Page 4 of Spring Break Fling

“Yes, this again,” Maddie said, joining in. “You’ve been single forever. It’s time to have some fun.”

“I have fun,” I said defensively.

“Reading marketing articles doesn’t count,” Rachel said. “We want you to meet someone. A hot, Miami guy who’ll sweep you off your feet.”

“My type isn’t here,” I said. “I like tall, nerdy, safe guys. Guys that know how to order a nice bottle of wine and wear suits—not Bermuda shorts and seashell necklaces.”

“Boring guys,” Tara corrected.

“Respectable,” I countered. “Like accountants.”

They all groaned.

“You’re hopeless,” Maddie said.

“Come on, Hannah,” Rachel said, leaning in. “Just for tonight. Take a chance. If you see someone cute, talk to him. Worst case, he’s a creep and you walk away.”

“And best case?” Tara said, winking. “You’ll have the time of your life.”

“Turn your location on so we can babysit from afar,” Maddie added. “And send updates. We’ll be your backup team.”

I gulped. “Guys, I’m not⁠—”

“Going to be on your back,” Tara interrupted, snickering.

I laughed despite myself, shaking my head. “That is so not happening.”

They didn’t seem convinced, but I’d made up my mind. Miami might be a city of wild nights and risky choices, but I wasn’t about to let it turn me into someone I wasn’t. I was way too goal orientated to let myself get caught up in a wild night. I had plans. Dreams. There was no way I was going to let one crazy evening derail everything I’d worked for. Besides, I could have fun in other ways that didn’t involve potential heartbreak or morning-after regrets.

I stepped back from the mirror and turned left, then right. The dress was shorter than I would normally wear. This was me stepping out of my typical slacks and basic heels. My friends might think I was uptight, straight-laced. I was, but I could have fun without doing all the wild and crazy shit Tara did.

2

NIKKO

The bass thumped through my chest like a second heartbeat as I stepped into the club. It was the usual Miami chaos: neon lights, bodies pressed too close together, the smell of sweat mixed with perfume and cologne, and a DJ shouting something unintelligible over the music.

This was my scene. The Miami nightlife offered excitement and escape that you couldn’t find just anywhere. People came here to forget their nine-to-fives, their failed relationships, or just to feel alive in a way that the daylight couldn’t offer—and making people feel alive was my special talent. Well, women, at least.

They flocked here in droves.

They all came to Miami on Spring Break with one thing on their minds—sex. Random hookups and crazy stories to take home with them like a souvenir. I wasn’t in the business of denying them what they wanted.

I scanned the crowd, my eyes trained to spot the newcomers. The way they moved, a mixture of hesitation and thrill, always gave them away.

Guys like me loved this time of year. It felt like being on the hunt. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. These women were looking for me. Not me specifically, but what I offered. Danger. Good looks. Charisma.

And the most important factor—anonymity. I was a stranger. They would never see me again. They could be as freaky as they wanted to be and no one was going to know but me and her.

Diego nudged my shoulder, nodding toward the bar.

“Drinks first?” he asked, though we both knew the answer. This wasn’t our first rodeo.

I smirked. “Obviously.”

We made our way to the bar, bumping into bodies of every shape and size. It really was a full menu tonight. Anything I wanted was here for the taking. Big boobs, little boobs, tall and skinny, petite and plump. I was not a particular man. I liked all of it but tended to lean toward the ladies with the lumps. I liked a woman I could hold on to without risking injury from a sharp hip bone. I liked a nice handful of soft and silky skin. I wanted to lie on a woman and appreciate the tenderness of her body.

I took the opportunity to scan the crowd. Sunburned shoulders, cheap glittery dresses, and a kind of wide-eyed eagerness that practically screamed, Show me something wild.