Submit (Surrender #2)(44)
Author: Melody Anne

“Do you know what Rafe and Shane are up to today?” Lia asked.

“I don’t have a clue,” Ari answered. Rafe had been gone when she woke up. She assumed their fight was over, but she never knew with him. He ran hot and cold too often for her to be a good judge of his character.

“Why, Lia? Are you wanting to see Shane?”

“No! It’s not that; I was just curious,” she answered defensively.

“Oh, the heck with them. You promised me we’d get to go swimming. It’s a hot day, and I can use the sun, so let’s just relax. I’m sure Ari’s all for that.”

“Yes. That sounds perfect.”

“Good, then its settled,” Rachel said. “Let’s run to the room and change and then get some sun. We can explore after dark.”

“OK, the two of you win. I want you to know that I’m going against my will.”

“Quit being such a sore loser, Lia. I’m sure you’ll see your lover boy, Shane, again real soon.”

Rachel took off running as Lia went to smack her. Ari hung back laughing at the sibling rivalry. The two were so charming and full of life.

It didn’t take the three of them long to change into their swimsuits, and soon they were off to the pool. As they stepped outside, music could be heard drifting toward them. There were a few pools at the hotel, but as soon as Rachel found out which one had a live DJ, she tugged them in that direction.

“This looks like a scene from every spring break special I’ve ever seen,” Ari grumbled as she looked around at the bikini-clad women dancing alongside the pool, with shirtless guys trying to decide which girl was catching their eye the most.

The pool was filled with nearly na**d bodies playing a round of volleyball, and it looked as if there wasn’t any available space anywhere. Ari had planned on a nap, but she didn’t think she was likely to find a lounge chair in the massive crowd.

As if Rachel could read her thoughts, she turned and gave Ari a wink. “Don’t worry, darling, I’ll get us lounges.” With that, she sauntered through the crowd, and Ari had no choice but to follow behind.

As she and Rachel went in search of a comfortable place to sit, Lia went to find them drinks. After her headache last night, Ari didn’t want to taste another alcoholic drink again, but as the sun beamed down on her, she was willing to give up her ban on liquor just as long as it was icy cold.

“Right there,” Rachel said with a Cheshire Cat grin. Ari followed her gaze to where three young guys were sitting on lounge chairs chatting.

With an exaggerated swing to her hips, Rachel approached them, gaining all three of their eyes as she walked right up without any lack of self-confidence blocking her goal.

“Hey, boys. How’re you doing?” she asked as she gave each of them a direct look before trailing a manicured finger across her stomach. Ari had to hold in the laughter as their eyes took in her petite yet luscious figure.

“Great. How about you?” one of the guys finally responded after putting his tongue back inside his mouth.

“Oh, I’m OK. It’s just so hot out here and my feet are killing me, but my two girlfriends and I just got here. It’s too bad we might have to leave for the other pool, though,” she said with an exaggerated pout.

At her words, the guys looked up and connected eyes with Lia before their heads whipped back to Rachel, and then bobbed between the two of them as if they couldn’t figure out whom to keep their eyes on. Ari shifted uncomfortably on her feet as she tried to hide behind Rachel, but her friend turned around and grabbed her arm, yanking her forward before turning back to the guys.

“You don’t have to go. We’d be glad to share our lounges with you,” one of them said as he jumped up and placed his hand against Rachel’s back to lead her to his spot.

“You don’t have to do that…Wait, I haven’t even gotten your name yet,” Rachel said as she trailed her nail between his pecs.

“It…it’s Lance,” the guy stuttered. The poor kid couldn’t have been older than twenty-one.

“Mmm, I like that name…Lance,” she cooed. “What are you doing in Vegas?”

“It’s my birthday weekend. These are my fraternity brothers, Alan and Dixon.”

“Wow, all of you have such sexy names. I’m so glad to have run into you today. This heat is killing me…” she pointedly said as she looked over toward the bar.

“We’ll get some drinks. What would you like?” Alan piped in.

“Ohh, such a tough choice. How about you surprise us? My sister should be back any minute now.”

The three of them practically tripped over themselves as they made a rush to the bar, arguing about who got to buy the drinks.

“Have a seat, Ari,” Rachel said as she lay back with a huge smile of satisfaction on her face.

Ari had to close her mouth before she guiltily dropped down into her stolen lounge. “I can’t believe how good you were at that, Rachel. You had them willing to do anything you asked,” she finally gasped.

“I was the baby of the family and learned quickly that guts and guile got me a lot further than crying or begging. It’s helped me a lot in life.”

“You’re terrible, but this lounge does feel pretty nice.”

“The best part is that there are countless females all over here, so after a few more beers, the frat boys will lose interest in us after I suddenly become boring. Then, they’ll run off and play with girls their own age.”

“Nice chairs, sis. How did you manage this?” Lia said as she came up and handed them each a tall glass with fruit floating in it.

“Your sister’s unbelievable flirting ability,” Ari replied as she took a sip and then sighed in pleasure at the sweet, cold taste.

“Yes, Rachel is better than anyone I know at getting what she wants from men. I don’t know how she’s still single.”

“Because I don’t want to settle down with just one guy. I want to flirt with them all and then leave them wanting.”

The three of them laughed while they sipped on their drinks and soaked up the sun. Soon, the guys were back, and panting at their feet. Surprisingly, Ari found herself laughing at some of their stories. She did grow bored with them after a while, but that’s when she laid her head back and tried to tune out the crowd and get some rest.

*****

“You have got to be kidding me!”

“What’s wrong, Rafe?”