Landlady: A New Adult Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 1) (10 page)

I was famished by the time my club sandwich came around but
disappointed to find out that it was a soggy mess. A puddle of liquid
sat at the bottom of the plate and I quickly lost my appetite.
Luckily, Cam offered to share his ribs (which were only slightly
better but not by much).

After lunch (Cameron paid for me again, against my wishes), I decided
to browse the souvenir shop with Cameron. Sure enough, on the far
wall, there hung a rack of vibrant-colored women's swimwear. The
colors ranged from stripes and polka dots to psychedelic tie-dye. I
finally settled on a conservative black bikini set with little white
hearts on it. Unfortunately, the store owner informed me that the
only sizes left were small and extra-large. I was a medium, and since
I didn't feel like accidentally exposing myself in public, I decided
to purchase a size small.

I quickly realized the error of my ways when I popped out of the pool
changing room an hour later with my boobs practically spilling out of
my bikini top. The bottoms weren't much better—they were skin tight
and for a few horrendous seconds, I wondered if it would show too
much camel-toe or ass crack.

But no one commented on my swimsuit when I joined them at the pool.
Everyone was chatting about a new TV show and some celebrity
appearance. None of them even noticed me joining them. Except Asher.

He looked sullen and pale, and I could've sworn I saw a vein
throbbing along his temple.

I waded into the cool water and snuck up behind Cameron. Would he
think I looked too slutty? I already thought I looked too slutty.

When Cameron turned around and saw me, that heated look in his eyes
made me want to run straight back into the changing rooms and cover
up.

“Sierra...” Cameron said, voice low and husky. “You look...”

“Slutty?” I whispered.

“I was going to say 'lovely',” Cameron said.

“They didn't have my size so I had to go one size down,” I
explained.

Terri spoke up to diffuse the tension. “You're giving Cam a boner,”
she pointed out.

I didn't know how to answer that so I didn't say anything. But I did
catch a glimpse of Asher. His face was white, his lips almost blue,
and he looked pissed as hell. What had gotten into him?

Before I could think too much about it, Cameron splashed me with a
faceful of water. My hair was soaked and stuck down my back. My eyes
stung, and I tasted chlorine in the back of my throat. I had to
retaliate so I swam after him. “Get back here, you jerk!”

When I got closer, I dove underwater and tried to grab him by the
ankles, but he was faster. He snatched me up by the waist and tickled
me until I couldn't breathe. His scruffy jaw rubbed up against my
shoulders, and I could feel something hard pressed up against my
back.

No way.

Was that his—

I turned around to beg for mercy and caught Cameron studying me.
“Truce?” I squeaked out.

“Only if you give me a kiss,” he said in a low growl. He tapped
his lips with his index finger and puckered up.

Everyone else was staring at us. Including Asher.

I wanted to make Asher see red and green at the same time.

So I leaned into Cameron and gave him a light peck on the lips.

We were far enough that the others couldn't hear us. So Cameron
whispered against the shell of my ear, “You taste fantastic.”

And just like that, my entire body churned with excitement. Even
though my mind screamed, “He's all wrong for you. You've already
given him a chance, and it didn't work out!” I still felt a sizzle
of electricity snake up my spine.

When I pulled away from Cameron, I noticed that Asher had gone quite
stiff. Paralyzed, even.

Mike let out a low whistle and Terri giggled.

“If you two are done with the PDA, let's play a game,” Rose said.

Later, when we were all playing with a beach ball, Asher excused
himself and left early.

A tiny flutter of guilt squeezed my chest. Did I take the joke too
far? But then I reminded myself he was a grown man and he could
handle himself. It wasn't my job to babysit his feelings.

CHAPTER 11

ASHER

WHAT THE HELL IS wrong with her? What the hell is wrong with
me
?
I didn’t know what I hated more right then: the fact she’d just
kissed Cameron in front of me or the fact that I cared.

She came here as his date. She chose to spend the weekend
with
him.
I'd known that since this morning. So why the fuck did I
still feel so gutted?

When they’d decided to play catch with a beach ball, I’d backed
out, saying that I needed to make a call. The truth was, I just
couldn't stand seeing Sierra with Cameron. Especially since she was
wearing that itty-bitty bikini that barely covered her nipples and
left her ass cheeks exposed. That fucking suit left so little to the
imagination, she might as well have been walking around naked. Jesus.
What'd gotten into her?

Fuck...The water was so cold her nipples were saluting everyone in
the pool. And even though I really didn't want to see it, I caught a
glimpse of Cameron's hard-on for her.

Did she even know the kind of power she had over men?

With sudden dread, I realized they'd probably fuck tonight. And once
Cam had had her, he'd probably toss her aside. And I sure as hell
wouldn't be there to pick up the pieces.

I was not going for my best friend's sloppy seconds. I wasn't that
desperate.

What pissed me off the most, though, was how she seemed to flaunt it
all in my face. As if she was silently telling me,
Look how sexy I
am, too bad you'll never have me. I'm with your best friend.

Did she really think Cameron was a better man than me? What the hell
could he give her that I couldn't? In fact, Cameron was ten times the
playboy I was. Didn't she know that? I loved my best friend, but it
was no secret he was a shameless womanizer.

Once I was back in my room, my fingers itched to send her a text. To
ask her what the hell was up between her and Cameron. They couldn't
have been together for long, or she would've told me she was dating
someone when we’d kissed.

Right?

Just leave them alone. She's a big girl, she can handle herself. She
doesn't need you sticking your head where it doesn't belong. Stop
acting so pathetic.

I paced back and forth for a while, tugging at my still-wet hair.

Fuck, if it was bothering me enough to make me
pace around,
I
needed to confront her about it. I pulled out my phone.

ASHER:
Tell me what's going on between you and Cameron.

I knew she wouldn't reply for a while since she was still swimming,
so I sat on the bed and replied to a few work emails, waiting until
she read my message.

Almost fifteen minutes later, Sierra replied:
What do you think is
going on?

ASHER:
No games, Sierra. I'm not in the mood. I need to know, are
you seeing him? Is it serious?

SIERRA:
You jealous or something? I'm not seeing him, and it's not
serious. I'm just having fun. Is that a crime?

I forced down the lump in my throat. Just having fun? She was doing
this to fucking
torture
me. But I would never tell her that.
Hell would freeze over before I admitted that I could be so
vulnerable and jealous. I wasn't going to play her stupid, childish
game.

ASHER:
Just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing.

SIERRA:
I've known Cameron far longer than you. We dated before. I
know what I'm doing. Now get your ass down here so we can go get
buzzed at the fest.

They had dated before? What the fuck? How come Cam had never
mentioned her? It couldn't have been that good if he didn't brag
about it to me and the guys.

With shitty emotions still twisting my insides, I trudged back
downstairs. All of them were back in their regular clothes. Their
drenched hair was the only indication that they'd gone swimming.

“C'mon,” Mike said. “It's a fifteen-minute walk and the
festival's started already.”

“Last one there buys the first round,” Jeremy said.

While everyone paired off, I walked behind them all, suddenly feeling
the weight of my loneliness crushing me between the shoulder blades.
The three couples looked like they were having such a great
time...While me? I wasn't even sure I'd last the weekend. At this
rate, I'd probably head back to the city early and put more work into
the Holdom merger. At least work would be rewarding and a good use of
my time. Unlike this.

Coming to the beer fest was a fucking mistake. Coming solo was pretty
much the worst idea ever.

I was the last one there, so I pitched in a fifty and bought everyone
beer and some hot wings.

The first half-hour passed quickly. We sampled five different brews;
some were actually quite good. But I couldn't enjoy myself because I
kept glancing over at Sierra and Cameron. They seemed to be even
closer after the swimming pool kiss, and Sierra was even feeding
Cameron mini donuts. Jesus. His smug face was covered in cinnamon and
sugar.

I willed myself to stop thinking about her but there wasn't anything
else around to distract me. Even though there were thousands of
people streaming past, I felt utterly isolated.

I held on for another fifteen, twenty minutes. When Sierra wiped
Cam's face off with a napkin and giggled
—giggled!—I'd
had enough.
I was surprised I’d even lasted that long.

With hands clenched into fists and blood roaring in my ears, I walked
up to Sierra and tapped her on the shoulder. “Can I talk to you for
a second?”

Cameron narrowed his eyes. “What is it, Ash?”

“In private?” I said, only looking at Sierra.

“Why?” Sierra asked. Her lips were encrusted with sugar, and it
took every ounce of my self-control not to lick it all off in front
of Cameron.

“I want to talk about...the house. It's about the lease. I'll only
take a second, Cam.”

Cameron nodded. “Fine, I'll be with Mike and Jeremy.”

Once Cam left, I grabbed Sierra by the wrist and brought her over to
an isolated grove. The sounds from the festival faded away, and I
felt my muscles relax a little. I forced myself to unclench my jaw.

“You're worrying me, Asher. What's wrong with the lease?” Sierra
asked.

She really was clueless.

Without another word, I pushed her up against the tree and kissed
her. Deeply. Desperately. Threaded my fingers through her hair and
tugged. She let out a small moan, her fingers digging into my chest.

When I pulled away, she cried, “What the fuck, Asher?!”

Before she could slap me or worse, run off, I pinned her against the
tree harder, trapping her between my thighs so she could feel just
how much I wanted her. I wrapped my hands around her wrists and held
them down while I bit her bottom lip, teasing it open so I could
taste the sugar there. She stopped struggling and let me in, her
tongue flicking my cupid's bow. A throaty groan escaped from her, and
it was enough to make me instantly hard. I could feel her nipples
harden through her shirt and that alone nearly made me lose control.

Still holding her down I whispered, “You know how much I want you.
Ever since we first met, I've wanted you. So why are you torturing me
like this?”

Sierra looked away, her arms struggling to break free. “I'm not
torturing you. You're torturing yourself. We're not even dating or
anyth
—
”

I silenced her again with my mouth. My teeth tugged at her pretty
pink lips until they were swollen. Our noses brushed, our tongues
clicked, and I forgot the rest of the world existed. God, I wanted
her so fucking bad, I was ready to take her in the bushes right now.
Caveman style.

I pressed my raging arousal against her stomach, easing one of her
hands over it so she could feel my hot length for herself. She gasped
a little when her fingers touched me
—I
was ready to be inside her, this second. And she knew it.

“Stop, Asher. This isn't right. It's not the time or the place.”

“Let the world see. I don't fucking care. You're mine, Sierra.
Don't go back to Cameron.”

“How can you say that?” she said. “He's your best friend.”

“You know you're way better off with me. Cameron will only hurt
your feelings,” I said. “We have unbelievable chemistry; don't
tell me you don't feel it.”

“And how do you know I don't have chemistry with Cameron?” Sierra
demanded.

“Do you?” I challenged.

Sierra shook my hands away. “Maybe I do. Maybe I don't. It's none
of your goddamn business, Asher.”

She was about to leave when I ran up to her and hugged her from
behind, my large, warm hands wrapped around her waist. “Please,
Sierra.” My lips were inches from her earlobe. “Don't go.”

Something softened in her when I used the magic word. Her whole body
relaxed and melted into mine. “Asher. Stop. People are staring,”
she murmured.

“I'll stop when you give me what I want,” I continued.

“Well, aren't you demanding?” Her voice sounded...playful.
Gentle.

“Will you go out with me? On a proper date?” I asked. “I'll
make it worth your while.”

“I promised Cameron I'd have dinner with him as a thank you for
bringing me here,” she said.

“Well how about after this weekend? You can explain to him you're
not interested and let him down gently.”

“I was never really that interested in him,” Sierra finally
admitted. “I just wanted to get you riled up.”

“Well, that wasn't very nice of you.”

“Call it payback,” Sierra explained. “Since I caught him dating
another girl at the same time as me. I mean we weren't exclusive or
anything, but he could've at least mentioned he was seeing someone
else.”

“I'm sorry you had to go through that,” I said. Cameron did have
a habit of jumping from girl to girl. “Cam's a great guy when he's
not an asshole.”