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“You can’t escape me that easily.” He chuckles. “We’re headed to the same icebreaker, after all.”
“Sounds like a horrible time. Can’t wait,” I call over my shoulder.
He’s right behind me, which makes me pick up my pace even more. Before long, I’ll be jogging.
Not obvious at all.
“The intention behind it is admirable.”
“Welp, the road to hell is paved with good intentions and all that,” I mutter, and it only makes him laugh harder.
As his smooth laughter washes over me, the tingles in my body start right back up.
Just what I don’t need.
“Glad you find me so entertaining.” I huff, turning my head to find him right next to me, grinning down like I’m some kind of clown here for his amusement.
“I find you something all right, but entertaining is certainly not it.”
It takes everything inside me not to stop in my tracks and rip into him.
That wouldn’t be a good idea at all.
He taps my shoulder with his as he strolls along beside me, and if I was an outsider looking at us, I’d think we were friends taking a leisurely walk.
But I know better.
“Do you have to stand so close to me?”
“Yep. Consider this the start of our bonding.”
I let out a slow breath. I shouldn’t allow this man to get to me.
“I’d prefer we don’t,” I grit through my teeth.
“Oh, come now, princess,” his voice rasps, and my heart beats so fast it threatens to pound out of my chest. “That’s what the producers want.”
We can’t always get what we want, as evidenced by how my body lights up around him, and he’s strictly off-limits. He’s damn sexy but, alas, an ass.
“Can’t you just be quiet?” I snap.
Then, like an idiot, I find myself pivoting to look at him.
Dammit. It never gets old how handsome he is, and no matter how often I see him, I’m never prepared for the way my body responds. Muscle memory from one encounter is pathetic.
His face looks carved from stone, and his eyes appear sterner than normal. “What are you wearing?” he grits through clenched teeth.
“What?” I lift a brow, not understanding what he’s saying.
His hand waves around, pointing at my outfit, and I follow the path and see that he’s pointing at my low-cut tank. I changed after this morning’s festivities for a couple of reasons. (1) his criticism of my dress pants (2) when I took the wet towel back from Paxton, my previous shirt got all wet when I held it against my chest.
Now it would appear that Paxton doesn’t like this outfit either.
Too damn bad.
“You can’t wear this around the crew—”
I cut him off. “And why the hell not?” My voice pitches, the incredulity oozing from every word.
“Because anyone with a dick will want to fuck you.”
My mouth drops open in shock at his crass words, and my body shakes with fury.
“You have some nerve, Paxton Ramsey.” I purse my lips in disgust. “Kissing me once doesn’t give you the right to put a chastity belt on me.”
“This has nothing to do with me. Dressing like that can draw unwanted attention.”
“You sound like a 1950’s church pamphlet. Maybe that’s what I want.” My chest heaves, and my hands ball into fists. “A quick romp in the middle of the island sounds pretty damn good right about now.”
He scoffs. “Wanna put a bulletin out to the whole crew? I can start auditions for you.”
“You’re acting like you have a say in my life, as if you are anything to me,” I say, trying to keep my voice level.
“Talking to you is pointless.” He storms past me.
“No one asked you to,” I shout at his back, picking up my pace to keep up.
A few feet away, the path opens into a clearing, and we’re on the beach.
The waves crash against the shore as the salty air whips my hair around. I inhale deeply, taking in the calming essence that only the sea can provide. It does wonders at chasing away my fury brought on by Paxton.
“Mal!” Teagan waves from where she’s standing closer to the water.
Kicking off my shoes, I make my way over to her. I allow the past few minutes to wash away with every ebb and flow of the tide. The coarse sand scratches at my now-bare feet, and I savor the feeling.
I might not love being on the open water, but I love the beach.
The farther out I walk, the more I realize how much I’ve missed this.
Growing up on the California coast, I’m used to spending time on the water. Now I’m in the city. I barely have time to relax, let alone find a beach to sit on.
Teagan moves toward a towel and takes a seat, motioning for me to do the same. I head in her direction, lowering myself next to her, and continue to stare out at the endless blue water.
