Page 34 of Strictly the Worst

“We probably have to work,” Tessa says, looking at me, a frown pulling at her brows. “Though I might have to stop by to take a few shots at the start of the evening. When the light is still good.”

“Yeah, sorry. We have to work.” I flash Maya a smile. Because I really don’t want to dance with her.

“Oh come on, all work and no play makes Linc a very boring boy,” Maya says flirtatiously. Then her eyes land on Tessa. “Unless there’s something going on between you two and you want to be alone?”

“There’s nothing,” Tessa says so quickly it makes me blink. She looks at me. “If you want to go, then go. You can take some video and I’ll stay here and finish our presentation.”

Oh, I know that tone. I’ve heard it way too many times in my life not to hear the danger in it. My mom was the queen of it.

“Do you want me to go?” I ask her. Truth is, I like dancing. Almost as much as I like teasing this woman. And I’m still a little horned up after her touch.

“If you like.” She shrugs, doing her best to look nonchalant. But I grew up surrounded by people. Spent my life studying their moods. This woman is definitely not nonchalant.

“Come with me,” I say softly, my eyes catching hers. And the stupid thing is, I really want her to. I have no idea why, past the way she can put on lotion. “Your video skills are way better than mine.”

There’s a noise from the cabana beside us. Maya’s making the attendant roll all the sides up.

“I don’t really like dancing,” Tessa says.

“Why not?” I ask her, genuinely curious.

She shrugs. “I just don’t.”

“Like you don’t like running?” I ask her.

“Something like that. I don’t have the best coordination.”

“Practice makes perfect. And anyway, we’d get better footage between the two of us,” I point out. Because now I really want to dance with her. I bet she’s never had the right partner. “You should come.”

She lets out a long breath, but says nothing.

Maya is looking at Tessa again. “Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two? Because I could go for a threesome if needed.”

“Oh my God,” Tessa whispers, laying back on her lounger, covering her face with her hat. “Give me strength.”

Maya shrugs and asks the attendant to order her a cocktail, then proceeds to oil herself up, shooting glances our way. I lift the corner of Tessa’s hat up to catch her eyes.

“You okay there, Carmichael?” I whisper.

Maya’s phone starts to ring. She answers it then lets out a huff, standing up and walking away as she starts talking rapidly to whoever is on the line.

“I’m fine,” Tessa mutters.

She doesn’t look fine. She looks sweaty and uncomfortable. I know that feeling well.

“Is it about the threesome thing?” I ask her.

Her face reddens more. “Can we stop talking about threesomes please?”

“I wasn’t the one who started this.” For once.

“Oh my God,” Maya shouts down the phone. “I can’t believe this. Surely nobody’s that stupid. The pool is saltwater, not chlorinated.” She looks over at us. “I have to go. Our new pool boy at home is an idiot. I’ll see you at the dance party tomorrow.”

She flounces off, still shouting into her phone, and I lift Tessa’s hat brim higher. “You can come out, she’s gone.”

“I think I like it under here,” Tessa mutters. But I take the hat from her face anyway, frowning at her.

“I don’t think she was serious about the threesome,” I say consolingly.

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