Page 41 of Chasing Lynda

He agrees. “But that’s exactly why I was saying—”

I’m done with this idiotic conversation. “Look, we don’t have to overthink this. Just go with the flow for once in your life, Zane.”

My hand is already on the handle of the door to the indoor pool. I can’t see inside through the frosted glass walls but as Zane opens his mouth to argue with me, we hear raised voices.

“Don’t touch me!”

That sounds like Lynda, I think opening the door.

***

Bennett

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“GET YOUR HANDS OFF me!”

I step into the pool area and take in what’s happening in front of my eyes.

Lynda is standing between two potted palm trees with the pool behind her.

Monroe is leaning toward her and has the pull of the zipper that closes Lynda’s dress in his hand. “I’ll get my hands off of you when you stop being a fucking pain in my ass and do as you’re told, bitch. Get those tits out or you can forget the prize money and the fucking hotel room. I’m sure one of the runner ups won’t mind cooperating with my promo plan.”

He begins lowering the zipper, exposing the top part of her breasts while Lynda stares at him wide eyes and frozen on her spot; like the proverbial deer in front of headlights.

Once my mind registers what’s going on I move fast, putting a menacing hand on Monroe’s shoulder. “What the fuck is going on here?”

I’ve disliked Buck Monroe from the second I met him at the end of the academic year, when Dodge’s dad gave him the resort as a graduation present. Something in the resort manager gets my hackles to rise; he’s a loose cannon at best.

I was already pissed at him for changing my plans for this weekend without consulting me or the guys and now this? I really fucking hope for his sake there’s a different way to interpret what’s in front of my eyes than what’s apparent.

“This little bitch thinks she’s got a gold plated pussy or something. I told her we need a few topless shots and she got mouthy. So I was just—”

Zane intervenes, asking the question that’s on the tip of my tongue. “What the fuck do you mean, ‘topless shots?’ Why would we need something like that?”

Monroe finally lets go of the pull on Lynda’s dress, turning to face us. “Well fuck, she ain’t here because she won Miss fucking America now, isn’t she? She won a wet t-shirt competition, if we want to advertise it and attract paying guests for similar events this summer, we need to show some fucking cans on our website!”

I clench my fists at my sides to keep from hitting the sleazy asshole in the face, like he fucking deserves. “The fuck we need that! We don’t want nudity on our website, Monroe. Did you consult any of us before making that decision?”

Like earlier at the beach, Buck Monroe doesn’t look concerned. He should fucking be. “Do you fucking want to make money? We need to attract—”

Zane backs me. “It’s fine to have a few events like wet t-shirt contests or a Miss Bikini one. But you’re taking it too far, Buck. While Bridgeport is a college town, don’t forget that we’ve also always catered to families here. I remember coming here every summer—”

Monroe is either very stupid, or lacks self-preservation, because he doesn’t back down. “Fuck the families! Have you seen how much money—”

I’m not letting this asshole have free rein here. I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him. “You need to fucking understand that you answer to Dodge and the rest of us.”

Yup. This dipshit has no idea of what’s good for him because he counter attacks. “I thought the wet t-shirt thing was your idea, Bennett.”

I don’t let him intimidate me, I take a step forward, towering over him. “It was. But it was supposed to be held later at night to begin with. Eventually, once we have money for renovations, we want this place to become more upscale. So while we want to attract the town student population, this isn’t a frat house movie set. I’m fucking sick of your change of plans and of walking into you trying to abuse your position to grope girls who want to join our events.”

This motherfucker has no concept of recognizing when he’s overplayed his hand. His cockiness is beginning to go from annoying to a real problem. “Whatever the fuck that means!” He laughs. “It isn’t like those girls are innocent little virgins now, aren’t they?” He gives Lynda a sleazy once over and I instinctively step closer to her. Something in me feels the urge to protect her and I know she isn’t mine, I barely fucking know her but ... yeah, I feel more possessive of her than I’ve ever felt with anyone after Chrissie. Maybe Callie comes close but it’s different. Callie is my best friend’s twin and I certainly don’t want to fuck her; she’s like a sister to me. Lynda is stirring something primal in me and I don’t have time and frankly I’m not sure I’m even willing to analyze what it is.

I simply look at Lynda’s distressed expression and I have to summon all my fucking self-control not to kill Monroe. “Lynda, did he do anything to you? Anything you didn’t want?”

She doesn’t answer, her bottom lip quivering as she exhales quick, shallow breaths.

Zane comes to my aid, approaching her carefully. He tucks a strand of her long, black hair behind her ear and she relaxes after looking like she wanted to run there for a second.

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