Page 67 of Wild Love
“Is it okay if I bring a friend?”
“You’re bringing me. Aren’t I enough?” I pretend to be seriously injured, and she rolls her eyes.
“I want to invite Quinn. She’s the only sort-of friend I’ve made here.”
“What about Reese?”
“He has plans.”
“Fine, but if you need any help with sunscreen or—”
She holds up a hand. “I’ve got it.”
The tension between us seems to have eased, and I’m glad she isn’t avoiding me anymore. “What do you want to do tonight?”
“I’m not sure. I’m tired. I don’t think I want to go out.”
“Let’s order in.” I grab my phone. When I look up at her to ask what she wants, she has a weird expression on her face. “What?”
“Thanks, Mav.”
“For?”
“It would have been a lonely first couple of weeks here without you.”
“Right back at ya.”
* * *
The next afternoonDakota comes out of her room with a beach bag under one arm and a hesitant smile.
“Are you sure this is a good idea? Should you even be swimming?”
“Yeah. I’m good. It isn’t like I’m going to be diving off the side and getting crazy.”
She doesn’t look convinced until I add, “I’m not drinking, so that should help me behave… mostly.”
“I feel like I’m going to regret saying this, but let’s do it!”
Jack lives about twenty minutes away in a ritzy neighborhood where the homes are big and the yards are bigger. A few other teammates live nearby, and I can see why—it’s a cool spot with a private lake.
“This is a house for a single person? A bachelor no less?” Dakota shuts the passenger door and comes around to the front of the SUV, all while gawking at the mansion in front of us.
“A single person with lots of friends.”
Cars are already lined up in the circle drive, and I recognize a few of them as teammates. Jack himself answers the door, pulling it open before we have a chance to knock.
“Hey, come in. Glad you two could make it.”
“Thanks for having me,” Dakota says, slipping into her professional voice.
“Phones in the basket. James has the paperwork, and booze and food are in the kitchen. Enjoy.”
“Paperwork?” Dakota asks.
James, Jack’s agent, steps forward with a tablet. “Standard NDA.”
“You’re kidding?” Her blue eyes widen. “I’m not signing that.”
