Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(36)

Okay, I know I may have said I feel like a new me, but then my sister goes and says what’s on her mind, and I can feel the heat of embarrassment sliding through my veins.

“Ivy, don’t get embarrassed now … we’re getting to the good stuff.” Camryn laughs as she takes a sip of champagne.

“I’m happy with how things are,” I answer honestly.

Camryn rolls her eyes and makes a face. “I guess I should be happy that you are enjoying multiple dicks. At least it’s something.”

“Are you enjoying multiple dicks?”

“Babe, of course, I am. Nate has even ordered me some. Damn, that Massimo’s mouth is a dream,” she states with a faraway look crossing her face. I don’t want to know.

“Have you heard from Olivia?” I ask, changing the subject as quickly as possible.

“No. Why would I? She’s swinging from the chandeliers fucking a rock star. She doesn’t have time for girl chat. Why? Have you?”

“She texted me to say she arrived safe and that she was okay.”

“That’s good. It’s about time she did something for herself,” my sister adds, finishing the rest of the glass of champagne.

“I still worry that everything is going to blow up in her face, and she’s going to end up marrying that damn douchebag,” I confess.

“Then that’s her mistake to make. Maybe she needs to make it to see what she truly wants out of life, or maybe Eddie is going to be the dick that he is and fuck it all up, and she won’t have to marry him,” my sister states.

She’s right. Never in my life have I wished for someone to cheat publicly more than I do with Eddie. I don’t want Olivia to mess up her life, which I know she will, by agreeing to this stupid wedding.

“Come on, don’t worry about Liv. She’s a big girl. That is a problem for another day. There are two handsome men waiting for us,” Camryn says, looking over my shoulder to where Nate and Alex are standing. She refills our champagne glasses while grabbing two beers from the drink’s refrigerator, and we head over to where the two men are standing.

“Here you go, boys. I hope you were saying nice things about us,” my sister jokes, handing them their beers.

“Not sure nice is the word I would have used,” Nate jokes with Camryn.

“It was all good, I swear,” Alex adds.

“That’s disappointing because he knows I’m definitely not good,” my sister adds suggestively.

Internally, I groan at my sister’s forwardness. I’m used to it, but others may not be.

Except then Alex bursts out laughing and raises his beer in Camryn’s direction. “You’ve met your match there.” Alex turns and smiles at his brother.

“I think I have.” Nate grins as he takes a sip of his beer.

“Let’s go out to the terrace. It’s a beautiful night. The full moon has lit up the beach, and it’s magical,” Camryn suggests.





“That went well?” Alex says while I lean into him as he escorts me back to the golf cart after one too many champagnes.

“They practically pushed us out the front door,” I moan.

“I’m not into watching my brother have sex, so it’s probably for the best we’ve left.” Alex chuckles.

“Sorry, my sister’s a little over the top.”

“No need to apologize. I like it. She’s exactly what Nate needs to pull him out of his comfort zone. Seeing my brother relaxed the way he is with your sister, I’m all for it,” Alex says as he helps me into the golf cart.

I watch him with a smile as he walks around the cart. The distinctive flutter in my stomach has returned. Not now, I tell myself. You can flutter until your heart’s content when we get back to London, but please not while I’m on this fantasy island.

Alex jumps into the driver’s seat and heads off down the private path away from Nate’s villa. “You seem quiet?” Alex asks after a long silence between the two of us.

“Do I?” I turn and look up at him.

“Everything okay?”

Everything’s fine, except for the fact that you’re way too nice for me, and every time I’m around you, you give me butterflies. I’m worried that it’s the holiday vibe between us and that when we get back to London and back to our normal lives, whatever’s happening between us will vanish. And right now, I think I realize I don’t know if I want that to happen. That in such a short time, I’ve come to rely on Alex’s quiet strength.

Of course, I say none of those things because being vulnerable sucks, and instead, I say, “It’s been a long day,” and I finish it with a yawn.

“You must be exhausted after the morning you had,” Alex says, raising a brow at me. I like that he can joke about my threesome and seems secure in the knowledge of what it was. “How about I take you home, tuck you in, and let you get some rest?”

That’s a horrible idea because all I can think about is getting him into my bed and doing anything but rest. Have I turned into a nymphomaniac? Then, a real yawn catches me by surprise, and suddenly exhaustion hits me. Maybe I should lay off sex for one night. So with that thought, I lean into his side again and rest my head on his shoulder feeling safe close to him, until my eyes begin to flutter shut.