Page 37 of Lost Without You (Chasing Olivia 2)

“You might have. I did some Calvin Klein modeli

ng,” she says, matter-of-fact.

“Shit! I knew you looked familiar!” Finn says, looking over at his friends. “Hey, guys! She’s a famous model!” he shouts.

“No shit,” Brian says, looking pleased with himself.

“How about you? You famous, too?” Jake asks me.

“No, not famous,” I say after finishing my beer.

“Here, let me.” Jake takes the bottle from me and orders another. I look down the bar to see Amanda doing more shots with Russell and Matt.

“Easy, Amanda, you don’t want to be hung over tomorrow,” I shout down the bar.

“What’s a hangover?” she yells back, laughing as she responds.

“What’s a hangover? Are you kidding me?” I say, staring at her in disbelief. I look at a glass of wine and get a headache.

Handing me another beer, Jake asks, “So, if you girls are staying on Parrot Cay, why are you slumming it over here?”

“Honestly? It’s beautiful there, but really boring,” I giggle. “They wanted to celebrate her impending marriage with drinking and dancing.”

“Well, you have the drinking part covered,” he says, clinking his beer glass with mine, “how about the dancing?”

“I’ll need a few more of these first,” I say, smiling.

“That can be arranged.”

Coming from the patio is a familiar song. The band is covering one of my favorites by Shabba Ranks, Twice My Age. I immediately start tapping my foot and my head sways back and forth.

“Time to dance!” Amanda announces as she springs from her seat. Russell and Matt follow her to the patio.

“Wait for me!” Miranda yells, jumping up after her.

“I like dancing,” Brian says as he follows behind, leaving me with Jake and Finn.

Finn takes one of the empty chairs while Jake continues to stand behind me, his hand on the back of my chair.

“So, not married, huh?” he says again.

“No, but I’m involved with someone.”

“If you were involved with me, you wouldn’t be here alone,” he murmurs so only I can hear him.

“The guys are doing the bachelor party thing,” I say, defending Chase.

“I wouldn’t have gone,” he says. “There isn’t a chance in hell I’d let you out of my sight.”

I slam back my beer, not wanting to respond to that. “Listen, Jake. I appreciate the compliment, but really, I’m with someone.”

“I know, but you can’t blame a guy for trying,” he says, shifting so his arm is leaning on the back of my chair. It’s a possessive stance, one I’m not entirely comfortable with. I finish my beer and wave the bartender over for another one.

“Maybe we should dance.” I go to stand, but Jake doesn’t move. “C’mon, let’s go dance,” I say, a little more forceful.

“Okay,” he says, shifting forward. I slide off the barstool and grab my new beer, making a beeline to the patio.

The band switched to Bob Marley, playing Could You Be Loved. My body sways to the beat as I move through the crowd, making my way over to Amanda and Miranda by the railing.

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