“Wait, you’re joining us at the beach?” Cassidy stared at Selina, jaw agape.
“Calm your tits, Cass. I’m just changing up the reading environment a little bit,” Selina said, already regretting the decision. She shifted her stance in her black bikini, turquoise towel slung over her shoulder. All she could smell was coconut from the suntan lotion she’d slathered on, but the extra effort would be worth finishing her book by the rolling tides.
Aubrey Moore had absolutely zero to do with the decision.
Steph and her boyfriend Zane emerged from their shared room, ready to roll. “You’re kidding me,” Steph said, pulling back her wild ginger mane into a ponytail. “We don’t have to drag you out kicking and screaming?”
“I mean, if you all continue acting so shocked and appalled, then maybe.” Selina tugged at the tote on her shoulder, ignoring the prickle of her skin at their scrutiny. She loathed crowds, but if she could find some space to carve out on her own, the swarm wouldn’t be so bad. Maybe she needed to put herself out there a little more and start engaging the women she found attractive rather than keeping them at a distance. Better than letting Aubrey Moore infiltrate her thoughts, since the one-night-stand queen had no interest in hanging up the title.
“Let’s get going then, before you change your mind,” Cass teased, grabbing a floppy hat and her tote bag before she made her way to the door. Selina strode after her, ducking through the doorframe to set out into the seaside breezes and sunshine. Her heart pounded in anticipation of viewing the beach in the daytime after last night. She’d taken her first steps into the water in a long while then, but today she preferred to sit back and watch those waves lap to shore from afar.
Steph and Zane lingered behind them, still in the thrall of moony eyes and murmured conversations since they’d just made it official a few months ago. Selina kept her gaze straight ahead as she trekked down the asphalt in flip-flops that barely saved her feet from the sizzling heat. She’d been friends with Steph ever since she moved to the area, and while she couldn’t be happier for her, she also couldn’t help the scorpion sting of jealousy that followed either. After the abysmal way her last relationship ended a year ago, she’d been avoiding the dating scene like the TELA virus.
Finding Katerina in their bed with another woman had just about broken her.
Selina sealed her lips. She wouldn’t waste her mileage on frivolous dates until she was ready, and she wouldn’t go after anyone who posted no strings attached on their Tinder profile. Whenever she tended bar at Renegades, she stacked up so many numbers that she could create her own phone book. She didn’t bother calling them anymore. She’d learned her lesson.
The moment they hit Rehoboth Beach, her nose wrinkled in distaste. The sheer amount of people was nauseating. The sea was barely visible at all. Not like last night when the immense mass spanned out before them with few folks crowding the beach. The shore at night contained a tinge of melancholy, but walking along it with Aubrey had made it memorable, like they’d been isolated from the chaos.
Cass swept past her, tote bag brushing against Selina’s arm. “I see some folks we know. Let’s see if they’ll let us steal some space.”
“How do people find this enjoyable, again?” Selina asked, wishing she’d stayed back at the rental. She could easily spend a week basking in the sea breezes, soaking in the sunshine, and blowing through book after book by her lonesome.
Steph flicked her in the side, detaching from Zane for a moment. “Because it’s the warmest part of the day, which makes it the best time to dip into the ocean.”
“Which means little when you want to bask and read,” Selina commented dryly as she hid a shudder. None of her friends knew about her phobia because she didn’t prefer to shout it to the streets. Cass led them past a sea of red and blue coolers, multicolored towels, beach umbrellas, and screaming children who’d gotten sand in their eyes. About midway through the crowd, Cass began to wave. Selina adjusted her sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, trying to follow Cass’s gaze to see who they headed toward.
Not like she could spot much of anything with the mess of people far taller than her blocking the way. Hell, even some of the umbrellas had her beat.
“Hey, guys,” Cass called out. “Mind if we steal some space?”
“Come join us,” a voice sounded in return, familiar and low. Selina glanced up to see Sky Jenkins standing there in board shorts and a tank top, her arm curled around her girlfriend Mia’s waist. Selina’s stomach sank. Of course, if Sky and Mia were here, that meant….
Her gaze skated around the area, but she didn’t spot Aubrey, just their friend Kyle splayed out on a towel in a navy-blue one-piece. Selina didn’t know if she should be relieved or disappointed. Chances were Aubrey was wandering through the crowds of women, flashing a smile, crooking a finger, and leading them back to her rental.
Selina brought her towel out and settled next to Kyle. “You seem to have the right idea here.”
Kyle glanced up at her. “Feel free to join me,” she said. “I’m not one for bodysurfing, picking up women, or any of the things Aubs seems to be hurling herself into right now.”
Selina pointedly ignored the mention of Aubrey’s name as she settled onto the towel beside Kyle, lying on her stomach. She’d tucked her Kindle into the small tote she’d dragged at her side.
“I’m not into any of those things either,” Selina said, enjoying how Kyle ducked her head. The woman seemed sweet—far too sweet for someone like her, but exactly the sort of person who didn’t ruffle her feathers. Unlike the womanizer they both knew.
“Yeah, but you at least have game with the ladies.” Kyle scrubbed her hair. “I’ve seen you flash flirty grins at Renegades before. My attempt at a seductive smile makes it look like I’m having a stroke.”
Selina snorted and placed her Kindle on the towel in front of her. “Here, why don’t you try practicing with me? I can give you an honest appraisal, free of charge.”
Kyle’s eyes creased, and her lips turned up in an adorable grin. “Thanks, though I’m already feeling embarrassed.”
“That,” Selina said, pointing to Kyle’s face. “Girlie, I can pull off seductive because I’ve got a permanent case of RBF. When you’re trying to woo other women, you’ve got to lead with yourself and what’s natural. And for you? That sweet, shy smile will draw the women in throngs.”
Kyle’s cheeks lit up in a furious blush, and she buried her face into the towel in front of her. “Thank you, Selina.”
Her lips quirked. If only she felt those stirrings for someone gentle and cute like this. Kyle didn’t seem the sort to juggle with hearts and break them. She glanced toward the ocean in front of them, the foamy crests glittering as they crashed onto the shore. A figure swam further out, and as one of the big waves swelled, they rode along with the crest. A moment later they washed up on the shore, and Selina realized who it was.
Of course Aubrey would be out hurling herself into waves, like the monstrous things wouldn’t drag her out to the deep. The woman seemed to live for danger and excitement, for diving into the next momentary thrill. She was the exact sort of trouble Selina needed to avoid. When Aubrey rose to her feet, the sun gleamed over her tanned skin, causing it to glow bronze. Strands of her wet ponytail were plastered on her shoulders and the side of her neck. The high-neck black bikini she wore revealed those strong, corded thighs, muscular arms, and defined, bitable abs.
Aubrey’s gaze swung in their direction, and Selina’s heart stuttered. Fuck.
So, Aubrey was gorgeous. Selina knew that and had still managed to avoid her advances for years. She needed to bury herself in a book and look away from the charming woman fast approaching them. Based on the glint in her eyes, Aubrey would be heading her way to irritate her as usual. Selina loved and loathed the attention, mostly because that same attention would swing elsewhere the moment an easy lay threw herself tits-first at Aubrey.
She popped open her Kindle and stared at the words on the screen, none of them registering. In her peripheral, she could see Aubrey’s slow approach. She walked with smooth, liquid strides up the shore as she headed toward them.
“What are you reading?” Kyle’s voice sliced through her thoughts, a welcome distraction. Behind them, Cass lounged in the small beach chair she’d brought, sitting alongside Mia and Sky, who climbed all over each other. Zane and Steph had already headed toward the ocean for a dip.
“A cute romance about dueling bakers in the same town,” Selina volunteered. No one expected her to read romance—at least based on the skeptical expressions she received every time she mentioned her book preferences, but she loved the depth of the emotions and the warmth that emanated off the pages, sinking into all the lonely cracks in her life.
Kyle grinned. “That sounds like a blast. I’m regretting not bringing a book, though chances are I won’t last much longer. I burn too fast to do the whole-day beach thing like the rest of these ladies.”
“I may sneak off too,” Selina murmured, trying to ignore the fast-approaching presence who radiated like a nuclear reactor. “I might enjoy basking in the sun for a bit, but I’m not huge on all these crowds.”
Kyle’s nose wrinkled, emphasizing her freckles. “I bet you’re not loving the main sprawl of town then.”
Selina shrugged. “I enjoy quieter places. They exist around here, but you have to look around a little to find them.”
A shadow stretched over them, and a moment later, Aubrey descended into the space between them, sending grains of sand flying all over their towels.
Selina shot her a look. “Graceful.”
Aubrey offered a toothy grin, sand coating her wet arms, legs, and torso. “What are the two of you chatting about? I don’t suppose Selina’s trying to fill you with hateful propaganda toward me, Ky?”
“Like she could tell me anything I don’t already know.” Kyle shook her head, a rueful smile on her lips. “Selina’s been a complete sweetheart.”
Aubrey’s brows drew together in mock surprise. “You? Being a sweetheart? Is this a cry for help? Have you been body snatched?”
“What can I say? You justify my resting bitch face every time, Aubrey Moore,” Selina drawled.
Aubrey rolled onto her back, more sand sticking to the wet areas on her skin. She pretended to stab herself in the chest, a motion Selina couldn’t help but follow with the way her chest heaved and those tight abs contracted. “Cruel barbs.”
“Not if they’re true,” Selina responded, her heart pumping a little harder. Swapping snark with Aubrey had become a professional sport for them both—apart from last night and the odd moment earlier. Aubrey’s earnest words lingered, percolating around her brain in a dangerous swirl.
Kyle watched them, curiosity in those dark eyes, a knowing look Selina didn’t trust. The woman seemed to be even more of an observer than her best friend, and she didn’t want those telepathic probes coming anywhere near her traitorous thoughts.
Aubrey rolled onto her stomach in a constant flurry of motion, as if she couldn’t stop moving. From the moment they’d met, Aubrey had always been in motion, whether going on runs, sweeping in to chat up women at the bar, running drills in the kickboxing studio, or firing off words a mile a minute. Selina didn’t know how anyone could keep up.
“I’m going to head back to the rental,” Kyle said, poking at her arm. “I’m starting to get pink. Want my towel, Aubs?”
“Is that a hint I need to dry off?” Aubrey asked, a glint in her eyes as she looked up.
“Either that, or I don’t want to carry home the towel you covered in wet sand,” Kyle said with a grin. Her gaze skated over the both of them, and Selina’s heart beat a little harder. Clever, clever woman.
Kyle offered a wave. “Great seeing you, Selina. Hopefully, we’ll catch you at the bars later. I think we’re heading to Dante’s Nightclub.”
“You guys should join us,” Sky called out from behind. “You’re staying at the rental near ours, right?”
“Sounds better than the nonexistent plans I had for tonight,” Cass chimed in.
Selina heaved out an internal sigh. Avoiding Aubrey Moore just became even harder.
Aubrey settled down on Kyle’s towel, even though her elbow still rested precariously close to Selina’s. “Does that mean I get to witness Selina Beckett tear up the dance floor tonight?”
“You’re making wild assumptions that I’d show to a nightclub,” Selina responded, her tone dry, as if she might stand a chance at hiding how her heart beat at Aubrey’s proximity.
“You don’t need to be embarrassed if you can’t dance,” Aubrey teased, her wicked eyes glinting. “Maybe you just need the right teacher.”
Cass snorted from behind them. “Oh honey, you don’t even know how wrong you are. Our dear Miss Beckett used to swing her hips as a backup dancer to different artists on tour. She’d school you so bad you’d be trying to return to yesterday.”
Selina bit back a groan. Of course Cass would bring up those couple of years before she moved to Wilmington and opened her own bar. She stuck up her middle finger in response. Selina loved to dance, but she hated people knowing her business. She especially hated Aubrey Moore knowing her business.
Aubrey’s jaw dropped, and she poked her in the shoulder. “No fucking way. Are there videos?”
Selina flexed her jaw, willing Cass with her mind to shut her damn mouth.
“I’m pretty sure if I say any more, I’m asking to get buried in the sand,” Cass called back, amusement in her tone.
“You have to show me them,” Aubrey demanded, jabbing her in the shoulder again with that insistent poker finger. “Or, better yet, show up tonight and whip out some of those moves.”
“How about no to both?” Selina responded. Even as she said the words, her gut stirred with the urge to head out to the dance floor and lose herself in the music for a little while. The idea of Aubrey’s eyes glued to her didn’t influence the decision at all.
“Ignore Aubs,” Mia called over. “We’d love for you to join us, and there’s no pressure to dance.”
“You can dance if you want to,” Aubs started, and Sky let out an immediate groan. “You can leave your friends behind….”
Selina arched an eyebrow. “You can ‘Safety Dance’ all you like, sunshine, but me dancing is going to remain a figment of your imagination.”
“My imagination’s particularly filthy,” Aubrey shot back.
“Speaking of, don’t you have a dozen women to go hit on?” Selina responded in a feeble attempt to push Aubrey’s focus in any other direction. The longer Aubrey maintained eye contact, the harder it became to ignore her body’s response. Her imagination went rampant at the idea of dirty dancing with the woman mere inches from her. A flush crawled through her body, but she dismissed it as overheating from the intense sun.
Aubrey shrugged and offered another grin. “Why leave when I’m having so much fun here?” She fluttered her eyelashes, and Selina’s heart did another flip in her chest.
Oh, she was so fucked.
To make matters worse, she would probably go to the damn club with them tonight.