All the Right Moves(33)

His touch startled her as much as the nickname. He stood close, the pressure of his palm steady, and anyone watching would think they’d known each other for a whole lot longer than four days.

Okay, she could forgive him for not warning her that she’d look like a toad next to all these gorgeous women. There was an assortment of blondes, brunettes and even two redheads lounging around the pool, or talking and laughing under the small palm trees strung with hundreds of white glittering lights. The landscaping was primo, with lots of trees and flowering shrubs, and a ton more lighting.

“Cassie?” John rubbed his thumb near her spine.

“Oh, sorry. Yes.” She looked blankly at him, then to Nancy and Shane. “I mean, no. Not hungry. But thanks.”

“Let me know if you change your mind. It’s really no trouble.” Nancy was a blonde, and damn, a natural one it seemed. Very nice. Very tall. Stunning, actually, dressed in white capris and a white strappy top. “Excuse me, I have to check on the ice.”

“You know where the bar is,” Shane told John. “Help yourself,” he said, with a smile for Cassie before he followed Nancy toward the covered patio.

Cassie stared after him. He had dark hair like John, same height, gorgeous blue eyes, but John was still much better-looking. “They seem nice.”

“You sound surprised.”

“Do I?” She turned to see him smiling at her. But her move forced him to break contact, and she was sorry about that. “I don’t know why. I can’t imagine you hanging out with jerks.”

His grin broadened. “How about a drink? This time I’m pouring.”

“Yes, you are.” She hesitated when he gestured for her to go first. “Which way’s the bar?”

“The patio, left of the sliding doors.”

She’d been kind of hoping he’d take her hand, but that was expecting too much. At least they didn’t have to circle the pool. Most of the guests mingled over on the other side, but that hadn’t stopped the curious looks aimed at her and John. He nodded to a woman sitting at the edge of a lounge chair, then slowed to tell a couple of guys—had to be pilots—he’d catch up with them in a minute.

“Do you know everyone here?” Cassie leaned on the high bamboo bar, watching him make her a tequila sunrise. He’d set out the right ingredients, plus lime juice for some reason.

He glanced out at the pool and the couples sitting at the umbrella tables. “About half. I work with most of the guys. I think the two couples talking by the diving board are neighbors.”

“Are the women wives, or what?” She was careful not to stare because some of the women were looking back, and in fact had been watching her and John since they arrived. Hard to tell if they were curious about her or bummed that John hadn’t come solo. Probably both.

“A few wives,” he said, returning his attention to her drink. “I think the rest are Nancy’s friends.”

“Jeez, they all look like models.”

“They could be.” He was so careful to measure everything precisely it made her smile.

“Notice something else?”

His head came up again, his gaze going from her to the pool, back to her. “What?”

“None of them are wearing jeans.”

“The guys are. Including me.”

“That’s different.”

“How?” After taking in her face and hair, he looked directly into her eyes, his lips lifting in the faintest of smiles as if they shared a secret.

A shiver of pure pleasure danced up her spine. Bless him for making her feel as if she were the only woman at this shindig. “You know what—forget it.”

He handed her the tequila sunrise. “Tell me if I made this right. You’re the expert.”

“An expert at what?” The man’s voice behind her was close enough to make her jump.

She stepped aside so she could turn to look without bumping into him. He brushed her arm, making her tense until he lifted his hands in apology.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” He held an empty glass that should stay that way, judging by his flushed face and bloodshot blue eyes.

“Rocky.” John gave him a polite nod but she got a negative vibe. “I didn’t know you were here.”

“John meant that he didn’t know I was invited,” he said, winking at Cassie, his attention focused on her. “Introduce me to your girl, Devil.”