“Fuck,” I gasp against her greedy mouth.
In response, she lifts her leg around my hip and bites my lip.
My brain stutters for a second before I wake up and go with it. I grab her thigh, pressing myself between her legs as I kiss her deeper. Her fingers find their way under my shirt.
“God, all these muscles. I can’t even.” Her palms travel to my chest, stroking, then around to my back, nails gently scratching down my spine.
Her eager touch sends all the blood in my body rushing to my groin. I’m gone. Hard. Panting. I want her so badly I can hardly breathe.
A detailed fantasy of bending her over my bed plays behind my clenched eyelids. I’m about to pick her up and throw her over my shoulder when I hear the sliding glass door shut loudly in the kitchen.
Our mouths break apart.
“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.” Heidi stands in the kitchen doorway, watching us with a sarcastic smile. “Didn’t know you were back.”
I’m still breathing hard, trying to find my voice.
She walks to the fridge for two handfuls of beers. “Please, as you were. Don’t let me interrupt.”
Heidi winks at me before leaving the way she came.
Great.
“I should go.” Immediately Mac is disentangling herself from me, putting distance between us. The dog hasn’t come running, which means Evan has her down at the beach, with Heidi and the rest of the gang.
“That’s my friend Heidi,” I hurry to explain, not wanting Mac to leave. “I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know anyone was here.”
“It’s all good. I have to go.”
“Stay. They’re probably all down at the beach. I’ll get Daisy for you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m going to call a cab.”
“I’ll drive you,” I counter.
She’s out the door, slinking away before I can stop her.
Damn it. “At least let me wait with you.”
She acquiesces to that much, but the moment’s passed. Once again there’s a massive crater between us as we wait in silence, and I get nothing more than a wave goodnight as she’s pulling away.
I drag a hand through my hair and trudge into the house. Fucking hell. One step forward, two steps back.
Story of my life.
In the kitchen, I grab a beer for myself, twist off the cap, and take a long swig before stepping out onto the deck. Where Heidi is standing. Her arms are free of bottles, so she must have delivered them to the beach and come back to wait for me.
“Hey,” I say roughly.
“Hey.” She leans against the railing, one hand playing with the frayed ends of her denim skirt. “So. You’ve got the clone on the hook.”
“I guess.” I swallow a hasty sip of beer. Truth be told, the plan, the bet, the rules … they were the last thing on my mind back there. My entire world had been reduced to Mackenzie and how good she felt pressed up against me.
“You guess? The chick was looking at you with stars in her eyes. She’s into you.”
Rather than comment, I pivot by saying, “Speaking of people being into other people—Jay West was asking about you.”
She narrows her eyes. “When?”
“A few days ago. Said he hung out with you at a bar or something.”
“Oh, yeah. We ran into him and Kellan at Joe’s.”
I flick up one eyebrow. “He’s gonna ask you out.”
She doesn’t say anything. Just watches me warily.
“Will you turn him down?”
“Should I?”
A sigh lodges itself in my throat. I know she wants me to stake my claim, throw myself at her feet, and beg her not to go out with anyone but me. But I’m not going to do that. I told her I didn’t want a relationship when we first hooked up. I hoped it would only be a one-night thing, each of us scratching an itch, and then we’d go back to being friends. But I was na?ve. One night led to a few more, and now our friendship is more strained than ever.
“Do whatever you want, Heidi,” I finally say.
“Got it. Thanks for the advice, Coop.” Sarcasm drips from every word. Then, with a frustrated shake of her head, she stomps down the steps.
I release the breath trapped in my lungs. Chug the rest of my beer. The taste of Mackenzie still lingers on my tongue. Sugar and sex, an addictive combo. I step inside to grab another bottle, hoping the alcohol might help erase the flavor of the woman I’m aching to kiss again.
I join everyone on the beach. I’m relieved—and then ashamed of my relief—when I spot Heidi about ten yards away at the water’s edge, texting on her phone. Maybe reaching out to Jay? But I doubt it. She’s never been attracted to the nice ones. Just the jerks like me.