Love or Lust - Rachael Brownell Page 0,19
over the bar, but Milo pulls me away and toward the pool.
“I see now why we were told we couldn’t swim at a pool party,” he says as he takes a step onto the wide platform that’s been built over the center of the pool. It spans from one side to the other and in the middle is a Greek-style trellis adorned in ivy.
“This can’t be safe,” I state as I take a tentative step backward.
That doesn’t stop Milo from proceeding, and once he reaches the trellis, he grabs hold of the nearest pillar.
“It’s foam. Don’t worry.”
Foam? As in, it doesn’t weigh much. Which is good considering the platform I’m standing on the edge of doesn’t look like it could hold much more than the weight of three people.
“Yeah, I think I’m going to admire it from afar.” My voice is filled with skepticism. The last thing I want to do is fall into the pool in my already see-through outfit and get trapped underwater. No thanks. Not how I want this night to end.
Or my life.
“Dramatic much?” Teegan asks, her voice like nails on a chalkboard. Unwelcome and annoying.
She and Bella are seated on two lounge chairs behind me. When the hell did they get here?
“Depends. If you compare me to you, I’d like to think I was acting sensibly. But that’s just me,” I retort, glaring in her direction for a few seconds before turning and heading back to the bar to figure out what Lennon and Jace were up to.
They’re both smiling at me as I approach. Well, smiling is an understatement. Devilishly grinning is more like it. Like they know something I don’t, which is more than likely accurate considering how quickly Milo pulled me away.
“You two causing trouble?” I ask as Jace hands me a tall thin glass filled to the brim.
“Never!” Lennon replies, feigning insult.
All I can do is shake my head as I take a sip of the pinkish-purple concoction in my hand. It goes down smooth and has a sweet but minty flavor that lingers on my tongue. I can barely taste the alcohol, which makes me nervous. One too many of these and I’m going to need Jace to carry me to bed.
“This is delicious. What is it?”
“Well,” Jace begins as he hands a similar drink to Lennon, “if we were in Greece, I would have used ouzo, which is a Greek fermented liquor, and it would be called an outizo. Ouzo is basically moonshine. Since we’re not, I had to make do with what I had on hand. Mint-flavored syrup and juices. So that’s a pomegranate and pineapple mojito.”
The others join us, and Jace begins handing out beverages. Milo is the only one who doesn’t indulge in Jace’s drink of the night, instead opting for water. I have a feeling he’s still hungover from their excursion off the ranch. I know he was last night even though he had two beers.
“To the final few days,” Bella says as she raises her glass in the air. We all follow suit, standing in a circle. Jace is to my right, Lennon to my left. “It’s been a fun ride so far. I’ve enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you. If nothing else, I’m leaving here with new friendships that I will cherish forever. May the best man and woman be left standing at the end.”
As our glasses clink together, I catch sight of Teegan out of the corner of my eye. She’s shooting hate-filled daggers in my direction, not even trying to hide her disdain for me.
Jealousy doesn’t look good on her. She really should get over it.
The sound system comes to life, and music echoes across the vast expanse of the ranch. I don’t understand the words, but it’s still beautiful, and I can’t help but slowly spin in place to the rhythm of the music. Bella joins me, and then the guys steal us away, Lennon leading Bella to an open area near the pool and Jace pulling me into his arms only a few feet away.
“You like this?”
“I’ve never heard it before. It’s different. It’s upbeat, but it sounds sad in a way.”
“I’d hate for you to be sad,” he replies as he leans in closer, brushing his lips across mine. “Then again, I know a way to put a smile on your face so . . .”
“You’re such a little horn dog,” I say as I smack his chest. “I think your lack of undergarments—”
“I