Out Of The Blue (The Wrong Bed #12)(16)

She held the mug up to Zach. "Condom?" she asked, then gaped at him, horrified. "I mean coffee! Coffee!"

"Wait, did you say … condom?" Alexi asked her in disbelief.

Hannah didn't dare look at her, or at Tara for that matter, who was now bent over, practically rolling with laughter.

Denial, she decided quickly. "No," she said with as much dignity as she could muster. "I most definitely did not say … say … that."

"Condom?" Tara broke in oh-so-helpfully. "Is that the word you're looking for?"

"I think that's the one," Alexi said, grinning and nodding.

"I did not say that word," Hannah said, giving up on dignity because really, after this, there was none to be had.

"Oh, but you did," said Tara with a wide smile. "You most definitely did. Didn't she, Alexi? Say the word condom?"

Zach just looked at the mug, his mouth twitching suspiciously.

Hannah had to hand it to him. Other than that twitch, he remained completely cool, and despite her blunder, some semblance of relief filled her because he wasn't going to add to her misery.

But then he spoke.

"Thanks," he said easily, blowing into the steaming coffee before speaking again. "Oh, and if you don't mind, I'll take it extra large— Er, I mean with sugar."

He shot her an innocent smile while her supposedly best friends roared with laughter.





* * *





Chapter 6


? ^ ?

Zach didn't know what to think. He'd come back to Avila to heal, to recover, to regain his strength, and yes, to get his first mental break in far too long.

He'd actually needed the mental break more than he'd thought. Sleeping, eating, healing. More sleeping. This had been his plan.

After a good amount of that, he'd head out of this sleepy town and go back to Los Angeles, refreshed and ready to rock and roll. Ready to take on his job.

No attachments.

But all that had been before last night, and though nothing had happened between him and Hannah—nothing could happen between them—it had been a most incredible, erotic night.

Suddenly, he didn't recognize his plan anymore.

He should shrug it—and Hannah—off, just enjoy the rest of this vacation. But he couldn't seem to do that. For one thing, he was confused about last night and his feelings for Hannah. He'd assumed he'd feel brotherly toward her, but brotherly had been the last thing he'd felt.

Distance. He needed it. To help him get it, he went for a walk through the grounds. The lodge was beautiful, with the cabinlike architecture made famous in the early 1930s. High wood-beam ceilings, log walls, and beautiful, polished hardwood floors. Every room was a masterpiece. The garden, too, with its lush and wild colors, so beautifully bordered by the Pacific Ocean.

It all called to him on some deep level he hadn't expected; the salty breeze, the wide, open beach, the crashing waves. He'd lived here, had grown up here. Back then he couldn't wait to get out. It was all he'd wanted.

So why did it feel so good to be back?

Whatever the reason, he renewed his promise to himself to dig up a surfboard and revisit his wild adolescence.

"Psst."

Zach turned around. Mrs. Schwartz was leading her husband out of the gardens by the hand, though the man was grinning at Zach over his shoulder as he went.

"Don't forget … east end beach!" he whispered conspiratorially.

Zach laughed and waved. "Got it. Thanks for the babe tip."

The older man winked and disappeared out of the garden.

Zach skipped east end beach—wasn't quite in the babe-hunting frame of mind—and found the ice-cream/gift shop. He figured if he was abstaining from babes, he might as well get a cone. The shop wasn't crowded. He wended his way through to the order counter. To his surprise, he found Hannah on her hands and knees behind it, squinting at a low shelf of what was clearly an inventory closet. Her long, wavy hair fell past her shoulders, and was obviously in her way because she tossed it back with impatience, her face drawn in concentration.

Kneeling next to her was a young woman with startlingly green hair.

"The skin flashing thing … it didn't work," Hannah was saying to her as she foraged into the shelf.

"You're kidding! Are you sure you made it clear what you were trying to do?" the green-haired woman asked. "I mean, men aren't usually that slow."

"So I've heard," Hannah muttered. "Couldn't tell by my ridiculous attempts though." She sat back on her heels and smiled ruefully. "I'm getting ready to pack it in and consider myself a virgin until the end of time."

It was a good thing Zach hadn't gotten his ice cream yet or he'd have swallowed it whole.

"You just need to try again," Green Hair said kindly, patting Hannah's hand. "You're so smart and funny. And pretty, too. Honestly, you'll get it right."

"I'd settle for just getting it."

Karrie laughed while Zach forgot to breathe.

"Maybe try another man entirely?" Green Hair suggested.

"I like this man."

"Well, try again then."

"A new plan?" Hannah asked hopefully. "I really like a good plan."