02

His mouth quirked in amusement before he backed up a step and tugged his sweater off. « Here. You can put this on if you like. »

I held the sweater in my hand, feeling its softness and the body heat it still retained. « It’s going to get wet. »

« It’s too late to worry about that now, » he said, gesturing to his jeans that already had some damp spots from when I’d collided with him.

He had a point so I argued no further and slipped the sweater on. It smelled of him—warm and clean with just the faintest hint of spice. I decided I wasn’t giving it back.

« Thank you, » I said, freeing my wet, wiry curls from the low bun I’d gathered them in. I shook a little bit of the water out and tried to fluff what I could of them. « Okay. Now that my hair’s down and the tits have been put away, tell me what I can do for you. »

« First of all, happy birthday, Kady Lynn, » he said, not the least bothered by my blunt language. Or if he was, he didn’t show it.

« It’s just Kady unless you’re my mother. »

He gave me a wry smile. « Definitely not her. »

« Good. I’d hate to find myself flirting with my mother. »

He laughed and I grinned. Well, at least he didn’t deny my declaration. We were definitely flirting. I hadn’t thought Stellan Cartwright capable of it before. Well, except if you considered a scientific lecture somewhat seductive—which, coming from those lips, would undoubtedly be.

« Kady it is, then. »

I shouldn’t have been surprised that he knew who I was although we’ve never been introduced before.

« I didn’t mean to crash your birthday party. »

« Clearly or you wouldn’t have worn so many clothes, » I quipped, not even regretting the unintentional innuendo.

Stellan’s lips pursed slightly as if he was trying not to grin. « I still would’ve worn enough. »

I wrinkled my nose. « I had a little bit more on earlier but my good friend, Sidney, wants to raise some money for his rehab centre. Everyone agreed to pitch in at least a hundred dollars if we can get twenty people to dive nude. »

« Ah. It was for a good cause then. »

I raised a brow. « You think I just run around practically naked for shits ? »

« I think you do whatever it is you want to do, » he answered and I almost applauded him for his diplomacy. And accuracy. Smart guy and not just with the books.

« Charity aside, I only do it for no less than six figures, » I quipped, flashing my sweetest smile. « Gotta keep the value up to preserve demand especially on something with such limited shelf life. »

Stellan didn’t seem like a prude but I could tell he was fighting not to take the bait. « Their value might be assigned a number based on whatever industry standards dictate but they’re still only a fraction of a magnificent whole—one whose value is too precious it can’t be determined by an economical assessment and plotted on a graph. »

Never have those words sounded so sexy strung together. And we started out talking about my tits.

I couldn’t walk away even if I was making a cake of myself.

« I’d contribute double if you want to do a turn, » I teased. « And I probably won’t be the only one. »

A hint of pink crept on Stellan’s cheeks. « I’ll double your double contribution if it means I don’t have to. »

« I consider that official so make sure to find Sid before you leave, » I said, motioning to a shirtless, muscular guy standing by the other side of the pool. « That’s the dude with the silver hair over there. »

If Stellan thought I was being outrageous, he didn’t seem to mind. He just smiled, nodded and said, « Will do. »

« So… now that I’ve successfully made you uncomfortable and fleeced four hundred dollars from you, tell me what you’re here for, » I said with the brightest smile I could manage.

« I’m looking for my friend, Max Croft, » he answered. « He told me he was going to be here but when I came to pick him up, someone at the door told me he’s not around. Before I could leave, they grabbed me and dragged me inside. »

Of course they did. The Cobalt Bay Billionaires—four of the city’s richest, most good-looking bachelors—were always a welcome addition to any respectable party.

« Max never showed up which is actually a real shame, » I said with genuine regret because I liked the blond giant. He flirted around a lot but he was never disrespectful. And he was always funny. « Maybe something came up. Or he found another party that’s just way more fun than us. »

Stellan frowned. « Maybe although that’s strange. This seems exactly like his kind of scene. »

I smirked. « What ? A party with unlimited alcohol and topless women ? »

« Not sure being topless is a requirement, » Stellan said with a shake of his head. « According to Max, it’s practically inevitable when he woos a woman. »

« Woo ? » I said with a snort. « Sure, let’s use that shortcut for what he really does which is woo-manizing. »

« That works too, » Stellan agreed good-naturedly, holding his hands up in mock resignation. « He might be one of my best friends but I’m not blind to his faults. »

« Not sure he calls it a fault, » I said. « Although you probably see it as one. You’re not the type to do his kind of woo-ing. »

« I’m just tainted by association, » he admitted although his smile told me he didn’t really mind sharing his friends’ notorious playboy reputation. Friends as in plural because three out of four in their little billionaire boy band were reputed playboys. Anyone who didn’t look closely would count Stellan along with them.

« Speaking of tainted by association, » I said, sobering up just a little. Because… reality. « You and I have been standing here together too long with some of the city’s biggest gossips watching. If you don’t want to headline the local tabloid as my flavor of the week, you better turn around and either leave or keep a good distance. »

Stellan frowned. « It can’t be that bad. It’s just a five-minute conversation. »

I raised a brow. « I’m wearing your sweater. And I practically did water art on it with my boobs when you still had it on. As far as they’re concerned, we’ve already done it up and down and sideways during that five-minute conversation. »

« What ? I can’t be that one guy you don’t sleep with for once ? »

Even though we weren’t really moving, it felt like we both came to an abrupt halt at his statement.

I suddenly felt chilled even though my face got hot as if it had just been slapped. « Guess you are—not that it makes any difference in what’s obviously a scandalous number of men I hop into bed with. »

Stellan winced. « I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I was trying to be—« 

« Kady ! There you are ! »

Rachel swung into that conversation like a wrecking ball which was probably for the best considering how swiftly it deteriorated with one careless comment that unfortunately told me all I needed to know about what Stellan Cartwright really thought about me.

I was angry—angrier than I probably would’ve been had it been someone else because I had actually expected better of this man—but I couldn’t blame him. What the world knew of me was a combination of things I fostered and things I didn’t do anything about. They equalled each other in consequences.

« Stellan Cartwright, what a surprise to see you here ! » Rachel declared cheerfully, her eyes widening almost comically as if she’d just walked in on an overflowing platter of food. Or maybe not because Rachel only ever eats carrot sticks. Yes, it’s technically food but without the fun of it. Stellan Cartwright would be more like a Carrie Bradshaw walk-in closet to Rachel.