Page 40 of Coincidentally Kismet

Lo made us drinks as soon as we arrived, and I’ve been chilling on my towel, soaking up the sun and the view. I’m not talking about the ocean, ladies. Being with a bunch of dudes who are required to be in shape for their job is far from a hardship. Will has the best body, I get goose bumps just looking at him wearing his low-slung blue board shorts, the kind that show that perfect V, pointing like an arrow directly down to other admirable parts of him. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my old friend down below, but I can recall what he looks like vividly, much to my dismay.

Will is flaunting every curve and swell of his perfectly tanned muscles. He’s throwing a football with Smith. If I was a betting woman, I’d say he’s flexing a little harder than needed with every toss. Thank the good lord that I chose my darkest sunglasses—I’m rapidly approaching creepy stalker territory with how much I’m starring.

Lo smirks knowingly at me from her towel. “Are you going to take off those shorts and go for a swim with me?” she asks. I silently weigh my options: I could sit here and read my book and leave it all to the imagination, or I could take the shorts off and walk down to the water and see if anyone even notices. Daveed’s voice, like a little devil on my shoulder, whispers to me...“Cam, shake that ass, girl!”

“Yeah, sure, let’s do it,” I tell her.

I make my way to stand and slowly pull off the shorts. No one is looking, so I’m not sure why I’m moving in slo-mo, but whatever. I take two big gulps of my drink, make sure I have a hair tie in case I go in deep enough for my hair to get wet, and adjust my top for maximum lift.

We make our way down to the water, snaking directly across the boys’ throwing area.Thanks, Lo. I pass by Will, and he grumbles almost inaudibly, “Ohhh fuck me,” or at least I think that’s what I hear. Smiling to myself, I wade into the warm water with Lo, taking extra care to shuffle my feet. Stingrays are no joke!

Suddenly, there’s a huge splash beside me, and something latches on to my leg. I scream, jumping like my life depends on it, prepared fully to pull a Michael Phelps and haul ass out of the water. Bulging, strong arms wrap me up before I can make my great escape. Will’s vibrating laughter is sealed against my back, his hot minty breath wafting on my neck when he utters, “Gotcha.”

“Rambo! You about gave me a heart attack,” I shout breathlessly.

He tugs at my hand, pulling me out a little deeper in the water. “You in that suit is giving every man on the beach a heart attack, Wright. I was just doing a public service.” He feigns innocence, but the darkening pools of those cerulean eyes paint a very different picture.

I roll my eyes, the corner of my lips turning up into a shy smile. He pulls me toward him, sucking me into one of those hugs in the water where one person essentially holds the other up weightlessly.

“What are you doing?” I ask, splashing water at him.

“Just hanging out with my friend.” He shrugs, a lopsided grin blooming on his face.

I grab on, wrapping my legs around his waist. “I’m a little glad we are friends,” I admit.

“That so? Coulda fooled me, Wright.” He winks. Shit, this is a very bad idea. Warmth fills my belly, then slips down lower.

“Nah, just fucking with you, Rambo. I am completely unaffected by your friendship,” I lie, as an impressive steellikerod pushing against my inner thigh makes an appearance. Umm...well, let’s just say it doesn’t seem grossed out, and it also doesn’t feel friendly, but I’m still not sure if it’s a win or not.

Will holds me for a few minutes, waves bobbing against us as we ignore the clear way our bodies react to each other. I tuck my head under his chin, listening to the sounds of the ocean mixing with his heart beat. He’s so strong, he smells divine, and I want him more than I’ve wanted anything in a very long time. I’m not sure what’s going to come out of my mouth, but feeling brave, I lift my chin to say something, anything. As I do, he sets me down on my feet with a splash.

The water is startlingly cold outside of his embrace, goose bumps returning to my skin for completely different reasons. “G-gotta get more sunscreen,” he mumbles, as he shuffles his way to the shore without another word. Gahhh! We were having a moment. Did I do something wrong? Was he just being playful and my cuddling him in a non-friendly way became too much? It didn’t feel like too much, but we did agree to be friends.

I steal a glance at Lo, expecting her to be fully wrapped up in Smith. Instead, they’re both looking at me with pained sympathy in their eyes. To hell with it. I head back to my towel, my tequila, and my book. At least Ray’s mystery romance featuring a hot Hispanic man won’t let me down!

CHAPTER 19

WILL

“LOVE YOU AGAIN” - CHASE MATTHEW

Why did I suggest going to the beach? Oh yeah, because it’s all I’ve wanted to do on my day off for weeks. And yet, it was an incredibly stupid idea. The worst possible idea in the history of all ideas because we invited the girls. Cam in a bikini...well, that just might be the best thing I’ve ever seen. Frankly, her body has changed since we were last together. Gone is the girl from my youth and firmly in her place is a curvy, luscious woman.

Seeing Cam strut down to the water with most of her perfectly round, delectably plump backside hanging out made me forget my own name. All the blood instantly rushed from my head down south, and I acted without thinking. Playing with her in the water was nonnegotiable, a must-have, at the time. Her body was like a homing beacon drawing me in, I was powerless to resist her. I held her in my arms as the water gently rocked us back and forth, lost in the flowery smell of her lotion mixed with the coconut shampoo she must use and the salty ocean air. Someone should bottle that scent and sell it, it would fly off the shelves. Cam felt amazing in my arms, she fit perfectly againstmy body. I savored every second of having her there until, embarrassingly, my body reacted in a visceral way. Leave it to my stupid brain to take over. As frustrating as it is, I had to put her down and remove myself before I did something impulsive like kiss her.

I can’t though, the mere thought of crossing the line with her sends me spiraling. She’s everything I’ve ever imagined in a partner. She’s kind, funny, smart. She has no problem giving me shit—hell, she riles me up more than the guys. But, I absolutely can’t cross that line.

Lucky for me, working to avoid kissing, or any of the other hundred things I’d love to do to her, isn’t over today. When I asked Smith to do the beach thing, of course he took it to the next level, convincing me to rent a little place on the Intracoastal so we could take full advantage of the bar scene. Staying down here didn’t save me money, an Uber would’ve been far cheaper. Unnervingly, he convinced me with just two words—Drunk Staycation!

I’m hopeless.

I rented a bungalow equipped with three small bedrooms, two bathrooms, a tiny galley-style kitchen, and a living room. The garage was converted into a game room, with a pool table and darts. There’s also a hot tub outside, which I would love to use but have decided to strictly avoid in order to keep myself safely in the friend zone.

Butler and Ruiz have one room claimed, Smith and Lo will take another, and Cam is getting a bedroom as well, which leaves Amy and me relegated to the living room. I plan to give Amy the couch, and I’ll sleep on my military-issued cot, which is essentially a one-inch pad that inflates and provides minimal cushion to the floor. I’ve slept on worse though.

“Hey, pizza’s here!” Smith shouts.

My stomach growls in response. I didn’t eat much all day and desperately need to tear into something before heading to the bars. Keeping myself in check around Cam requires not being overcome with alcohol. The three bulk-store bottles of liquor waiting on the counter mock me, and I know my attempt is likely futile. The guys dig in while lazily looking around, wondering what our lady counterparts are up to. If I had to guess, there’s a flurry of hairspray and makeup flying around in the master bathroom as they prepare to head out. Amy begged Cam to style her hair. Of course, she didn’t say no. It’s her day off, but she would never turn down a friend in need. I’m positive Cam’s elbow deep in some sort of fancy-curling-iron-meets-aerosol-can debacle.

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