“Oh, right. Sorry.”
Holy shit, Mathias Wade apologized. Somebody, put that down in the record books.
“The fu—idiot only has the refrigerator stocked with Diet Pepsi.”
Ezra snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”
“I’m going to run to the store to get some food and I’ll just pick up pizza for tonight or something.” Mathias swiped the car keys off a side table.
“I’ll go with you.” Remy piped up.
He shook his head and kissed her tenderly. “No, stay here and rest for a bit.”
She didn’t put up a fight, which led me to believe she did need to rest. Remy wasn’t one to listen to what she was told.
Mathias left just as Hayes returned with the last bag.
And by bag I meant cage.
Maddox and Emma brought their pet hedgehogs.
I wished I was joking.
Maddox and Emma ran up the beach and onto the deck steps.
Ezra unlocked the door to let them inside.
“You guys are soaking wet,” I said unnecessarily.
“It’s his fault.” Emma poked Maddox in the side.
“Mathias went to get food since someone only stocked us with Diet Pepsi.” Hayes muttered, strolling over with his arms crossed over his chest.
Maddox grinned crookedly and tossed an arm over Emma’s shoulder. “What else does a man need in life, besides the love of a good woman and Diet Pepsi?”
“A hedgehog,” Ezra chuckled.
“How could I forget?” Maddox mock winced.
Hayes sighed, but I knew he was secretly amused. “Why don’t we figure out the sleeping arrangement?” He suggested. “That way we can put all this shi—crap—away.” He pointed to the mountain of suitcases by the stairs and flashed Arden an apologetic smile.
“Sounds good.” Emma clapped her hands together.
We each grabbed a bag and started up the stairs. The same color scheme was carried throughout the large home.
On the second level—or I guess technically it was the third—there were five bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms. There was even a little nook with a chaise lounge and a bookshelf.
Everyone picked a room and that left me. “I guess I’ll take a room upstairs,” I mumbled, heading for the second set of steps.
“Uh,” Ezra interjected, “I will too. I don’t want you to be alone.”
Emma stopped outside a bedroom door with a hand on her hip and a calculating look in her eyes. “Or Sadie could take the extra room down here and you could go upstairs.”
“But then I’m alone,” he countered, “what if I get scared at night? Are you going to come hold my hand, Emma?”
Her lips pressed together as she held in laughter. “Does that mean Sadie is going to hold your hand?” She folded her arms over her chest. She was so on to us. She had been from the start.
“Of course.” He grinned, trying to play everything off as a joke.
Emma finally shrugged. “Whatever.”
The two of us headed up to the second level. There were only three bedrooms up here—and two bathrooms, one room had it’s own and the other was Jack and Jill style. The nook up here was larger and had a baby grand piano and art easel. This place was so incredibly peaceful that I knew I wouldn’t have any trouble unwinding.
The three bedrooms were similar in size, so I picked one based on the view of the beach and the fact that it had a balcony. Ezra chose the room across from me and set his bags inside before joining me in my bedroom.
I opened the French doors and stepped out onto the balcony. I leaned against the railing and he stepped up beside me with his hands shoved into the pockets of his khaki shorts.
“You realize I’ll be sleeping in here, right?” He winked.
I cracked a smile. After the night where he asked me to sleep with him without sex we’d continued the tradition.
“I expected so.”
“I’ve grown so used to the privacy we have at my house that being here with everyone is going to test the limits of my sanity.” He grabbed onto the railing, the last of the blazing sun haloing his body. I itched to lean forward and kiss him, but he wasn’t mine and I couldn’t risk someone catching us.
“I know what you mean,” I agreed.
Ever so slightly he brushed his pinky against mine, and then rested it overtop.
I closed my eyes, treasuring the brief touch.
“Hey, what are you guys doing?”
Maddox.
Ezra’s finger fell away from mine and he whipped around with a smile on his face. “Admiring the view,” he replied.
Maddox stepped outside with us and I noticed he’d changed his clothes to something dry, but his hair was still wet.
“Isn’t this place great?” He grinned. “I couldn’t believe I found it on such short notice.”
I had to admit I was surprised too. Plus, it was nice that the houses on either side were off in the distance. I doubted we’d have to worry about any crazy fans in this neighborhood, homes this big could only be owned by celebrities and CEOs.
“Anyway,” Maddox clapped his hand on Ezra’s shoulder, “I just came to tell you guys that Mathias is back already and I thought you might be hungry.”
“Sure,” Ezra nodded, “we’ll be right down.”
“Cool.” Maddox began to back away, watching us carefully. He was just as suspicious as Emma.
When he disappeared Ezra reached up and gently stroked my cheek.
I sighed happily and leaned into his touch. He placed a feather light kiss on my forehead and held his lips there when he murmured, “How can I do this for a week? How can I pretend I’m not spending every second thinking about the way your body hums when I touch you and you sigh when I kiss you?”
A week? How was I going to pretend to not be thinking about those things for the rest of my life? Our agreement was going to come to an end in a matter of months, maybe even less, and then…and then I didn’t know.
I grasped his shirt in my hands and leaned forward, inhaling the scent that was uniquely Ezra.
I answered truthfully. “I don’t know either.”
“UP! UP! UP! GET UP!” Maddox drummed his fist against the door to my room.
“Go away!” I yelled back, tossing a pillow over my head. If I had to deal with Maddox’s chipper personality at the crack of dawn every morning I might murder him, which would suck for Emma since she loved him and all. But, seriously.
The door to my room swung open and I sent up a silent prayer that Ezra had snuck over to his room early in the morning.
I tossed the pillow off of my head and rose up on my elbows to look at Maddox. I was sure my hair was a wild untamable mess, but for once in my life I didn’t care.
“I made breakfast.” He grinned, clearly pleased with this news, like he’d done me some kind of favor.
“It’s too early,” I groaned.
“It’s eight o’ clock,” he tossed his hands up in exasperation, “that’s not early. You’re as bad as Emma. Now come on and get ready. We’re all going snorkeling.”
“Snorkeling?” I sat up completely, this bit of news making me a little excited despite the early time.
He nodded. “Yep…or you could stay here and sleep. Your choice.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
I pointed a finger at him in warning. “Don’t you dare leave without me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Westbrook.” He flashed his winning smile and closed the door.
I immediately tossed the covers off and ran over to my suitcase.
I pulled out all of my bikinis and dropped them on the floor, rifling through them. I ended up picking a solid black one. The top made my breasts appear larger than they actually were and had several overlapping straps in the back. The bottoms exposed more of my ass than I was used to, but let’s face it, I was planning on driving Ezra crazy.
I put on a pair of old ripped jean shorts and a see-through blousy white top over my bikini.
I brushed my hair and it hung in soft natural waves just past my shoulders.