Page 13 of Wilde About You

I turned to him. "I've been in far more dangerous situations. Remember the water buffalo stampede that nearly flattened me? And then there was that anaconda situation in the rainforest."

"Yes, yes, keep reminding me that while you saw the world I was stuck holding up cute stuffies trying to coax crying babies to smile." He hugged me. "Be careful and keep me posted."

"I will."

eight

. . .

Colin

The women had invited us to go with them to the party down the beach, but I didn't feel like going anywhere after a day in the sun. Ace left and I was just as glad to have the place to myself. I took a shower and sat down on the couch to watch television. There was a massive screen on the wall, but even a massive screen couldn't make any of the crummy content on the streaming channels look intriguing. I ended up on a movie I'd already seen only because I knew it didn't entirely suck.

I paused the television and headed to the kitchen. As I walked past the glass doors that led out to the pool, something moved outside. I figured it was a neighbor's cat or even just my imagination. I walked to the refrigerator and pulled out the orange juice. Ace had stocked the fridge for the week, but nothing else sounded good.

I turned back around and was sure I saw something move out on the patio. I put down the glass and slid open the door. Solar lights lit up the corners of the otherwise dark patio.

A rustling sound pulled my attention to a nearby chaise lounge.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I called.

The figure jumped off the lounge and ran. My knee was going to be pissed again, but I gave chase. The person didn't get far. I grabbed an arm that was covered in an oversized black sweatshirt. My black sweatshirt.

"What the fuck? Are you following me?" I spun her around. The hair was different but that face—I'd know it anywhere.

"Why the hell would I follow you?" She wrenched her arm free. "You're trespassing."

"Uh, I think you're the one trespassing, and you're doing it in my jacket."

She stared at me in confusion, then dropped her eyes to the sweatshirt. "It's you. What the hell are you doing here?"

"Think I should be asking you that question. I'm a visiting guest, invited here by the owner."

She lifted a skeptical brow at me.

"Well, the owner's son anyhow. And you are here because …?"

She sighed and glanced into the house. "Where is he?" she asked.

"Where is who?"

"The owner's son," she scoffed. "Why are the pretty ones always empty-headed?"

"Nice. My friend is at a party. And, as I recall, I gave you my sweatshirt and saved your ass by sending Gregor looking for a phantom car."

Her long lashes dropped, and she nodded contritely. "Yes, you're right. I owe you for that, but for now can we just pretend I'm not here. Just need to crash on this lounge tonight. I'll be gone in the morning."

I stared at her. "How the hell did we end up together again?"

"I guess it's a small world." She sat on the chaise lounge. A black backpack was stuffed under it. It was impossible not to stare at her incredible legs as she stretched them out on the cushion. Her feet were bare, and she had a tiny band of stars tattooed around her ankle. She wrapped the sweatshirt around herself, then leaned forward and peered at me past the side of the lounge. "You don't mind if I wear this tonight? It's going to get chilly."

"Like I said, you can keep it. Why don't you come inside for a while?" If I knew one thing about my friend Ace, he would never be opposed to me inviting a beautiful woman inside the beach house, even one that ran from heavyweight fighters and snuck onto people's private pool patios. "There's popcorn, and you could watch some television."

She pulled the sweatshirt tighter. "Probably best if I stay out here."

"Yeah? You sure about that? Hey, where's your camera?"

She sat up quickly and looked over her shoulder at me. "Why do you ask?"