“Well, we finally did it so relax, sis. Rafe’s obviously into her so I want to know why. I had to practically sit on Shane’s lap to get the information. It was fun to watch him sweat – especially when you walked in the room while I was hanging all over him. I’ve never seen Shane turn red before. That was entertaining,” Rachel answered with a giggle.
“Nothing is going on between Shane and I. Even if I did like him, which I don’t, it’s not like Rafe would ever allow anything to happen. He still treats me like I’m five instead of twenty-six,” Lia huffed.
“I think you should just sneak into Shane’s room one of these days and jump his bones. It’s obvious you’ve been in love with him since you were fourteen.”
“Focus, Rachel. We need to get to the beach and ambush Ari. Her office buddies guaranteed me they’d get her down there today. It was surprisingly easy to bribe them. They said she really needs to get laid. I found it interesting that big brother doesn’t have her chained to his bed if he’s so into her.”
“Maybe he’s into her, but she doesn’t like him,” Lia said before both girls erupted into laughter.
“Seriously, if there’s a woman out there smart enough to resist Rafe’s charm, she is definitely a keeper. I really hope that’s the case. Let’s get our detective gloves on.”
“I like nothing better than a good mystery.”
Rafe’s sisters jumped into his convertible Mercedes and immediately put the top down. It was a beautiful eighty degree day and they were looking forward to playing on the beach, and really looking forward to meeting the woman who seemed to be tying their big brother up in knots.
They hadn’t liked any of his mistresses that they’d met previously, and they’d hated his ex-wife, but a woman he wanted to hide from them had their curiosity piqued. It would be a great afternoon.
“Have we worked out the plan, yet?” Rachel asked as they stopped at a light. It was nearly impossible to hear over the wind while they drove.
“I have no clue. First step was in finding the girl. We’re going to have to assess the situation and think quick on our feet once we’re down there.”
“A challenge. You know, I always enjoy that.”
“Yes, because you’re a meddling brat, Rachel.”
“Aren’t you the touchy one. Did you have a bad night? Were you just a tad upset that I was sitting on your boyfriend’s lap. You know I don’t want Shane. I’ve known he was all yours from the first day he walked in the room and you practically tripped on your bottom lip.”
“I’m not in love with Shane!”
“Oh my gosh, Lia. Give it a rest. I know about the hotel incident,” Rachel told her with a wicked smile.
“How do you know about that?”
“Like you’re the only one who knows how to get information. I’ve had the employees spying for me forever. I know some things about big brother, too. If you spill the dirt about you and Shane then I just might tell you,” Rachel gloated.
Lia glared at her sister for a moment before turning her eyes back to the road. The rest of the trip to the beach was silent while Rachel gloated and Lia pouted. She was dying to find out what her little sister knew.
*****
“I can’t believe you talked me into this. I have so much I could be getting done this weekend. After the incident a couple weeks ago at the bar, I really shouldn’t trust you guys to take me anywhere,” Ari grumbled as she climbed from Amber’s minivan.
“Quit being such a grump. It’s a stunning day. You really need to get some color on your blindingly white skin, and we all need fun,” Shelly said.
“You’ll have to forgive us someday. How were we supposed to know that the hot waiter slipped you a roofie. We just thought that he was really into you. If anyone needs to have a hot night of sex, it’s you. I’ve never seen anyone with such a stiff neck,” Miley joined in.
“Okay, okay. I’ll drop it if you never bring up Chandler again. I’ll certainly be a lot more careful about what I drink from now on,” Ari grumbled as she felt her face turn red.
Her friends had zero clue about her night with Rafe – her very hot, exciting night. She knew she was tense. It seemed that he’d opened a floodgate of hormones inside her, and she was too chicken to pursue a guy to fill her raging needs.
She really wanted to experience another night like the one she’d had with Rafe. It was beyond hot and still gave her goosebumps when she recalled his touch. She just didn’t want to have another night with him – well, she did, but she was smart enough not to.
“Ooh, twelve o’clock. Let’s go watch some beach volleyball,” Amber said while practically drooling.
The three other women turned in unison, then stood with their mouths gaping open. There were some seriously sexy men wearing nothing but beach shorts and sweat, playing a fast game of volleyball.
“There’s an open spot not far from the net with a perfect view,” Shelly stated as she began rapidly moving to a bare spot on the crowded sand. After a moment’s pause the other three women hurried behind her before someone else could swoop in before them and take it.
“Don’t be a prude, Ari. Drop the shrug and flaunt your great br**sts. You want those hot guys to notice you, don’t you?” Miley asked as she grabbed the knot on the back of Ari’s neck.
Before she could stop her friend, she was sitting on her towel with nothing but the bikini top Amber had loaned her and a skimpy pair of shorts. She felt na**d as she looked around, convinced everyone would be looking at her in horror.
“We better get this lotion on you before you turn into a lobster. You need some color, not a wicked sunburn,” Shelly announced as she squirted some of the ice cold liquid onto Ari’s neck, instantly sending chills down her spine.
“Thanks for warming it first, Shelly,” Ari snapped as the woman rubbed in the lotion.
“Quit complaining. I’m saving you days of pain right now.”
“You wouldn’t have to save me agony if you wouldn’t have ripped off my protection.”
“Oh, honey, you never want to rip off the protection,” Miley said with an evil grin.
“I can’t believe your husband’s ever allow you girls to leave. You’re terrible.”
“Our husbands know we love them more than anything, for some unknown reason. We can look plenty, just as long as we don’t touch. Trust me, girl, our men don’t pass up the opportunity to check out a nice firm ass when it walks in front of them,” Amber said as she lay back and closed her eyes.