Heaven With You by Rebecca Julia Lauren Page A

even thinking about the pervert. “There are plenty of men on the beach Cora.”
    “But you don’t know any of them. None of them stand a chance with you, because if they did you’d cover yourself up like a nun. I’m beginning to think you’re not as experienced with men as you let on.”
    “I never said I was experienced.”
    “You implied it.”
    I finished off my flute of wine. “Experience is relative, and since you’re still holding you’re V-card, I am experienced compared to you.”
    “Leave her alone, Cora.”
    “It’s fine, Ellie.” I didn’t mind Cora’s bluntness. Actually, I liked the honesty and appreciated that I didn’t ever have to wonder what she was thinking because she always spoke her mind.
    Maybe I didn’t need a therapist after all since I was spending so much time discussing my screwed up past. “If you really want to know, I’ve been with three guys.”
    “That’s it. You’re not much more than a virgin yourself.”
    “You haven’t been getting any more texts from Scott, have you?” Ellie asked worriedly.
    “No. They just stopped.”
    “Too bad you had to go to the police to get his attention,” Cora told me.
    Guilt flooded me. They assumed I’d reported Scott’s threatening texts to the police, and I wasn’t going to tell them differently. I didn’t want them worrying, and it wasn’t an issue anymore because Scott had finally forgotten about me.
    “I know he’s a respected doctor, but something was off about him. He was too intense and always bossing you around. And he put out serious creep-vibe that I couldn’t ignore.”
    “It’s over now,” I assured them. Thank goodness it was.
    We polished off two bottles of wine, listened to music and talked. Some time later, I heard Ellie say, “Looks like Dad had the same idea as us.”
    Just like that my skin started tingling.
    “Who’s the woman he’s with?” Cora asked.
    “Sierra. She’s the Chief’s wife’s friend, and she’s got a thing for Dad.”
    My eyes popped open and I saw Hunter’s boat floating along the shore, and him placing big hands around the waist of a blonde in a skimpy white bikini as he helped her out of the boat. They were with two other guys and women.
    Ellie and Cora seemed to know all of them.
    Since I was wearing sunglasses, I stared openly at Hunter, my eyes hungrily drinking him in like it had been years since I’d seen him instead of just this morning.
    Wearing a gray t-shirt that molded to his perfect body, blue swim trunks and mirrored sunglasses, I couldn’t tear my eyes off of him.
    Sierra stumbled against him and he caught her around the waist, glanced down and said something that made her laugh. The sound grated on my nerves.
    Had I really offered to set this man up with women? I had to be the biggest fool alive because he obviously needed no help in that department. Why had he even agreed to my crazy deal? The mortifying answer was glaringly obvious to me now—Hunter McAllister thought that I needed help finding a date.
    The two men and women Hunter was with strolled up to us, greeting Ellie and Cora before turning to me. Hunter and Sierra lagged behind.
    “This is Isabelle,” Ellie told them before turning to me. “Isabelle this is Charlie, Katie, Matt and Robyn.”
    I smiled. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
    At last Hunter and Sierra reached us. “Hey Ellie! Cora! Wow! Ya’ll have got everything set up here! Mind if we join you?”
    Wow, indeed. Did every sentence this woman utter end with an exclamation mark?
    “Be our guests,” Ellie said politely.
    “Absolutely! We’d love to have you!” Cora exclaimed back at Sierra.
    I had to force myself not to smile. Katie and Robyn seemed amused as well.
    Hunter said hello to Ellie and Cora before turning his attention to me. Even through the shades I felt his eyes on me.
    Sierra stepped in front of Hunter and offered me her hand. “I’m Sierra! It’s awesome to meet you!”
    Standing up, I took her hand and offered