“You a friend of Mr. Kerrington’s? I saw you show up with him.”

“Can I help you Nelton?” Woods said just before he moved in behind me. I let out the sigh of relief. I hadn’t wanted to answer that.

“No, sir. I was just getting to know, Della.” Woods’ hand slipped around to the front of my stomach and he left it splayed there in a possessive gesture. Nelton didn’t miss it. His eyes widened and he nodded.

“Good to meet you, Della,” he replied. “See ya Mr. Kerrington.” Then he sauntered away.

“I can’t leave you alone for three minutes,” he said before taking a small nibble on my ear.

“Your tennis pro is creepy,” I told him.

Woods chuckled. “I agree but the cougars love him. I know for a fact he sleeps with several of them but it keeps them happy so we don’t let him go. Not good for business.”

I wasn’t sure what the cougars were but I didn’t ask. I needed to pee. I glanced around and there were no restrooms anywhere. I found Bethy and decided to go ask her. “I need to ask Bethy something. I’ll be back,” I said before hurrying off. I didn’t want to tell him I had to pee. I preferred to just ask Bethy.

She saw me headed her way alone and stepped out of Jace’s embrace and walked over to me.

“Hey, you okay?”

“Yes. I just need to pee. Where do we do that here?”

Bethy grinned and nodded her head out to the water where people were splashing around and swimming in the waves.

“In the gulf?” I asked confused.

She nodded.

Crap. I was in trouble.

I walked back over to Woods who was watching me closely. I was going to have to tell him, as frustrating and embarrassing as it was. Maybe I could walk down the beach a way then pee. No one would see me get in and know what I was doing.

A girl screamed that she had to go pee and ran out to the water. That was just gross.

I stopped in front of Woods and felt my face heat up. Discussing bodily functions with guys was just not something I was good at.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I ducked my head and took a deep breath. “I have to pee.”

He didn’t say anything at first and then he chuckled. “That’s why you ran off to find Bethy?”

I nodded.

“Why couldn’t you tell me?”

I kept my head down. “Because.”

He laughed harder and threaded his fingers through mine. “Did she tell you where to go?”

I nodded again.

He pulled me over to him. “Do you want me to take you home so you can pee?”

I did. I didn’t want to use the ocean. But I didn’t want us to have to leave either.

“Maybe I can go down the beach a ways and use it so no one sees me,” I suggested.

“Can I come with you?” he asked.

I shook my head. No way. That was just as bad.

“Just let me take you home.”

I could do this. “I’ll be back in a minute.” I assured him.

“I don’t like the idea of you getting in the water by yourself in the dark,” Woods said tightening his hold on my hand.

“But I need to pee. I’d be getting in by myself here and moving away from everyone if I did.”

Woods didn’t let go of my hand. “I don’t like it.”

I frowned up at him. “But I gotta go,” I told him.

“Then I’m taking you somewhere. Either I get to go down the beach too or I drive you to a restroom.”

I thought about it and decided I wasn’t going to be able to go out into the water and pee. I sighed in defeat. “Take me to a restroom.”

He grinned. “The closest one I can get you into is the house.”

“Then take me to the house.”

Woods

Della had asked me to wait on her in the truck. She didn’t want me to go inside with her so she could pee. I agreed to that. There had been no way I was letting her go get in dark water all alone but this I could do. However, after several minutes and Della not coming back out I decided I needed to go check on things. She’d had more than enough time to go pee.

When my foot hit the top step I heard Angelina’s familiar high-pitched voice. Shit. Her car wasn’t out here. What was she doing in my house?

I jerked the door open and stalked into my living room. Della stood there with her arms crossed protectively over her chest as she stood against the wall while Angelina continued to badger her with questions.

“What the f**k are you doing in my house?” I roared as I shoved past Angelina and grabbed Della so I could protect her. It was a miracle Angelina hadn’t sent Della into one of her panic attacks. I ran my hand down her back to soothe her as I glared at Angelina who was watching me closely.

“This is why? You threw away your future because of her? She works as a server at the club, Woods. What the hell are you thinking? Look at her. She’s… she’s… just all out there. Nothing about her fits you. Are you f**king her as a form of rebellion?”

Della flinched in my arms and I was real close to not caring that Angelina was a woman. I was ready to hurt her.

“Be very careful what you say. This is my house you broke into. I’ll have your ass locked up until your daddy can get here and bail you out.”

Della was stiff in my arms and I slid my finger under her chin and tilted her face up so I could see her eyes. She was with me. Good.

I looked back up at Angelina. “You need to leave. Don’t ever step foot back in this house. And stay away from Della. You talk to her or hurt her and you’ll regret it.”