Page 45 of Sharing Shane

“Thank you so much,” she said wryly.

“—or even fuck him. I’m just saying, if you make a move, he’s not going to say no.”

She frowned. “Why do I have to make the move?”

“Shane has it in his head that hitting on you would be ethically inadvisable, considering the circumstances.”

“Which circumstances?”

“The ones where you’re sharing a house for the next week.” Wyatt shrugged. “He thinks if he hits on you and you don’t hit back, it could make things uncomfortable for you.”

“Oh.” Veronica blinked. “That’s...really thoughtful.”

“He’s a thoughtful guy.” Wyatt winked. “And a helluva lay.”

Veronica snorted. “Why are you trying to sell me so hard on this?”

Wyatt shrugged. “I’m not. I just wanted to make my feelings clear, in case that’s what’s standing in your way.”

“It was a consideration,” she said carefully. “I just got out of a relationship where someone cheated on me, and I didn’t want to do that to someone else.”

“An admirable sentiment, but in this case, misplaced. You have my blessing to fuck his brains out.”

“Um. Thanks?” she ventured.

He laughed and before she could blink, leaned over to kiss her. It was quick, a brush of his lips that lasted only a few seconds, but the barest hint of tongue dancing along the seam of her lips made it anything but innocent. Then he was pushing to his feet. “You’re welcome. Now, I better get back to the hotel before Seth sends out a search party. We’re supposed to be meeting his partners for drinks.”

She managed a smile for him, even with her lips still tingling from the kiss. “Not looking forward to it, huh?”

“Lawyers are boring.” He bent to pick up the empty glasses. “They’ll talk case law and tort reform until last call, and Seth will have to kick me under the table to keep me from falling asleep.”

“The things we do for love,” she quipped.

“Tell me about it.” He paused, eyes glinting down at her in the deepening twilight. “You okay out here by yourself?”

“Sure.” Her smile came easier this time. “Thanks for the drink.”

“Anytime, beautiful. I’ll see you later?”

“Sure. Maybe we can all go snorkeling or something,” she suggested.

“Ah, if only that were sexual innuendo,” he sighed.

She sputtered with laughter. “You’re terrible.”

He grinned. “I know. Night.”

“Night,” she echoed and watched him walk away down the sand. He was so pretty, she mused, all surfer-boy good looks and charm, with those dimples that winked every time he even thought about smiling. He was easy to talk to, easy to laugh with, and easy to lust over in a benign, uncomplicated sort of way. Easy.

Unlike Shane, who had her tongue in knots and her libido showing fangs every time she even thought of him. And there was nothing benign about the way she wanted him.

She sighed and pushed to her feet, heading for the cottage. If she was lucky, he wouldn’t be back yet, and she could take a quick shower to wash off the sand. Then she thought she might come back outside and lie in the hammock for a while. It was a warm night, the air still but for a wisp of a breeze coming from the sea, and the stars were starting to pop out. She’d stay in the hammock until she got sleepy, then go to bed. And if Shane was back by then, well, she’d just have to deal.

Seven

Shane woke the next morning and turned to frown at the empty bed across the room.

Veronica hadn’t come back last night.

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