Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
I nod, take a sip of the bubbly, and swallow. “I’m feeling the same way about Ginger about now. And about Misty and June, for that matter. And Sienna. She’s gone. And so is Alex.”
Emily raises an eyebrow. “You haven’t set your sights on anyone yet?”
I hate lying, but I can’t tell Emily everything about my encounter with Brett and what a fool I made of myself. She already knows I did something stupid. “Not really. The idea is to get to know all of them, right? See if we click? Or rather if they click with us?”
“You haven’t taken your eyes off Brett and Ginger.”
I don’t reply. Instead I give her a sincere smile. “What does it matter? I think you’re ahead of any of us. You’ve gotten a kiss.”
“And a little above-the-waist action, but who’s counting?” She takes a sip demurely.
I draw in a breath. Even though I didn’t finish high school, I’m the youngest of the women here, so I still remember what it was like. The competition for guys, the cliques, the mean girls.
I don’t want that to happen on this island. We’re all grownups now, right? Aren’t we supposed to be mature and confident? When gorgeous billionaire men are involved…I just don’t know how to feel about my competition.
I mean… These women are nice. Emily, I think, is truly nice. She's far from a mean girl, but now that she’s had a kiss and more from Sebastian, it looks like she’s feeling a little…possessive. But I’m sure she doesn’t really want to claw anyone’s eyes out.
Although I definitely get it. I’ve had nothing from Brett and I’m feeling the same way, especially as he stares into Ginger’s perfect emerald eyes.
I was the first woman Brett approached…and now? I’ve become invisible to him. It bothers me more than it should. It’s hard to blame him for something I brought on myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want another chance with him.
Emily downs the rest of her champagne and grabs my arm. “Dance?”
I set my half-full flute on a nearby cocktail table. “Sure. Why not?”
Emily grabs my hand and practically drags me to the dance floor. We don’t have dirty dancing moves like Sienna, but she’s no longer here, so we can put on our own little show. Sebastian and River are both occupied, and Brett is clearly enamored with Ginger, so why not cut loose with Emily? Just be myself?
Years of balancing trays while wearing roller skates should make me be better at navigating a dance floor on stilettos, but sadly, it hasn’t. So when Emily kicks off her strappy numbers to dance in her bare feet, I follow her lead.
This is the first time either of us has been on the dance floor all night, and it feels good. A short while ago, I was ready to go home and never look back, but thanks to Emily, I’m still here.
Whether I go home as a billionaire’s bride? Who cares?
Well, I do, but I may as well have fun no matter the outcome.
I follow Emily onto the floor and begin moving to the fast music. Evangeline insisted that we all wear our hair down this evening, and after a few minutes I pull mine off my neck with my right hand and continue dancing while holding it up.
I resist the urge to look over at Brett and Ginger and focus on Emily, who’s moving to her own groove. She’s moving her chest in erotic circles—something I’ve never seen before.
“What’s that move?” I shout over the music.
“It’s a chest circle. A belly-dance move.”
“You’re a belly dancer?”
“It’s a hobby. Good exercise.”
Hmm. I don’t recall reading that in her bio. Of course, Emily didn’t need to pad her bio the way I did.
“Teach me?” I ask.
“Sure. Isolate your hips, shoulders, and head, but move only your chest. Watch.”
I rest my gaze on the bodice of her dress, still swaying my hips to the rhythm. When I try to mimic the movement, I fail miserably. How can I move only my chest without moving the rest of my body?
Emily smiles, stifling a laugh, I’m sure. She pulls me to the side of the dance floor. “Here. Let me show you. Set your feet about hip-length apart and bend your knees just slightly.”
I obey.
“Good. Now, remember to keep your hips and shoulders stable.” She places her hands on my hips. “You’re going to use your core muscles to stay aligned. Move your chest back and forth first.”
I stick my boobs out and then back.
“Good. Now, try side to side.”
Yeah, that’s the problem. I move my hips every time. But Emily stabilizes me with her hands on my hips, and a few tries later, I can do it.
“Great! Now combine the movements into circles, like this.” She steps back, holds her hair in one hand as I’ve been doing, and circles her chest without moving any other part of her body. She continues, until—