Page 14 of What I Like About You

Chapter Six

Zara wasn’t exactlysure what to call the feeling that washed over her as she watched CC de Milo paw at Dalton. She wanted to scream, cry, and throw up all at the same time. Just because there was a point in time she had wanted to have her hands all over him like that did not mean she should be feeling this way now. How is it that one guy, whom she hadn’t seen in a decade, could still affect her this much?

She really shouldn’t have been surprised by his behavior though. She’d witnessed it last night at the pool as well. Dalton Sutherland was still the same flirt he always was. He was fully aware of the power he held with that perfect smile of his, and it was a power he wielded effortlessly. Tearing her gaze away from him, she turned her focus back to the group she was standing among and casually slipped her hand into Antwan’s. After all, he was supposed to be her boyfriend. Should they not have some PDA?

Antwan glanced briefly at their now-joined hands out of the corner of his eye. Zara could tell he wanted to say something but stopped himself. Despite him being her best friend and one true confidant, standing here like this with him was doing nothing to calm her down. It also wasn’t erasing that strange feeling that had now made its way to the pit of her stomach. If anything, it might be making it worse.

“Hi everyone!” Drea called out, trying to gain everyone’s attention. “I know I’ve already said it like, a dozen times, but I’m so happy you’re here for the opening of Cherish Spa!”

The small group gave a round of applause, and Zara could see a slight blush creep up the cute little brunette’s face.

“Tonight we have a great selection of rums to enjoy. To help you experience them, I have paired each one up with an Indigo Royal team member who will walk you through what makes each rum special. Dalton will be around to give you a souvenir tasting glass.”

Zara watched as he made the rounds, handing each person a purple ombre shot glass. Her pulse started to speed up as he got closer to them, flashing that megawatt smile to each person he talked to. Her girlie parts tingled a bit at the thought of that smile, and she cursed her body for its betrayal. As he inched closer to them, seeming to save her and Antwan for last, her mind tried to rehearse what she would say when he got there. Was just sticking to “thanks” enough? Or would he expect more of a conversation? Could she ever have a conversation with him?

Before she even had a chance to find out, CC de Milo swooped in to talk to him. She was standing mere inches from him and leaning slightly inward, as if trying to close the gap as much as socially acceptable when standing in a group like this. The model’s shrill giggle cut through the air like an ax thrown at a target, and Zara had to turn away. It was bad enough she was going to have to listen to it, she didn’t need to actually see it with her own eyes on top of it. Squeezing Antwan’s hand a little, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wouldn’t let him get to her. She was not going to be a pile of goo, or however Antwan had put it that morning. She wasn’t a teenager anymore. Dalton Sutherland didn’t matter to her anymore.

“Rum?” a deep voice with a British accent asked, cutting into her thoughts. Zara turned to see Cullen Cruz standing there holding up a bottle of alcohol, ready to pour.

“Oh, ummm,” she said, trying to find her words.

“We never got our glasses,” Antwan said, answering for her, smiling flirtatiously at the man.

Cullen grumbled something under his breath that Zara couldn’t quite make out before walking over to where Dalton stood with CC still all but literally hanging off his body. Cullen grabbed the two remaining shot glasses from his friend and returned, handing them to Zara and Antwan.

“Now,” he said, as he poured the caramel-colored liquid. “This is a dark rum, spiced with notes of tobacco and honey.”

“How do you spice something with tobacco?” Zara asked.

“To be honest, I couldn’t tell you. All I know is that was what the note I was given said. But, it goes down pretty smooth, so no complaints from me.”

“Cheers, then!” Antwan said, raising his glass before throwing back the entire shot. “Damn, that’s strong!”

Zara simply giggled, taking a small sip. It was strong, but Cullen hadn’t been lying—it did go down rather smooth.

“Are you enjoying your stay so far?” Cullen asked.

“Everything has been wonderful.”

“I fully understand why you opted to never leave,” Antwan added. “I’m thinking that sounds like a pretty damn good idea right about now.”

“Well, I stayed for that stunning little blonde over there,” Cullen said, nodding toward a short blonde gal who was currently laughing at something the pair of travel agents had said. “She is the reason I get up every morning.”

Zara melted a little inside at his words. Listening to this big, tough professional athlete wax poetic over his woman was one of the most romantic things she’d ever witnessed. That was what she wanted for herself. That wasn’t asking too much, right? For someone to simply adore her more than anything else on this planet? She let out a little sigh, hoping her face didn’t give away the little pang of envy she was feeling.

“Well, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it.”

“Lovebirds?” Antwan repeated, furrowing his brow in confusion.

“Oh, did I misunderstand? I thought you two were a couple,” Cullen said, now sharing Antwan’s confused look.

“We are!” Zara said, maybe a little too quickly. “We are. It's just still new, so hearing people refer to us as a couple still throws us off at times.” She smiled brightly, hoping he bought her lame excuse.

"See, told you no one was buying it,” Antwan whispered to her as Cullen walked away.

“Ready for another?” Maeve asked, coming up behind them before Zara could respond to Antwan’s comment. "This rum had all the guys around here very excited, because it was aged in a bourbon barrel.”

“Damn…” Antwan muttered before taking a sip.