Page 4 of Room Twenty-Three: Tangled & Teased

Lia purses her lips and gives me her big sisterly look. “You’re curvy in all the best places and a beautiful woman. You look better than anyone here. Now show off your gorgeous body and sway that ass like you love it.”

I love my best friend. I smile and wiggle my hips.

“Good. I don’t want to fly to England to whip your ass because you’re still a virgin when you’re twenty-five, because you don’t want anyone to see you naked.”

It’s a bit of a running joke between Lia and me. We are both virgins, hers because of her sexual assault, me because I’m hung up with body issues.

“And you? Are you going to give love a chance?” I ask, hoping to see a smile on her face that tells me she is ready.

“I promised Jaxon I’d call him,” Lia says. “I just haven’t managed to yet.”

“From school? Jaxon Manor?” She nods. “No way... he’s not your type.”

“He’s safe.”

“Do you want someone who is safe?”

“Do you?”

I shake my head.

She smiles, holds out her hand, and says, “Let’s make a pact. Why don’t we both push ourselves out of our comfort zones?”

I grin and shake her hand. “Make it a bet. The first to do something that makes the other gasp wins.” Then I turn and wiggle my ass. “One hundred pounds says I’ll win.”

“Make that Aussie dollars and I’m in.” She laughs, flicking her hand in the air. “I’m poor, but I still hope you win. Now go.”

My ass shakes as I waddle across the white sand. Glancing around before stopping half-way to search for Lydia. I see her giggling into a man’s chest as he whispers something to her. He is wearing a charcoal suit, the white dress shirt undone at the collar, and his tie sticking out of his top pocket.

A little strange and overdressed on the beach. And so much for finding men with friends.

“I don’t need a man,” I mumble. Trying to convince myself and walking off to the bar where I wave at an old friend from school.

My cells dings. I turn it and look at the screen.

Lia: Do you want to stay at my house? And leave now?

I turn to the road. She is standing with her father and waving at me. Her dad is unassuming in his vehicle choice. Where my father travels in a blacked out limousine, her father drives a jet black truck.

Lia glances to her right. My hair whips across my face as I turn my head to follow her gaze. I see a large, dark colored SUV parked on the opposite side of the road. It’s only fifty meters away, but I need the light from a nearby lamp to see what she’s looking at.

There’s a man staring ahead. It looks innocent enough. He’s searching for someone or making a call, but that’s Lia. She is so wary of everyone, I’m surprised she came to the beach tonight.

She watches me from her father’s car and I shake my head.

I tap out a message to her.

Me: I plan to live.

Chapter 2

Erin

Thesleekblacklimousinepulls up against the icy curb. The rear door opens before my father hisses, “Get in.”

“What’s the problem?” I snap, glaring in his direction. He is normally abrupt and to the point, but I’m jet-lagged from my flight from Australia and could really do with some slack.

“Just get in.”

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