“There’s nothing I’d love to do more, babycakes.”
She blows me an over-the-top kiss and then disappears into the house. I stare after her until Mack clears his throat.
“Uh, should I call you pookie now?”
“Not if you want to live to see your wedding day.”
Mack laughs. “What’s with the nicknames?”
“It’s our version of foreplay,” I say. It’s the first excuse that came into my head, but as Mack laughs harder, it hits me. Am I flirting with Noli Kasper with all these nicknames? The bigger question is, issheflirting withme?
Because as Noli likes to remind me, my toxic trait is that the ladies love me. Flirting is what I do best.
But Noli? She’s buttoned up. Serious. I’ve never seen her so much as say something mildly flirtatious to any of the other men in Cashmere Cove.
Until she signed on to be my fake girlfriend.
So it begs the question. Is she flirting with me for show? Or is she enjoying this as much as I am?
18
Pirate Jokes
Noli
I’ve missed the white, sandy beaches of Florida.
I wasn’t sure how I’d react to being back here—since I all but fled the state as soon as I could get my life in line after my final fight with Nelson turned physical and I ended up at the bottom of the stairs to our apartment—but it’s been okay.
As soon as Collin and I got here late this morning, Poppy paraded us to our old house—the one we shared with our Gram. Poppy wanted to show Mack the gardens in the back. It was good to see it again—good to reminisce. It made me miss Gram, though. Poppy took a bunch of pictures of everyone outside the house. “For new good memories of this place,” she’d said, “to add to the old good memories.”
Speaking of memories, I shove my sunglasses up on the top of my head so I can get a better view of where Mack and Collin are chasing each other through the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. I’d like to tattoo this view to my brain.
“Not a bad picture, is it?” Poppy says, completely reading my thoughts.
I glance to my left where she’s been laying out on a lawn chair next to mine.
“Not bad at all,” I say. Because it’s actually really great. Objectively speaking.
“Ten bucks says Mack dunks Collin first.”
“I’ll take that bet. Collin all the way.”
Poppy laughs. “Someone’s smitten with her boyfriend.”
I shrug her off. “You’re one to talk.”
Poppy sighs happily. “True. I could watch Mack run around shirtless and wet all day. I honestly don’t care if Collin dunks him. When he comes up from under the water, it’ll be like my own personal fantasy playing out in front of me.”
“You guys are gross,” Rose says from the other side of Poppy.
“Sorry, Rosie,” I mumble, but my eyes are glued to where Collin just dove for Mack. He wrapped him around the waist, and they both went under the water. I’m waiting for them to come up from under the surf, because Poppy’s right. That is not a scene I want to miss. And besides, the man is my boyfriend. Fake or not, I’m allowed to enjoy the view.
“You owe me ten bucks,” I say, but my voice comes out sort of breathy.
Collin stands and holds his hands up in a victory formation, shaking his head back and forth and sending water droplets flinging from his hair. My eyes are locked on his muscular arms. The definition of his muscles glistens in the afternoon sun, and water runs in rivulets down his toned abdomen.
How have I not noticed the perfect upside-down triangle shape of his physique? It’s impressive. There’s no other word for it.
