A Modern Love Story (11 page)

He had to get his fucking head straight on that simple fact. That was why he’d brought Lydia home on their lunch break. He needed a release, to have and take
someone
, and she was always a willing participant. No strings attached. Robbie wasn’t supposed to be there. She wasn’t supposed to fucking
see
that! It was her own fucking fault for being there!

He gritted his teeth, and forced himself to relax. It wasn’t her fault, it was his. He fucked up, not her. He was pissed because she caught him, because it made him feel guilty. Guilt he felt because he had hurt her. He couldn’t fucking stand the fact that he hurt her.

*****

A few months later, Robbie was standing in the middle of her itty-bitty dorm room, trying to decide where everything should go. It wasn’t like she had a ton of stuff, but still…there was no room in here!

“This is the last of it.” Luc set the box down on her bed and surveyed the room himself. “This is pretty small, Squirt.”

“Tell me about it.” She threw her hands up. “But what can I do? I’ll just have to make it work.”

“Do you need anything else before I go?”

“
Naw
, I don’t think so. But I wanted to talk to you, if you have a minute.”

“For you? Anytime.”

She sat on the edge of her bed and gestured for him to join her. “The past few months have been busy, huh?”

He nodded. “I guess. We’ve both been working a lot, putting in long hours. So, yeah.”

“I feel like we’ve been avoiding each other.”

He blew out a breath, glanced at her. “I suppose we have.”

“I don’t want that, Luc.” She touched his arm. “You mean too much to me.”

Smiling, he draped an arm around her shoulder. “Shit. I’m glad you said that. This tension has been killing me. I didn’t want to push, ya know?”

“I know. I needed the space to cool off, and you gave it to me. So, thanks for that.”

“I’m sorry. About everything. I hate that I hurt you.”

“It’s all right. You didn’t mean to. I know that.” She patted his hand as it rubbed up and down her arm, and then stood. “Well, I guess I should get to work at all this.” She glanced over at Lizbeth’s side of the room and her pile of boxes. “Got our work cut out for us.”

“Yeah, you do. Oh, hey. I almost forgot.” He dug a piece of paper out of the front pocket of his jeans and handed it over. “Our new address.”

“You’re moving this weekend, right?”

“Yup. That’s when my lease is up on the old place.”

“Bet Conrad is happy to be finally moving out of the Powell’s.”

“He is, but he’ll miss them. It was cool they let him stay until he could save enough. The two-bedroom is pretty small, but we can afford it. So, that’s something.”

Robbie smiled. “I’m not surprised they let him stay. They’re his family. Family watches out for family.”

“You’re my family.” Luc tugged on a lock of her hair. “I love you, Squirt.”

“I love you, too, Stretch.”

“And I’d love it if someone could grab this box before I drop it.” Lizbeth stumbled in, one box sliding precariously across the top of another.

Luc plucked it easily off the top. “We finally meet.”

Lizbeth smiled and tossed back her raven-black hair. “You must be Luc.” She dropped the box she was holding at her feet and held out a hand. “Nice to meet you at long last.”

He shook her hand. “Likewise. Well, I better get going.” He glanced over to Robbie. “Call me when you get settled?”

“You bet.”

He flashed a quick, endearing smile before ducking out into the busy hallway.

Lizbeth stepped to Robbie’s side, knocked her with her shoulder. “
That
was Luc?”

Robbie was still staring at the doorway, even though he was long gone. “That was Luc.”

“Mind if I get me a piece of that?”

“Yeah, I mind. A lot.” She slated a glare in Lizbeth’s direction.

“I thought you might.” Lizbeth laughed, obviously very pleased with herself. “Come on. Let’s get unpacked.”

Chapter 5

Twenty years old

Robbie let out a squeal as she grabbed Lizbeth’s arm. “I can hardly believe we’re finally here!”

“No kidding, right?” Lizbeth gave Robbie’s arm a responding squeeze. “It’s like a dream.”

“Step aside, ladies. Coming through.” They shifted, still clinging to each other, as Conrad came up behind them, winded, with his dark blond hair damp around his temple. He dropped two suitcases and three duffle bags at their feet. “Why do girls do that?”

“Do what?” Lizbeth asked.

“Grab onto each other when they’re excited about something? If I did that to one of you, I’d get smacked.”

“Oh, I don’t know, handsome. I might let you get ahold of me.” Lizbeth winked as his eyebrows flew up.

Robbie laughed. “Give it a rest you two. We haven’t even checked in yet. Where’s Luc?”

“He was…” Conrad glanced behind him. “Here he comes.”

Luc, loaded down with three suitcases and four duffle bags, strode easily through the lobby doors and set the bags down with the others. “I want to know what two women need a fleet of luggage for.”

Robbie patted his shoulder, then squeezed it as if testing for sturdiness. “You can take it, Stretch.”

“Didn’t say I couldn’t, but the question remains. All you need is a couple pair of shorts, shirts and a suit. No more. No less.”

Lizbeth gasped in mock horror, her gray eyes popping wide. “For a trip to the Bahamas? Are you kidding me? You need dresses and sandals. No less than four different swimsuits—”

“
Four
swimsuits? Why do you need four swimsuits?”

“Luc,” Robbie said, “you very obviously don’t understand. Think about it. We’ll be practically living on the beach or at the pool. We can’t wear the
same
suit every day. That would be like wearing the same outfit every day, and even
you
wouldn’t do that.”

Luc opened his mouth to argue, then snapped it shut again as he glanced to Conrad, apparently seeking some male solidarity.

Conrad held up his hands. “Don’t look at me. Seems like a sound argument.”

“See?” Lizbeth purred, running her hand down his arm. “I knew I liked you.”

Conrad flashed a goofy grin at Luc and tipped his head at Lizbeth. “Beautiful here likes me.”

“Damn suck up,” Luc grumbled, gesturing toward the guest counter. “Let’s get checked in. Ladies, watch the bags.”

Robbie watched as Luc walked away, unintentionally cocking her head to the side as she checked out his ass. When she realized what she was doing, she glanced to Lizbeth only to see her doing the same as she watched Conrad.

Snickering, she elbowed Lizbeth. “Enjoying the view.”

“Like you weren’t?”

“Ha! Saw that, huh?”

“Yup. Can’t blame you though. No more than I can blame myself. Damn. Conrad is looking
fine
.”

“He just broke up with Kate, ya know.”

Lizbeth flashed a knowing smile. “Which is why I’m taking full advantage of the situation. And you should, too. Then we could double.”

“With Luc? No. No way. Not even going there.” And yet, the thought remained compelling.

Lizbeth slipped an arm around her waist and tipped her head in to whisper. “Come on. You can take a vacation from yourself. Just blame the Mai Tais.”

Robbie matched Lizbeth’s position and tone. “I tried that one, remember? Didn’t work out so well.” She shook her head. “No. I’m good. We’re friends, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

“Don’t you think he’s hot?”

Robbie watched him across the way—long with lean muscles, sunglasses tucked in tussled midnight hair, dark eyes flicking a glance at her, and a brilliant white smile to go with it. “Damn. I still have eyes, don’t I?” She swiped at her mouth. “And drool too, apparently.”

Lizbeth giggled. “Amen, sista.”

“But I’m not going down that road again.”

“You love him.”

Surprised, Robbie slated her eyes at Lizbeth.

“You can’t fool me, Rob.”

“No.” She looked back at Luc as the two guys walked toward them. “You’re right. I do. But that’s why I had to let him go.”

*****

 
“You sure I look okay?” Robbie asked Lizbeth as she opened the pool gate.

“For the hundredth time, yes. You look fabulous. That emerald green cover-up makes your eyes pop. It’s perfect. And the suit underneath…” She snickered as she fanned herself.

“Oh, shut up. I can’t believe I let you talk me into it.”

“You’re beautiful, and you know it. Oh, hey. There they are.” Lizbeth gestured towards Luc and Conrad, already kicked back in their swim trunks with two empty chaise loungers between them. Lizbeth strolled up and dropped her beach bag on the ground, claiming the lounger next to Conrad as her own. “You guys are good. Perfect location.”

“Took you two long enough,” Luc mumbled, lifting his sunglasses to get a good look at them. “I like your shirt,” he said to Robbie before dropping his glasses down and turning away.

“Thanks, Stretch.”

“Wait till you see what she’s got under it,” Lizbeth said.

Luc turned back as Robbie smacked Lizbeth in the arm. “What’s under it?”

“It’s nothing. Just a suit.” Robbie sat and shaded her eyes with her hand as she looked around. “Hell. I’m leaving the cover-up on.” She pulled an oversized floppy hat and sunglasses out of her bag.

“Got your sun block?” Luc asked. “That skin could get burned on a cloudy day here.”

“Yup. And you’re right.” Robbie pulled out her sun block. “Which is why this cover-up is staying on.”

“You’re no fun,” Lizbeth said, peeling off her own cover-up to reveal a crimson red string bikini underneath.

“Holy shit,” Conrad muttered, staring slack-jawed at Lizbeth as she adjusted her sunglasses and laid back into a reclining position. “Sorry, Rob. I might have to start calling Lizbeth here
gorgeous
and you
beautiful
.”

Lizbeth smiled and reached over to trail a finger up and down his arm. “Aren’t you just the charmer?”

“Oh, boy,” Robbie mumbled, earning a snicker from Luc.

Robbie was more than generous as she spread on and rubbed in the sun block. She
so
didn’t need to get sunburned on her very first day of vacation. As she worked on her legs, she glanced over at Luc and then studied the lines of him, the planes of his muscles. Damn, look at that body! She could slurp him up in one sitting!

When he shifted, her eyes darted back to what she was doing. No need to get caught staring. But she couldn’t resist one more peek. She could tell he had sun block on with the way his skin glistened, and yet, she knew with his olive coloring he’d be bronzed and beautiful in no time at all. Lucky bastard. Why couldn’t she have skin like that? But
no
, she gets to be pale as a ghost or red as a lobster.