“You thought it was cool when you thought we were going to have sex in here.” She rolled her eyes at me. “So you’re fine with having sex in a stranger’s house, but not borrowing stuff?”
“You’re not borrowing anything. You’re stealing.” I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward me. “I thought it would be kind of kinky to make love in a stranger’s house, I admit it. But it was a bad idea. Let’s go.”
“Hold on, let me see what she has in the closet first.” She pulled away from me, and her voice was harsh. “I heard she had a Chanel handbag in here somewhere.” She threw clothes on the ground and then I heard her take a sharp breath as she stuffed something in her bag. “Louis Vuitton will do.” She turned towards me with a seductive glance. “Now, if you want to get laid, I’m all yours.” I watched her in horror and lust as she pulled her top off and then pulled her bra off as she walked towards me. “Take me, Noah.”
“No, no. I can’t.” I resisted the urge to grab her and bend her over.
“You know you want to.” She pressed her lips against mine aggressively and I pulled away in distaste.
“No. Let’s go.”
“Fuck me, ass**le, or I’ll tell Mr. and Mrs. Smith that you broke in.”
“What?” I looked at her in disbelief.
“I’m joking.” She stepped back and slipped her shirt back on. “Let’s go.” And then we walked out of the back door, just as easily as we had entered. “What do you want to do now?”
“I think I’m just going to go home.” I walked away from her without looking her in the eyes. I felt disgusted with myself, and I couldn’t stop the churning feeling of horror that was seeping into my veins. What we had done hadn’t been sexy or fun. It had been invasive and creepy. Who was I becoming? This wasn’t who I was. But now I was starting to wonder who she was.
“Noah,” she called after me and I turned to look at her slowly, trying to ignore the mixed feelings that rushed through me at her face. “Remember what I said before.” She looked at me coldly as she held a finger up to her lips. I turned away from her and walked away quickly with my heart pounding. I didn’t know what to think or say but all of a sudden I wanted to be anywhere but in Palm Bonita. That night I had insomnia and all I could think of was how disappointed Zane would be with me. And so I went to my stash of cash and slipped $5,000 in an envelope and left it in the Smith’s mailbox. Giving them the cash helped to assuage some of my guilt, but I still felt uneasy. That was the day that I realized that she had an evil side. And I was scared that I had gotten her all wrong.
“You coming in, Noah?” Lucky opened the door and peeked out at me with a smile.
“Yeah, sorry. Just got distracted.”
“So what’s this I hear about a dinner date?” Her voice was excited and happy, and I knew that at least I had gotten one thing right.
“Remember that waitress at the restaurant?”
“The one that didn’t like you?”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “Well she’s coming over to dinner tonight.”
“Tonight!” Her jaw fell open and I could see a million questions in her eyes. “Come inside, we need to decide what to cook.”
“I’m sure whatever you make will be good.” I followed her inside and into the kitchen.
“Whatever I decide to cook?” She laughed and shook her head. “You Beaumont brothers are really incorrigible.” She slipped her arm through mine and smiled up at me. “There is no way I’m cooking the whole dinner tonight. But I’ll help.”
“Please, Lucky.” I gave her a pleading smile and she shook her head.
“Nope. Anyways, it will be more romantic if you cook most of it. Right, Zane?” She looked over at him and he rolled his eyes.
“I have no clue.” He shrugged. “I don’t care who cooks the food as long as it tastes good.”
“Zane.” Lucky frowned at him. “So I guess you don’t want me to cook anymore.”
“No, no, no. That’s not what I meant,” he backtracked quickly and I chuckled.
“Now, now, children. No need to bicker.” I looked down at Lucky and saw the mirth in her eyes as she beamed up at me.
“What about steak?”
“That sounds good.”
“Is she vegetarian, though?” She suddenly frowned.
“I have no idea.” I shrugged. “Should I call and ask her?”
“No, no.” She pursed her lips. “I’m sure she would have said if she was.”
“Who is she?” Zane interrupted us with a confused look. “Who are you two talking about?”
“Robin.” Lucky and I said at the same time and laughed.
“And Robin is who?” Zane looked just as confused, and I caught him glaring at the intersection of my arm with Lucky’s.
“The girl from the restaurant last week.” Lucky detached herself from me and walked over and gave him a big kiss and put her arms around his neck. “I would have thought you would have remembered her, the way you were going on about her.”
“The restaurant?” He kissed her back and ran his hands up and down her back. “Oh, the bitch?” He looked at me in surprise. “I know I joked around and told you she wanted you, but I was just joking, bro, no need to follow up on it.”
“I totally asked her out because you told me she wanted me.” I rolled my eyes at him and then looked at Lucky. “How did he get you? You seem like too smart a girl to fall for my dumbass brother.”
“Watch your mouth.” Zane grinned at me. “She recognized an awesome guy when she saw one.”
“I did?” Lucky blinked. “Where is he?”
“See what you’ve done now, Noah?” He tickled Lucky and she squealed as she tried to get away from him.
“Stop,” she cried out as she laughed. “I need to help Noah.”
“See what you have to look forward to?” Zane pulled Lucky towards him and held her in his arms and kissed her head.
“Doesn’t look so bad.”
“It’s not so bad. She’s not so bad. I think I’ll keep her.”
“Really, Zane Beaumont?” She glared up at him.
“Uh oh. I better leave you guys to it, before she decides to call off the wedding.” Zane made a face and I laughed.