason, I had pictured a cottage in the woods, but the place was far from that. Instead, it was a huge, fancy cabin with a spacious deck and bay windows all around.
“Are you ready to find Prince Charming?” she asked with a huge smile.
“You know it,” I said.
She opened her compact and checked her makeup, making sure her smoky eyes were still smoky enough. “Okay. I think we’re good to go.”
Two thin girls with long hair and short skirts walked past us. They were so pretty that I felt intimidated; I was sure I had no shot with my mysterious guy while those two were in the vicinity. Swallowing hard, I pondered. He had so many girls to choose from, and I felt like a beat-up station wagon in a lot full of Benzes and Ferraris. I had never been low on confidence, but I suddenly felt as if I didn’t stand a chance with any guy, let alone the one I wanted.
“Taylor,” my new friend said, “is this the first time you’ve been out in public since your breakup?”
“Yeah, basically.” I slammed the door shut. “But you know what? He’s the last person on my mind.”
“I guarantee by the time we go home, you’ll have forgotten all about the scumbag. He doesn’t deserve to be missed.”
“I don’t think about him,” I lied.
She smirked. “Yes you do.”
“All right,” I said, “maybe just a little, but we dated for a long time, so it’s only natural to—”
She grabbed my arm. “No sad stories tonight. Let’s go.”
Glancing around the yard, I noticed beer bottles strewn everywhere. Clusters of people were sitting around outside, and one couple was making out beside a red sports car. A drunk person stumbled down the steps, and a woman in the shortest skirt and the highest heels I’d ever seen ran over to him, laughing hysterically, probably more drunk than he was.
Somebody whistled as we walked past a group of people, and I heard a man ask, “Hey, do I know you?”
“Jed invited us,” Julie said.
“Welcome to the party then,” he said. “Go on in and help yourselves to some appetizers and drinks, ladies.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
Inside, the music was blaring, and everyone was laughing and dancing. It was hot and sticky, and the crowd was a little older than I thought; none of them looked like high school students. It reminded me of a college frat party, and I immediately wondered why Julie had even been invited.
Whether we wanted everyone’s attention or not, all eyes were on us, staring at us like we were some kind of two-headed unicorn. I swallowed hard, glancing from one open mouth to the other. Something was wrong, and I could have almost cut the tension with the proverbial knife. I wasn’t sure why they were looking at us like that, so I assumed they just weren’t expecting teenagers to show up at their older-crowd get-together.
When the chatter and laughter resumed, much to my relief, I nudged Julie. “We should leave. I don’t feel comfortable here.”
“Oh, don’t be a party-pooper,” Julie said. “Look at all these hot college guys. Maybe I’ll even snag one.”
“Really, Julie, I think it’s best we leave.”
She put her hand on her hip and turned to face me, then actually stomped her foot like a spoiled toddler. “Seriously? You wanna go back to your boring house? Let’s just have a drink and chat a little. If you still want to leave then, we will.”
I looked around uneasily and swallowed hard. “I already know I want to leave now.”
“Well, you didn’t drive.”
My lips pressed into grim lines. I didn’t like being forced into such a situation, and she knew it.
“Oh, all right. If you wanna leave, we’ll go,” she said over the loud music. “But we got all dressed up, and one drink would be nice.”
She shot me that stupid puppy dog face and stuck her bottom lip out.
Just like that, I caved. “Fine. One drink,” I said, “but then we’re heading back to your house.”
She smiled at the compromise. “I knew you’d see it my way,” she said smugly.
I was sure one drink wouldn’t kill us, but I still couldn’t wait to get out of there. The stench of smoke wafted past me, and I stepped away from the girl who was blowing at me. I jumped when another girl hurled right beside my feet. I frowned when Julie pulled me away and into the crowd.
“You ladies want a drink?” asked a blond guy in his twenties.
Julie grinned. “Sure.” When he walked away, her grin grew even wider. “See?” she said. “We fit right in.”
“I guess it’s better than sitting on the porch and listening to frogs and crickets,” I said with a shrug.
“That’s the spirit!” She suddenly grabbed my arm. “Hear that?”
What? The loud music or the roaring laughter? “Hear what?
“Only my favorite song in the whole wide world!” She started swaying her hips to the beat of the music.
The music pounded louder as the guy finally returned with our drinks.
“Thanks,” I said.
As I opened it, he slammed his bottle against mine in some kind of impromptu and uninvited toast, and beer splattered my face and started to fizz all over the place.
“Ah! What was that for?” I asked, trying to wipe my face.
He winked. “Gotta pay better attention, little girl,” he said, then began to laugh.
I didn’t see what was so funny, and in a rage, I turned to Taylor. “I’ve been here less than five minutes, and I’m already soaked with beer, smelling like a smokestack, and almost got puke on my shoes!”
She pulled me into the crowd. “Don’t pay him any mind. He’s drunk. Your shirt won’t take long to dry, and then no one will even notice. C’mon. Let’s have some fun.”
A tall guy with pretty green eyes reached for Julie, and she giggled flirtatiously as he twirled her around. “I see you love to jam,” he said, eying her up and down. “Wanna dance?”
“I’d love to,” she said. “This is my favorite song.”
“Mine too.”
She glanced at me. “Do you mind?”
I couldn’t possibly refuse to let her go because the invitation to dance with a college guy had her looking like she’d just won the lottery. I didn’t see the harm in letting her bask in the light for one dance or two. “Have fun.”
“You’re the best!” she shouted.
After she shimmied off with the green-eyed goon, I glan
ced around and swallowed hard again when I realized I didn’t know a soul other than her. Eager to claim my role as an unnoticed, inconspicuous wallflower, I made my way to the corner and waited for the dance to finish. I leaned against the wall, I sipped my drink.
The next song that came on was a slow love song, and I felt uncomfortable all over again, standing there by myself as couples snuggled close all around me. I decided it would be better if I made my way through the crowd and headed out to the deck for some fresh air.
Just as I spun around to leave, a towering figure with brown eyes smiled at me. He looked to be in his early twenties with short cropped hair. “What’s a pretty girl like you doing here without a date?” he asked.
“Like the old song says,” I said with a shy smile, “girls just wanna have fun.”
“Well, dancing is fun. Would you like to?” he asked.
“Sure,” I said with a shrug, as if I wasn’t flattered at all.
We danced through the slow song, which was a bit awkward with a stranger, but when the fast music came on, we danced some more. Julie and I did shots, but all in all, she drank far more than I did. After the drinks loosened me up a little, I danced with a few guys at the party and made lots of small talk as the hours waned on.
After a while, she leaned on my shoulder in a drunken stupor and slurred, “He wants me to go upstairs with him. Should I go? I mean, I’m totally turned on right now, and—”
“You’re drunk,” I said, snatching the drink out of her hand. “Consider yourself cut off,” I scolded, “and you’re definitely not going upstairs with him or anybody else on my watch.”
“What!? Why am I cut off?”
“Because you have to drive us home. I can’t drive a stick.”
“You’re right,” she said. “I’ll start trying to sober up. Besides, the last thing I need is a bad reputation already. I just got here!”
“Exactly.”
When she leaned on me with all her weight, I almost stumbled. “I’m so glad you’re here to watch out for me,” she said. “You’re my new best friend. We girls gotta stick together. And you know what?”
“What?”
“Where’s the guy who promised to bring me coffee? My head feels like there’s a thunderstorm in it.”
“I didn’t know somebody was getting you coffee.”
“Not just somebody. An angel. The caffeine angel.”
Darlings of Paranormal Romance (Anthology) Page 99
