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“Hot. We might even get the guys to dance tonight instead of play pool.”

  “Yeah, but I think most of the time girls dress for each other.” She pinches my butt as she walks by me toward her bureau. “Are you going to bring Derrick home tonight? I can stay at Jason’s.”

  “I don’t know. I…”

  “You what? Since when did you get shy about hooking up?” Casey taps a bit of powder off her makeup brush and rubs it on her face.

  “He’s not predictable. I’m not sure what will happen.” I push jewelry around on her nightstand, searching for earrings I might want to wear.

  “And you hate that, don’t you?” Casey turns to look at me.

  “I should, but…”

  “Oh, my God! He’s more than sex for you, isn’t he?”

  “No!” Wait. Is he? “I mean. Fu-ngus, I don’t know. Maybe?” A flush rises to my cheeks, and it’s not from almost swearing.

  “Well, I hope so. It’s about time you fell for someone, and God forbid, cared.”

  I snort. “Yeah, well let’s not go that far.” But I’m afraid I’m falling, and don’t want to stop.

  Chapter 9

  I look down at my phone to read the text from Nika. “On r way” My stomach flips and I yank at the bottom of my dress. The click of my heels on the sidewalk sounds like a time bomb ticking.

  “Gretchen¸ walk with us.” Jason’s usual teasing tone is missing. He and Casey have stopped so I can catch up to them.

  Casey grabs my hand and looks at my nails. “Okay, good. They aren’t bleeding yet. Try to keep your fingers out of your mouth.” She smiles at me, but I know she’s half serious and I pull my hand back.

  Clenching my fingers into fists, I say, “I’m fine. Really, it’s just some guy.”

  Jason links his arm in mine. “Just some guy doesn’t get a dress. I can’t wait to meet the man who’s melting the ice princess.”

  I snort. “I’m still quite frozen, thank you very much.” I place my hand over my heart. “Yup, cold as ice.” I then rub myself down over my breast and around my hip with a flourish. “But this? This body is smoking hot. Hard to resist, no?” I chuckle along with Jason and Casey.

  Casey says, “You are hard to resist. But it’s okay to like someone for more than sex.” She leans into Jason and he kisses the top of her head.

  A tiny jolt makes my heart flutter. Casey is head over heels in love with Jason, and they’re so happy. I suppose feeling that way wouldn’t be such a bad thing. If only I knew how.

  The heavy beat of bass blasts out at us when Jason pushes the door open. It leads to a flight of stairs that take us underground. An open area of tile is adorned by video games with a restaurant on the left and the Fish Bowl on the right.

  Jason veers to the left, but Casey grabs his hand. “Not yet. You guys have to give us our obligatory dance before we set you free.” He hunches his shoulders because he knew the deal.

  We enter a throbbing room with blood red light oozing around as the lights swing in slow circles. Scanning the room, I find Lori, Kaleb, Nick, and Megan standing at a table by the edge of the dance floor.

  I tap Casey’s arm to get her attention over the loud music and point. “There they are.”

  Jason leans close to us. “What do you want? I’ll bring it over to you.”

  Casey and I order vodka and club soda and make our way toward our friends. Lori rushes up to me. “Oh, my God. You look amazing!” A petite girl with shiny, almost black, hair she hugs me with strength beyond her size.

  “Thanks. You do too.” She’s wearing a red dress that leaves no curve unseen, and by the way Kaleb is checking out her ass, I’m thinking it’s on purpose.

  Kaleb winks at me. “You look great, what’s the occasion?”

  Casey smirks at me, I glance quickly at the door, realizing Nika and Derrick should be here any minute. “Feeling crazy.” I wink right back and give him a hair flip.

  I watch dimples appear on his face as Megan slides up to me for a hug. “Great to see you. You’ve been working way to much this summer.”

  “I know, but I’ve got a car to fund. I’m almost there.” Nick gives me a nod, and I smile back at him. He’s a man of few words, and I respect his need for space.

  I glance again at the door and notice a few heads turning. Nika has walked in, and if her height at well over six feet with heels isn’t the reason for people to stare, then it’s surely the model grace. She struts toward us as if she’s on a catwalk, and I feel invisible. Damn if she doesn’t work her shimmery blue dress in a way that makes every girl in this room green with envy. It’s loose and short, making you notice her legs, but there’s no disguising the killer body underneath as movement forms it around her torso.

  Megan leans in toward Lori and me. “Crap, is that your friend?”

  “Yup, but you’ll like her.”

  Lori says, “Who cares about her, looks what’s following.”

  Derrick saunters behind her, appearing as if he’s on the runway too. He’s in loose jeans hung low and a skin-tight gray T-shirt that reveals a well-earned chest. I lick my lips as if it can soothe the sudden burning in the pit of my belly. Fuck, he’s hot.

  I call up my inner sex goddess, throw back my shoulders, and move forward to meet them. “Hey, you look fantastic, Nika.”

  She gives me a quick air kiss, and her floral perfume wraps around me as she gives me a once-over with her eyes. “Nice.” Turning to Derrick she says, “Don’t you think, D?”

  He too gives me the once-over with his eyes, but he takes his time and mentally undresses me along the way. The tiny bit of thong I have between my legs is now soaked, and I will my trembling not to show. He stops at my eyes and tilts his head. “How do you dance in that?” A smile twitches at his lips, and my desire becomes a flash of anger. Prick.

  I put my hands on my hips, and with a glare I say, “I guess you’ll just have to find out.” I turn on my heel and lead them to the table.

  “Hey, guys, this is Nika and Derrick. They’re twins and moved here from New Hampshire.” I point at each person around the table. “Lori, Megan, Kaleb, Casey, Jason, and Nick.”

  Lori says, “Where in New Hampshire? I’m from the Hanover area.”

  Derrick answers. “Exeter.”

  “Near Phillips Exeter Academy?”

  Nika pipes in, “Yes, Derrick and I actually went there. He was the popular one. I was the geek.” She flashes a million-dollar smile.

  Megan says, “I doubt you suffered.”

  Nika says, “Actually, you’d be surprised. I was a gangly girl with braces. The only date I had was senior prom, and it was with my best friend’s brother.”

  Lori cranes her neck up to her. “Well, I’m going to guess that isn’t a problem now.”

  “Thanks.”

  Nika is fidgeting with the hem of her dress, so I interject. “Should we go get you drinks?”

  Derrick touches my arm. “I’ll get them.” He scans the group. “Anyone need anything?”

  Heads shake, and Casey moves the conversation to something more comfortable.

  “Are you a skier or a snowboarder, Nika?”

  “Skier. I hear you’re all instructors.”

  Megan replies, but Casey distracts me as she tugs me a step back from the group. “Holy crap, Gretch. He’s delicious.”

  “I know.” I sigh.

  “And that thing he did with his eyes. Damn, he wants you bad.”

  “It’s your dress. Thanks, I think.” I chuckle and we rejoin the conversation.

  I watch as the group laughs at something Nika says. Derrick returns and puts a drink in her hand as she continues on with a story. But I don’t hear it. I’m trapped in Derrick’s gaze. His stare makes the tiny hairs stand up on my skin, and when he takes a long swallow of beer I shudder a little on the inside.

  Nika endears herself to my friends quickly while Derrick seems to brood. He spends a lot of time looking at me, and I feel as if I’m under a microscope. I’m about to force him to be
part of the conversation when he nods his head toward the dance floor.

  Not many people are dancing yet, and I assume I’ll be safe from launching myself at him so I follow. Derrick leads us to a spot behind people where we are no longer visible to our group. Placing his hands lightly on my hips, he leans down to whisper in my ear.

  “You look fuckable.”

  His hot breath sends a shock of electricity through my body, confusing my annoyance with lust. I squint and turn to him. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

  He pulls me back against his crotch, and his cock is hard against my back. “Answer your question?”

  I let out a hiss. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” I move back to a respectable distance and start to dance. My whole body is twitching with longing, and I’m too flustered to know what else to do.

  He chortles, and I’m not sure if it’s because of my word choice or my body’s reaction. I choose to ignore it.

  Within minutes, the rest of our group is dancing along with us. Not wanting Nika to feel left out, the girls dance together with the guys surrounding us. It doesn’t take long for a brave soul to move behind Nika, and she dances with him as we all splinter off into couples.

  Derrick’s presence behind me is like a live wire I want to touch but know I shouldn’t. As our bodies heat up, his musk seeps into my pores. My entire being is one pulsating nerve, and wanting him torments me. I let myself drift closer and feel his rough denim rub against the back of my thighs.

  His hand drifts up to my belly, and he pulls me in. I feel his desire, and he says, “Want to take a walk outside to cool off?”

  “Good idea.” I step away from him and lead us back to the table. I take a few swallows of my drink out of thirst and for a bit of alcohol courage. I have a feeling this walk won’t cool me off much.

  I watch Derrick’s mouth surround the beer bottle as he guzzles some down. He wipes his mouth slowly with the back of his hand as his eyes bore into me. “Ready?”

  “Yeah.” I look at him for a moment and then let him take my hand to pull me through the crowd toward the door. I’m more than ready. I’m so close to the edge, one touch and I just might fall.

  Chapter 10

  My ears ring in the silence when we get to the sidewalk. The night air is cool, and I involuntarily shudder at the sudden chill. Derrick backs me up against the brick wall of the club with his body and presses against me. “Cold?”

  His damp shirt is hot, and I answer, “No. It was just a chill from the temperature difference.” I arch my hips into his. “This feels good.”

  He moves his hands down the edges of my body and grabs my hips firmly. “It does. Tell me about Gretchen. Where did you grow up?” His voice travels to my core, making it quiver.

  “I grew up in Woodstock, Vermont. I led a pretty usual childhood.” I move my hand up under his shirt and trace the definition of his abs.

  “I don’t think so. You skateboard, and I’ll bet you’re good.” He grabs my hand under his shirt and pulls it down lower, and I discover that the line of hair below his naval is coarse under my fingers. I tease with my strokes going just under his waistband.

  He says, “I’ve seen your cat-like reflexes. That’s not a normal girl to me. Normal girls ride bikes.”

  The headlights of a car sweep by and bounce off the windows of shops and into my eyes. “I was a tomboy. I’ve always been physical and had a hard time sitting still. But I’m pretty girly now.” I shift my hips and glance down at my shoes.

  Derrick releases my hand and wraps his arm low around my waist. “Yes, you are.”

  The heat of him sears me, and I reach around to grab his ass. It’s firm under the soft denim. “So tell me about Derrick. I know you’re super smart and want to be a doctor. What else should I know?”

  He surprises me by grabbing both my wrists and pressing them up above my head and against the wall. The brick is rough against my skin, but I let him. He says, “I’m a control freak and hopeless with real relationships.”

  I tilt my head back, offering him my neck. “Oh. Same.”

  He smiles and his teeth gleam in dim light. He lowers his mouth to my ear, and his hot breath sends a jolt of electricity through me. “I thought we might be kindred spirits. Because you scare the hell out of me.”

  “What?” I scare him? He has a funny way of showing it.

  He drops my hands and steps back to rake his hand through his hair. “Look. My relationships are about sex. Once the girl starts to get serious, and she always does, I’m done.”

  Soft fabric bulks in my hand when I pull his shirt by his chest and yank him back. “Ditto.”

  He grabs my butt with both hands and practically growls. “So we understand each other?”

  Fuck. I reach my arms around his neck. “Yes.”

  He lowers his mouth and takes me with a fierce kiss. Driving his tongue into me, he nips at my lips and pulls me in. My senses are flooded with his scent, his taste, and the flexing of his sinewy muscles. I give it right back and press myself against him as if I can fill every nook and cranny.

  My mouth has moved to his neck, and I suck and kiss his salty skin. His hands are under the short hem of my dress, and I moan as his finger flirts with the G-string of my thong. I lift a leg to wrap around his waist, knowing anyone walking by would get quite a show. But nobody is around, and I dismiss the thought.

  My hand slips down the front of his jeans and into his underwear. I grab his thick cock and stroke the silky skin upward, and his deep moan escapes.

  He stops abruptly. “Shit, we can’t do this here.” Derrick steps away from me, and nods his head down the street toward a group of people approaching. He then pulls the bottom of my dress down in such a gentle way my heart stops.

  I reach over and adjust his T-shirt to hang casually again. What am I doing? I drop my hands quickly. “I—ah…” I shake my head. “We should probably get back inside.”

  “I need a minute. Walk to the streetlight and back with me?” He adjusts his pants, and I smirk.

  “Okay.” A gentle breeze blows my hair away from my face, and I look up at the stars. “The sky here is incredible. It seems bigger than back home, doesn’t it?”

  “Yeah. It makes me feel small and insignificant. I like to think I’m a big deal.” He chuckles. “Back home I kind of am. But here…” Derrick takes my hand and pulls it up to his mouth. He lays a soft kiss on my palm. “Here I’m a nobody. It’s nice.”

  Oh, you’re somebody to me. “It is a humbling place. I came out here last winter to show the snowboard world how amazing I was. They showed me I wasn’t.” I sigh.

  “Competition didn’t go well?”

  “Nope. And once it wasn’t easy, my head became a mess. I lost my confidence and crumpled on the course.” Our footsteps echo off the buildings. “I’m not good at losing. It’s been a bitter pill to swallow.”

  “So honestly, do you think you’re as good as the winners?”

  Wow, good question. “Honestly? Yes and no. I think there are two girls on the circuit that are technically better than I am. But we’re close, and so much is left to making the right decision at the right time and taking big chances that pay off.”

  “I can see that. You mean things like tricks, right?”

  “Yes. That and going faster than you should. Trying a hard move you don’t always get right in training, and just going for it. I used to have no fear, and that was my edge. Most of the time I got lucky.”

  We’ve stopped at the streetlight, and Derrick is bathed in a pool of strange yellow light. I say, “I used to think I worked hard for what I got. Only it wasn’t true. I’m working harder than ever and not getting it. I’m afraid I’m chasing the wrong dream.”

  Derrick runs a hand down the side of my arm and catches my hand. “You can’t look at it that way. No matter what happens, you will never regret going after something you really wanted. You should be proud you had the courage to try.”

  We start walking back to the club. �
�I am glad I tried, and I’m not giving up yet. One more year. I have to. I’m sponsored by Burton, and have obligations.”

  I snort and think about my poster. Last year I was stripped down to the barest of bikinis and snowboard boots to stand in fake snow with a board for hours as they took my picture. A little Photoshop to turn me into a fantasy girl, and it became a popular advertisement in board shops. It even earned me the nickname Poster Gretchen. The marketing guys are trying to top it this year, and I can only imagine what they’ll have me do this time.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing, I’m just laughing at myself.” I remember what Derrick said earlier. “You said I scare the hell out of you. Why?”

  “You’re not like other girls.” We’ve reached the club door, and he leans down and brushes my lips lightly with his. When he pulls it open for me he adds, “Not even close.”

  Warmth spreads through my body. I’m so close. One more move and I’ll be a puddle. I will not fall for this guy.

  ***

  Music pumps up the stairs and lures us back to the club. Before we step through the florid entry I say, “The guys might have moved over to the pool tables. Should we look?”

  “No. I need to check on Dannika.” He furrows his brow, and it makes me wonder what he’s worried about.

  My question is quickly answered when I spot her. On the dance floor, Nika is moving quite provocatively. While she is talented, she is stumbling a bit, and the guy she’s with is happy to keep her upright. Shit.

  I move quickly to intervene, but Derrick is faster. “Get your fucking hands off her!”

  The guy immediately lets go, and she slithers to the floor. He steps back with his hands in the air. “Dude, I was only helping her. Your girl has had too much to drink.”

  Not the least bit interested in the display of testosterone I fear is about to happen, I squat down next to Nika. “Hey, take my hand.”

  She grabs on with clammy fingers, and I’m afraid she’s going to be sick. “C’mon. I’ll take you out of here.”

  As I begin to pull Nika up, Derrick lifts her into his arms and asks, “Do you need the bathroom?”