"It's four hours to George Town. I need a strong drink and good company. You'll be doing me an incredible favor by letting me."

She began to protest again, and I pressed a finger to her lips. Full and the lightest shade of pink, like a dusky sunset.

"I insist," I said.

I dropped my hand slowly, and when her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth, my dick noticed. Goddamn, I wanted to taste her. I blinked away the brief but potent vision of all the ways I could use those lips. And the soft pink tongue that darted out over them.

The bottle blonde handed us our tickets, and we hurried toward the gate where they were already boarding. I put our carry-ons into the luggage compartment, gave Vanessa the window seat in our first-class row, and we settled in. The flight attendant took a pass up the aisle.

"Can I get you a beverage, sir?"

I offered a tight smile and looked her up and down because I couldn't fucking help myself. Killer lips. Stacked. Engagement ring. Or according to her shiny name tag, Ann.

"Bloody Mary, please."

She lingered until I broke away and she looked to Vanessa.

"Ma'am?" she asked sweetly.

"Coffee, please."

When she left, Vanessa closed her eyes, resting her head back against the seat. Ann brought our drinks, but still Vanessa stayed quiet. Something had shifted between us, and I was pretty sure I knew what it was. I cleared my throat, trying to figure out how I was going to do this.

"Listen, Vanessa, I'm sorry about last night."

She lifted an eyebrow. "What are you sorry about?"

I ran my teeth over my lower lip, gauging her words, her mood. She seemed tired, and if I didn't know better, disinterested. I decided to go with some version of the truth.

"I didn't mean to ditch you at the bar. Ian wanted to talk to some girl. I didn't realize-"

"You don't need to apologize. Seriously."

She waved her hand, like it meant nothing at all, but I knew better. At least I hoped I did.

"I wanted to stay and talk to you. I looked for you, but you were gone."

She reached into her purse, grabbing her phone and earbuds. Shit, I was losing this battle a lot quicker than I'd anticipated.

"The truth is I wanted to get to know you a lot better the first night we hung out, but..."

"But what?" She pursed her lips together. Her red hair lit up with the bright morning sky shining in through our window. I couldn't help but wonder if she was red anywhere else. Now definitely wasn't the time to tease about cuffs matching the collar though.

I shot her a smile that I hoped would get her to relax. "But the truth is, I was told that you were off-limits."

That comment earned a small smile, though she tried to hide it by looking out the window. "Really," she said, though she didn't sound at all surprised by my admission.

"Cam didn't think it would be a good idea for me to pursue anything with you if it complicated things with Maya. I respected his wishes, very begrudgingly."

She turned, meeting my gaze. "And what's changed?"

I frowned. "They're getting married. Not an issue anymore."

"She's still my friend, and you're still Cam's brother."

I laughed and looked up at the ceiling. The seat belt sign was on. I had her captive for the next four hours. I could do this.

"There's got to be a statute of limitations on this sort of thing. We're adults. I think we can figure it out on our own, don't you?"

She stared down at her hands, picking at her fingernail and ignoring her steaming coffee. "Darren, I'm pretty sure I'm not your type."

I shook my head. "Completely untrue. Any man with a brain and who isn't dead below the waist would consider you his type, trust me."

Her cheeks turned pink, but she didn't soften. "I think Maya was probably right to not want us getting involved."

I nodded slowly, and Cam's earlier warning to stay away from Vanessa echoed in my ears. For some reason, it hadn't occurred to me that Maya would have issued the same warning to Vanessa. If she knew about me, she knew I didn't get involved with anyone.

"You know that just motivates a guy like me, right?" I tried to keep my tone light, but the challenge was spurring me almost as much as my attraction to Vanessa. Maybe it was a bad bet, but I didn't like the idea of my reputation getting ahead of me. "Plus, who's talking about getting involved? Nothing says we can't have fun and enjoy each other's company as friends."

I'd used that line before. It meant physical benefits with no strings and possibly no future at all, not even as friends. That's what I wanted, right? Make things a little interesting on the island, and Vanessa was exactly who I wanted to make that happen. Except she wasn't talking. She could hardly look me in the eye.

She twirled the stir straw through her coffee, staring at the swirls it made instead of me. "I'm sure you'll make plenty of friends while you're there."

I wanted to bristle at the comment, but I had no right. A hint of sarcasm laced her words, but there was something else in her voice that I couldn't pin. Disappointment, maybe?

The glimmer in her eye when I met her at the bar had vanished the second she saw me with Ian's twosome, and ever since then, she'd seemed to see right through me. Every line. Every play. Anyone else, I wouldn't have given it another thought. But for some reason, the guilt niggled at me. I was trying to make a play on a girl who was too smart for that bullshit.

Ten minutes later, Ann took our emptied drinks and Vanessa finally chanced a look my way. "I don't know about you, but I could use some sleep. I'm always restless the night before a trip. I slept terrible last night."

My jaw was tight, but I forced a polite smile. "Yeah, me too."

She crossed her legs, leaning away from me. Reaching for her earbuds again, she put them into place and closed her eyes.

I couldn't take my eyes off of her. I studied the small movements of her chest. Her breathing had slowed, and her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks every so often. She was falling asleep. That's how riveted she was with my advances.

Maybe Cam was right and Vanessa had me pegged. Maybe I was incapable of getting to know a girl without the singular motivation of wanting to fuck her senseless.

Goddamn, but for the first time in a long time, I wanted to be someone better than the man Vanessa thought I was.

VANESSA.

I switched out my yoga pants and T-shirt from the plane in favor of shorts and a tank top. I fluffed my hair and applied a little makeup, hoping it didn't melt right off my face when I stepped back out into the heat and humidity. I'm not sure why I bothered, but I wasn't sure who would be showing up at the beach barbecue.

Still unsatisfied with the vision staring back at me in the mirror, I went through three more outfits before settling on the first one I'd picked. My summer wardrobe had been lacking since I'd left home and moved up north. But that's not why nothing looked right.

Darren's handsome face flashed in my mind. I shouldn't care, but I did. I couldn't get him out of my head. He'd even crept into my dreams this morning, and waking up flushed next to the object of my unconscious desires was more than a little awkward.

I wasn't thrilled that he'd ditched me to chat up another girl at the bar, but I was more upset with myself for hoping for a minute that he was a man who would act any differently. His apology sounded sincere, but Darren was a player, and likely a good one. I didn't want to be the next girl who played right into his hands. I also didn't want to get hurt.

The truth was that Darren, on the outside, was a dream come true. A woman would have to be blind not to want him for herself. He was gorgeous, charming, and smart enough not to let any of the likely hundreds of women he'd taken to bed tie him down.

The physical attraction was real, no doubt. I could handle that. I hadn't been living a life of celibacy, but I wasn't going to be a conquest for someone who got around as much I suspected Darren did.

"Oh my God, I feel a thousand times better." Eli emerged from the shower in a fluffy white robe that seemed to swallow him up. "You look nice."

I smiled, grateful because Eli wouldn't lie to me if I looked terrible. "Thanks."

He moseyed to his suitcase and riffled through his clothes. "How was first class with Casanova? He indoctrinate you into the mile-high club up there? You've been glowing like a candle since we saw him the other night."

I laughed. "Not even close. I'm sure he wished he could get his money back for the upgrade. I crashed as soon as we took off."

Eli stood up straight and tossed a black T-shirt and some denim cutoffs on one of the beds. "He seems like a persistent guy. I'm sure he's not done with you yet."

I had a nagging feeling that Eli was right, and if I was being honest with myself, I didn't want Darren to give up on pursuing me either. Crazy as that was...I was rebuffing his advances and wanting them all at once, which wasn't really fair.

Darren would be Cameron's best man, and I was Maya's maid of honor. I was going to have to figure out what I really wanted to have go down with Darren. Especially if I was going to survive the next week opposite him in all things wedding-party related. Before I could get into it any further with Eli, a knock sounded at the door.

Eli disappeared into the bathroom again with his clothes, and I went to the door. The second I opened it, Maya bounded across the threshold. I squealed and opened my arms for a big hug from my beautiful friend. I hadn't seen her in a few days, and with all the wedding prep, she'd been too busy for our regular lunches. I missed her and was all the happier to be here now, celebrating with her and enjoying some time to catch up.

"I'm so happy you're here," she said.

"Me too." When I pulled away, I noticed she wasn't alone. "Hi, Olivia."

If the Bridge brothers were dashing, their sister was the female equivalent. Dark brown hair and striking blue eyes that matched the cold way she treated Maya most days. Maya insisted they'd warmed up to each other the past couple of months, but whenever I was with them to coordinate bridesmaid details, Olivia had been short and to the point. Maybe a few days on a tropical island would loosen the stick up her ass. As long as she didn't mess with Maya's happiness and her big day, I'd deal with her frigid attitude and share my time with Maya when I had to. Like now.

Olivia smiled tightly, lifting her shoulders. "You made it."

"We thought we'd pick you up on our way to the barbecue." Maya glanced around the hotel room. "Where's Eli?"

"Present!" He emerged again with a grand sweep of his arm.

I laughed. Eli was somehow even more adorable and out of place than he usually was. His ghostly white legs were stark against his jean shorts. He had a twinkle in his eyes, and I sensed the sarcasm just waiting to break free at the first opportunity.

He hugged Maya, and after a few minutes, our small group made our way toward the beach where the festivities had already started. The sun had set, the air balmy and warm. In the distance, steel drums chimed and a little thrill went through me. The sweet sounds of vacation.

Maya hooked her arm with mine as we walked. "So how does it feel to be a free woman?"

No one knew my work hell like Maya did. Lucky for her, she'd escaped the world of suits and finance.

I took a deep breath, inhaling all the smells of my new environment. Spices and salt air and a hint of chlorine from the clear blue infinity pool we passed. "It feels...pretty awesome." Truth.

Briefly, I wondered how Reilly was going to survive without me on Monday morning. Then I promptly tossed the thought away. Not now. Not this week.

"How does it feel to know you're going to be a married woman in a couple days?"

"Feels right, in every way."

The glittering sunlight coming off the ocean waves shimmered in Maya's eyes. Something apart from her usual quiet excitement about the wedding passed over her expression. Maybe worry, or maybe a twinge of sadness. I couldn't know for sure, and I didn't want to ask and give whatever it was more energy.

I hugged her arm a little tighter. "You okay?"

She smiled quickly. "I've never been happier. I can't wait to be Cameron's wife. Honestly."

I was more excited for her to tie the knot than I'd ever expected to be. Maya deserved happiness, and I had no doubts that Cameron would be the knight in shining armor she needed. A rock, a place to call home.

I wanted a happily ever after for her, even as the headstrong person in me disputed whether marrying the man of your dreams in your twenties should be a goal for a woman of her talent and education. Half my friends back home had families already, but that wasn't me. I had a career, even if it felt like purgatory, and I lived in the greatest city in the world. I had a plan and a long way to go before I could slow down and think about how to achieve domestic bliss.

"Are you nervous?"

Maya shook her head. "Not really. I could marry Cameron tonight and I think it would feel like the most natural thing in the world. I already feel like we're married."

"You belong together."

She stared down our feet making a path through the soft sand. "Deep down, I've known that for a long time."

Other people staying at the hotel milled around the beach, but a small group of familiar faces gathered by the band. Nearby tables were set out with trays of food. Hints of spices and cooked meats wafted through the air.

I fixed on the two men standing several feet away, seemingly lost in conversation. Darren and Cameron were showstoppers in a crowd of fairly average-looking people. Gods among the masses. They were wearing even less clothing than usual, and I couldn't stop myself from sizing up Darren's physique, an occupation that I could probably devote several hours to each day. His biceps strained against the hem of his green T-shirt, and his calves were strong and sinewy, proof of the no doubt countless hours he'd devoted to his body at the gym. The overall result was a work of art.

"Maya."

A woman's voice interrupted my thoughts. The woman was Maya's future mother-in-law.

"Diane." Maya cleared her throat and gave me a tight look.

Oh. This was Diane Bridge.

"This is Vanessa. Vanessa, this is Diane Bridge, Cam's mom."

"It's good to meet you." I held out my hand.

She lifted her hand slowly and took mine, her gaze traveling the length of me as she did. Her careful appraisal felt nothing like Darren's. I stood awkwardly, waiting for her to say something. She let my hand fall after a moment and shifted her assessment between Maya and me for a moment.

"Vanessa is the maid of honor. Remember, I mentioned her," Olivia chimed in.

I could see now where Olivia got her ice princess tendencies. Her mother carried an air of superiority that could not be missed. I was surprised it didn't knock people over when they passed her in the street. Still, she was beautiful and unmistakably elegant. I'd never seen someone look so refined on a beach in eighty-degree heat.

"Hey, beautiful." Darren came to my side, a welcome presence.

Diane frowned, and Olivia's eyes widened. The way they looked at me and the heavy judgment that poured from Darren's mother made me feel anything but beautiful in that moment.

"Mom." He leaned in and gave Diane a polite kiss on the cheek.

Her hard expression softened. A crack in her armor. Maybe she did have a heart in there somewhere.

"Where's Dad?" Darren asked.

She glanced over his shoulder. "Frank is arranging some tours for us this week. You know he can never sit still."