Page 6 of Secret Baby for the Bad Boy

Maybe I’m being stupid and making bad decisions, but isn’t this what my vacation is about? Forgetting everything else and just letting go for a while?

She stands up and I watch her go, tracing the curve of her legs with my eyes. The cute crease where her bottom meets her thighs brings a smile to my lips and I watch her move with an effortless grace that makes me want to touch her again.

My body is at attention, ready to go as she pulls on her sundress. With every button, she hides more of herself from view, and I want to ask her to stay more than ever. But I know better. That’s a mistake I can’t afford to make. I’ll enjoy my time with her, but that’s it. Once this vacation is over, we’ll never see each other again, and that’s what I want. There’s just some part of me that wants to make sure I don’t break her heart.

Why do I care? I’ve had plenty of one-night stands. Plenty of women whose feelings I didn’t take into account at all. So why am I worried about Lara?

Her gaze meets mine, a beautiful smile curving her lips. “Thank you,” she says, her voice almost shy. “I had a really good time.”

I nod. “Me, too,” I say.

She slips on her shoes and opens the door. When it clicks closed behind her, I sit up, ruffling my hair with one hand. I need a shower. Need to clear my mind. Maybe a cold shower and a walk on the beach. Or maybe a cold shower and sleep. I don’t know what I need, but I need something to get the thought of her under me, the way her lips looked when she came, the sparkle in her eyes as we laid there together out of my mind.

With quick steps, I move to the bathroom, glad, once again, that I hadn’t gone with the villa. A cold shower is the only thing that’ll help me get my head on straight right now.

Chapter Three

Lara

Shana’s on the bed, legs crossed, sunlight splashing over her from the window, fingers tucking her short brown hair behind her ear. Her blue eyes are locked on mine and are narrowed with suspicion.

“Where were you last night?” she asks.

“Out,” I say, toeing off my sandals and avoiding her gaze. I mean, it’s not like she didn’t run off with her two hot dudes to do goodness-knows-what. She’s adventurous in a way I don’t think I could ever have the guts to be.

“Uh-huh.” I can tell she's not buying it. “What’s his name?”

I lift my shoulders.

“It was the guy from the bar, wasn’t it?” She sounds excited, but my cheeks are red, and I feel like I’m burning up.

She pats the space beside her on the bed. “Spill.”

I hesitate, then sit, the mattress dipping under me. The room feels smaller now, as if a net is closing around me, squeezing the air from my lungs and leaving me trapped. I pick at the duvet, tracing the floral pattern with a fingertip.

“Shana, I just needed some air, okay?” The lie is about as convincing as a toddler swearing they didn’t steal cookies from chocolate-lined lips.

“Air, huh?” She doesn’t look convinced. “Just air?”

I nod, too quickly, but I can’t tell her. Not everything. Not yet. This isn’t like me and I’m still riding the high of the whole situation. I’ve never been the kind of woman to go home with a guy I just met – I’ve seen way too many Datelines for that kind of behavior.

I fidget with the hem of my shirt, the light fabric twisting between my anxious fingers. I know Shana is still watching me, waiting for me to level with her and tell her where I was last night. How did she even notice I was gone? Wasn’t she out with those two guys from the bar?

“Look at you,” she says, a chuckle chasing her words and a sparkle in her eyes telling me that she’s happy for me. “Glowing like the sunrise itself.”

“Am I?” My laugh is a nervous flutter that doesn’t sound like me.

“Totally.” Shana leans toward me, her elbows on her knees. “You've got that just tumbled out of bed with a Greek god look. Not your usual up before dawn vibe.”

She’s just not going to quit. But I can’t really blame her. I’d be questioning her, too, if she was suddenly acting like a whole new person. “Stop it, Shana,” I say, but I'm smiling, embarrassment that I’m caught warring with amusement within me.

“Hey,” she says, her voice suddenly more serious. “I'm glad you're having fun, really.”

I nod, thankful, even though I know the other shoe is about to drop.

“It's just...this isn't you. Going to a stranger's room? Having a one-night stand?” Her eyebrows knit together, the lines of worry visible even as she tries to keep things light. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Nothing happened,” I say, but the lie is so weak there’s no way she’ll believe it.

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