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He poured her a drink.
“Thanks.” She took it, then stepped over to Vincenzo, who was watching the boys adjust the volleyball net, and began another game.
James poured extra rum into my drink. I watched his manly fingers while he stirred it with a straw and slid it over to me with a glare. I couldn’t tell if he was angry or amused. Either way, I wasn’t turning down top-shelf rum.
“Thank you.”
Peeling his devilish gaze away, he strode around to the grill, now chatting quietly with Vincenzo again. Elizabeth and I curled up on the nearby sofa, scrolling through social media before I remembered the wax incident, and giggled.
“What?” She stopped scrolling, hovering her thumb over the screen.
“Did you guys get the wax out of the rug?” I whispered.
She flickered her eyes. “My dad commented on it, and it was play wax.”
“I figured.” I tried my best to hold back my laughter so I wouldn’t draw attention to us.
“I felt grossed out, but,” she sighed, “unfortunately… it helped.”
“Why, unfortunately?”
She relaxed her entire posture, tilting her head, the corner of her upper lip curled into disgust. “It just kinda grossed me out knowing my dad’s a freak like that.”
“Well, I’m sure it’d gross him out to know you are too!” I spoke a little too loudly, but I could no longer hold back the hilarity. I’d be mortified if my father knew what I was into.
James and Vincenzo both glimpsed over at us before James turned to the pool. “Guys, come eat!”
Lucas and his friends splashed one another, tossing the volleyball back and forth while exiting the water. Throughout lunch, they chatted among themselves while the four of us dined at a separate table. I tried not to make eye contact with James. It felt like Vincenzo was watching me like a hawk and I didn’t want to give him a reason to grill me about whatever was on his mind.
Several times, James and I exchanged a glance before we pretended as if there was nothing there than just the normalcy we’d always had. Still, every part of me longed for him. The desire was getting stronger, and I was trying hard to fight it. I had to. For Elizabeth’s sake. Sitting with her and her family reminded me I needed to just let the thoughts of him go. They’d always been so good to me, including me in everything as if I were one of them. I didn’t want to ruin that relationship. I had to keep telling myself, Resist James Whitman… as long as I can.
Almost an hour after lunch, Lucas insisted everyone play volleyball before his friends left. Eliza, James, Vincenzo, and I gathered on the deeper end of the pool while Lucas and his three friends insisted on the shallow end. I was sure to give them all an advantage.
Leo backed up, holding the ball up before serving it across the net. None of us were professional, so chaos ensued, as no one knew their position or what to do other than hit the ball.
The four of us were on the edge of the drop-off into the eight-foot-deep water so every time the ball flew across the net, James or Vincenzo were quick to grab it if Elizabeth or I couldn’t. Friendly competitiveness became a fight for life as everyone was determined to win what I assumed would’ve been a fun and relaxing game. I should’ve known better. Micah spiked the ball, and it came soaring toward my face. Hurling my arms out, I managed to hit it back over before dipping back into James.
“Sorry,” I gurgled, wiping the droplets from my face.
His fingers dug into my sides under the water to stabilize me. “You okay?”
“Yeah, thanks.” I twisted sideways, bending my head back, and wetting my hair. I offered a smile before turning toward the net, but his palms slid down toward my rear. I closed my eyes, feeling his fingers slipping underneath the side of my bikini bottoms.
The moment I almost lost myself in a daydream, his touch was gone, and my eyes shot open. I glanced around to see no one had been paying attention and Lucas was now splashing Vincenzo. He grabbed Lucas’s ankle, yanking him under the net before plunging him under the water, calling him a little shit though Lucas was at least six-feet-two.
Whirling around, I made eye contact with James, who was staring at me. I was ready to play with fire, and he knew it. The corners of my lips twisted up. He told me to be a good girl, but soon, he was going to see just how bad I could be.
* * *
JAMES
Abruzzo’s was packed as usual. While Maddie was working, I sat at the bar, sipping a drink, and watching Gian. The more I thought about the things he said, the angrier it made me. He lifted his gaze toward her when she approached, picking up a tray of beverages. Slipping his phone out, he aimed it toward her. She walked away before he slid his phone back into his pocket and leaned over to Jimmy, his lips moving. Jimmy nodded.
Gian pushed through the crowd, sauntering toward the employee door. Jumping up, I followed him. The moment I entered the back hallway, I reached out, grabbed his arm, and dragged him down the hall to Dimitri’s office. I hurled the door open, pushing him in.
A brunette woman was sitting on his desk facing away from the door. Dimitri was between her legs, lips to her neck, and his hand up her skirt while she moaned loudly. Antonio was sitting on the couch against the wall, typing on a computer while two guards watched Dimitri and the woman.
The moment we made eye contact, he leaned forward, kissing her before helping her off the desk. “Go to the bathroom and fix yourself, then get back to work. Tell Cheyenne I want to see her in twenty.”
