Page 49 of Bound to You

“Has something happened between you two?” Marina turns her attention to me as well, setting her drink on the stool beside her.

“No, nothing at all.”

The girls share a look that I know all too well. “Why does no one believe me when I say we are just friends?”

“Because we see the way you two look at each other, it’s kind of hard to ignore.” May looks accusingly at me over the rim of her glass.

“Plus, the way you say friends sounds less and less confident every time,” Marina adds, prompting me to scowl over at her.

“Okay, have you guys met Caio? He’s a gentleman. He’s lovely, and he is like that with everyone.” Avoiding Caio includes avoiding talking about him, but that’s not really going in my favor right now.

“You know it’s okay for you to admit that you like him, right?” May says.

“No, it’s not.”

“Why not, Isla? And don’t give me that crap about it being too soon after Brandon, cause we both know that’s a cop out.”

I sigh knowing my best friend won’t let this one go. “Once I do that, once I admit that I like him, I’m fucked, May. I’m opening the door to heartbreak just for it to slam right back in my face when we leave and pretend like I wasn’t expecting it.” I throw my hands up. I’m so sick of this internal fight I’ve been having with myself. My heart is whisperingkiss him, touch him, let yourself feel his affection.And my head is shouting at me not to be so naive and open myself up to inevitable hurt. The last time I opened my heart to a man I regretted it; I don’t want to make that mistake again.

“Who says we have to leave?” May blurts out, causing both Marina and I to snap our heads in her direction.

“What do you mean? We can’t just stay here.” My heart is running laps in my chest, and I don’t know why.

“Why not? Tell me what is waiting for you back home? Or better yet tell me what you are looking forward to about going back to New York?” I try to imagine my day-to-day life back at home. There are good things. Like the ice cream at Lenny’s around the corner from my parents’ house. That’s some damngood ice cream. But after that…nothing screams out at me, there’s nothing I can think of that I feel like I couldn’t live without. Guilt shoots through me as I think of my parents, as I think of the relief I would feel at not having their disapproving gaze always looking over my shoulder.

“Ask yourself if it’s worth giving up an opportunity of finding some kind of happiness with that gorgeous hunk of a man that isclearlyenamored with you,” she nods her head towards where three silhouettes appear heading back our way in the distance. “Even if you pretend not to notice it. I love you Isla, and I don’t want to pressure you into anything, but I just don’t want you to make a decision based on misplaced obligations.” The look in her eyes portrays genuine love for me. “I’m just saying, give yourself a chance to see what could happen.”

But what could very likely happen is me ending up crying on a red eye flight back to New York at the end of all of this. “I need another drink.”

chapter nineteen

CAIO

Droplets of sweattrail down the back of my neck, soaking into my T-shirt as we ride back to the house. Moving the goats was easy enough but the sun was beating down on us like a steady drum.

Every summer is getting hotter than the last, but this year it’s like the sun is right at the edge of the earth’s atmosphere.

I could use a cold beer or two right about now.

My horse Blade snorts from beneath me, the poor guy is probably boiling even more than I am. The sound of female laughter infiltrates my ears as we get closer. I can see the girls lounging in the pool from my high vantage point, Isla is sitting up on the edge of the pool, leaning back on her hands with her legs dangling in the water. Her hair has gone all wavy the way it does when she’s been in the water. She’s always trying to tame it, but I love it like that, I just want to tangle my fingers in the messy waves.

She’s wearing that same blue bikini from that night in the pool, my dick twitches against my jeans at the sight. She’s laughing at something that Marina said, her smile stealing all my attention. She looks irresistible, even better than that night, thedim lighting in the pool didn’t do her figure justice, the bright sun is highlighting her every curve. I can barely take my eyes off of her as I mindlessly pull on the reins, leading Blade towards the barn. I’m aching to touch her.

We dismount and hose our horses down. They need the cool water just as much as us, if not more. Heath has got a little slice of paradise out here. He loves the peace and quiet and I love coming to visit, I haven’t done it enough recently.

I give Blade a grateful pat as I lead him back into his stall, my hands trailing across his black and white coat. A pang of guilt hits me right in my chest. I used to see this handsome guy all the time, used to make the trip out here regularly. This is the perfect place to get away from the office when I was having a hard time. Heath and I would ride for hours, we’d barely even talk, just exist peacefully out here together. I haven’t made enough time to get out here in recent months, so it’s good to be out here again today.

I close the latch on Blade's stall, giving him a kiss on his big nose before walking out. I can’t resist this guy.

We slowly make our way to the house where three beers are sitting cracked open on the table by the pool. I immediately pick one up, gulping the cool liquid down. That feeling is unlike any other. A cold drink on a hot day is a different kind of ecstasy.

“Good?” Isla’s voice cuts through the silence I didn’t realize had fallen upon us, as all three of us guys are chugging down the beers while the girls are sitting there in silence watching us.

“Mmm, very good,” I respond.

“I thought you’d all be a little hot after being out there.” Her eyes skim over my body, catching on my T-shirt that is stuck to my chest with sweat around the collar.

“Thank you,” I say. My gaze connecting with hers before she looks away. She keeps doing that lately, and I despise it.

---