“My judgement. It needs to be clear today.”
There was something suggestive in her eyes, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was doing this because of me. Maybe it was an arrogant thought, but I suspected that she didn’t trust herself to be drunk around me.
It ended up being a blessing as we got back to the hotel. Tatum was just a little tipsy, while the rest of the women were drunk. Even Faith had gotten carried away at the last location and was stumbling down the hallway. There was a lot of laughter, and loud talking that I was slightly worried would get us in trouble with the hotel staff, but I knew that the bridal party had rented out all the rooms on this floor, so I figured it would be okay.
Tatum’s less inebriated state allowed her to help me get all six of the other women safely back to their rooms. Then, it was her turn. She tried to brush me off when I said I was going to walk her to her room, but I insisted. Mine was just a few doors down, anyway.
As we stopped outside her door, I felt my cock twitch in my pants. God, I wanted to kiss her. This was the most alone that we’d ever been together, but it wasn’t nearly enough. I realized it wouldn’t be enough until I had her naked and writhing beneath me. The dirty image in my mind made my desire for her increase exponentially.
She looked up at me, and I reached out to brush a loose strand of hair off her face that had come out of her ponytail, tucking it behind her ear and letting my fingers skim her flushed cheek. The air between us was charged, and I couldn’t look away from her hazel eyes. They captured me.
Her lips parted as she sucked in a shaky breath, and I was sure that she wanted this as much as I did. The attraction and chemistry was undeniable. I started to lower my head, but I didn’t even get close to those red lips before she stepped back, shaking her head at me.
“I’m sorry,” she said, almost breathlessly, as if she were forcing herself to say the words. “I . . . I can’t do this.”
“Why not?” I asked, unable to stop the disappointment coursing through me.
“I’m just not ready for a vacation hookup,” she said, turning away and sticking her key card into the door before glancing back at me, a flicker of what looked to be regret in her eyes. “Goodnight, Ben.”
She stepped into her room, then the door closed in my face.
Well, hell, that didn’t exactly go the way I wanted.
CHAPTER5
Tatum
Walking away from Ben last night was way harder than it should have been. I avoided getting drunk during the winery tours just to keep that from being an issue, but I didn’t account for his effect on my sober mind and body. It was crazy to even consider allowing myself to fall into his big, strong arms. My heart was still way too fragile for that—wasn’t it?
Even as I asked myself that question, I realized that my chest no longer tightened painfully when I thought about Aiden. And really, why should it when he’d honestly been such a jerk about the break up? Why was I giving him so much power over my emotional well being when he’d moved on without a thought about me, or us? And even if he did come crawling back, it wasn’t as if I’d give him a second chance.
My thoughts drifted back to Ben, who’d been so sweet last night, making sure that every single woman got back to their beds safely, including me. And honestly, that king-sized bed felt way too lonely after he almost kissed me. It made falling asleep difficult, and I slept in this morning. I even skipped my usual morning run.
I missed breakfast, too, but I had a protein bar in my carry-on and a coffee maker in my room. There was nothing on the schedule of events for today, so I took my time getting ready for the day, lingering over my morning coffee and taking a long shower. Then, I watched a little TV and scrolled through my social media pages. I wanted to treat this trip as a vacation and relaxation was a big part of that. I was going to take full advantage of my down time.
When I got dressed for the day, I pulled on my new bikini—the one I bought specifically for this island getaway—and covered it with a pair of shorts and a tank top. My hair went up into a messy bun at the top of my head and I put on some sunscreen before tossing a towel and a romance novel into my beach bag.
I knew that Faith was spending the day with her family and fiancé, so it didn’t surprise me when I finally emerged from my room and didn’t find many people around. It looked like I was going to have to explore the island on my own today, which was fine. I didn’t mind doing my own thing.
I ended up in the hotel restaurant for lunch since it was nearly noon. I had just ordered a turkey sandwich when Sage joined me. She took a seat beside me at the table, letting out a small sigh and looking generally put out.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“Just another argument with my mother,” she said, picking at the corner of her menu absently.
I knew that Sage and her mother, Faith’s Aunt Wendy, butted heads a lot. Faith always liked to joke that it was because they were so much alike, not that she’d ever tell Sage that.
“I just don’t understand what the obsession is with my love life.”
I understood where she was coming from. I was just a couple of years away from turning thirty, and my mom had been dropping some not-so-subtle hints lately about wanting grandkids. A part of me wondered who was more upset when Aiden dumped me: her or me. It was a lot of pressure.
“At least she cares, right?” I asked, trying to put a positive spin on it.
“A little too much,” Sage commented. “And now I have to go spend the day with her and the rest of the wacky Seymour clan. Thank God that Faith will be there, she keeps me sane at these things.”
I smiled. I knew that Faith and Sage were close. As cousins of roughly the same age with no siblings, they grew up together and were more like sisters.
“What are your plans for the day?” Sage asked. “Do you want to join us?”