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“Good luck with that. I can’t see Natalie ever willingly agree to the sale. If she digs her heels in, word on the street is that you’ll lose the bet and drop the bid.”
I looked at Gian. “That was the bet.”
“You’re nuts, man.”
“I know. But it was the only way I could think of to get her to talk cordially to me. But after the public meeting, she was convinced I was backing out of my word.”
“As if you would ever consider such a thing. She must not know you very well.”
“Eh. I was working on remedying that when she stopped talking to me.”
“Well, if it’s any consolation, and I’ll deny saying this if you ever repeat it, Mazzie says it’s killing Natalie not to talk to you.”
I couldn’t say I was surprised. Clearly there was a “thing” between us. The damn inlet was just getting in the way.
“Good to know. Thanks, Gian. Need a beer?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. Thanks.”
Heading to the bar once again, I wasn’t surprised when Natalie pretended to see someone she wanted to talk to, making a beeline in the other direction to avoid me.
It went like that for more than an hour. Which was fine. Natalie could walk away from me all she wanted. But eventually, I would talk to her.
We had some things to discuss, and she couldn’t avoid me all night.
EIGHTEEN
natalie
“Do you seriously think you can avoid him all night?” Charlee asked.
“That’s the plan.”
It had been nearly two hours since I first spotted him. Two hours since I’d been able to breathe like a normal person. Two hours of trying so hard not to notice his casual light blue linen shirt that made him fit right in. Between that and the sunglasses...
“Oohhh finally,” Mazzie said. “My friend from Arizona. I think she’s the last one to get in. I’ll catch up with you guys in a bit.”
With that, the bride was gone to mingle, leaving me with Charlee and Zoe. I was surprised we’d even gotten her on the beach at all earlier with the party in full swing behind us. But Mazzie had been on the go since landing in Palermo and insisted she wanted at least an hour or so to kick back before the wedding festivities kicked into full gear tomorrow.
“Seriously, Nat,” Zoe said. “You know you’re going to talk to him at some point. Just go over there. He must have looked your way ten times.”
Or more. I only knew that because I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one. It seemed every single woman, and probably some not-so-single ones, had eyes for him too. And who could blame them? He was the epitome of maleness with a dash of arrogance, but not cockiness like I first thought. Just someone who knew their worth.
Adjusting my bikini strap for the hundredth time, I declined. “Nah. I think I’m good right here. Actually, I might grab my stuff and take this bikini off. The straps are seriously digging into my shoulders.”
“Changing rooms are over there.” Charlee pointed to the wooden stalls that lined the ramp leading off the beach and onto the street level above.
“Next to the bathrooms?”
“Yep.”
Grabbing my beach bag from behind the bar, I made my way over to the changing rooms, hoping there was a light inside. Darkness had fallen, and even though bulb lights lined the lido’s deck, the bathroom and changing area looked pretty dark. At worst, I’d use my phone as a flashlight.
Pulling open the wooden door, I looked around for a light switch before letting it close and losing any of the moonlight streaming in. A few Aperol spritzes didn’t help. About to give up, I began to fish my phone from the bag when the door I was holding open swung open even farther. Before I could even say the changing room was occupied, Jax stepped fully inside and closed the door behind him.
Only a bit of light streaming in from a large crack where the door shut allowed me to see him at all. But it was enough. He wasn’t playing.
Grabbing me by the waist, he hauled me into his chest. “You are so fucking hot, Natalie. Do you realize how incredibly sexy you are?”
