“How is this supposed to help me?” I grumble, glancing over my shoulder.
Ledger is still on the phone, his voice smooth and rich, like honey dripping straight into my core. It’s warm, seductive, and maddeningly distracting, pulling at parts of me I’ve been trying to ignore for months.
I can’t help myself. My eyes trail downward, lingering on his broad chest, the ridges of his abs, and then lower—wondering. Could he be just as impressive there? His jeans hang low on his hips, and while his stance isn’t giving me the perfect view, there’s enough of a hint to make my mouth dry.
My imagination fills in the gaps. His hands—big, calloused, and capable—are probably a preview of everything else. Thick. Heavy. The kind of dick that’d make me forget my name, let alone Chase. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of his jeans dropping, him stepping closer, his voice still dripping in that syrupy Italian as he tells me exactly what he’s about to do?—
Stop.
I blink hard, dragging myself out of the fantasy, but my body’s already betraying me. My nipples are tight against the fabric of my sundress, and my thighs press together as if that’ll ease the ache growing low in my stomach. Get it together, Galeana. You’re practically drooling over a man you just met.
This is Chase’s fault. The whole let’s not have sex before the wedding thing was his idea, and now I’m the one suffering through one hundred and eighty-something days of celibacy. No sex. No orgasms unless they came from my fingers or a damn overpriced vibrator that barely did the job.
I should’ve bought that rabbit instead of the sleek suction one. Something bigger. Thicker. Something that could have prepped me for a man like this. Because clearly, my body’s decided it’s ready to jump into the deep end with zero hesitation.
I glance at hot guy again, and this time he catches me looking. He raises an eyebrow like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
God help me.
Focus, Galeana. Focus.
He hangs up the phone and looks at me, his gaze sweeping from my head down to my sundress, lingering just long enough to make my skin prickle. Then he smirks, the kind of infuriating, cocky grin that belongs in a cologne ad. “You’re hot with clothes on too,” he says casually.
I scowl, trying to ignore the way my pulse skips. “Can we focus on our problem?”
“They don’t have rooms,” he says with a shrug, like it’s no big deal. “And they don’t know if they can find anything nearby. You mind moving to another town?”
I cross my arms, my irritation bubbling over. “Move to another town? Are you kidding me? Why should I leave when this is supposed to be my honeymoon suite?”
His brows lift, like he’s surprised by the bite in my tone, but I don’t care. I’m not about to let hot abs bulldoze me out of the one good thing Chase left me with.
“I’m not moving out,” he declares. “There’s a wedding I need to attend and a million stupid activities I have to be a part of. Driving back and forth isn’t an option for me.”
I turn back to the phone, whisper-shouting into it like Aiden’s my lifeline. “They don’t have any other rooms. None. Zero. Apparently, the resort’s packed. So now my options are sharing the most romantic room in this stupid place with a guy who doesn’t even own a shirt, or heading to another town because he has a wedding to go to. A wedding, Aiden.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Aiden says, her words tumbling out in excitement. “Back up. He doesn’t own a shirt? Tell me everything. What does he look like without it? Is he Hugh Jackman hot? Henry Cavill size . . .”
“What does that matter?” I snap, lowering my voice further as I step onto the terrace. The Mediterranean horizon stretches out in front of me, stunning and serene. But all I can see in my mind is hot abs—broad shoulders, lean muscles, the kind of face that belongs on a billboard.
“As I said, you should make him your rebound guy.”
My jaw drops. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” she says, unrepentant. “Sleep with him. It’s the perfect revenge. Post pictures of him on your honeymoon suite’s balcony, champagne in hand, shirt off. Show Chase exactly what he’s missing.”
“Your plan is insane,” I hiss.
“It’s genius,” Aiden insists. “Do you know how many people would kill to have a gorgeous stranger as their rebound guy? Chase left you in a wedding dress you hated but you bought to make his mother happy, Gale. He fucking left you. The universe is handing you an opportunity. Seize it.”
I let out a groan, dragging a hand through my hair. “This is not an opportunity. This is a nightmare. And even if I wanted to?—”
“Oh, you want to,” Aiden cuts in smugly.
“Even if I did,” I continue, ignoring her, “this wouldn’t be fixing anything and might create more problems in the long run.”
Aiden sighs dramatically, as if this is all too predictable. “Fine. Be boring. But just promise me you’ll at least make him suffer a little. If you can’t have fun with him, make sure he doesn’t have any either.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I mutter before hanging up.
