Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(79)

I kept my eyes on hers, not tempted to look anywhere else.

‘It’s still too early for me to do a shot, sorry,’ I told her, causing her to pout, which was anything but attractive. ‘Do you want one anyway?’

‘I suppose,’ she sulked. ‘Tequila.’ I poured the clear liquid in a plastic shot glass and set it in front of her with a lime. ‘My name is Kendra, by the way.’

‘Nice to meet you, Kendra,’ I responded with a false smile.

‘You have amazing eyes,’ she flirted, slowly licking the back of her hand and pouring salt on it.

‘Thanks,’ I replied, looking past her to find Emma waiting behind her, her eyes darting around uneasily. I grinned.

‘Hey, Em,’ he called to me, despite the fact that the girl was still lingering in front of him. I was convinced she was a model, with her towering lean height and taut body. ‘Do you need another drink?’

I poked my head around the bony shoulder and nodded. ‘Please. And a water too.’

The leggy blonde leaned over and said, ‘For later, when you are ready.’ She set a napkin in front of Evan and walked away, moving her hips to accentuate the curves she didn’t have.

‘Uh …’ I fumbled, noticing the phone number she’d set in front of him.

Evan used the napkin to pick up the lime she’d left on the bar and stuffed it in the empty shot glass before throwing it away.

‘Having fun?’ he asked, not appearing affected by what had just happened. I stood in front of him, beyond uncomfortable. I could only nod, awaiting my drink.

Evan noticed my inability to speak and smiled in that amused way he did. ‘You saw that, huh?’

I pressed my lips together and nodded again. It was all I could seem to do.

‘Not interested.’ Evan raised a shoulder, grinning at me again. He turned to pull a bottle of water from the tub behind him and prepared my drink. I glanced around to keep from watching him, while I waited. He handed me a cup with an umbrella in it, wrapped in a napkin.

‘Thanks,’ I uttered barely audibly, and walked away.

When I returned to the chair, I peeled off the napkin, which was already getting wet, about to crumple it up when I noticed the blue ink. A phone number was smeared across it, along with FOR LATER, EVAN. I let out a laugh, drawing Sara’s attention.

‘What’s so funny?’ she demanded, studying me carefully.

I couldn’t keep the smile from my face as I shook my head dismissively. I folded the napkin in half and concealed it beneath the edge of my strapless top. It occurred to me that I didn’t have his phone number saved in my phone, and I should hold on to it. Besides, it was funny.

‘You don’t want to tell me, do you?’ Sara snapped, feigning offence. I glanced at Cole, who was in a surfing conversation with the guy standing in front of him. Sara noticed and nodded in understanding. ‘Later.’ I nodded in return.

After a day of drinks and sun, night fell and the party escalated to a new level. Many of the girls opted to change, while others continued to flaunt their bikini-clad bodies. The guys who’d spent the day surfing arrived to provide a little more gender balance, much to Brent’s disappointment.

The inside became the dance floor, as intended. I leaned against the wall, taking a look around, and was about to take a sip, when I stopped with the bottle pressed against my lips. Emma twirled under Sara’s arm, laughing. My breath faltered at the sight of her body moving to the rhythm, rocking her hips in a pair of low-riding white shorts. She revealed more of her flat stomach, her arms swaying in the air.

‘You gotta look away right now,’ Nate demanded in my ear. I jerked my head towards him.

‘What?’

‘Dude, he’s about to kick your ass,’ Nate warned quietly, his eyes flicking across the room. I looked over to find Cole glaring at me.

‘Shit,’ I muttered, turning away. ‘I couldn’t help it. I’ve never seen her move like that.’

‘Maybe you should get behind the bar,’ Nate advised. I nodded and cut through to the far end of the room.

‘Hey, Evan!’ TJ greeted me. ‘You taking over for me?’

‘Yeah,’ I replied, trying to calm.

‘Wanna do a shot with me before I go? You look like you could use one.’

‘Sure,’ I answered without hesitation. He poured us shots of tequila.

TJ held up his glass before slinging it back, then shaking off the bite. ‘Emma looks frickin’ hot, by the way.’

‘Yeah, thanks, TJ,’ I grumbled.

TJ laughed. ‘That’s why you needed the shot, isn’t it? Fuck, man. If you’re going to try to avoid checking her out, then you definitely need a few more shots. I’ll do another with you just to help you out.’

I smiled. ‘Thanks for sacrificing yourself for me.’ I poured us another shot and swallowed it down, breathing out the tequila through my teeth. ‘I’m not sure that’s going to help.’

‘Well, it’ll take out some of the sting when she goes home with Cole tonight,’ TJ remarked, laughing.

‘Fuck you, TJ,’ I shot back, making him laugh harder. ‘You can leave the bar now.’

‘No problem,’ he responded, slipping into the crowd.

‘Do you want another drink?’ Sara yelled to me over the noise of the crowd and the music.