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“Baby girl, you look . . . delicious.”
She blushed with pleasure. “I do?”
“Yes. Come on. Let’s go show the others.” He held out his hand. She couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at her like Owen did.
Hands reaching for her.
Leering faces.
Dirty. Slut.
Whore.
She shook those words off. But nerves jumped in her stomach. She stepped out, and Judd and Beck turned to look at her.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Fuck,” Judd muttered.
She moved her hand up to touch her hair. Did she look all right? Was there any hair out of place? Should she put on more make-up? Was the dress okay?
Beck stepped forward between her and Judd, who was frowning. Was there something wrong?
“What he means to say is that you look gorgeous, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. The hunger and admiration in his gaze filled her with more confidence.
Judd stepped to the side to nod at her. “Yes. That is what I meant to say. You look . . . beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She was starting to understand Judd. She thought, anyway. He seemed to be a bit awkward. He took things personally and often spoke without thinking. But Owen had assured her that he had a soft heart.
“But also, have you got sunscreen? A hat?” Judd asked.
“I packed sunscreen,” Owen told them.
“You did? You know what to pack to go to the beach?” Judd asked.
Why wouldn’t he?
“I looked it up online. They have lists for everything. How to pack for the beach, what to say on a first date, how to make a girl scream your name...” Owen winked at her.
She went bright red.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Ian said.
“Thanks, Ian.” Oops, she hadn’t noticed he was still here.
Once he’d left, she turned to Owen. “I can’t believe you did that!”
Owen raised his eyebrows. “What? It’s just the truth. Plus, it was time he left.”
He was terrible.
“I’ll get my hat. Do I need to bring anything else?”
“Just yourself,” Beck told her.
She gathered up her hat and sunglasses, checking her reflection once more.
You have this.
It’s just a trip to the beach . . . and also a date.
With three hot guys.
Nothing strange about that at all.
26
When they left the suite, Chloe saw that two ATVs were already packed up with stuff. Owen held out his hand and helped her into one ATV, then got into the driver’s seat. Judd and Beck climbed in the other one.
They headed out the way she usually went for a run. She’d nearly gone running this morning, until she’d remembered Owen’s warning.
She bit her lip. Had he really been going to spank her just before?
Yikes.
He’d checked her hands this morning and declared she could take off the bandages. So that was something, at least.
They veered off rather than heading toward the cliffs.
“There’s an easier way to get down to the beach from here,” Owen told her as he slowed and parked the ATV.
She nodded and undid the belt he’d buckled up for her. Before he could get around to help her out, Beck was there. He held out a hand to her. She slid hers in. His hand was warm and rough and it engulfed her much smaller hand. As she stood next to him, she felt tiny. But safe.
“Thank you.”
He was staring down at her intently. “You’re welcome.”
They stared at each other some more before she started smiling.
“What? What is it? Oh shoot. Do I have something on my face?” He patted his face with his hand.
“No, no.” She shook her head. “It’s just that I think you’re as nervous as I am.”
He heaved out a breath. “That obvious, is it?”
“Just a teeny bit.” She held her finger and thumb apart.
“I know why I’m nervous, but why are you?”
“Are you kidding? I’m going on a date with three gorgeous men. It’s kind of intimidating.”
“A date, huh?” He smiled at her.
Mortification filled her as she stared at him. Oh, Lord. Had she just made a fool of herself? Is that not what this was? Had they asked her as friends?
Of course they asked you to be friendly.
Well, maybe not Owen. Perhaps he’d said he was going, and then they decided to come . . . and oh, God. It didn’t matter.
She’d just said it was a date when it wasn’t.
“I’m so sorry. That’s so embarrassing. I can’t believe I thought . . . excuse me.” She kept her gaze down, not looking at him. Now, she just wanted to go back to her room . . . and never come out again.
“Whoa, where are you going?” Beck reached out to touch her arm, and she was so on edge that she shied away. He immediately snatched it back. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to . . . upset you.”
She glanced up to see him staring out at the ocean ahead of them. It was pristine and beautiful. It should have calmed her.
