“That’s very nice, but we’re going to the karaoke party. Juliette has already picked out our costumes,” I reply.
Kat lifts her chin. “All right, but please do let me know if you needanythingbefore you leave.”
“Will do.”
As we walk back to our cottage, Juliette loops an arm around my waist. It feels so natural there, like we’re a real couple on vacation. But we’re not, and after tomorrow…
“Thank you for saving me from myself. I can’t believe I was going on about the sex hammock.” She groans and leans her head against my chest. “Poor Kat. She probably thinks I’m some kind of maniac.”
“Luckily I’m the only one who knows what kind of maniac you truly are, dream girl.” I kiss the top of her awkward little head. “A sex maniac.”
She looks up at me with those beguiling aqua eyes. “Is your finger okay? We can skip tonight if you want to.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “And we can’t back out now because I’m too curious to see what our costumes are.”
Chapter 24
I want to keep her.
Anangel.
You may be thinking,Oh, Juliette would make a gorgeous angel with all that blonde hair and that pretty little face. But no. It's me. I’m the fucking angel. I chuckle at the mere thought of it.
The costume consists of white pants, vest, and tie, along with a matching sleeveless shirt, leaving my arms bare. My gold halo sits slightly crooked atop my dark hair, and a small pair of white feathery wings are strapped to my back.
“If only ESPN could see you now,” a man says from beside me at the bar. I recognize him as the guy who recognized me on the beach that day. He has a cheeky smile on his face, and I return it with a chagrined one of my own.
“I didn’t pick it out.”
He laughs loudly. “I’m assuming that’s Juliette’s work.”
“You assume correctly,” I say, signaling the bartender for another scotch on the rocks.
The resort’s nightclub, The Upside Down Club,is vibing with pounding dance music. The decor is dark blue, making it easy to spot the servers, who are dressed in skimpy bright yellow outfits. I’m doing my best to keep my gaze above the equator because the yellow hot pants on the males leave absolutely nothing to the imagination, and dong gazing is not my cup of tea.
“I’m sorry I forgot to introduce myself before. I was a little excited to meet my favorite hockey player. I’m Ryan.” He reaches out a hand, and I shake it as I take in his attire.
“Nice to meet you, Ryan. Or should I call you Batman?”
He laughs, a deep, rich sound, hinting at his good-naturedness. “My partner, Carlos, picked it out. He’s the one dressed as Robin.” Ryan nods toward the dance floor where a man dressed as Batman’s sidekick is dirty dancing with two women.
“Is Carlos bisexual?” I ask before wincing. “Sorry, that was invasive.”
Ryan elbows me. “Not a problem. We’re much more open here than we are back at home in Wyoming. Yes, he’s bi, and I’m gay.” He takes a sip of his drink. “Though I’m not attracted sexually to women, I’m attracted to them in every other way. I have a deep appreciation for the female form and think they are the most beautiful creatures ever to grace this earth.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” I say, my mind going to a certain blonde.Who should have been here by now, I think, glancing toward the door.
Ryan smiles over the rim of his cocktail glass. “I have a bit of a voyeurism kink and enjoy watching Carlos with a woman.” He takes a sip. “It’s not something we do often. We come here once or twice a year to scratch the itch.”
“It’s nice that you have a place where you feel safe to explore what you like,” I say, clinking glasses with him. “To be honest, I ended up at this resort accidentally and was a little apprehensive at first, but it’s actually pretty freeing to be here.”
“Agreed. We call this place ourkinda secret Caribbean gem,” he says with a chuckle. “By the way, where’s Juliette?”
“Getting ready with some of the other ladies. She told me she would meet me here.”
My attention is drawn to the door of the club, where a group of ladies is entering. They’re dressed asWizard of Ozcharacters, their outfits short and sexy. I recognize Wendy as Dorothy, and my brow creases. She’s one of the women Juliette was getting dressed with. So where is she?
Then, like the parting of the Red Sea, the costumed ladies fan out to the side, leaving a statuesque blonde woman standingin the center.
