Page 23 of Worth the Risk

I wasn’t sure, but I thought that I might’ve made some progress at dinner last night. We talked a little and even though she refused to let me walk her back to her bungalow, we parted ways without any anger or pain between us.

Progress.

I pulled on my swim trunks and picked up my phone. Just before I could tuck it into my pocket, it went off with a text message. I opened it, my mouth turning down as I saw that it was from Delilah. She’d been reaching out to me more lately, especially after that dinner with the board members.

That damn dinner.

I never should’ve gone. It was just another mark against me.

I didn’t think much of it when Delilah handed her phone to a waiter and asked him to take a picture of the group. My mind was occupied with my conflict over my relationship with Zoey all evening, and I wasn’t my usual social self. I barely managed to force a smile just as the picture was taken, and I never thought about it again until Zoey mentioned it.

Delilah’s texts since that dinner had been mostly about how good it was to spend time with me—as if we were on a date that night instead of her just tagging along with her dad to a dinner that was supposed to be good for my career—and offering to help me prepare for my interview with the hospital board, which would be taking place next week, the day after I returned to Chicago. I’d been politely distant with her, still trying to walk the fine line between being honest about my lack of feelings for her and staying on her good side so that her dad would be more likely to vote my way.

It was exhausting.

I read her text just before leaving my room.

I’d love to see the island. Maybe you can show me on a video call today?

I had no idea why she would think I’d want to do that. We hadn’t even talked on the phone in years, and we’d never done a video call. It seemed that the more time passed, the bolder Delilah got. I never encouraged it, and I hoped she’d eventually take a hint.

But a small voice whispered in the back of my mind that it was my fault for not being direct with her about it.

I didn’t respond to the message. Instead, I put the phone away and shoved Delilah to the back of my mind. She was the least of my concerns this week.

When I reached the beach, most of the wedding party was already there. The only people missing were Kelsie and Leanne. According to Damien, there was some kind of wedding veil emergency that needed to be handled, although I couldn’t imagine they’d find a replacement here on the island.

Angela and Jess were lying on towels in the sand, working on their tans, while Leanne’s mom and aunt sat in lounge chairs under a huge umbrella, reading in the shade. Cody, Ryan, and his cousin Gordon were in the water already, and most importantly, Zoey was walking along the shore. She held her flip-flops in her hand and looked down as the water lapped over her feet. Her brown hair fell in the loose waves halfway down her back, blown around by the breeze coming off the water.

Her bikini was black and barely covered her. Strings tied at the hips, back, and neck held the thing against her body, and all I could think about was untying each of them with my teeth.

Zoey was beautiful, with dangerous curves and a smile that usually reached her brown eyes. Even the burn scar on her forearm was beautiful because it showed how strong she was. I craved her touch, her taste. My eyes locked onto her legs, and I wanted them wrapped around me while I pinned her to a wall.

Suddenly, my view of her was blocked as Jake stepped in front of me.

“Good, you’re here. I need a wingman.”

“No way,” I said without even thinking about it.

“Don’t say that until you see the girls. It’s a blonde and brunette, both smoking hot.”

I glanced over his shoulder to see that Zoey was still walking along the beach, but I didn’t let my gaze linger too long. I knew that she wouldn’t want Jake to figure out there was a connection between us.

But still, I wasn’t going to help him pick up women. I had no interest in anyone but Zoey, and I needed to find a way to show her that.

“Come on,” Jake said. “I want the blonde, but she won’t come back to my room unless I find someone to keep her friend entertained.”

I shook my head. “Sorry, man. You’re on your own.”

“You’re no fun.”

I didn’t argue that point with him. Ryan was my friend, but I didn’t know Jake well. Based on the knowledge I did have about him, I doubted we had the same definition of fun.

Jake was a player. He wasn’t manipulative or hateful toward women, from what I could tell, but he lived for the casual hookup.

That had never been my thing. Even back in high school, my friends used to lightly tease me for being a romantic. I didn’t need to be in love to have sex, but I preferred to be in a relationship. I liked having an emotional connection to my partners. So, even if I didn’t already belong to Zoey, I wouldn’t have taken Jake up on his offer.

So, Jake moved on to try to find someone else to help him, and I went into the water. I would’ve rather tried to talk to Zoey again, but while Jake distracted me, Leanne and Kelsie arrived. Zoey was chatting with them now.