Page 37 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

“No, but the universe is clearly on my side.”

“So from the vigorous head-tapping you did at the airport, I’m guessing you’d like Alex to be your target man for the bet.”

“What?” I say, looking up at him. “No, definitely no. I was just trying to get you to be nice to Sophie’s friends.”

He nods as he strokes his beard. “You’re not attracted to him?”

“Of course, I’m attracted to him, Butch,” I say, taking a step back. “Did you look at him? I mean, I’m sweating just thinking about him, but he’s a stunningly gorgeous professional athlete. That’s too big of a mountain to climb, especially since we’re just here for the weekend.”

“I don’t know, sister. I think that mountain would like to be climbed—by you. He was flirting pretty hard.”

“He was not,” I say, shaking my head. “He was just being nice because I’m Sophie’s friend.”

“All right, if you say so.” He takes another sweep of the lobby. “I’m going to get a nap in before the party. You want me to walk you to your room?”

“No, I’m good,” I say, grabbing the handle of my suitcase. “Pick me up at seven.”

“The party starts at seven. I’ll be at your room by at least six-thirty.”

“We’re not on military time anymore. We’re on island time.”

“What the fuck is island time?” He starts walking away and then turns back around. “It sounds like something made up to torture me.”

“I thought we were both supposed to let loose this weekend,” I yell after him. “Or do you have double standards?”

He taps his phone a few times and makes a beeping sound. “All right. If that’s what you want, Island Butch is officially activated. There’s no putting him back in his bottle now.”

As he walks away, I glance at the room number directional sign on the wall. It’s pointing me down a small flight of stairs toward the oceanfront rooms.

“Hey,” I hear from behind me. “Let me carry the suitcase down the stairs for you.”

I turn around to see Alex rushing toward me.

“Hey,” I say. “Uh, I was going to look for an elevator—”

“No need,” he says, smiling as he grabs the suitcase and lifts it down the five stairs.

I follow him. “Thanks. I’m usually a better packer than this. I wasn’t sure what to bring. It’s been a while since I’ve had a vacation.”

“Well for a beach vacation all you really need is a swimsuit.”

“Typical guy thing to say. Thanks for the packing tips, though.”

He rolls the bag away from me as I try to grab the handle. “I’ll help you to your room,” he says, motioning me ahead of him.

“Oh, I’m just a couple of rooms from here.”

“That’s too bad,” he says. “It won’t give us much time to talk.”

I look up at him as we reach my room. He’s still smiling, but his eyes are really intense all of a sudden.

“Uh, thank you so much,” I say, turning away from him quickly as I swipe my key card. “You’ve saved me more than once today.”

“It was my pleasure. You want me to lift it onto a luggage rack or something?”

Before I can answer, the room door next to mine flies open. A woman in a tiny red bikini bounds out.

“Alex!” she screams as she throws herself into his arms. “I thought I heard you out here. How did you find out where my room is? I was just about to text you.”

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