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Emily
I should feel relaxed,but I can’t seem to keep myself calm, no matter what I do.
The sun’s hot on my skin. I sit up on one elbow, shading my eyes against the sun. I’m completely alone on the beach, and I can just barely see the house from where I am. A few feet to my right is a large white post with “Private Property” written in black across a white board. It’s the boundary of Henry’s private beach, and I’m lying just on the edge, trying to keep myself out of trouble.
I kissed another guy last night. I know, it’s insane and stupid. I don’t know what I’m thinking, getting involved with these men. I mean, it feels good, and they’re hot as hell, but it’s all so confusing and insane. I’ve never had so many men interested in me before.
And then there’s Henry. I’m just trying to get my relationship with him started, but this whole thing could mess it up so easily. I can tell he doesn’t want me anywhere near his friends. This morning, he made some lame joke about killing anyone that lays a hand on me.
That’s when I got out of the house, because I could feel James and Daniel both grinning at me.
I know what they want. I can see it so clearly in their eyes. They want more than just a kiss, and honestly, I can’t pretend like that doesn’t sound really freaking appealing. But I’m not here to mess around with them.
Although I’m not sure what I’m really here for. I have nowhere else to go, and I need a place to stay, but what’s my plan for the summer? I don’t want to just sit around mooching off Henry, but it’s so tempting. He doesn’t seem to mind. I mean, he has more than enough for everyone here. Maybe I really should just relax and call this a much-needed vacation.
I check my phone and sigh. The water looks nice, but I’m not hot enough yet. I’ve been out here for a half hour, but the sun’s been dipping back behind clouds. I don’t even want a tan, and I’m covered in lotion, so I don’t know what I’m expecting.
I put my phone down and look back toward the house. My heart skips a beat as I notice someone coming toward me. He’s alone, and it takes me a minute to recognize Aiden.
I sit up as he approaches.
“Hey there,” he calls out. “Are you hiding?”
“If I am, I’m not very good at it.”
He laughs and shrugs. He’s wearing a white button-down shirt open at the front, revealing his rock hard body, and a plain black swimsuit.
“That’s a good point. Nobody else out here but you.”
“It’s a little weird,” I admit. “I mean, there’s so much beach, and it’s just… empty.”
“Private beaches,” he says. “I bet most of these houses are empty.”
“Really? Why?” I look back up the beach at the nearest house. It’s maybe not as grand and absurd as Henry’s but it’s still a multi-million dollar home. In fact, all the houses along this stretch are. They’re well spaced out, so I can only see a few of them.
“Rich people don’t take vacations like we do,” he says, sitting down in the sand next to me. “You mind?”
“No, that’s fine,” I say.
He nods and goes on. “I mean, they work all the time, right? Even though they don’t need to.”
“Aren’t you rich?”
He laughs. “No, not at all. I own my company but I don’t make a huge profit. I try and pay my people as much as I can before I start taking money myself.”
I raise an eyebrow. “That’s very noble of you.”
“It’s not,” he says. “I just believe people work better if you take care of them. Really, it’s selfish.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.”
“Trust me,” he says, grinning at me, “I’m no saint.”
I raise an eyebrow. “I can see that.”
He laughs softly again. “Why are you hiding out here, anyway?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” I say. “Just wanted to get out of the house.”
