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.
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