Sinfully Summer by Aimee Duffy Page B

feet away. He winked one sparkling blue eye and grinned, obviously remembering the brief glimpse he’d had of her running down the hall. Alexa fought the urge to groan. He walked over, his golden hair shining in the sun. Sarah nudged her elbow and mouthed hot . Alexa agreed, though he didn’t have the same appeal as Ric. But maybe a little flirting would take her mind, and hormones, off the infuriating Enrique Castillo.
    Shouldering his way through the tightly knit dancers in Beaches, Ric decided he hated the bar. Two hands had already squeezed his backside and he was sure the owners weren’t female. He searched the crowd, but couldn’t spot the messy brown bob anywhere. Giving up for the moment, he headed towards the bar in the centre, cursing when he felt more sand had found its way into his shoes. Whoever had the bright idea to put a business in the middle of a beach was an imbecile.
    As he neared, he caught sight of Alexa. Her back was turned to him, but he knew after Thursday night he’d be able to pick that curved bottom out of a line up. Today, it was barely covered in a hot-pink mini-dress. He picked up pace, but as he neared a man put his hand on that bottom and she turned to laugh at something he’d said.
    Ric recognised him immediately. A snake who took innocent woman to his bed then ran so fast he left a trail of dust in his wake.
    The prickly feeling began in his scalp and spread down over his body, resting uncomfortably in his gut. It wasn’t anger, not yet. When he got closer and saw Daniel Jenkins charm smiles from Alexa, his heart raced.
    ‘Having fun?’ he asked dryly.
    Alexa spun around on the stool to face him, and wobbled. Daniel wrapped a hand around her waist to support her. The prickly feeling in his stomach heated and spread through his veins. He glared at Daniel, but the other man didn’t flinch or release her.
    The last time Ric had seen him, he’d just checked out of his suite with the rock star, leaving two broken hearted girls in their room for Ric’s staff to deal with. And now he was with Alexa. Ric gritted his teeth.
    ‘Yes, actually.’ Alexa grinned at him and held out her cocktail. ‘Fancy a drink, Ric? This is a Long, Comfortable Screw.’ Her voice was almost a purr.
    The fire shot right down to his groin. Ric took the glass from her. ‘I think you’ve had enough.’
    Daniel straightened, but he wasn’t as tall as Ric. ‘Alexa’s fine here with me. I’ll make sure she gets back to the hotel safely,’ the snake smirked.
    Ric turned to glare at the man who still hadn’t released Alexa. His temper flared, but he tried to compress it. ‘Leave us a moment.’
    Daniel only tightened his grip on Alexa. She sighed theatrically. ‘It’s okay,’ she told her escort.
    Daniel released her and left. Ric waited until he was out of earshot. ‘You were supposed to join me tonight, but I can’t take you anywhere in this state.’
    Alexa opened her mouth in protest, but he pinched her lips together with his thumb and forefinger. ‘A ‘get stuffed’ email isn’t a mature way to tell me you won’t be attending this evening. I thought we were going to try and get along.’
    This close, he could feel the heat pounding out of her body. Smell the spicy, yet floral scent that had driven him mad when they’d first met, again in his office, and Friday on the boat. Feel the damn attraction throbbing in his groin. He released her lips.
    ‘Oops.’ She giggled, not looking sorry at all. Ric wondered how many of the cocktails she’d had.
    ‘Alexa—’
    ‘She’s doing it.’ Alexa’s mouth popped open as she looked passed him into the crowd.
    He turned, frustration welling up inside him and caught sight of her blonde friend. The woman had her lips attached to a man dressed impeccably in a tight t-shirt and well-fitted jeans. The man was so clearly gay with his purple and blonde hair, but that hadn’t stopped the woman. If she was anything like Alexa, the guy never stood a