“I never knew you to be attracted to that type.”
Shelby shrugged, her lips twitching mischievously. “For one night, he’ll do just fine.”
“God, listen to us.” Mia furtively consulted her watch. Only forty-five minutes before she was to meet David. “I’m going to jump in the shower.”
Shelby glanced at her watch, too. “I guess I should text Lindsey about tonight. Just to remind her.” She wrinkled her nose, looking undecided, then studied Mia. “Frankly, I didn’t think you’d remember.”
Tonight? Mia frowned, then suddenly recalled it was their birthday night. The time they’d agreed to have a joint celebration for their January, February and March birthdays. “How could I forget that?” she said dismissively, her disappointment so acute she thought she felt her heart sink to her stomach.
She walked to the closet and rifled through the few things she’d hung up, her thoughts going to David. It wasn’t as if she couldn’t still see him tonight—later, after she’d had dinner with Lindsey and Shelby—but she had to call him, let him know plans had changed. She’d take her cell phone into the bathroom with her, turn on the shower so Shelby couldn’t hear and call him. He’d be disappointed; so was she. They’d both get over it.
She took a couple of deep breaths, and yanked a green halter top off the hanger. She’d have to hurry and sneak her cell phone out of her purse while Shelby was busy texting Lindsey. Quietly she closed the closet door, and turned around. Shelby was sitting on the wicker chair beside the dresser, watching her.
Mia jerked. “Damn, you scared me. I thought you were in the other room.”
“Before I text Lindsey I wanted to know if you’re bringing David.”
“No. We planned this weeks ago. Just us girls, remember?”
Shelby grinned. “You’re such a bad liar.”
“What?”
“Swear to me you remembered about tonight.”
Mia hesitated. “I did. I—” She briefly closed her eyes and groaned. Then she stared apologetically at her friend. “I might have confused the days.”
Shelby chuckled. “Look, I don’t care. We’re here, that’s celebration enough in my book. And Lindsey, well, she’s apparently forgotten, too and I’m not going to be the one to tear her away from Rick.”
“Have you seen him?”
“No. You?”
Mia shook her head, and lowered herself to the edge of the bed facing Shelby. “When was the last time you heard from her?”
“This morning.”
“A text?” Mia asked, and Shelby nodded. “Me, too.”
Shelby sighed dramatically. “Oh, God, Mom, tell me you’re not going to get all worried and screw up the evening.”
Mia gave her an eye roll, but the truth was, she was a bit concerned. Of the three of them, Lindsey was the most conservative, the most sensible and really good about making sure everyone was accountable. “Okay, one question, does it make sense to you that she wouldn’t make sure we knew where she was? Or not here planning every detail for tonight?”
“That’s two questions,” Shelby muttered crossly and straightened. “Oh, shit, now you’ve got me worried.”
Mia wondered if she should contact David yet. She was going to be late meeting him, that much she knew, but how late? “Honestly, I’m not really worried, more curious.”
“You’re right. She is being weird.”
“Let’s text her and ask her about tonight. I’m cancelling. We can choose another night later.”
Shelby dug her phone out of her shorts pocket, and her fingers immediately went to work. After she’d sent the text, she sank back and frowned. “I should’ve called instead.”
“That’s another weird thing. Lindsey doesn’t usually text us as much as she calls.”
“True. So why doesn’t she want to talk to us?” A grin tugged at Shelby’s mouth. “Unless—Did you meet him last time?”
“Nope.”
“Me neither. Wonder if she’s told him her real name yet?”
“I want to see him,” Mia said, getting up and heading for her bag.
Shelby laughed. “Me, too. You gonna call?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“She might not answer.”
“Then we both keep calling. Don’t leave a message, other than to return the call. You know her, she’ll be worried or nosy and won’t be able to help herself.” Mia withdrew her phone from her bag and stared at it. It wasn’t fair to leave David hanging. No matter what happened, she was going to be late. She hadn’t even showered yet.
She’d tell him she would be delayed an hour or two, give him a summary version, offer to explain later. He’d be disappointed, but he’d understand.
“SHE’S GOING TO BE so pissed at us.” A gleeful grin spread across Shelby’s face as she and Mia crossed the lobby in stealth mode, alert for any sign that Lindsey had left the pool and might turn the tables on them.
Shelby wore her new bikini, with the ill-named cover-up tied low around her hips. She looked so stunningly gorgeous with her long tawny hair fluttering in the breeze, that Mia thought she just might hate her a tiny bit.
“Don’t look so cheerful,” Mia told her. “We have to make this look like a coincidence.” She’d left on her swimsuit with the tank top, minus the shorts, as if she were making a casual trip to the pool for a late-afternoon swim.
“Do you think she suspects?” Shelby asked, oblivious to the male heads turning in her direction.
“No way. She didn’t say where she was. I could hear the splashing and kids laughing in the background. For all we know she could be at another hotel and the joke will be on us.”
“Oh, hell. That would be a bummer.”
“Yeah,” Mia murmured. Bummer for sure. She could’ve been with David instead of spying on their too-secretive friend. Part of Mia’s motive was plain nosiness, the other part was honest concern. Lindsey was acting strangely about this dude. Twice during their brief conversation, Mia had hinted that she and Shelby wanted to meet Rick. Both times Lindsey had subtly blown them off.
They decided to go the long way from the lobby because it would give them an opportunity to scope out most of the pool area, while there would be little chance that Lindsey could spot them first. A horde of people still wet from the pool or beach were exiting the area as they approached. Made sense since it was close to the dinner hour, but that wasn’t going to help their cause.
As soon as Mia spotted the familiar thatched pool-bar roof, she indicated to Shelby that they should head toward the guy signing out beach towels near the restrooms. They both wore sunglasses, but Mia knew that, like herself, Shelby was avidly scanning the groups of guests that remained poolside, lounging on chairs, reading or sipping fruity drinks.
“Oh, my God.”
Mia swung a look at Shelby, who’d stopped and was staring in the direction of the giant rock waterfall. One of the boulders threw a portion of the deck into shadow and created a small semiprivate nook. Squinting behind her sunglasses, Mia caught a glimpse of Lindsey’s long blond hair. The chaise on which she lounged butted up against another chair occupied by a man, stretched out on his side, facing Lindsey. He had longish sun-streaked brown hair, tied back into a short ponytail.
“Holy crap, check out his tats.” Shelby lowered her sunglasses