Beyond Me Read Free Page B

hurriedly took a sip of warm beer and grimaced. “I’m the helper, I guess. Workaholic. All sorts of fun stuff.”
    He frowned, as if my remark didn’t please him as much as my one-word answers had. “You don’t like your drink,” James stated. “Let me get you something else. What do you like?”
    “Sex on the Beach,” I blurted.
    That grin was back. His teeth were very white and perfectly straight. He must have worn braces for years. Damn, even his teeth were sexy. “I like that too,” he murmured.
    Oh, wow, and now I had that image in my head—him and me entwined in the sand and his hands running all over my body, making me feel things I never had. I freaked out at my reaction, which kick-started my big mouth. “Just the drink.”
    “Too bad.” He turned to go to the bar, but then I remembered I didn’t know him at all, and the one rule I made my friends pinky swear on is to never, ever accept drinks from guys. Too many crappy stories on the Internet showing how a girl can be raped or manipulated.
    My arm shot out. I wrapped my fingers around his bicep. His tight muscles jumped a bit under my touch, and his sun-warmed skin was slightly damp. Those eyes flared with a touch of lust. Wow, did he feel it too? “What is it?”
    “I don’t take drinks from strangers. I can get it myself.”
    He studied me for a while, as if trying to decide if I was smart or completely paranoid. “That’s a good rule. Never know what jerks are out to drag you into bed.”
    I laughed nervously. “Well, I usually don’t have that problem, especially around Mackenzie and Cassie.”
    “I disagree.” His gaze focused on my lips, and I pressed them together to combat the jump in my belly. Nerves? Or was that arousal coming up from the deep dark caverns of my body to finally introduce herself?
    “You haven’t seen them,” I pointed out.
    “Don’t need to. I’ve seen you.”
    Oh. Wow. I had nothing for that comeback. He was a master at this. “Does that usually work?”
    He cocked his head. “What?”
    “Lines. You’re quite...smooth. Are you trying to get me into bed?”
    The delight was back, dancing on his face. “Did it work? Will you go to bed with me?”
    “No.”
    “Then there’s your answer. Come with me to the bar for a drink, and I’ll see if I can up my game for you.”
    He had the nerve to snag my fingers within his and lead me to the tiki bar. I planned to yank back from his touch, but he was so warm and strong, I decided to let it slide this once. Now I was beginning to like him, which was much worse. A player with a sense of humor was disastrous.
    Unless...
    I dove into the deep end and went for it. I’d have to see how the rest of the encounter went, but this was the reason I came for spring break. Sex. Sun. Sand. Relaxation. Maybe this was a sign.
    James pounded his palm on the wood top. The guy playing bartender gave him a high five and winked at me. “Sex on the Beach, Rich.”
    “Niiice.” Rich grabbed a glass and began working the bottles. “I finally get to do something creative. This is a beer crowd.”
    I watched him pour and mix with deft motions. Nothing funny got dropped in there, and when he slid it over, I took a sip and sighed. Perfect. My new fave drink. Mackenzie got me hooked on them the first night, and I had no desire to break my new habit. At least, not this week. “Thanks. I’m surprised there’s a real bartender here and not just some kegs and wine set up.”
    Rich laughed. “Nah, we do things right, don’t we, James?”
    James gave him a weird look. “Guess this rich kid runs a top class show.”
    As if they had spoken in code, Rich nodded and moved to the end of the bar. I was suspicious, but then James swung his full attention toward me, and I blanked out the rest of my thoughts. I finally understood what happens when sheer lust overcomes your brain.
    You become an idiot.
    “So, Quinn Harmon, any big plans for your break?”
    “No. Just hanging with my friends