saw you in my jacket she began questioning me. I saw you step out of the bathroom all wet and looking cute in my jacket and I did what I would’ve done if we’d been a real couple. What she knew I would’ve done if we were a real couple. I’m going to have to do things to you, Nat.” He runs a hand through his hair and takes another step back. “But I’ll try my best to warn you next time. It’s not a damn promise, though. Sometimes my body reacts before my head can figure out what the hell it’s doing. That will happen a lot here this weekend. Can you handle that?”
“I guess I have no choice,” I whisper, barely able to force the words out. “I’m stuck here now, aren’t I?” When he doesn’t say anything, I add, “I need to put my clothes away and brush my hair. I need a minute to get my shit together to deal with the rest of the day. So… just stay away for a few minutes and let me breathe.”
He nods and takes a seat on the bed, pulling his suitcase to him. “Reasonable enough. Might want to get your bathing suit out while you’re in there. It’s about time to take a dip in the pool.”
“This should be interesting,” I mutter to myself, while gathering my scattered clothes and heading to my suitcase. I’m in the middle of going through my things when I get a whiff of Madden’s body wash again. The more I move, the more powerful the scent becomes.
“It smells better on you.” Madden’s voice surprises me, reminding me that he’s still in the room with me.
“Wait, what?” I look up to see Madden now leaning against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. “What smells better on me?”
He smiles. “The body wash you’re sniffing. It’s okay, I won’t tell my brother you’re in love with my scent.”
“What!?” I drop my arm once I realize I’ve been holding it to my nose. “I’m not in love with it. I like it. I recognize a good fragrance when I smell one, that’s all. It’s… nice. Now stop smiling at me like that. It’s really starting to piss me off.”
“Why?” He lifts a brow. “Because I know you’re lying?” He pushes away from the door and walks over to stand in front of me. “Hey. Quit getting snippy. No judgment from me. My brother’s taste in body wash and cologne has always been shitty if you ask me. He smells older than his age. Get used to my scent, babe. Take it all in, because it’s the only body wash you’ll be smelling for the next five days. Just don’t get too attached,” he adds with a small grin.
“Yeah… that won’t be a problem.” I slap his chest. “By the time we leave here I’ll never want to smell your body wash again. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
“Are you positive?” he questions beside my ear.
I swallow and take a step back, trying my best not to sniff the jerk. He’s wrong. I’m positive it smells better on him. “A hundred and ten percent.”
“If you say so.” He opens the door and grips the doorframe while looking down at my suitcase. “Everyone is waking up. Change into your bathing suit and meet me in the kitchen. Unless you need to borrow a pair of my underwear.”
“Yeah, no. I’m good. I’d swim naked before wearing your underwear.” I snatch my bikini out of my suitcase and push him out of the room. “Stop looking at me like that. I have one, so it’s not happening. Now leave so I can change.”
I exhale the moment he walks away, finally feeling as if I can breathe again, but the moment I inhale, I get hit with his scent again, and it has me wishing I could smack Madden for being so cocky.
Less than ten minutes later, everyone is headed outside with one cooler filled with drinks and another filled with food for the grill.
Madden tugs the end of the leather jacket I’m still wearing. “Nice touch.”
“I only kept it on because it’s a little cloudy right now. Don’t worry, I plan to take it off the moment the clouds disappear.”
He flashes me a grin and reaches for my hand, lacing his fingers through mine. Leaning in, he whispers, “Sure. We’ll go with that.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I ask, coming to a stop.
“It’s okay if you like