1

Gina

The destruction of my life came in like a hurricane and left everything in its path crushed and trying to survive beneath the rubble.

Moving to Silverlake, a small seaside town, differed from my plan. However, when I graduated from university, Amalia told me that her hometown was the perfect place to build a life. She used to sing the praises of the beaches and tell me how pleasant the winters were since it stayed warm and never snowed.

Now that I was in the town and looking around, waiting for the movers to arrive with the few things I had left to my name, it seemed even quieter than she had described.

I sighed and ran my hand through my dark curls, staring at the waves that crashed against the white sand beach. The scent of saltwater hung thick in the air as fog crawled across the ground. Gulls cried overhead before swooping down to the water.

“There you are!”

When I turned around, Amalia was running down the boardwalk that lined the beach, her blonde hair streaming out behind her. I barely had time to brace myself before she threw herself at me.

“I missed you! I can’t believe that you’re finally here! Isn’t Silverlake everything that I’ve ever told you about?” She laughed and hugged me tight, swaying slightly on her feet.

“It sure is something,” I said, hugging her before stepping back. “What I can believe is that we haven’t seen each other since graduation.”

Amalia shrugged and looped her arm through mine. “You were off in the big city getting engaged to a professional baseball player, and I was here starting to build my little fashion line.”

“And look at how that engagement turned out?” I rolled my eyes. “Now I’m single, and the only reason I still have a job is because you got me a paid internship with your dad. Which I’m grateful for, by the way. It is the first step toward building out my career.”

Amalia pulled me down the boardwalk. “Don’t mention it? Have you gone to see the apartment yet?”

“Nope. I was waiting for the movers to give me a call. They were supposed to be in town today, but with how late it’s getting. I doubt that’s going to happen.”

“Give them a call. You can stay with me at my dad’s house until the movers show up with your things.”

“Are you sure he won’t mind? He had already arranged that apartment for me and gave me a job. I don’t want to impose more on him than I already have.”

Amalia rolled her eyes. “Don’t worry about it. You haven’t imposed on him at all. I told him he had to help my best friend, and he agreed.”

“I don’t know. I could stay at a hotel.”

“Call the movers; then we’re going to my house to drink so you can catch me up on everything that’s happened.”

“Well,” I said, smiling as the sun broke through the clouds overhead. “If you want to hear about everything that’s been happening in the last two years, I will need a lot of drinks. It’s been a shit show.”

Amalia laughed and shrugged. “Life happens. Things can only go up from here.”

I nodded and pulled out my phone, talking to the movers while she led me away from the beach and toward the small downtown area. I was frustrated and ready for a drink when I confirmed with the movers that they would not be here tonight.

Amalia paused outside an old white stone building with large windows framed in black. Twin doors rose high at the front of the building, large panes of glass giving a view into the building. A few different seating areas had beige leather couches and chairs to match.

A woman sat at the front desk, but she smiled when she looked up and saw Amalia. Amalia pulled open the door, towing me inside with her.

“Hey, Shelby, this is Gina. She’s going to be starting work here next week. Is Dad around so I can introduce them?”

“In his office.” Shelby glanced at me, offering me a small smile. “Nice to meet you. I’ll be the one meeting with you on your first day.”

“Thanks.”

Amalia took off down the hall, walking by several meetings room encased with paned glass walls. I glanced at the long tables inside, all looking like they were made of smooth cement and surrounded by dark yellow chairs.

The office looked sleek and modern, like someone had spent much time thinking about the design and what would appeal more to a younger crowd.

Amalia turned down a hall before stopping at a pair of black French doors. She knocked on the glass before walking inside and motioning for me to follow her.

The man behind a massive black desk looked up as we entered the room. When he saw Amalia, he smiled and stood up, rounding the desk to pull her into a hug.

“Hey, Dad,” Amalia said as she hugged him before stepping away.

“I don’t have much time to talk,” he said, sitting back at his desk. “I have a meeting in several minutes.”

Amalia rolled her eyes. “You’re being rude. Meet Gina. She’s the intern that starts next week.”

He looked at me and nodded before returning to the papers before him. Amalia sighed and gave me an apologetic smile.

“Gina, this is my dad, Brandon.”

Brandon sighed and sat back in his chair, looking between us. His mouth formed a thin line, and his blue eyes narrowed. His jaw was strong and sharp, and my heart skipped a beat when his gaze turned to me.

He was hot for a father, even if he was rude.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Same. I’m serious, Amalia. I have work that I need to do for this meeting.”

“Alright, see you later.”

I waited until we left his office before I turned to her. “You want me to work with that? Amalia, I’m sure he’s a nice man, but he has the personality of printer paper.”

Amalia laughed and shook her head. “I promise that he’s not normally like that. He has some property he’s trying to buy, and the guy who owns it keeps blowing him off.”

“Doesn’t Mateoer. A job is a job. I’ll smile my way through it.”

“That’s the spirit!” Amalia said, looping her arm through mine as we walked through the building and returned outside. “Now, to the liquor!”

“There is no way he said that to you when you walked in and caught him!” Amalia’s eyes were wide, and her beer nearly spilled onto the floor as she jumped around, dancing to the music blasting through the speakers.

I laughed and twirled around with my hands over my head, the alcohol making my mind fuzzy. “He did. He thought it was fine that he was cheating on me because he’s famous, andthat’s when men like him do.”

“I hate him.” Amalia stopped dancing long enough to take a long sip of her beer. “You were always too good for him.”

“Yeah, but sometimes I wonder if that’s how every relationship will go. He isn’t the first man that cheated on me, but I thought that things would be different with him. He seemed like he loved me a lot.”

“He’s an asshole, and so are those other men.”

Amalia whipped her hair around in a circle, laughing as she nearly fell over. The front door opened and closed with a loud bang.

I turned around, moving my hips with the music, and smiled at Brandon. He stood in the living room doorway, his arms crossed over his chest. Though I tried not to notice the way his dress shirt molded to his muscled arms, it was impossible not to.

He raised an eyebrow, the frown on his face disapproving. His gaze drifted to Amalia, standing on the couch with her arms over her head. When he looked back at me, his eyes narrowed.

What the hell is his problem?

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my beer bottle from the table, chugging it before setting the empty bottle back down. Brandon sighed and shook his head before walking out of the room.

Amalia laughed and jumped off the couch, pretending to play an air guitar. I laughed and shook my head. In addition to the beer, we had been doing shots and eating pizza. My mind was fuzzy, and the entire room was spinning.

It had been a long time since I had this much fun. I adjusted the silk camisole I wore, pulling it up slightly as I dropped down onto the couch. My shorts rose somewhat higher as I crossed one leg over the other, watching Amalia pour another round of shots.

“I need more pizza first,” I said, lurching.

Amalia threw back her shot as I made my way into the kitchen. Walking felt strange like I was trying to balance on a rolling ocean.

Brandon was standing in the kitchen when I walked in. He was leaning back against the counter and sipping at his beer bottle. I looked at him before going across the kitchen to the pizza box.

With every step, I felt his gaze burning into my back. It sent shivers down my spine. When I turned around after grabbing a slice of pizza, Brandon was still looking at me.

His gaze traveled slowly down my body, pausing on my chest before his eyes met mine. Desire flooded straight to my core as he gave me a heated look. At that moment, I was picturing what would happen if he pushed me back against the counter and kissed me.

I wondered what crossing that line with the much older man standing before me would be like.

At that exact second, I heard Amalia calling my name. Heat rose to my cheeks as I fled from the kitchen. Even as I walked away, I felt Brandon staring at me. Part of me wanted to return to the kitchen and discover what would happen if I did.

As I walked back into the living room, I felt slightly guilty as I sat down and ate my pizza while Amalia continued to dance.

There is no way I’m telling Amalia that I want to sleep with her dad.