“Hey, Bubba. It’s… a guy I met at the resort. And we’renotsleeping together. We just had lunch.”
I can’t tell them his name. They’ll recognize it, and Bubba will go thermonuclear. Reno Swain is one of the biggest playboys in the NHL.
But wait… didn’t I hear he had a girlfriend or fiancée at some point? Maybe last year?I do my best to avoid any hockey news, so I’m not even sure if that’s correct.
“I don’t like it,” Bubba proclaims.
“You don’t like lunch?” I ask with faux sweetness, and his dark eyebrows smash together.
“You know that’s not what I mean. You’re on some island by yourself, and—”
“And she’s a grown-ass woman who knows how to take care of herself,” Holly interrupts, handing him the wooden spoon in her hand. “Here, stir the sauce and don’t let it burn. I’m going in the other room to have some girl talk with your sister.”
Bubba purses his lips and blows me a kiss. “Love you, sis. Make good choices.”
The scene on the phone blurs as Holly pulls it away. “What you mean is makeboringchoices,” she retorts. I hear a smack and know she’s just swatted my brother on his ass.
“Watch yourself, woman,” he calls as she walks away. “I’d think you would have learned your lesson by now.”
“Bring it, big sexy,” she says over her shoulder.
“Can younotcall my brother that in front of me?” I whine.
Holly’s curly black hair bounces as she flops onto their pristine tan couch. She ignores my complaint, as usual. “I read those chapters and then dragged that man upstairs and had my way with him earlier. It definitely made the top ten list. My vagina may never recover.”
“See? This is the problem when your friend marries your sibling. I know entirely too much about my brother’s sex life.”
“Write a book about it. Everyone loves a friend/sibling trope.” She settles back against the cushions. “Now tell me aboutthe guy.”
“It’s really nothing. He’s totally not my type,” I lie.
“Soooo he’s not tall with light eyes, dark hair, and an athletic build? He doesn’t have forearms that… wait… how did you phrase it?” Holly rolls her eyes upward and taps the corner of her lips before quoting part of my book in a breathy voice. “Tan, strong forearms that are worthy of their own highlight reel. Thick veins meander from his big hands until they disappear beneath the sleeve of his polo. His dark arm hair is soft beneath my fingertips, and powerful muscles flex as he lifts me and slams my back against the wall, knocking the breath from my lungs.”
One of her eyebrows quirks up almost to her hairline.
I blow out a resigned raspberry. “Okay fine, maybe he does look like that, but he’s definitely not someone I need to be dating.”
“Who said anything about dating?” she asks, popping a chocolate truffle into her mouth. “If simply having lunch inspiredthat…” She twirls her hand vaguely. “Just imagine what some full-on, between the sheets, against the wall, on the floor, filthy-talking sex could do for your writing.”
“You have chocolate in your teeth,” I say, deflecting.
Holly runs her tongue over her front teeth but doesn’t let the subject drop. “Seriously, Jules. I think that first chapter you sent got me pregnant. You should totally hook up with this mystery guy.”
“So just a vacation fling?” The idea appeals to me. It’s been a while since anyone has turned me on as much as Reno Swain.
“Yep. Let him worship you for a couple hours, kick him out, and then write like the sexy beast-woman you are. Then I’ll read it and defile your brother some more.” She bobs her eyebrows up and down. “And the next day, just rinse and repeat until the book is done.”
Could I do that? Just use a guy sexually for inspiration for my book?Not that I think he’ll complain. I know how to make it worth his while in the bedroom. And against the wall. And on the floor.
Fuck.
Eden’s email flashes through my head. She said something similar.Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it!
Mind made up, I smile at my friend. “Okay, I’ll turn on the charm when I see him tomorrow and see what happens.”
Holly lifts a fist in solidarity. “Get it, girl! Astonish him with your pussy prowess.”
She is ridiculous, but I love the hell out of her.
