The Summer Flings Travel Club
Aimée Duffy

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers www.harpercollins.co.uk

Copyright

HarperImpulse an imprint of

HarperCollinsPublishers

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2016

Copyright © Aimée Duffy 2016

Cover images © Shutterstock.com

Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers 2016

Cover design by Alex Allden

Aimée Duffy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © April 2016 ISBN: 9780008182403

Version: 2016-03-23

Praise for Aimée Duffy

‘The perfect, girly summer read’ Reviewed the Book

‘Action packed and fun’ Shaun the Book Addict

‘Sexy, fun and as hot as the summer sun’ The Book Geek Wears Pajamas

‘A great summer read!’ Lost to Books

‘Sensual, sexy, heart stopping’ Contemporary Romance Reviews

Dedication

For the ninja, super-graphic-girl and queen Catco. I couldn’t have done this without the support of you ‘special’ ladies.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Praise

Dedication

LA

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Miami

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Paris

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Santorini

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Ibiza

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Florence

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Dublin/Home

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

About the Author

Also by Aimée Duffy

About the Publisher

LA

Chapter One

‘This is where we’re staying?’

Ciara Bree gaped for so long her eyes watered and stung. When they had first talked about a round the world trip, back when they had spent those endless days in their college library at Oxford, she’d never expected this.

Glamping in some fancy static caravan rigged out for the three of them, yes. Maybe even the odd budget hotel or hostel – something that would be affordable with the cash she’d managed to save from her part-time uni job. But this… A mathematics and statistics graduate from Wicklow didn’t have words for this.

Her bestie, Elle Muir, sauntered towards the white mini-mansion, right smack at the bottom of Hollywood Hill. ‘My granddad said we could crash at his houses during our trip, as long as we promise not to break anything. No point wasting precious shopping credit when we can have this for free.’

‘C’mon Ciara!’ Her other best friend, Gem, shoved her shoulder, but she must have still been in shock because her legs refused to budge. They’d never been poor growing up, and her da had always given her everything she wanted – and some things she didn’t, like tuition fees to Oxford. She’d known Gem and Elle came from families so rich the Crown Jewels would be their Mas’ idea of day jewellery, but she’d never met them in the flesh and it was much easier to believe her two best friends liked to exaggerate. After all, like her, they were super smart. Only difference was, when she’d gone to Oxford, she was The Ultimate Geek and they were more Geek Chic.

With a laugh, her friend said, ‘It’s not like we’re staying over there. You can pick your chin off the floor now.’

Following Gem’s outstretched arm, towards a mini-version of the White House, Ciara saw the comparison. They were staying in what looked to be the garage of the super-mansion she had first seen – though this garage still came with a huge drive, palm trees and exotic-looking flowers galore. But… feck. Their temporary home had her flustered, or maybe that was the midday Californian sun made stronger since it reflected off the bright walls.

Ciara just shook her head. ‘I’ll never roll my eyes at you again when you go on and on about this stuff.’

Gem pulled back her bright red hair into a ponytail then swiped a coat of sweat off her forehead. ‘I want to have a dip in the pool to cool off before the jet lag kicks in. You coming?’

Nodding, she followed wordlessly into the house to be shocked anew. If the outside had her chin dropping the inside would have her tongue rolling down to meet it. Chic, shiny floors covered what she assumed was the entrance vestibule, though this was much bigger than her dorm room. Bigger than five, probably. A massive, spiral staircase was situated opposite the door and artwork that looked suspiciously like originals instead of knock offs hung strategically on the walls. Ciara was scared to breathe for fear of steaming up the shiny floor or staining the pristine walls, and feck! She still had her shoes on!

‘Let’s turn this duty free bottle of tequila into something strong and icy before we hit the pool.’ Elle held up the airport bag with a grin.

‘Ooo iced margaritas?’ Gem asked.

At Elle’s nod they rolled their suitcases through the swanky house. Ciara worried that her Tesco special bag was spoiling the look of the whole place just by being there.

The kitchen was bigger than her whole house, complete with shiny chrome accessories, a kitchen bar and small dining table – not to mention the integrated appliances and even crushed ice maker. It did make Elle’s job of filling a massive jug with ice much easier, but everything seemed so foreign, like she was watching an episode of MTV Cribs not getting ready for her first stop on a crazy round the world trip.

‘Should we take our bags up first?’ she asked, having visions of jet lag kicking in when she was poolside and falling into a margarita induced coma.

‘No way. I say we dig around them for a bikini then chill at the pool for a while,’ Elle replied.

Gem agreed, unzipping her bag and picking out one of goodness knew how many two pieces, all still with the tags on. Ciara did the same. After all, she was as unlikely to win a fight with Elle as she was able to pick up a car and swing it over her head.

They took turns in the laundry room getting poolside ready and slapping on the SPF 30, then Elle led them through another hall.

‘Does that belong to one of you?’ She asked, toeing a bag out her way with her flip flop.

The sports bag was so full it almost burst the seams. ‘No,’ Ciara said at the same time Gem did.

‘Hmm,’ Elle scowled at the bag like it was filled with manure, then shrugged. ‘The housekeeper must have left it.’

Ciara slipped her sunglasses on the second they were outside. Elle and Gem insisted panda eyes was never a good look but since the weather back home was overcast eighty percent of the year, bright sunlight generally fried her retinas. And if she wanted to stay awake instead of lying out here all day frazzling, she needed to keep her eyes open.

It wasn’t too hard to manage since she was hit with another dose of the OMGs. The pool area was about the size of a holiday complex, with a stone terrace, terracotta furniture and the comfiest sun loungers she’d ever had the pleasure of lying on.

‘Drink up girls. The Adventures of Muir, Bree and Howard have begun!’ Elle filled up their glasses.

Gem pouted. ‘I still prefer Geeks on Tour.’

‘Nonsense. We’re too chic to be geeks, right Ciara?’ Elle said.

They might be, but all she’d ever been was a geek as far as her schoolmates were concerned. Instead of taking sides, she shrugged and chugged down some of the drink. Her eyes watered and she made a vow to make the next round or that margarita coma might come sooner than she’d feared.

‘It’s really, really, scorching here,’ she said to change the subject. Sticky lotion aside, her whole body was melting.

‘It’s great isn’t it?’ Elle said, chugging down more of her drink.

Against her better judgement, she did the same but the ice didn’t help cool her off. Since they’d left the wonderfully air conditioned house, the lack of a breeze and sun beating down was a little too much for her.

‘Feck it,’ she said, finishing the last of her drink and getting up.

‘Don’t wuss out on us already, Ciara. We’ve got hours and hours of tanning time left,’ Gem said.

‘Then I’m going to have hours and hours of cooling off to do.’ The tequila had already created a tiny, giddy buzz and the thought that she was in California, LA, hell Hollywood, kicked in.

That’s all it took to get over the shock of Elle’s grandfather’s house, the heat, the worry she might pass out on the sun lounger and frazzle – after all crazy girlie holidays were about having fun and not worrying about the little things. So she kicked off her flip flops, removed her sunglasses, took a run for it, and jumped into the pool.

The water was lovely, not cold, more like a warm bath that had been left for a bit to cool down. She swam from one end half way to the other before she broke the surface grinning.

Gem and Elle were already up, giggling at her change of attitude – she had to admit she’d been a bit of a moody cow so far. In her defence, the never ending plane journey had made her so restless and the cabin caged her in. Sitting for a few hours was her limit before the boredom had made her stir crazy… not even the inflight entertainment could distract her.

‘Good to see the tequila’s kicked in,’ Gem said, jumping in too.

Elle didn’t, instead she stayed on the side and pulled her long, blonde hair to the top of her head, twisting it into a bun. What was worrying was the look on her face that said she was a girl with a plan. A plan Ciara wasn’t going to like.

‘I have an idea, since we’re just having a pool day…’

Yup, the wicked glint in her azure eyes definitely meant Ciara was going to hate her friend’s idea.

Elle dashed back into the house and Ciara threw an anxious glance at Gem who rolled her eyes and started swimming like a pro. Sighing, she floated at the deep end, trying not to worry about what mad thing Elle had come up with now.

She was in LA with her two best friends, she needed to relax. Or learn how to. She’d always had studying and classes, even during the holidays. It might help a little if she stopped worrying over having no clue about her future career, or much else. But she was determined she wasn’t going to think about that until she had to. No point in making herself miserable and ruining this trip.

Soon, Elle returned with two huge poles wrapped together by what looked like a net under her arm, clutching a bottle of tequila. After ditching the bottle she came to the pool and started to unravel the two poles.

‘Ciara grab this one and stick it in the hole at the other side. Gem, there should be a ball in that shed,’ Elle commanded.

Ciara did as asked, giving into Elle’s bossy streak because it made life so much easier and she knew Elle didn’t mean anything bad by it. That was who she was, and why her granddad was going to train her to be CEO of their family business. Elle wasn’t all designer and class, she had authority and command too.

The net that stretched across the middle of the pool reminded her of 90210 volleyball games on the beach. She’d never played and didn’t expect to be very good since she had as much coordination as a faulty compass. Maybe the tequila was the prize rather than the punishment.

Gem returned from the shed with a massive, blown up ball which made her relax a little. Hitting something that huge should be easy, even for her.

‘Okay, tequila volleyball,’ Elle said. She’d found a whistle somewhere and blew it once, then put the string it was on around her neck. ‘One on one, you can only hit the ball with your fists and no bouncing off the water or the sides. If it hits the surface, you lose a point.’

‘First to five?’ Gem asked, sliding back into the pool.

‘Yes, and I play the winner,’ Elle announced.

‘What does the winner get?’ she asked, hoping it was a shot of the tequila.

Elle smiled. ‘Bragging rights. The looser of each point gets a shot of this.’ She held up the bottle.

Half an hour of losing and she’d be legless.

Elle blew the whistle, one sharp, shrill sound. ‘Go!’

Gem threw the ball in the air and wacked it with her fist. Ciara tried to run forward but the resistance in the water made it feel like she was wading through sludge. Determined she wasn’t going to lose, she dove forward, hands clenched together and hit the ball as hard as she could before she face planted into the pool.

She righted herself in time to see Gem fall back into the water and watch the ball hit home on the other side of the net. She laughed, relieved not to be the first to hit the shots.

Elle took the bottle over as Gem coughed up water. ‘Open up and swallow as you go.’

‘You said one shot, not half the bottle,’ Gem protested.

Elle pulled an expression that on anyone else could be mistaken for innocent but on her looked too suspicious. ‘A shot is all you’re getting, honest.’

‘Give me the bottle then.’ Gem wasn’t fooled.

‘My game, my rules. The ref gets to hold the bottle.’

Ciara giggled quietly, knowing there was no way Gem was going to win.

‘Open up,’ Elle said, tipping the open bottle above Gem’s head.

‘Elle, give me the bloody thing. You’ll drown me in tequila.’

Blue, puppy dog eyes no man could resist followed. ‘Don’t you trust me?’

‘No one who knows you does, Elly.’

The voice did not belong to any of them and the girls all whirled around.

A man walked into the garden – a very tall, very hot and sweaty man with nothing on but trainers and a pair of shorts. Dark eyes, hair and a slight day old growth on his jaw that made Ciara feel dizzy wondering how it would feel against her face, her neck, her…

And how could she miss those abs? Better definition than the polo players at uni, no contest, and those little dips disappearing under his shorts at each side made her finger tips itch to reach out and touch…

For the second time that day she was imitating a fly catcher.

Elle stormed across the terracotta tiles to get in the man’s face. ‘Don’t you dare think you’re staying here! Granddad said we could have this place for a few days.’

The hottie didn’t shrivel away from the heat of Elle’s fury like anyone else would have, but his frown and the way his jaw hardened made her wonder if he had a temper of his own.

‘I’m not going anywhere except for a shower.’ He shoved by her and headed for the house.

Ciara had never seen Elle’s temples throb like they were about to burst before, but she guessed there was a first thing for everything. Elle took off after him, shouting ‘Pack up and get out, I mean it!’

Ciara made her way to the edge of the pool, about to go after them but Gem grabbed her arm.

‘Don’t, seriously. You don’t want to end up in the middle of a fight between them.’

‘Who is he?’ Elle had never mentioned a brother. Maybe an ex?

Gem’s eyes got that gooey way they did when she nattered on about Aidan Price, superstar actor extraordinaire. ‘He’s Zack Muir, Elle’s hotter, older cousin.’

Ciara didn’t want to look at why that made her relax a smidgen. After all, he didn’t spare her a second glance and even if he had, she wouldn’t do anything with him. Tempting as it might be. She wasn’t a stayer, just like her ma. She got bored too easily.

Sighing, she thought about the way he looked drenched in sweat with all that delicious muscle on display and reckoned it would take a long, long time before she got bored of someone like him.

The voices upstairs were too muffled to make out the words the Muirs were throwing at each other – Elle’s voice was high pitched, ringing through the patio doors while Zack’s rough and sexy tone didn’t carry. Maybe Elle was giving him a monologue stream of abuse.

‘Back to the game, sans tequila?’ Ciara asked.

Gem glanced up at the French doors lining the upper floor of the mansion. The sound of a door slamming shut was followed by a shriek.

‘Good idea. The splashing might drown out the crazy,’ Gem said.

It didn’t take long for Elle to come back, but it did take a while for her to lose her temper. They made another jug of iced margaritas. By the way Elle sucked down half the jug, she was either cooling down or heating up for round two. It was better for everyone if they could calm Elle down before she went catatonic, and since Gem seemed more interested in drying off with a magazine in hand it looked like it was up to her.

‘Elle, this house is huge. We can all squeeze in fine.’ And have rooms and rooms to spare.

Elle slipped off her Ray Bans again, no doubt to avoid reverse panda-eye. ‘That’s not the point. I just don’t want him to ruin LA for us with his moping. We have houses all over, why did he come here?’

He was moping? Ciara wanted to ask what had happened but this was about cheering Elle up, not grilling her about her gorgeous, mopey cousin. ‘He’s not going to ruin anything. We’re just cranky and jet lagged. A good long sleep and a cuppa in the morning and we’ll tackle Rodeo Drive.’

That earned her a grin and she thanked the stars the worst seemed over for now.

‘You’re right, we’ll just carry on like he isn’t here. He spends all his bloody time running and working out anyway. I don’t know why our granddad even keeps him on the books.’

Ciara nodded. She could pretend he wasn’t there if it meant there’d be no more screaming matches.

‘We have more important things to worry about,’ Gem chimed in. ‘Like what we’re wearing to Aiden’s premiere.’

Taking a sip of the cocktail was much, much safer than laughing at the way Gem spoke about the Hollywood star like she knew him – sometimes like she was dating him. And that’s all it took for Elle and Gem to have a marathon chat about what cut of gown they were going to keep an eye out for tomorrow, argue about the pros of Gucci against Marc Jacobs and Ciara decided it was time to clear out and heft her suitcase up god knew how many stairs before she was too shattered.

‘Which one will I take?’ she asked Elle.

‘Any. Most are the same and no doubt that shit has taken the master suite,’ Elle said with a scowl.

Ciara cleared out of the way before her friend erupted again.

As she roamed through the mini-mansion, suitcase in toe, she tried not to feel crappy about the dress she’d picked up in River Island for the premiere. She’d love to get glammed up and drip with designer gear and accessories but that wasn’t going to happen with the limited savings she had for the trip – the flights alone had ripped off a huge chunk.

But she was in LA, on the first part of her journey before she had to go home and face the fact she had no job, a lot of university debt, and no clue what she wanted to do with her life. In the grand scheme of things, worrying about a high street dress was ridiculous. She shoved everything from her mind and focused on the tasks at hand.

One, pull a possibly vital muscle by dragging her hundred pound suitcase up the stairs – what had she packed in it again? Cement? She didn’t want to imagine how flushed her pale skin was after, or whether her face looked like she’d pressed it into a puddle – especially since the hottie she wasn’t supposed to be thinking about was in the house somewhere.

Two, find a room that didn’t look like it had been taken by the gorgeous, sweaty hunk she shouldn’t wonder about. This was trickier. Every door she opened looked the same. Pale décor, silky looking sheets instead of a duvet, and mini balconies facing down the hill, showcasing the city below. Surreal.

There wasn’t so much as a rickety floor board in the house so when she heard someone clear their throat behind her she about jumped out of her flip flops. Turning, she prayed again that her face didn’t look like she’d sputtered her way round the London Marathon five minutes before.

‘Can I help you?’ Zack Muir asked.

Thank goodness he was fully dressed this time. She didn’t think she’d be able to force words out if he was still sweaty and half naked.

‘I don’t know what– what’s up here.’ Keeping her mouth shut and staring at him like an eejit would have been better than what came out. Instead of Maths she should have studied English. Or taken a course in how to behave around gorgeous men she couldn’t have.

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘What’s what?’

‘You know, which room’s taken? Elle said you have the master suite.’

Great, now her palms were as sticky as her face. So much for everything the girls had taught her about flirting. She was sweating buckets and getting tongue tied over a man who looked at her like he thought she was about to clear out with all his cash.

Zack closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘That’s Elly all over. She shoots her mouth off without checking the facts. They’re all empty. I’m in my room down stairs. Take your pick.’

‘Okay, thanks.’ Ciara turned before she said something that would paint her cheeks scarlet, caught her toe beneath the cement filled case and took a not-so-graceful nosedive into the floor, cursing like a trucker all the way.

Luckily she caught herself before she cracked her skull but she’d never live the shame of this one down. With her bikini covered bum – hopefully cellulite free – in the air and Zack now on his knees at her side, she’d be quite happy to have knocked herself a good one so she didn’t have to face him.

‘Shit, are you okay?’ he asked, pulling her off the floor so she was kneeling behind the case, not sprawled across it. At her nod, he smiled. ‘I didn’t understand half of what you said but I’m guessing it was pretty creative.’

Her face burned, adding more humiliation to this scenario. ‘I’m glad you didn’t, it wasn’t very polite. Sorry.’

Zack didn’t seem appalled, thank god. He pulled her to her feet.

‘So where in Ireland did you grow up?’ he asked.

A quick glance at the bikini top to make sure the triangles were still in place – check – and she felt a tiny bit better. ‘Blessington. Not too far from Dublin.’

‘I’ve never been, but keep meaning to. The accent is adorable.’

There goes the flame again, heating her face all the way to her scalp. ‘It’s a great city.’

Time to move away from him before she tripped up and fell through one of the windows or something worse. Pulling up the case, she turned to go but Zack lifted the whole thing off the floor like it didn’t weigh more than she did.

He lifted an eyebrow. ‘Compared to Elle and her mum, you definitely travel light.’

‘Thanks,’ Ciara said, not sure what else to stay.

Following him down the corridor she tried her best to keep her eyes level with his shoulders. But they were wide and strong looking, and this really wasn’t going to help keep her mind off him like she’d promised she would.

At the end of the corridor next to yet another set of stairs, he opened the door and led her in. This suite didn’t look the same as the others. It had too much space, a walk in wardrobe she’d never be able to fill with all the clothes she’d owned from birth to now and what looked like a massive ensuite.

This had to be the master bedroom, and since Zack had lain her suitcase on a bed big enough to sleep ten people, she guessed he was giving it to her.

‘I can’t take this,’ she protested.

‘Why not? Elle thinks I’m here anyway.’ He headed for the door but she blocked the way.

‘I’d rather not fight with Elle. I’ll just take another.’

He grinned and his eyes glowed, honey-like and melting. ‘Relax, Ireland. My cousin’s bark is worse than her bite.’

‘Ciara, not Ireland and I’m not coming into my friend’s house and taking the best room from her.’ If he wanted to fight with Elle he could go right ahead but she wasn’t being piggy in the middle.

She grabbed the case, pulled it off the bed and narrowly avoided crushing her toe.

‘Give me that,’ he said, not as friendly as he’d seemed before. ‘Go pick a room before my poor arms break.’

She reckoned it would take a lot more than her luggage to bend those biceps but didn’t point that out. She found a room quickly and let him place the case on a more reasonably sized bed.

Before he left, he said, ‘Enjoy LA, Ireland. And don’t let Elle bully you.’

Her eyes narrowed at the empty doorway for a second but she couldn’t stay annoyed for long. She kind of liked that he’d given her a nickname.

And she decided to take the first part of his advice. These were her last eight weeks without worries so she was going to make the most of it if it killed her.

Chapter Two

Gem let out a low, star struck squee. ‘Don’t look now, but Shakira’s behind you!’

Ciara turned anyway, pretending to dig something out of her bag and saw the same thing Gem did. A woman with a mass of gorgeous blonde hair ordering a smoothie at the outdoor café they’d taken a break at. And there was no mistaking who it was – those hips didn’t lie.

‘I love LA,’ Elle said. ‘There’s pretty and celebrity everywhere.’

There definitely was. Elle and Gem had dragged her around the designer shops all afternoon and they’d spotted movie stars, an opera singer and the host of a reality TV show. But the high was mixed with anxiety when Elle got an outfit that probably cost more than her house back home and Gem’s wasn’t far off. Part of her wished her friends hadn’t scored tickets to the premiere later, but when would she ever get the chance to go to something this amazing again?

‘You know, you can get a new outfit too, Ciara,’ Gem said, waving her father’s plastic Amex around. It was as tempting as the double fudge and raspberry sundae they wouldn’t let her order (they had dresses to squeeze into later, after all). ‘I don’t have a limit.’

‘I told you, I don’t want to spend your money,’ she insisted, again.

They didn’t understand, since technically neither had paid their bills ever. One of the only things that frustrated her about her friends was that they hadn’t a clue how much money was worth – and how hard it was for the normal people in the world to get it.

They didn’t get how tempting it was to ditch her morals and let them get her the prettiest dress, shoes, handbag and jewels in all of LA, either.

But they got the important stuff. The first night she met them she was studying in the library at uni and it had hit her hard that she was really alone. At school she’d always gone home to her da and been able to tell him about her day but all bets were off in England. That’s when Gem and Elle had found her.

She’d escaped to a quiet corner in the library when the waterworks started. They’d cheered her up, comforted her and made her feel like she had other people in her life who cared. People she could rely on.

They’d grown so close over the years they even knew her worst fears and insecurities – mainly that she’d end up like her ma.

But, more importantly, they knew how much she hated charity.

‘Okay, so if you don’t want to hit our plastic, but you’re miserable about having nothing—’

‘I’m not miserable and I do have something,’ she said, cutting Elle off.

‘That’s why you’ve been all smiles since we left Gucci?’ Gem asked.

‘Is this pick on Ciara day?’ She wasn’t budging, or spending enough to buy her da a house for one party. It was madness. Wasn’t it?

Elle relaxed back into her chair with a calculating gleam that kept Ciara sharp, despite her wavering. After sipping on her ice tea, Elle said, ‘Okay, so you rent. You can afford that, surely.’

‘Rent?’ she asked.

Gem clapped her hands. ‘Yes! Why didn’t I think of that?’

‘Because I’m trained to see every angle and you’re trained to see whatever’s in front of you,’ Elle suggested.

Before a fight erupted about business management verses biological science, Ciara jumped in quickly, ‘How do I do that?’

‘Exactly how Shakira does it!’ Gem said too loudly. Ciara hoped the woman was out of earshot. ‘You don’t think they really buy all those red carpet dresses to wear once, do you?’

Ciara did, and also thought it was a bit of a waste when you could do so much more with the money, but she didn’t say that to her friends either. They wouldn’t get it. She was just the poorest point in their triangle who always dressed plain and had such a thick accent when she got worked up that it was hard for anyone to understand her. But she was pretty and funny at times too, so the other girls had taken her under their wings, styled her hair and taught her about make-up and boys.

More than that though, they’d been there for her when she needed them. More than she could say for her ma who’d walked out on her without saying goodbye.

‘Which shops do that?’ she asked.

Elle slipped her Ray Bans off and leaned over the table. ‘We flash this, and we’re good to go anywhere.’

The little rectangle of plastic was black, no doubt limitless in its spending potential but she couldn’t take money from her friends. It was bad enough her da had worked fourteen hour days to send her to Oxford and she was done owing people she cared about.

‘Elle—’

‘Before you start, this is just to wave at the sales assistants so we have their undivided attention. You can give me back the dollars if it makes you feel better.’

It definitely did.

Elle hadn’t been kidding. The second she flashed the black credit card at the Louis Vuitton counter she had three sales assistants eager to give her anything she desired. Ciara had even wondered if they’d go out to get her lunch if she asked, but according to Gem and Elle they wouldn’t be eating anything after three in the afternoon so they could look slim and sexy tonight, and by the time they’d got to the shop it was closer to four.

And after she’d been brought a zillion dresses, stripped and dressed in the middle of the biggest dressing room she’d seen surrounded by her friends, sales people and far too many mirrors, they’d picked the perfect dress – or so Elle and Gem said. Personally, she liked it. It had a high neckline and focused more on the simple slit all the way up her thigh, almost to the right of her belly button. Knickers would be out, but the deep blue looked great with her dark blonde hair, which the sales assistants said had to be put up.

Gem agreed, planning the perfect style all the way home and now it was 6pm they had mere hours to get ready (which according to Elle, was not enough time). While her friends hectically showered, buffed, fake tanned and buffed again, Ciara snuck off to the kitchen to find something to ease the grumbling in her stomach. She didn’t care if she burst out the dress, she just wanted the starvation pains gone.

Jackpot. There was cheese, like honest to god full fat cheddar cheese and a loaf of British, thick cut bread. Heaven. Firing the grill up she hunted for a knife and got to work shredding thin slices of cheddar, hoping Gem and Elle didn’t catch her fatty carb on carb pig out.

When one side of the bread was nice and toasted, she flipped it over, layered on the cheese and slipped it back under the grill.

‘So you won’t steal a room but you’ll steal food?’

She whirled around, her hand over her heart to stop the thumping – like that would work. Ciara just hoped it was shock and a little bit fear rather than think Zack brought this reaction out in her.

Then something clicked. Elle had barely nibbled on a carrot stick since they’d arrived – there was no way she’d eat bread and cheese when they were hitting the beach in a few days. She dived for the tray, whipping it out before the lovely, orange stuff even managed to bubble.

‘This is yours, isn’t it? Sorry.’ She switched off the grill, thinking it was a bit late since she’d already wasted his food.

He sauntered over to the tray and poked at the cheese on top of the bread.

‘It doesn’t look done.’ Zack then switched on the grill and shoved it in. ‘You don’t have to apologise for being human. I’ll bet Elle has you all on a fast for your party tonight.’

Ciara smiled. He knew his cousin well. She wondered why Elle never talked about him. ‘I’m rubbish at diets. I like food too much.’

He nodded. ‘I can tell.’

‘Did you just call me fat?’ she asked, shocked that he wasn’t more polite. And she certainly was not.

Zack laughed and squeezed her hip. ‘No, you’ve got curves and that’s not a bad thing at all. Sexy, but not bad.’

Instead of fawning over the fact he found her sexy, sputtering incompetently because he’d touched her, she checked the grill to see the cheese starting to bubble. Her poor, empty stomach groaned at the delicious smell.

‘I was referring to your choice in snack. You’ve got good taste. But let me show you how to make it even better.’ He opened the cupboard door, pulled out some Worcester sauce and handed it to her.

‘I didn’t think you’d have this here!’ Ciara pulled the tray out, splatted a few drops on top and then shoved it back in. ‘Amazing.’

‘Enjoy it, and tonight,’ Zack said, then turned to leave.

‘Don’t you want a slice? It’s your food, after all.’ Her stomach growled out a protest at the threat of having to share, but she didn’t want him to go.

He grinned. Her heart started to race.

‘Sounds like you need it more. Oh, I almost forgot.’ Zack pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

Ciara opened it and her lips parted on a gasp. ‘Is this your number?’

‘I know how Elle can be. If things get too wild or out of hand tonight phone me and I’ll pick you all up.’

Oh, so it wasn’t just for her. He was worried about his cousin.

‘And Ciara?’

‘Yes,’ she answered, trying not to hope.

‘Your grilled cheese is burning.’

With more make-up, hairspray and designer clothes/accessories than she’d ever had, she made her way down stairs five minutes before the taxi was due. Elle wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but Gem was in the kitchen making short work of a glass of pinot grigio.

‘You’re going to be smashed before we get there,’ Ciara pointed out.

‘It’s for Dutch courage. C, you won’t mind if I can’t come on the rest of the trip, will you?’ Gem asked.

‘What’s happened?’ she asked, thinking about hugging her friend but not wanting to mess up the pretty, fire red ringlets or the dress that cost an arm and a leg.

‘Oh, nothing yet.’ Gem grinned. ‘But if Aiden asks me to stay I’ll have no choice.’

She refrained from rolling her eyes, but said with mock outrage, ‘What happened to chicks before dicks?’

‘Some dicks can’t be resisted.’

This time she did roll her eyes.

‘Not a conversation I want to hear.’ Zack. His deep voice made her shiver, and feel a bit more aware of her underwearless state.

‘Depends what kind of dick you want to be,’ Gem replied, smooth as silk.

Why couldn’t she be like that?

He laughed at Gem and reached over to ruffle her hair. It was the wrong thing to try on a girl who’d just spend three hours perfecting those ringlets. He was met with a scowl that put the shits in her, never mind poor Zack.

‘So you’re that kind of dick,’ Gem said, 100% serious.

Ciara wondered if she’d have to referee an argument, but Zack just laughed. ‘Gemma, you should take a leaf out of your pal Ireland’s book and chill out a bit. Looks aren’t everything.’

‘So earlier you called me fat and now you’re calling me ugly?’ Ciara demanded, stung by his comment.

‘Girls,’ he mumbled shaking his head. Then he came closer, put his hands on her shoulders and turned her all the way around, too slowly. ‘I like what it hides, better than what it shows.’

He winked at her, then turned back to Gem. ‘You better drag Elle away from the mirror or you’ll be here all night.’

With that he was gone. His clean cut, slightly expensive scent still lingered, making her feel a bit dizzy.

‘Should I go up for her?’ she asked, when Gem just stared.

‘Oh. My. God. Elle’s hot cousin is totally into you.’ Gem’s voice was just a whisper, but her cheeks flamed when she thought of him hearing.

‘Get real, Gem. He’s way out of my league.’ And then some. But there had been a little flirting, hadn’t there? He did say her curves were sexy, her accent was adorable then sort of complimented her tonight. She got a glass out the cupboard and poured a mouthful of wine to distract herself.

‘You didn’t see the way he checked out your arse. I swear. He’s probably away to relieve himself with that image ingrained into his retinas.’

Ciara wrinkled her nose, but really. The thought of Zack on his bed, all naked and pleasuring himself to visions of her arse wasn’t off putting at all.

‘Don’t give me that, you’d totally nail him.’ Gem just wasn’t going to quit.

‘I wouldn’t, actually. If he was a random guy we met in a bar, I’d probably go back to his place but Zack is Elle’s cousin.’

Gem poured another drink. ‘Cousin, not brother and anyway it shouldn’t matter. We’re here for another day. Why not spend the night with him? You might learn something.’

‘I know plenty,’ she protested, smiling. ‘But it feels… weird.’

‘What does?’ Elle asked.

They both turned and, though Ciara was used to being outshone by Elle’s elegant, snow princess beauty, this time she was stunned. The dress Elle picked hugged her all the way to mid-thigh, where it broke off into strappy things that had studs on the ends. She looked like she should be walking down the red carpet with the other stars of the show, not arriving five minutes early to be escorted in the side entrance.

‘Zack’s got the hots for Ciara, and she wants him too.’

She was going to kill Gem.

‘Eww,’ Elle said. ‘Zack’s disgusting.’

Since Elle then rushed them to the door, Ciara didn’t think there would be any repercussions for lusting after her cousin. And during the limo ride they sipped champagne, listened to Rita Ora, reassured Elle that leaving her phone at home because it was out of charge was not the same as being without her liver, and debated over which of the actors would show up stag (of course Gem knew Aiden would). There was no mention of Zack, no change in the way Elle spoke to her and Ciara decided to forget Gem’s slip up, friend’s cousins she shouldn’t be thinking about and enjoy the fuzzy effects of the bubbly.

‘How fun would it be to show up late and walk down the red carpet? I bet E! would dig our dresses.’ Elle sighed.

‘I think we should stick to the plan. I don’t want to spend the night in jail,’ Ciara said, more because the thought of being on the red carpet with all the attention and flashing lights filled her with icy dread.

Gem and Elle grinned at each other, no doubt finding it funny because she was the only one out of the three of them that couldn’t afford the bail fee. ‘I mean it. I don’t want to repeat Easter Break.’

They burst into giggles, no doubt remembering the donkeys they ‘borrowed’ in Brighton to get back to the hotel instead of walking the extra half mile to the taxi rank in high heels.

‘Easter break was tame compared to what I have planned this summer. Relax, Ciara. We’ve just finished university after studying for the best part of our lives. We’re due some fun before we start real life,’ Elle said, reassuringly.

Ciara didn’t disagree. If only she could just go with the flow and stop worrying about the future.

***

‘Wait for it,’ Gem said to Elle.

Ciara would bet the rest of her savings on this latest scheme falling flat on its face but Elle and Gem were too determined to move onto the after party to be talked round.

‘Okay, go.’

Gem and Elle linked arms with her and pushed their way through the crowds of superstars to the weakest link – a group of supporting actors with minor roles. They were young, their eyes gaped when they saw the three of them and Ciara tried to hold her face in an expression Elle had assured her was sexy.

‘You were amazing,’ Elle purred in the oldest guy’s ear – though he couldn’t have been older than 19, 20 at a push. ‘Much better than that Aiden what’s-his-face. Sexier too.’

‘You girls English?’ the low-grade actor said. ‘That’s hot.’

And that was Ciara’s cue to keep her mouth shut. She didn’t have that well-bread, smouldering, Lady of the Manor thing going. She nodded with Gem.

‘We are, and we wondered if you three wanted to join us for a drink? Maybe go to a club?’ Elle asked, just like they’d planned.

‘Can’t,’ the gangly, younger looking guy said. His face was clearly plastered in make-up, giving a baked bean effect. Better than showing off the red spots, but not by much. ‘We’re heading to the after party but you girls are welcome to come with.’

Looked like Ciara would have been down her last few grand. She should never underestimate the power of Elle throwing off sex kitten vibes. They were escorted to another, bigger limo with lots more champagne. She didn’t have to worry about speaking in front of them. The guys only cared what Elle had to say anyway, and Gem seemed more interested in necking the Crystal at record breaking speed.

Her mind drifted to Zack, wondering if he was out in the city picking up gorgeous girl after gorgeous girl, just like these three actors were out to do.

But her mind was soon distracted when they got to Nobu in West Hollywood where the party was hosted. It was flashy, the outside was surrounded by paps and everyone who was anyone in the spotlight was there. Suddenly she was supremely grateful for her designer getup, and even more grateful that Elle had thought of a way to get it.

Everyone at the party dripped in designer tags, cracking hairstyles and accessories that made her drool a little. Gem scanned the crowd the second the poor escorts had slipped drinks into their hands and she couldn’t help feel sorry for them. Elle had her eye on a rock star, but her face fell when she saw him grinding against a bleached blonde.

The boys fawned over her, oblivious to her disappointment but Ciara wasn’t. She took her hand and squeezed hard. Then the three young actors noticed her.

‘Hey, if you two are bi you up for a threesome?’ one of them asked.

‘What?’ Elle asked, her hurt being replaced by her fiery temper. ‘Who do you think you are, asking us that?’

‘Lady, we’re stars. We don’t have time for teasing sluts who won’t put out.’

Ciara had a flash of what would happen next, but she wasn’t quick enough to stop her friend. The contents of her champagne flute soared through the air, splatting the middle boy and dripping down his – was that colour really gold or shiny beige? – shirt.

His face turned red and she got the feeling Elle had only just started, so she grabbed her and pulled her into the crowd. Gem didn’t follow, but Ciara didn’t have time to worry about that. Gem was the more laidback of the two and could look after herself.

She got Elle into the bathroom and the other girl whirled on her. ‘Can you believe the nerve of that Z list loser!’

‘If he tells security we’ll be thrown out. Deep breaths, Elle. Come on.’

Elle squeezed her eyes shut and did as she was told – for once. ‘You’re right. We need to get out there and have fun. Who cares if some vagina starved tween gives us shit?’

Ciara released the breath she’d been holding. ‘Exactly.’

‘Let’s go have fun!’ Elle, seemingly having done a one-eighty, linked arms with her and dragged her to the bar.

Pink champagne this time, and lots of chat with a few starlets who were not so down with the drinking – you couldn’t be too careful with the press waiting outside to snap every slip-up. Ciara was glad that would never be something she had to worry about.

A while later, she scanned the swarm of people there. ‘I wonder where Gem’s gone?’

Elle laughed. ‘Find a hot actor and you’ll find her.’

She pointed across the room to where Gem was standing close to Aiden Price, chatting away and grinning. Gem might not be coming with them after all. But then she leaned forward in what felt like slow motion, grabbed Aiden by his shirt collar and dragged him down for a kiss. He stiffened for a second, then seemed to get into it, and Ciara just had enough time to sigh in relief, before Gem clearly decided to live up to her YOLO motto and took it a step too far.

She wrapped herself around the actor like he was her personal get-off toy, grinding against him, right there in the middle of the room. Heads whipped round to stare and gossip. What made it all worse, Aiden was pushing her away but he couldn’t extract himself from her hold.

Shit.

Two security guards managed to do what Aiden couldn’t and ripped Gem right off him. Ciara shared a WTF glance with Elle before they were both putting their stilettos to work, scampering after Gem who was being carted off by two huge, scary looking men in uniform.

When she spied an unattended magnum of Moet on a table, she shared a quick glance with Elle, swiped up the bottle and they both burst into giggles.

Chapter Three

‘He was so amazing,’ Gem said, swaying a little until she grabbed onto the bar of the cell.

Police cell. They’d only gone and gotten bloody arrested. Again!

Elle giggled. ‘So worth it then?’

‘Am I the only sane one here?’ Ciara asked.

The champagne buzz had quickly died when they’d tried to stop security from calling the cops – and holding a bottle of the restaurant’s Moet didn’t help convince the man she was an upstanding citizen. They’d been asked for their invitations, to which Elle had told them the actors had invited them but of course that just made matters worse as the guy she’d doused in champagne told security the ‘crazy British girls’ had attacked them.

Now they were all locked up for the night, until they ‘sobered up’ but Ciara was feeling far from giddy. Unlike her friends.

‘I’d kiss him again and again, even if it meant having to pee in front of my friends,’ Gem said, making her way to the stand alone loo in their cell.

‘Eww,’ Elle complained. ‘Can’t you wait till we get home? There are pervy looking cops in here.’

Gem ignored her and went on with her business. They stood in front of her to shield her modesty, though Gem was too far gone in an Aidan Price induced fantasy fuelled by too much bubbly to notice.

‘How are we going to get home, Elle? It’s not like we can grab a cab. We’ve been locked up!’ It felt silly to have to state the obvious, but really. One of them had to at least try and be a bit responsible.

Gem flushed, then had her second good idea for the day – just a pity she’d won the eejit award in between. ‘Call Zack. He’d bail us out.’

Elle said, ‘I don’t know the number by heart and my phone’s at home.’

‘I have his number,’ Ciara admitted and both of them turned to stare at her with wide eyes. She held up her hands. ‘I didn’t ask for it, he just scribbled it down in case we got into trouble.’

‘I’ll bet he did,’ Elle frowned. ‘But this does spell trouble, so bugger it. Let’s ask for our phone call.’

It took a lot of sweet talk to persuade the cops to let them get Zack’s number out of her bag, and then she was dialling with shaking fingers, not sure if she’d rather he was asleep already. This had to be one of those worst firsts she kept hearing about. How many people could say the first time they phoned their crush it was to ask for a bail out instead of a date?

When Zack answered, her hands started shaking.

‘Zack, it’s Ciara.’

‘Are you okay? Is Elle?’ he asked, sounding a little bit sleepy and a lot confused.

‘We’re all fine, sort of. Shit.’ How did she ask someone she barely knew to get them out of prison?

‘Ciara, what’s going on? You’re worrying me.’

Taking a deep breath, she blurted everything out, apologising every chance she got.

He listened all the way through her convoluted confession, never interrupting her and when she finished, there was a pause before he said, ‘Give me an hour.’

The line went dead. Her heart melted. He’d just dropped everything in the middle of the night to rescue them from this Hell hole.

But then she realised something worse. She was starting to feel things for Zack. Real honest to god warmth and then some.

She really was in trouble now.

Zack didn’t speak much in the car, but she supposed anyone would be fecked off at having to bail out three idiots in the early hours of the morning, then help two of the said idiots up to their rooms. Gem had long since passed out and Zack had to carry her up. Elle was dead on her feet but able to walk, so Ciara managed to get her into bed.

When her friend was tucked in, she tried to sneak along the corridor unseen but he was leaning against her room door with his arms folded and what looked like a frown marring his pretty face in the dim light. Shit, why couldn’t Elle be awake for this? She’d never wimp out of an argument with anyone.

‘I’m sorry we woke you,’ she said. It was the best she could think of.

He sighed. ‘When those two were little I took so much shit for them that our granddad threatened to send me to boarding school. I thought that would end when they grew up.’

‘We thought it would be fun to gatecrash a celeb party,’ she defended

‘And you all got carried away?’ he asked, his expression too cynical.

She scowled at him. ‘Something like that.’

Zack lifted an eyebrow. ‘So stealing a bottle from the restaurant, assaulting an actor and pouring a drink over another was all in the name of fun?’

She gritted her teeth and sucked in a breath. It didn’t help with the irritation bubbling beneath their skin. ‘Exactly.’

There was no way she was going to apologise for getting carried away. Nobu, Aiden and the Z listers were not going to press charges so really, there was no harm done.

‘I only came because you were in trouble, Ciara. A night in the cells would be a good reality check for them. Although now I think that might be the case for you too.’

She didn’t know whether to be outraged or insanely pleased that he cared enough to rescue her.

Zack didn’t allow her time to think. He came close, far too close until her chest was flush against his. ‘But I’m glad I didn’t leave you there.’

Her breath caught in her throat and the attraction she’d felt today seemed magnified in the hall. They were alone, or as good as. He smelled spicy, delicious and a lot like he’d been in bed for hours and hours. The buzz that thrummed between them had the same kind of affect as the champagne had on Gem earlier with Aidan Price, and she wanted to wrap her arms around Zack and use him for her own pleasure.

She had to tilt her head to keep eye contact. Even with just the moonlight from the massive windows at either end of the hall, she could see him and he was too gorgeous. And, mad as it might be, she was just pleased that he’d helped them out for her.

‘Are you going to kiss me now?’ she asked.

Maybe it was the intense look in his eyes drawing out delicious anticipation, or maybe the champagne had blasted her patience and inhibitions, but she couldn’t hold the question in. Or regret asking him.

‘Do you never wait for a man to make the first move?’ he asked, stroking her cheek with his finger.

Little jolts zapped from his touch, all the way under her skin and shivered down to her belly. She wanted more. She needed more.

And why couldn’t she have more? She’d spent so long worrying about this trip, what happened after, her future. She’d already missed out on having fun. And she’d miss out on having him if she let it continue.

No more.

‘Life’s too short.’ And she was only here two more nights. Whatever the reason for not asking him sooner had fled her mind, if there ever was one. Right now it was just him and her, about to kiss – she was sure.

‘Some things are worth taking your time over.’

His breath swept her face, warm, tickly and far too teasing. His finger outlined her lips, making her breath hitch a little and her stomach flip.

‘Maybe,’ she whispered in the darkness. ‘But not things with a time limit.’

Instead of waiting, she pushed high on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. Zack didn’t pull away or admonish her for the assault. He pulled her flush against him, taking control of the kiss until her blood hummed and her knees got a little bendy.

He opened the door, dragging her into her room and still not taking those taunting lips off hers. When she parted her lips his tongue breached her mouth and she did the same to him, eager to taste. And it still wasn’t enough.

Ciara wanted to feel that defined body against hers, without the silky dress or his cotton shirt in the way. But the only problem was she didn’t want to stop kissing him either. He was definitely a hottie and lacked the washing machine technique she’d been treated to more than once by the guys from uni.

With the two warring urges – getting him naked and refusing to stop kissing him for a second – strong, she fisted her hands in his hair, ground her hips into his erection and let out a frustrated groan.

Zack made the decision for her, pulling away with a smouldering grin. ‘We need to get naked for the rest to work.’

Ciara went straight for his belt, ignoring his chuckle. He whipped the shirt off then helped her shove his jeans down, pausing to remove a foil package from his pocket. She grabbed his dick, thrilling at the thickness of it and growing more and more impatient to have it inside her. He groaned, the sound vibrating through her right to the spot between her thighs that ached for him.

He must have been impatient too, because he whipped her dress over her head, forcing her to let go of him. But that was better. Now they were naked and she raked her hands all over his torso, feeling every line of muscle beneath the tanned skin and wanting more and more.

Zack kissed her again. She barely heard the tear as he suited up for round one of many, or so she hoped. When she was sure he was ready, she dragged him back onto the bed, aligning her hips to give him easy entry and he took the offer.

This wasn’t slow and delicate or short and furious either. They fucked their way to the top of the bed, got twisted up against the headboard but that didn’t stop either of them. So many new sensations flooded through her that she wondered if she’d been slipped something at the party or maybe it was just Zack.

By the time her second orgasm built and exploded, he followed her over the edge with a few jerks that had her head hanging off the side of the bed.

He kissed down her throat, making her shiver with mini aftershocks and relighting the heat in her lower belly.

‘I know one more thing about you,’ he said.

She jerked up, instantly on the defence. ‘What, that I’m a slut?’

He laughed, kissing her frown. ‘No, definitely not that. I was going to say impatient.’

All the blood had rushed to her head anyway, so the blush came swift. She was getting paranoia around this man. ‘Waiting isn’t one of my best qualities.’

She didn’t think she’d ever get used to his smile. It was so far from mopey that she wondered if Elle had been exaggerating.

‘Round two we’re doing my way,’ he insisted.

Since the mad rush to rip off his clothes and have him any which way had ebbed, she could allow him that. ‘Deal.’

***

It took her a while the next day for all the details of the night before to come back. She remembered the movie, then the party and shit, they’d been bloody arrested! She sat up so fast she swayed a little. When the room stopped tilting, she looked down at herself. Her very, very naked self.

Fuckity fuck.

The rest of the night, and the early hours, came back in a startlingly erotic and overly sensory flash, making her blush. What had she been thinking? Jumping into bed with Elle’s cousin was like a normal, more put together person jumping into bed with her best friend’s brother. She couldn’t start anything with him, she’d never been able to hold down a boyfriend before and her ma was exactly the same.

The saving grace was that Zack wasn’t here. He obviously wasn’t making a big deal out of it – just a night of fun with one of his cousin’s friends. The relief lasted about five seconds before the slice of pain to kick in. Despite knowing last night shouldn’t have happened, she was pissed off that he could just drop her like a cheap hooker.

Gem could add him to another dick list – the fuck ’em and leave ’em one.

Ciara got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. She braved glancing in the mirror. It wasn’t pretty. Her make-up was a streaky, dried sweaty mess and her hair would be better suited to a scarecrow. No wonder he’d left!

By the time she looked more human and was ready to go to the kitchen in search of coffee, the smell of steamy, ground bean goodness registered before Zack did. He brought in a tray topped with two cups of black and a little jug of cream and sugar. She couldn’t be bothered dressing it up, instead took a huge gulp and ignored the burn in her mouth/throat.

‘I doubt the others will surface for a while,’ he said, with an undertone that hinted at more mind blowing funny business.

Though happy he’d come back, and with coffee, she worried he might think there was more to last night than just… God, even she’d read into more. What was it about him that screwed with her head? She didn’t even know him!

‘Zack, about last night…’

His grin was just like it had been last night, or this morning, when she’d told him she didn’t scream ever during sex and he’d proved her wrong by going down on her for almost an hour until she felt raw and exposed and the orgasm was so intense she couldn’t not scream.

Ruthlessly, she pushed the memory away and pressed on, refusing to be distracted by the thrum in her blood that insisted she take him up on his offer. Right Now. ‘I’m not looking for a relationship, or to get involved with someone I know. I’m not a stayer.’

He just stared at her with amusement glittering in his eyes. That wasn’t the least bit insulting, she thought wryly.

‘So what I’m trying to say was that last night was a mistake. I’m sorry.’

‘You really believe that, don’t you?’ he asked, placing the tray down then putting her coffee on it. ‘You really think that last night was a one off.’

He grabbed her hips, pulling her closer and her heart took off full speed. ‘It was. It has to be.’ She tried to reply firmly.

His lips brushed her ear and she shivered. ‘You’re wrong. Last night wasn’t a mistake, and this isn’t over – it’s just on hold until you realise that.’

She was about to protest but he kissed her first and she was gone as thoroughly as she had been the night before.

He pulled away, far too soon. ‘When you figure it out, you have my number.’

Ciara watched him walk away, trying to fight with her body’s urge to chase him, her urge to chase him. She stumbled to the hall, but he was already out of sight. Before she could take off after him, Gem’s door opened.

Her friend looked scarier than she had. ‘Want to come in here? I have coffee.’

‘Gimme,’ Gem said, crossing the hall with her arms stretched out like a zombie.

She was thankful for the distraction and time she’d have to give herself a good mental talking to.

***

They spent their last full day at the pool topping up their tan, going over what the hell happened last night with Gem and eventually laughing a little about their run in with the law. It was so the Easter holidays all over again, except this time their lucky escape came quicker.

Though she knew being with Zack had bad idea written all over it, she couldn’t get him out of her head. When Gem asked what he was doing there anyway, her ears perked up waiting for Elle to answer.

‘Far as I know, he wants to do some freelance work as well as working on the company properties but I don’t know why he came here. It’s not like the buildings are his style. He prefers older, run down places with renovation potential,’ she said with a shrug.

‘Eh?’ Gem asked.

‘Oh, he went back to university to study architecture a few years ago. Zack doesn’t have what it takes to run the business.’ Elle laughed.

Ciara wanted to defend him, which was ridiculous. It had nothing to do with her, she had no clue why he’d switched to architecture – or whether he would have made a good CEO. She had no clue about him at all.

Except that he could reduce her to a screaming, begging, hussy who couldn’t get enough. But she doubted that little bit of info would be much of a defence for his business skills.

Then Zack appeared at the edge of the garden. He must have been jogging because he was shirtless and sweaty again. She had no idea where he got the energy but was sort of glad he had it, otherwise last night wouldn’t have been half as fun.

‘How are the heads today?’ he asked.

Elle answered, ‘Fine, darling cousin. Now run along.’

‘Thank you for last night,’ Gem said earnestly. ‘That was my fault completely.’

Zack grinned at her. ‘So I heard.’

Wasn’t he even going to acknowledge her? She tried not to show how miffed she was and picked up a magazine.

‘Any plans tonight?’ he asked, glancing in her direction and she made a point of lifting the magazine higher. ‘I’m not on call again, am I?’

‘No, Zack. You can run off and do what you like. We’re having dinner later then an early night. Our flight leaves first thing,’ Elle said.

‘Probably best you have a boring night. I think you’ve had enough excitement to last you a while,’ he quipped.

She ground her teeth and tried hard to ignore him. It was so obvious he was having a dig at her.

‘We’re saving our energy for Miami, right girls,’ Elle said.

We nodded.

‘And you’re not invited, by the way,’ she continued.

‘Since LA’s a bit further than an hour drive to Miami’s local police station, you better be careful,’ he said, then took off for the house. ‘Have fun.’

Elle rolled her eyes. ‘He’s so annoying, but he does have a point. We’ll need to dial down the crazy in Miami. There will be no one to bail us out.’

Gem and Elle kept talking but Ciara didn’t hear a word. She was too busy telling herself that one night with Zack was all she was allowed.

It was for the best.

Even she wasn’t convinced.

Miami

Chapter Four

It didn’t take Ciara long to figure out why Elle had starved herself for days. On the way from Miami International Airport to yet another of the Muirs’ properties, she was treated to more styles of bikini than she’d ever seen.

And the women who wore them were thin and toned enough to be models.

The guys, on the other hand, were mostly huge, muscled up and tanned to the point she couldn’t tell what nationality they were. But they were very pretty to look at.

‘Tomorrow we’re hitting the beach,’ Gem said, her gaze glued to a group of guys that reminded Ciara of the rugby players back home, only less rough and more buff. ‘I’ve got rebounding to do.’

Ciara bit her lip to stop the giggle waiting to burst out. Elle wasn’t as subtle and her laugh had Gem whipping her head around.

‘What’s so funny?’ Gem demanded.

Elle pulled it together. ‘Come on, Gem. Hollywood megastar Aiden Price was never yours so you can’t rebound.’

Gem lifted her chin. ‘Rejection still hurts and what better way to get over him than with one of those guys.’

Elle smiled. ‘I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. I think a few nights with a guy like that would be fun. What do you think, Ciara?’

They both turned to her with scrutinising eyes. Her face flamed. She knew she should say yes, why not, let’s go grab one or something like that. But the words refused to come. Images of Zack flooded her mind instead. He wasn’t as ripped as those men on the beach, but he had definition that made her drool and she could still feel his skin under her finger tips just from remembering their night in LA.

‘I think she’d prefer someone a little darker haired. Maybe a man who likes to strip his shirt off and get all sweaty while pushing those thick, muscly thighs to the limit,’ Gem said with a sly grin.

The blood in Ciara’s cheeks burned so hot she was sure it would evaporate.

‘Who? Zack?’ Elle said, her mouth gaping. ‘Aw Ciara he’s… ewww.’

He was anything but, though she wasn’t about to tell his cousin just how hot and amazing in bed he was.

‘To you, maybe,’ Gem said. ‘But we don’t share his blood – thank God. We can perv all we like.’

Elle sighed. ‘You two have no taste.’

Actually, he was the most delicious thing Ciara had ever tasted. Again, not something she wanted to share with Elle. Despite what Zack said, their night together was a mistake – okay not quite. She’d wanted him more than she’d wanted anything and didn’t regret taking it. But it was definitely a one-time thing. There was no way she could start something with Zack when she couldn’t guarantee she’d be able to stick around, and with her track record and her ma’s, the odds weren’t good.

And to make sure she wouldn’t be tempted for a second round, she left his number in her room back in LA.

‘We’re here,’ Elle said as the taxi pulled into the grounds of a massive beach condo with its own private pool.

She thought that after the shock of the previous mini-White House at the bottom of Hollywood Hill she’d be used to luxury by now, or at least learn to stop gaping. But Elle’s granddad’s beach house was like something out of the movies. One wall was completely glass and she could see right inside to the open plan kitchen and lounge area.

Outside, there were padded sun loungers galore, an Olympic sized swimming pool and a sitting area with rustic style chimneas dotted all over. This was definitely a house for pool parties that went on to the early hours. She wondered if she’d get any sleep at all before they left for Europe.

‘Come on girls, I want to start getting ready for tonight. Miami here we come!’ Elle said, climbing out of the taxi at record speed.

Ciara wondered if she should warn someone before Elle got loose.

Their pub crawl – or bar bounce or whatever Gem called it – took them to hot, sweaty places full to the brim of surfers. Ciara was gutted when she didn’t get to hear at least one ‘cowabunga dude’ but stereotyping surfers on her favourite mutant turtle was probably way off.

Or maybe the assortment of cocktails they’d picked up in each bar was going to her head.

It wasn’t all bad. In the one bar they’d found with air conditioning, Elle had fluttered her eyelashes and gotten them table service, which meant they didn’t have to brave the crowds of perspiration to get a drink.

When the young bartender brought them the next round, he handed Elle a sheet. ‘For you, angel.’

Ciara grinned. ‘You seem to be attracting a lot of tweens on this holiday.’

‘Shut up!’ Elle said. ‘Anyway it’s not his number.’

‘Lemme see.’ Gem grabbed the piece of laminated paper. The excited glint in her eyes had Ciara on edge.

‘We’re so entering!’ Gem said.

‘My thoughts exactly,’ Elle agreed.

Oh no, what had they planned this time. ‘Entering what?’

Gem slapped the sheet down in front of Ciara.

Her first reaction was to laugh. They couldn’t be serious, a drinking game? They’d get ploughed by the regulars. But then she saw the grand prize being offered to the group still standing. A limited edition Gucci beach bag – masterfully structured, the most beautiful thing she’d seen with baby pink leather. And it was practical too. But that meant…

‘We’re entering,’ Elle said. ‘I want that bag.’

Ciara quickly scanned the rules. Everyone in the group entering had to buy a massive – and it really was massive – jug of either mojito or Caipirinha. The first table to finish and still be standing would get the bag – and possibly alcohol poisoning.

‘I’ll get a mix and we can share,’ Gem said, leaping off her chair.

‘Wait,’ Ciara grabbed her arm. ‘Have you two lost it completely?’

‘Dear Ciara,’ Elle said on a sigh. ‘Gucci is calling. And anyway, we’re newly ex students and we have an Irish girl on our side. This will be a walk in the park!’

‘Or a trip to the emergency room to have our stomachs pumped,’ she argued.

Gem shook free. ‘Don’t be silly. Plus the rest of the group gets a $1,000 gift card to spend in the Aventura Mall. Even you can’t say no to that! If we win, you get to keep the voucher and Elle and I can share the bag. Deal?’

Ciara bit her lip. Bloomingdales was in that mall. The most expensive thing she’d owned had come from a high street store back home. And her friends were right, she could hold her booze. But they’d been on the cocktails for a while now and a glance around at all the new people walking in, looking fresh and ready to go, didn’t help convince her this was a good idea.

‘You’re not allowed to think about this,’ Elle said. ‘Gem, go enter us before Ciara comes up with an excuse to get out of it.’

Her friend’s azure eyes were steely now, and Ciara knew there was no point in arguing. Elle pulled out her phone, tapped the screen a few times and then handed it to her. It was a list of all the lovely, lovely shops in the mall, with the lovely, lovely clothes just waiting for her to pick them.

It wasn’t like she’d be able to afford something that wasn’t on sale without the voucher. If they won this competition, she could spend and spend and spend without the guilt. Which is exactly what Elle had been thinking, handing her the worst kind of temptation.

‘Fine, I’m in. But if I end up with liver failure I’m holding you responsible,’ she said.

Chapter Five

‘Right guys, you know the rules. Drink up as fast as you can and the first group back to the bar with their empty pitchers wins,’ the bartender said.

The crowed rumbled their excitement, while Ciara stood over the tallest, fattest jug she’d ever seen. The colours were pretty, and she hoped the limes diluted some of the rum, but the sheer size of the thing scared her.

Almost everyone had to stand up to get to the straws.

The queue for the bathroom was going to be tremendous after this. If she even made it that far. Which was very unlikely.

Gem and Elle didn’t look as put off as she was. Elle’s refusal to quit had got her far in uni, but this was something else entirely. Gem no doubt had her eyes on the prize, and she did love winning.

Maybe that would work. Keeping focused on the prize.

‘Quick, before we start we need something to remember this by!’ Elle pulled out her phone again and set it up for a picture. ‘Stand behind the glasses and strike a pose. Come on, Ciara. Smile.’

The phone flashed, making her eyes go all spotty for a second.

‘Get me, Gem!’ she handed over the phone and Gem snapped another.

‘I’m Instagraming these. Go Team Elle!’

Ciara rolled her eyes while Gem’s narrowed. Trust Elle to take over.

‘Ready, set, go!’ the bartender boomed.

Ciara did, putting the straw to her mouth and trying a steady suction while breathing through her nose. She doubted anyone could keep guzzling the freezing drinks all the way to the bottom and reckoned her strategy had a 6:2 chance of winning – considering she could handle however many units of alcohol it was packed with.

Gem had taken the guzzle approach, stopping to gasp occasionally and then get stuck back in.

Elle was keeping it steady too, but at a faster pace than Ciara. In fact, she was way behind when she glanced around the room.

She sucked up mouthful upon mouthful, trying to catch up then a searing pain stabbed behind her right eye. ‘Ow, brain freeze.’

‘I’ll knock your brain into next week if you don’t hurry up. Drink through it!’ Elle commanded.

Ciara forced herself to keep going, but the stabbing in her temple didn’t ease up. Someone retched and she looked over to see a ripped guy with bleach blond hair sucking in lung fulls of air, no doubt to stop from being sick. He didn’t succeed and she shut her eyes so his gut load of cocktail making a reappearance didn’t encourage hers to.

‘Done,’ Gem slurred, then giggled. ‘Oh dear, I’m drunk.’

Ciara felt like the floor was swaying beneath her feet and she opened her eyes before the dizzy, sick feeling kicked in. She was neck and neck with Elle and they didn’t have much to go.

‘Quick, just pick it up. It’s not heavy now,’ Gem said.

Elle did, but Ciara’s jug didn’t seem to shift much off the table.

‘Come on, Ciara. Think of those vouchers.’ Gem grabbed the bottom, then helped her tip it up.

After a deep breath, she chugged the remainder of the glass as fast as she could, not caring about the unladylike affects that would no doubt follow. Not caring about much at all anymore as a warm, giddy feeling soared through her.

She finished up within seconds of Elle and they shared a grin.

‘That shit’s finished too,’ Elle said, pointing to another table.

He was, and the women he was with were finishing up as they watched. ‘Don’t we have to get these jugs to the bar?’

The other group noticed they weren’t alone in their victory and picked up the jugs.

‘Run!’ Elle said.

They did, kind of. Staggered would be a more apt description. But the other group didn’t seem unsteady on their feet at all as they rounded tables.

Ciara bumped into a girl who hadn’t finished yet and managed a convoluted apology while she got back her balance.

‘Move it!’ Elle screamed.

Ciara scampered to catch up. They reached out with the jugs, ready to throw them on the bar. The bartender’s eyes were wide and he shuffled back to the wall of spirits as they approached.

Team Persistent were neck and neck with them now, and since the girls were fast Ciara knew they were going to lose.

‘That bag’s mine lady. Back off,’ Elle said to the other group.

‘In your dreams,’ she replied.

Ciara slammed her jug down on the bar, and a loud smash splintered her ears. She blinked at her glass – still fully intact. Both Gem and Elle were beside her, with their jugs on the bar too, without so much as a scratch but her friends were looking behind her with their mouths gaping.

Ciara spun around and staggered a little. A woman from the other group had dropped the jug. Glass was scattered all over the wooden floor, shining like little diamonds in the light. At least the woman wasn’t hurt, but by the way her eyes narrowed she wasn’t happy.

‘So, guess you bitches won by default,’ the woman said.

Gem laughed. ‘It’s not our fault you’ve got butter fingers.’

‘I’d say the best bitches won,’ Elle added.

Ciara squeezed her eyes shut, but changed her mind the second the room started spinning.

‘Come on girls, time to go.’ She had visions of getting into a cat fight there was no way she’d win. Especially now the alcohol seemed to be doing its job.

‘After our victory pic,’ Elle slurred, pulling the phone out of her pocket and pulling them close. Ciara didn’t see the flash and dreaded how she looked in the picture but before she could ask to see it Elle had already launched it into social media land.

‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ Gem said.

‘Fresh air will help,’ Ciara hoped.

They collected their prizes and Elle took the bag since she didn’t want Gem throwing up on it. Somehow the air only increased the horrible, dizzy feeling and Ciara wished she’d ignored Elle’s advice to starve herself earlier. She was definitely getting something more substantial than a salad when she got back.

***

‘I don’t even care that I’m tempted to be sick in it, this was so worth it,’ Elle said, hugging the new bag to her chest.

Ciara ignored her, pulling her body through the massive pool. Gem was on the patio near Elle, perfecting her morning yoga routine.

She’d already done twenty lengths before breakfast, but not to burn off all the calories from her mammoth cocktail. This was so not about keeping fit.

Last night after they’d gotten back, she’d raided the fridge and found it lacking so had ordered a pizza. The others had gone to bed, saying they were not eating that many carbs when they had a beach day coming up.

While she’d stuffed her face, her mind had gone back to LA, her first night with Zack and something had happened that she never thought possible. She’d gone and completely lost her sanity.

She’d pretended he was there with her, sharing the pizza and was telling her about himself. He’d told her he wanted to study architecture because he was passionate about sculpture and that he worked out because it took his mind off everything.

And worse, she’d started talking to herself in reply to the imaginary questions!

Though she knew her conversation with him was an alcohol induced fantasy, she hoped to find some truth in it so she tried tearing through the pool doing as many laps as possible. It was helping a little. The burn in her muscles and the rolling feeling in her stomach were stealing most of her concentration.

‘You know, Ciara if you hadn’t stuffed yourself with pizza last night you wouldn’t need to make that horrible splashing sound just now,’ Gem said.

‘It is a bit too loud for my fuzzy head,’ Elle agreed.

When she reached the end of the pool, she climbed out. Giving up was much better than being moaned at and they weren’t the only ones who felt a bit light headed. ‘I’m bored waiting for you two to decide it’s time to hit the beach, that’s all.’

‘Holidays are meant for relaxing, not always being on the go. We’ll have lots of time for partying tonight,’ Elle said.

That’s not what she’d meant. They were in Miami, somewhere she’d never been and probably never would again. She wanted to explore every inch of the city, not just the shops, bars and clubs. All this sitting around was going to drive her even more insane.

Her expression must show how unimpressed she was by partying because Gem said, ‘Grab a magazine and get some sun, Ciara. We’ll leave soon, promise.’

She gave in, crossing to one of the sun loungers in the shade and lay face down, leaving the magazines on the table. If they were planning a party tonight she really should get some sleep first.

***

It took an hour for Elle and Gem to find the perfect spot and unpack. They were now lying on loungers close enough to the sea to catch the breeze but not too far from the refreshment stands so they wouldn’t have far to hike for an iced tea. Elle had flirted with a guy so he would move the loungers away from the masses of tourists for them.

Then they unpacked the sun lotions, the mini fold up table so nothing got all sandy and a few windbreakers for privacy more than protection from the wind. Ciara didn’t care about any of that stuff, not with a view like the one they had. The ocean was beautifully blue and so clear she could see the golden sand beneath. People were windsurfing and there were even speedboats and jet skis cruising across the expanse of the water.

She wondered how much it would cost to have a go, but then what fun would it be by herself? Elle and Gem were settled back and ready for a serious bronzing session. She slipped off her flip flops. There was no way she was coming all the way here and not having at least a paddle in the ocean. Unlike Gem and Elle, she wasn’t worried about her bikini being wrecked in the salt water – it had only cost a twentieth of the price of theirs.

‘I’m going for a dip,’ she said.

Gem rolled her eyes. ‘Just watching you is all the exercise I need.’

‘I like to keep busy,’ she said.

Elle laughed. ‘What are you going to do now you don’t have all that studying? Even in Brighton over Easter you didn’t relax one bit. All you did was cram and cram and cram. It’s good to clear your mind and chill out sometimes.’

‘Until we got arrested,’ Gem corrected.

Ciara shook her head. She’d never even had a telling off from her teachers until she’d met Gem and Elle. Now she had a trip to jail on her record, both sides of the Atlantic.

Ciara headed straight for the ocean.

‘I’ll have lots of time to chill out when I’m old,’ she said over her shoulder, not willing to share that keeping busy was her way of avoiding thinking too much about what she would do when this holiday was over.

She was exactly like her ma. She got bored too easily and couldn’t imagine a career that would hold her attention. Maths and statistics had been a challenge and she liked it because almost everything could be calculated or worked out by formulas.

People were different, beyond the chemistry that made them up. There were all different emotions and behaviours she couldn’t understand – her ma leaving was at the top of the list. Because even though she had her mother’s attention span, she couldn’t bring herself to leave her da alone forever. She’d go back to Ireland and keep close because he was all she had and he’d never given up on her. He’d worked himself half to death to send her to university, and she owed him more than she could ever repay.

But the rest of it – the job, a potential husband and kids? She couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t leave them someday. She hadn’t spoken to her mum since and so she’d never know what triggered the behaviour – in Ciara’s mind it just wouldn’t be fair to lead someone along for years, start a life with them and then just walk away without a word. Like mother like daughter.

It wasn’t something she’d want to do, but without knowing the catalyst for her mother’s decision, how could she be sure?

As she reached the water with her mood lower than it had been in a while, Ciara pushed the thoughts away and decided a walk along the edge of the sea would take her mind off everything. After all, Miami really was beautiful. It would be a shame to not see as much as she could.

***

An hour later she returned with achy legs and Gem made a trip to the refreshment stands to get them all iced drinks. She sipped at her iced tea, wishing Gem had fulfilled her request of a ‘sweet’ one but she was too thirsty to care.

Elle perked up when a trio of guys started throwing what looked like a brown rugby ball not far from them.

‘There’s a good place to start rebounding, Gem,’ Elle said.

Gem slipped her sunglasses down her nose. ‘You’re not wrong. I don’t usually go for blonds but with those muscles I could make an exception.’

Ciara could definitely appreciate the muscles as they kept throwing the ball, harder each time until they got closer.

‘And look, poor things are trying to be subtle about picking us up,’ Elle grinned. ‘Should we show them how it’s done, girls?’

‘I’m in,’ Gem said, jumping up. ‘What angle are we working?’

‘Hmm, English girls wanting to learn the American way to play rugby.’ Elle suggested.

Ciara laughed. ‘American football is brutal, Elle. I don’t think it will be your thing.’

‘We’re not actually going to play. But I wouldn’t mind one of them holding me from behind and showing me how to throw the thing.’

‘Me either,’ Gem added.

‘So what you’re really saying is you’re using the excuse of throwing a ball for foreplay?’ Ciara asked, still stumped that after all these years she had a lot to learn when it came to this stuff. She’d dated a little and hooked up with guys at uni but they’d been more about relieving exam stress than anything serious. And it hadn’t taken much to stumble across a man willing to have sex with her. The only thing was they’d never understood why she didn’t want more than that. Elle and Gem never had that hassle as far as she knew.

‘Exactly,’ Elle said, then ditched her Ray Bans on the table. ‘Come on!’

Brandon, Matt and Rye were very helpful when it came to teaching them how to throw a ball, but her coach was a little too touchy feely for her liking. After all, they’d only just bloody met!

‘And you stand like this,’ Matt said, pulling her hips back into his groin so her bum got a feel of exactly what his long shorts were hiding.

The only thing that stopped her from being completely mortified was that he wasn’t fully erect, but she was sure after all the touching to manoeuvre her that he was well on his way.

Elle had dropped the act of wanting to learn and had unleashed her inner flirt. Brandon was falling hook, line and sinker and he was putty in her friend’s expertly manicured fingers. Gem hadn’t wasted any time either, and had perched on Rye’s lap on the sand, already giving him a game of tonsil tennis.

‘Just open your legs a bit more, Ciara,’ Matt urged.

She certainly was not! Pulling away, she turned to him, trying to keep her irritation from showing. She wasn’t about to dry hump him on the bloody beach. But then she couldn’t be too mad at him for assuming she was easy, since she suspected Gem was well on her way to getting Rye past semi-hard.

‘I don’t think I’m getting it,’ she admitted.

‘Me either,’ Elle said. ‘You know, we’re staying on the beach not far from here. Why don’t we go back there, get cleaned up and have a few drinks by the pool?’

Everyone seemed to be into that idea, especially Gem and Rye who looked like they wanted to rip each other’s clothes off right there and get down and dirty in the sand.

They made it back much faster than they’d taken this morning – having three strong men to muscle around their things was the only good thing about inviting them back to the house.

Elle had a shower first, so it was up to her to entertain Brandon and Matt – Gem was doing a good job of entertaining Rye in the pool.

Brandon was nice, asking lots of questions about their experience at university and even asking what Elle’s favourite food was. Ciara was sure he was going to at least ask her on a date before he dragged her into bed.

Matt was a different story. He kept interrupting, telling her he was going to be a model and that he’d just had a portfolio made of all his best shots, but now he’d gotten better definition in his abs and biceps (both of which he insisted she touched), he needed to save for more.

‘Really, that’s grand,’ she answered, but might as well have been talking to herself.

Brandon’s smile was apologetic.

Elle appeared a little while later and Ciara decided it was time to leave Elle with the superficial pain in the arse. But he caught her arm.

‘How about I come let you wash my back?’ Matt asked.

How about you let go of my wrist before I have to chew through my elbow to escape? ‘Maybe another time.’

‘Later, for sure babe.’ His eyes smouldered and it so wasn’t sexy.

Not like Zack’s that night. Not even a little.

She took her time getting showered and dressed, even applying make-up but not to attract Matt, just to kill time. She was sure he was too hot for himself to notice – she was probably just another girl to fuck for his pleasure.

By the time she’d grabbed a bottle of beer and returned to the poolside, they were all at the dining table and she stopped the cringe from showing on her face. The only seat left was next to the pretty boy she was hoping had gone off to find some other girl to satisfy his needs.

No such luck.

‘Hey Keera, I’ve saved you a seat,’ Matt said.

She gritted her teeth and sat down. ‘Ciara, not Keera.’

‘Huh. Well, here’s to an awesome night,’ he said, clinking his beer bottle with hers and winking.

It was going to be anything but.

When Gem disappeared for a shower, she wasn’t alone. Rye followed her still sporting the tent in his shorts that must be becoming painful now. Elle noticed and grabbed the remote and switched the music on inside the house to drown out anything they didn’t need to hear.

Brandon was still being really nice, asking everything about Elle and letting her prattle on and on about her life. He seemed more and more into her as the day went on.

On the flip side, Matt told Ciara everything about his. Everything. Even without her asking. And she had to zone out after a while, forcing a smile and nodding between gulps of beer.

Rye returned alone, looking flushed with his hair still damp and a self-satisfied smile on his face. She looked for Gem, but she wasn’t far behind, grinning wider than she’d done in a while. She didn’t use the other chair, just slipped straight onto Rye’s lap.

At least someone was having fun.

Matt took her hand off the table and held it in two of his. ‘You don’t seem into this.’

He sounded surprised. She had to bite her lip before she asked if he was kidding. Instead she shrugged. ‘It’s been a long day.’

He moved closer until she could smell the beer on his breath. Eww. ‘It could be a long night too, if you want.’

She leaned back and tried to remove her hand from his clasp but it was useless. ‘Let’s take it as it comes.’

She heard the metal gate slam shut, even over the sound of the music blasting out the glass sliding doors and turned around. Zack stood just inside the garden with a holdall slung over his shoulder, scowling at her and Matt. Everyone turned to look and she used Matt’s distraction to free herself.

The music cut off and Elle shouted, ‘What are you doing here, Zack?’

Elle’s eyes were blue fire, but Ciara was having a different reaction. A more visceral one. Her heart took off full speed and she struggled to get breath into her lungs. He was mad, that was easy to see. But even beneath the crazy attraction she felt just seeing him, she couldn’t find guilt. Yet.

‘Let’s do this inside, Elle,’ Zack said, storming past her to the house.

Elle’s pulse beat at her temples, then she stormed in after him and shut the glass door so hard it vibrated.

‘We should have brought popcorn,’ Gem said, then giggled.

The guys looked confused, but the glass was soundproof so they couldn’t hear Elle shrieking at Zack like she had back in LA. They could see her face turn red though, and could see Zack pull something up on his phone and show it to her as he shouted right back.

Oh God, the photos Elle had taken. She’d forgotten to check them. No doubt they were awful.

‘Who’s this clown?’ Matt asked.

If a lump the size of a golf ball hadn’t formed in her throat, she’d have treated him to a number of insults that would be sure to put a chip in his continental ego.

Gem was more polite. ‘Elle’s cousin. This is their family’s condo.’

Just then Elle came out of the house, sliding the door shut in Zack’s frown. ‘Sorry, my cousin is staying here too. How about we go out for dinner and a few drinks?’

Both Gem and Elle had changed into sun dresses while she’d chucked on a pair of shorts and a vest. ‘Let me put something else on.’

‘You look okay, babe,’ Matt said.

She didn’t take his stellar compliment well. Not now Zack thought she really was a slut, jumping from his bed straight into the arms of pretty boy. ‘I’ll feel better if I wear something else.’

‘Well hurry up. I need to get away from him,’ Elle said.

Ciara jogged across the terrace and slid the door open. She couldn’t see Zack anywhere and didn’t know whether she was disappointed by that. Probably better she didn’t have to face him now, after what he’d seen outside.

She darted into her room, pulled a baby pink summer dress off the hanger and slipped on a pair of gemmed flip flops. Her hair had gone wavy after letting it dry naturally earlier which made her look like a hippy but there was no time to do anything with it. Elle would come in and drag her out if she wasted time with straightening irons.

Poking her head out of the door she saw the hall was clear, so made for the exit. Her flip flops slapped against the marble tiles and she cussed the Muirs for their expensive tastes. What happened to a good old fitted carpet?

Zack was waiting for her in the kitchen, his arms folded across a chest she remembered with too much detail. ‘So you’re bedding that poser tonight?’

The anger that swiftly burned through her wasn’t at the insult to Matt, it was the fact he thought she was easy. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but no. We just met.’

It was the wrong thing to say. She’d jumped into bed with Zack not long after they’d met too. Talk about leaving herself open to insults!

Zack smiled, then crossed the room. He tilted her chin and the anger evaporated under his touch. It was like his fingers sent little currents into her skin, sweeping down to tremble in her belly.

‘Maybe it isn’t my business.’ He slid both hands up the side of her face and into her hair. Her eyes rolled back as he massaged her scalp. ‘I promise you this, Ireland. If you stay with me I’ll make sure you have a hundred times more fun than you would with him. I’ll even show you what I can do with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and my tongue.’

How could a girl refuse an offer like that? Why would she even consider refusing? She was lost in his eyes, his slightly spicy aftershave and the way he was touching her made her whole body tingle.

‘Ciara hurry up!’ Elle shouted from the garden. ‘The taxi’s here.’

Her friend’s voice snapped her back to her senses and she pulled away with a boat load of regret. Zack’s jaw ground hard and she whispered an apology before she bolted to the door. He was too much temptation and the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt her friend’s family by leading him on. It was better he was disappointed now than years down the line when it was too late.

Chapter Six

At Elle’s suggestion, they hit a bar on the beach so she could top up her tan. Ciara lost hope that dinner was on the cards the second Gem and Elle said they weren’t very hungry and more cocktails were served.

She was too busy remembering the way Zack looked when she left to care too much about what Matt was saying, but tried to at least look like she was paying attention. He took a swig of a creamy looking cocktail that left a white moustache on his smooth upper lip.

Smiling, she picked up the napkin and wiped it off imagining his horror at looking anything other than perfect.

‘So does this mean you’re back with me?’ he asked.

Maybe he wasn’t completely self-involved and had noticed her lack of interest. She forced a polite smile. ‘Sorry.’

‘No problem, babe. I know how you can make it up to me.’

His wicked grin was the only warning she got before her mouth was assaulted by his. Matt wasn’t gentle about his seduction – or patient. His tongue filled her mouth before she had a chance to slap him away for his assumption.

She shoved his chest hard, till he had to grab the table for support. ‘Are you mad? What made you think I wanted to kiss you?’

Elle and Gem were gaping at her but she was too miffed to care. Matt had crossed the line. She hadn’t given him a hint that she wanted him. In fact, she’d been ignoring him all night!

‘Well you’re friends seem happy having a holiday fling, I figured you would too,’ he said with a shrug.

‘A fling?’ she said through her teeth, but then the anger ebbed. A fling. Of course! Why hadn’t she thought of that?

‘Cia, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of fun once in a while,’ Gem added. ‘You’re young, you’re single. Why not?’

Elle smiled and nodded. Brandon frowned at Elle. Hmm, he didn’t look happy about just being a fling.

Would Zack be happy? It would be the perfect solution to all that temptation.

Something fun for both of them with a time limit to stop things spiralling out of control. They were leaving for Europe soon, why not enjoy a few days with someone she actually wanted. Ciara picked up her sex on the beach and downed half before she turned to Matt.

‘You’re gorgeous and I bet you can have any woman in here you want. But you’re not for me, I’m sorry.’

Gem smirked. ‘The man for you probably has a private investigator following us and making sure we don’t get into any trouble.’

‘Define trouble,’ Rye said, squeezing her closer – if that were possible.

‘Ugh, Ciara. Really?’ Elle asked.

Her cheeks flamed and she nodded.

Elle sighed. ‘Well, Matt. Looks like we’ll have to find you some company.’

Matt didn’t seem too put out by Ciara’s rejection. Then it clicked and she blinked. Had Elle really given her the ‘all clear’ to go seduce her cousin?

Gem giggled and since Ciara couldn’t see Rye’s hands, she didn’t ask why. ‘Have fun, C. Don’t wait up for us.’

‘Have a good night guys.’

‘We will,’ they said, giggling.

***

The taxi journey took forever during rush hour but the jitters in her stomach made it feel like no time at all. She hadn’t even planned what she was going to say when the car pulled up at the condo and she was handing the driver a note, telling him to keep the change.

Her legs were unsteady as she made her way up the path to the pool. She wondered if he was still there since the place was tidy and all traces of their afternoon beers were cleaned up. But when she slid the doors open the sound of a familiar English band filled her ears. She hadn’t pegged Zack as an Arctic Monkeys fan, though she didn’t really know much about him did she?

Maybe she shouldn’t. Weren’t flings supposed to be on a need to know basis? She wished she’d asked Gem and Elle.

She wandered through the house. The lounge, kitchen, gym and every bedroom she walked past were empty. Then she stopped outside a closed door and reached for the handle.

The thought of finding him with someone else had her snatching her hand back like the thing was on fire. This was a really, really bad idea. The cocktail she’d drained before she left the bar was weaker than the one Gem had bought her last night and she could use some courage about now.

Then the door opened. Zack stood there in nothing but a towel and a few drops of water around his shoulders from his still wet hair. His eyes widened for a second, then narrowed suspiciously. ‘What’s up, Ireland?’

He had to raise his voice over the music, but that made him sound angrier than before.

‘Can we talk?’ When he just frowned, she tried a little begging. ‘Please?’

He came out of the room, nodding for her to go ahead of him and when they reached the kitchen he picked the remote off the breakfast bar, switched off the music and then took a seat. ‘You wanted to talk?’

She stood at the opposite side, fidgeting with a loose gem on her purse.

‘Is your offer still open?’ she asked, unable to meet his eyes.

‘That depends,’ he said and she couldn’t keep her gaze off him any longer. He was back to folding his arms. ‘Who was that poser you were with?’

She told him everything in a rush, the football game, the way he was too into himself and how he bored her to tears, then came the hard bit. ‘He suggested something that I never thought of, actually. He thought I was looking for a … holiday fling.’

‘And you weren’t?’ Zack asked, still not relaxing his rigid pose.

Time for brutal honesty. ‘No. Not with him, anyway.’

He put his elbows on the table, leaning forward with a slight grin. She relaxed a bit now that he had. Had he’d been jealous of Matt?

‘With me?’ he asked.

Nerves made her mouth go a million miles a minute. ‘Well, I said what happened in LA was a mistake and it wasn’t, not really because I wanted it but I was scared I’d get in too deep and end up hurting you and you’re my best friend’s cousin and she’d hate me forever but I never thought of a fling, you know, something with a time limit so now I thought I’d see if it’s something you wanted.’

He surprised her by laughing. ‘I barely understood that, you know.’

Her cheeks burned.

‘But I got the gist. So, you want a short term thing with a time limit?’

Ciara nodded. ‘We’re leaving for Paris in a few days which isn’t as easy to get to as Miami.’ Then she blurted out a question without thinking. ‘Why are you here?’

His jaw set. ‘I saw the pictures Elle put up on Instagram. You looked smashed, Ciara. I was worried you would all get into trouble again.’

She squeezed her eyes shut and hid her face with her hands. ‘Oh god, I knew they’d be bad.’

He was in front of her then, pulling her hands away. His grin just made her face get hotter. ‘Hey, everyone has been smashed at some point in their lives. Don’t worry about it. Anyway, I can see you got home unharmed.’

‘We’re big girls you know. We can look after ourselves,’ she insisted, using irritation to hide the mortification.

‘Definitely grown up,’ he agreed, placing his hands on her hips and sliding them up to rest just below her breasts. She trembled, wishing the cotton dress wasn’t in the way. ‘But not big, not at all.’

She smiled, remembering when she thought he called her fat.

‘And I’d like to be with you while you’re here. I have a condition though,’ he said.

Frowning, she asked, ‘What condition?’

‘If I only have you for a few days, then I want all the perks of a fling.’

She agreed straight away, happy for them to start having all those perks right now.

***

‘Some perk,’ she grumbled as Zack muscled a moped out of the massive garage.

She assumed he’d drag her straight to his bedroom since he was half naked already, but as soon as she’d agreed he’d kissed her nose, told her to wait there and then returned from his room fully dressed, saying he was taking her out.

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