Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(42)

“Holy mother of all sex goddesses—who are you, and what have you done with the virgin Lila?” Sloane said over her laughter as her eyes widened, and she walked in a circle around me.

I’d toned things down when I slipped on my tan cowboy boots, but the rest of me was definitely out to get noticed tonight.

“Can we drop the virgin talk for one night, please? I’m over it.”

She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek. “Well, I don’t think anyone is going to be talking about your virginity tonight. Not when you’re looking this smoking hot.”

The door burst open just as I reached for my purse, and Del and Rina both gaped at me.

“Holy hotness. Girl, look at you,” Del purred. “Kline isn’t going to know what to do with himself when he sees you.”

I groaned internally because the last thing I needed was her pushing things with Kline.

“I’m actually going to just have fun tonight. I’m not dating Kline. I just want to see where the night takes me.” I grabbed my keys and phone and dropped them into my purse as we made our way out the door.

“Well, the night will take you wherever you want it to, looking like that. Damn, Lila. I always knew you were gorgeous, but wow.” Rina slipped into the back seat of Sloane’s car with me, while Del took the front seat.

“You’re being ridiculous,” I said. “But thank you. Where are the guys? I thought they were coming.”

“I told them to come with Quincy and Kline so we could have a little fun first. You know, before the wet blankets get there,” Del said, and the car filled with laughter.

“Yep. And I’m drinking tonight. Boomer is going to Uber there with the guys, and then he’ll drive my car home. He agreed to be the DD tonight. So, get ready for some fun. We only have you here for the summer, Lila, and we sort of have this plan to make you love it so much that you never want to leave,” Sloane said as she turned up the volume in the car, and we all started singing to our girl, Taylor Swift.

Did I even want to leave?

I’d been really happy since I’d been home. I’d never thought about staying, not with the way Travis carried on about the new job. But the thought of sitting behind a desk ten hours a day and living in the city didn’t sound as exciting now as it did when I’d first graduated with a dual degree in business and finance.

But then I thought of Hugh, and what a jerk he’d been about me selling my car. About how horrified he’d been that we’d shared that moment out at the cove. And Travis was an overbearing asshole most of the time, and he’d never let it go.

This was temporary. I needed to stay focused on the goal.

Get Dad into treatment, and then I’d go back to my real life.

We all continued shouting out the lyrics to “Shake It Off” and laughing our asses off as we got out of the car.

Once we were inside, we settled at a high-top table, and the place was booming. A few guys were looking over at us, and one even sent over a tray of drinks. I was sticking to beer tonight, as I’d learned my lesson about being hungover, and I had no desire to do it again anytime soon. The girls were drinking shots, and Del asked the bartender for an empty shot glass for me, and I filled it with beer so I could join in.

Rock music was booming, and a very sexy man in a leather coat walked over to our table.

“Ladies, you’re looking lovely tonight,” he said, his voice deep. His blue eyes were locked on mine, and I quickly looked away. The man had to be in his early forties, but he rocked the silver fox look rather well.

“Thanks,” we said in unison over a fit of giggles.

“Are you Tate James’s daughter?” he asked.

I straightened my shoulders. “Yes. Do you know my dad?”

“I do. He’s a good man. He did some work for me at my auto shop. I thought I recognized you from a few years back.” He winked. “Was it Lily?”

“Lila,” I said, feeling my cheeks turn bright red at the way he took me in.

“Not going to hit on you, darling. Not now that I know you’re Tate’s daughter. But damn, you’re easy on the eyes. I’ll be watching out for you tonight. You ask for Roddy if anyone gives you trouble, all right?”

I just waved as he backed away from the table and made his way to the group of friends he was sitting with.

“Hot daddy. I could be so down for an older man,” Sloane said, and we all gaped at her.

“If you weren’t in a relationship?” Rina shook her head with disbelief.

“Well, of course. But a girl can look, right? And that man right there is every woman’s wet dream. He looks like an older version of Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy.” Sloane held up her glass for another round, and I asked for a water.

I thought over her wet dream comment. I’d found my wet dream, in the form of a six-foot-three, long-haired, stubborn, beautiful man, who happened to be my roommate at the moment.

I understood the concept of a wet dream more than ever now.

I’d actually been awake for it.

“Oh my gosh, what are you thinking about? You look very guilty,” Del teased, just as Parker, Boomer, Kline, and Quincy walked in.

A few people we’d gone to high school with came in behind them, and I realized this was a local hangout as much as a biker bar.

I liked the vibe. The music was great, and everyone was having a good time.