Page 23 of Tamed By You

We made it to the pool. I managed to tear Jack and Ria apart long enough to get him to our cabana for some drinks. I get it; the man pined after her for over a decade and Ria has been to hell and back. He wants to spend every moment with her now she is finally his, but I need to give my boy a good hurrah before we send him up the aisle.

The Vegas sun beats down on us, the burn tingling my skin. The pool is so busy with people moving to the beat of the music you can barely see the turquoise water. We have the perfect view of the pool from our cabana, and I have no plans to move for the afternoon. We swap old war stories, Jack talks about Ria’s daughters who’s he’s taken on as his own. If there was anyone born to be a girl dad, it’s Jack. He beams with pride, telling us how Elle is now copying everything Lexi does and he's now not only doing the ballet dad gig, but he's also cheer dad. It feels good to catch up and just be together.

“Did you remember to strap your bunny in for gym class,” Brad snorts.

Jack gives him a death stare, like the memory of the ballet class has given him some sort of PTSD. Poor guy offered to take Lexi to her ballet class back when Ria and Jack were in their ‘we are just friends’ phase, and he didn’t realize he was required to participate. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life than the day he told us what went down in the class.

Since we all left the Marine Corps life has been crazy. We wish Noah, Ria’s older brother, could be here, but since he joined Special Forces, it’s hard to pin that man to a date to catch up. It's only when I think of Noah that I think of Scotty. Truthfully, not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and the day we lost him in combat. He impacted us all more than he’ll ever know and there will forever feel like a missing piece to our group. Not wanting to bring the mood down, I give my head a little shake and notice a pretty redhead in a blue bikini carrying a bucket of Moet over to our table. I give her my best smile and watch as a blush creeps over her skin.

“Thanks,” I say, holding out my hand. She takes it and shakes it.

“I’m Crystal. Anything else I can get you, boys?”

“What are you offering?”

“How about my number?” she suggests, the side of her mouth quirking upward.

I raise an eyebrow, not expecting that reply from her. “Sounds great.”

She turns, heading back to the bar. I watch her leave. She doesn't hold a candle to Ali, but she's a pretty girl.

Maybe I need a distraction? Maybe Ali really isn't interested, and I need to just move on. I mean, we could never work, could we? Watching Jack settle down has me thinking that I'd like thatone day, but she doesn't strike me as that type of girl.Ali Hart is not one to be tamed.

“So that lap dance with Ali? What’s the deal with you two?” Brett asks out of nowhere.

“Nothing. We love to hate each other. Nothing more.” Brett nods, accepting my answer. I eye him suspiciously. If he’s interested in Ali, well, we may have a problem.

Right on cue, my eyes zone in on a group of girls, dressed in gold bikinis aside from a pretty brunette in a white one-piece and a veil on her head. I’m immediately drawn to a certain blonde, with long legs and a toned waist, wearing dainty body chains hanging from her bikini. Looking at her sends my heart racing.

Fuck, she looks good.

My cock grows hard just looking at her and I have to quickly adjust myself in my navy swim shorts. I watch as she places her tote bag on the cabana couch, talking with her hands to the girls and laughing.

Yeah, change of plan. I don't need a distraction; I need her.

Chapter Twelve

Ali

A Vegas pool party has been on my bucket list for years, so when Ria said I had free rein when it came to the location of her bachelorette, it was Vegas all the way, baby. I bagged us tickets for the best pool party on the strip, and of course, a private cabana, complete with table service.

I glance around the pool, taking in the sea of people, and I clock a familiar face. The guy from last night—the guy I never got to speak to—sitting two cabanas down from me.

You, sir, are on my to do list today.

Buckets of Moet and a pitcher of margaritas are brought to our table, and we waste no time throwing the drinks back.

“Oh, my god, this is the best weekend ever. I miss my girls like crazy, but God, did I need this. And they are having fun with their grandparents, so I shouldn’t feel guilty for enjoying this,right?” Ria exhales, leaning back on the daybed, sunglasses on looking stunning in the white one-piece I had custom-made with Mrs. Lawson stitched on the back.

“No, you shouldn’t feel guilty, they are having a blast with Jack's parents, so soak it up, babe. You deserve it.” I give her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Come on then, Harley, spill. What happened between you and Mason? Was that the walk of shame I heard you doing this morning?” Gabby squeals. “I want all the juicy details.”

“It’s not a walk of shame, Gabriella, it’s a stroll of success,” I announce.

“Amen,” Kate hollers.

“I want all the juicy details, spill.” Gabby laughs, giving Harley a playful shake.

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