The Trade(56)

I answer just as the rest of the gang, including Jason and Cory walk up to us. All the guys are decked out in what I like to call party shirts. Button-up shirts that men only seem to wear when they’re on a tropical vacation. Palm leaves, hibiscus flowers, bright patterns, you know what I’m talking about. Jason decided to wear leopard print and his shorts match. It’s a whole ensemble and for some weird reason, he’s able to pull it off. Cory’s shirt is black with little white flowers and green leaves. It’s not as ostentatious as the other shirts, but is still bold, and of course it works for him with his black shorts.

“Ready?” Emory asks. “I’ve been craving a Shirley Temple all day.”

Knox brings her temple to his mouth where he places a small kiss and then leads the way. Carson and Milly follow behind, then Jason and Dottie, leaving me of course with Cory.

Cory, who doesn’t make eye contact with me.

Not that I put in a lot of effort to my outfit today, or that I spent a nice amount of time doing my hair and makeup, or that I made sure every last part of me was shaved and lotioned. Nope, didn’t spend any time at all . . .

Read the man, Natalie. He. Isn’t. Into. You.

Me dressed up doesn’t even rate on his radar. I know he’s way out of my league, but it would be nice to feel noticed tonight.

We reach the restaurant and take seats around the large wooden bar, but instead of sitting next to Cory, I fall to the end where Dottie is saddling up next to Jason. We order our drinks, Dottie and I opt for the beach cocktail special, while Jason surprisingly gets a beer.

Once the bartender starts making our drinks, Jason turns to me and motions up and down at my outfit. “That’s revealing. Looking to be swarmed tonight?”

“She wants to have sex in a closet,” Dottie says.

“Excuse me?” Jason’s eyes widen. “The hell you are.”

Thanks a lot, Dottie.

“I’m not going to have sex in a closet,” I reassure him. Not if I hang out with my brother the entire night. “I wouldn’t mind mingling though.”

“Oh?” Jason raises a brow. “Do I even want to know?”

“I think it’s best that you play na?ve in this moment.”

“Right.” He nods. “My baby sister isn’t on the prowl for dick, she’s just looking to see if anyone wants to have a tea party with her.”

“Oh, I like that.” Dottie wiggles her eyebrows at Jason. “Want to have a tea party later tonight?”

Jason slowly looks Dottie up and down, adding an eyebrow wiggle when he meets her eyes. “You have no choice but to drink some of my tea when we get back to our room.”

“Ew, okay, too far, Jason.”

He chuckles and picks up his beer that the bartender set down. “Any idea what you’re looking for?”

Brown hair, blue eyes, kind personality, abs for days, and smells like heaven. Any Cory lookalikes in the vicinity?

I shrug. “Not really, just someone who might catch my eye.”

“Looks like we have many men to choose from, so let’s keep our eyes peeled.”

The bartender sets our drinks down as well, and I pick mine up and take a sip. The pineapple is quite strong but it’s quickly smoothed over by a light cherry flavor and a hint of rum. Okay, I can get on board with this cocktail.

Jason is telling Dottie about how comfortable his ensemble is while I look around the bar, scanning the area. The conference has definitely let out because there are more people here than normal. A lot of the attendees like to get off the resort because they need a change of scenery, so it’s not terrible, but there seems to be a good mix and some very good-looking guys.

My gaze follows down the bar where I spot Cory, sitting closely to Carson, deep in conversation. Cory uses his hands to demonstrate something while Carson nods and I can’t help but stare at the man’s forearms, how they’re weaved and roped with muscle. Thick and corded, they’re some of the nicest forearms I’ve ever seen with just a sprinkling of hair, nothing that will startle you into thinking he’s wearing a sweater.

What really has my stomach twisting in knots though is how comfortable he seems, more comfortable than I’ve seen him in the last two days. Is it because he finally shed me and can have conversations he’s actually interested in? Because I’m not around?

Insecurities overwhelm me as I think about the other night, how I idiotically thought to try and seduce him . . . with The Office. It was an epic fail, brought on by a misunderstanding at the restaurant. I truly thought he was interested, but when we got back to our room, I was hit with reality again. He’s just a nice guy.

It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m going to find a guy tonight, and it will be all okay. We have one more night after this, so might as well test my flirting with someone I will most likely never see again. Vacation fling, here I come.

“I’m going to walk around,” I say to Jason and Dottie who both smile at me.

Dottie pinches my butt as I stand and says, “Knock them dead, girl.” She winks and gives me the encouragement I need.

Drink in hand, skirt flattened, I take a deep breath and start to make my way around the bar. I’ve never done this before, just walked up to a stranger and started talking without there being common ground. When at fundraising events for The Lineup, I have no problem talking to strangers, but that’s because I have something solid to talk about. It’s work; it’s easy.