Page 26 of Embracing Us

“Making you an offer,” she says sexily and smiles.

“You’re drunk,” I snap, pissed off that, yet again, this woman is making my life more difficult.

“A little,” she agrees and giggles. She lifts a hand, holding her thumb and finger millimetres apart to emphasise her point. “But I’m still lucid. I know what I’m doing.”

“And what is that?” Drunken wide eyes look at me, and she spreads her legs wide, causing her dress to ride up to expose her knickers.

“Offering you one last fuck with a woman who doesn’t need a walking stick,” she replies, bluntly.

“Are you fucking serious?” I snarl.

“Completely,” she says, sitting up then rearranging her breasts with her hands. She stands. “Don’t tell me you don’t want this.” She turns to face the bed, then bends over giving me an up-close view of her ass. I storm from the room, infuriated with her obscene behaviour.

“Grow up, Marina,” I shout over my shoulder as I leave. Descending the stairs, my mind whirls with how to deal with the situation upstairs. Jace is due to arrive soon. As I reach the front door, a knock resonates in the hallway. Thank fuck he’s here. I pull the door open, and my old friend stands on the other side with his arms wide.

“Mate,” he says, jovial. “I’ve brought the beers.” There is a carrier bag bursting with bottles sitting at his feet. “As I won’t be at your wedding, we will be having a bachelor party this evening to toast your new beginnings.”

“I have a slight predicament to deal with first,” I tell him, distracted. “But I will most definitely be needing that drink once I figure out what the fuck to do.” He raises his eyebrows, surprised by my lack of greeting.

“Do elaborate. You’ve been back in the country all of two hours and you’ve got yourself into a predicament.” He chuckles. “Shit really does follow you around.”

“Marina is currently upstairs, sitting on mine and Linda’s bed, offering to have sex with me.” His eye fly open as his jaw drops.

“What!” he shouts, shock evident on his face. I shake my head and step to the side to let him in past me. He picks up the carrier bag and strides in. “What the hell is the little bitch trying to do now?”

“I just told you. She offered me a final hurrah before my wedding day.”

“In what world would she think you would take her up on that offer,” he mutters. “She’s a fucking headcase.”

“She certainly has her issues,” I agree, and he rolls his eyes.

“That may be the understatement of the century. Stop being so bloody nice. That girl, no, woman, is so damn jealous that her mother found happiness she can’t bear to see it.” He grabs my upper arm. “You have to tell Linda about this.” My heart sinks. That’s the last thing I want to do. It will devastate her. She already beats herself up about their obliterated mother-and-daughter relationship.

“After the wedding, I will.” He shakes his head and narrows his eyes. “I don’t want to ruin this for her. She’s so bloody happy, Jace. You should see her. She’s practically glowing. And now we are staying at the hotel for a while, everything seems to be coming together.”

“No, you need to tell her now. Call her.”

“And say what?” I snap. “Hello, Beautiful, your daughter is currently spread-eagled on our bed trying to get me to jump her bones.”

“I don’t think you need to be that descriptive, but it would certainly get the point across.” He snorts. “Where is she now?”

“Who? Linda?”

“No, the despicable daughter.”

“Upstairs, I assume.”

“Let’s both go up and see what she’s up to. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s naked waiting for you under the sheets,” he says and grins wickedly. “She’ll get a shock when she sees me.” He starts to climb the stairs, then pauses and glances over his shoulder at me as I follow him. “Why do women not make the same propositions to me? You’ll need to give me some tips.”

“Not wearing a hula shirt every damn day would be a good start,” I tell him, and he laughs.

“That’s my signature garment. I’ll be buried in one. You’ll never take it from me,” he says firmly, punching one hand into the air.

“Mate, hold out until you find the girl who loves you as you are. I’m telling you. It’s perfection when it happens. I wish these outside issues would stop popping up though. It’s exhausting.” He smiles sympathetically.

“We can negotiate this one, then get you back on a plane to Spain tomorrow,” he says. “It sounds as if you would be safer there.” Without another word, he resumes climbing the stairs.

We find Marina, passed out on my and her mother’s bed. Her dress is pulled up to her thighs. “What the fuck do we do now?” I hiss.

---