The Complete Memories Series Read Free Page B

remember, Jen. I remember everything you tell me,” he says innocently.
    “Yeah, right. And I’m the Queen,” Jen scoffs playfully in return.
    Carl looks at me and shakes his head like it’s such a hardship, but I can see his fondness for her in his eyes.
    Jen wasn’t lying when she said he had a good body. I can see the muscles, clearly defined against his lightly tanned skin. His dark hair and dark eyes are a perfect contrast against Jen’s lighter colouring.
    “Nice to meet you, Lexy. I’ve heard all your stories.” He waggles his eyebrows and I laugh.
    “I can well believe it, but has she told you about the time she got stuck rock climbing?” I motion to the rocks behind us. “We were twelve and she got stuck...”
    “He really doesn’t need to know that!” Jen shrieks and launches herself at me. I jump up and skirt around our little group.
    “Carry on,” Carl encourages me.
    “Anyway, she was wearing this little string bikini thing, and the guy she happened to fancy was climbing with us.”
    “I think I know where this is going.” Carl smirks.
    “Lexy, Lexy don’t you dare!” Jen warns as I carry on dancing around her.
    “Her top got caught between the rocks as she tried to get down, the stringy bit, and bang. It came undone and her top fell down. She flashed to the whole beach.”
Carl howls with laughter and Alec smirks at us as Jen slaps her hand over my mouth.
    “Don’t say another word!” she hisses at me. “Promise?”
    I nod my head, my eyes wide and innocent. She releases me and we sit back down.
    Carl eyes me. “There’s more?”
    I nod again. “Yep, but I promised not to tell you that the guy she fancied thought she was fourteen so she had chicken fillets down her bikini top.”
    Jen’s face flames a bright red and I grin. She buries her face in her hands and Carl hugs her, swaying her side to side dramatically.
    “Oh, baby. Poor baby,” he teases. Jen shoves him and glares at me but I can see the small curve of her lips. I grin again and watch the banter play out between the two.
    It’s clear they love each other - they’re playful but gentle. It’s a beautiful thing to watch.
    “Not saying hi then, Lexy?” Alec flicks my shoulder.
    “Hi, Alec.” I turn back and smile at him.
    “Hi, Lexy.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes. “What was the eye roll for?”
    I raise my eyebrows at him. “Jen’s already told me about your... Reputation, so that flirty, dimply smile flirty thing you got going on isn’t gonna work on me.”
    “Who said I was flirting?” He asks innocently, but the gleam in his eye tells me he knows I’ve called him out.
    And he likes it.
    “Your eyes say it,” I reply, “it’s glaringly obvious.”
    He leans back on his elbows and I get a good view of his body.
    I try not to look, but when faced with such beauty it’s hard not to look, right?
    I can see the contour of every muscle, every little shadow where one defined bit meets the next. I sweep my eyes over him involuntarily, from the broadness of his shoulders to his pecs, to his perfectly formed six pack and then the obvious ‘v’ that disappears under the bottom of his wetsuit. Add to the image little droplets of water pearling against his skin....
    “Like what you see?” He winks again.
    “About as much as I like vomiting after too many drinks on a Saturday night,” I quip.
    “It’s okay, Lexy, I don’t mind you looking. You can touch if you want.” The challenge is in his eyes and I look upwards as if anyone up there could help me.
    Which is silly, because clouds can’t help.
    “I’m not a touchy person, but thanks for offering.”
    “See that’s a shame,” he says in a lower, more sensual voice. “Because I am.”
    He runs his finger down my spine and I shiver, then curse myself.
    “Like that, huh?”
    “I’m ticklish?” I answer, but it comes out as more of a question.
    He roams his eyes over my body shamelessly. “I bet you’re ticklish in all sorts of