Lawson eventually rolls to the side and sprawls out beside me. “So freaking glad we didn’t press pause.”
“So much same.” I lie there, basking in the glory of orgasm ecstasy.
“C’mere.” He slides his arm under me and pulls me closer.
I pull the sheets up and rest my head on his chest. “That was fun.”
“It really was.” He kisses my forehead and drags his fingers lightly up and down my arm. “Do you have your own room for the weekend?”
“I think Cosy reserved a yurt for me.” I prop my chin on his pec. “Do you want to yurt with me tomorrow night?”
“That sounds like a messed-up sex position.” He points to the one currently situated over his crotch. “This one, in fact.”
I grin. “So that’s a yes, then?”
“That’s absolutely a yes.”
Want to learn more about the Dude in Distress characters?
Check out The Shacking Up Series
BY HELENA HUNTING
SHACKING UP SERIES
Shacking Up
Getting Down (Novella)
Hooking Up
I Flipping Love You
Making Up
Handle with Care
PUCKED SERIES
Pucked (Pucked #1)
Pucked Up (Pucked #2)
Pucked Over (Pucked #3)
Forever Pucked (Pucked Book #4)
Pucked Under (Pucked #5)
Pucked Off (Pucked #6)
Pucked Love (Pucked #7)
AREA 51: Deleted Scenes & Outtakes
Get Inked
Pucks & Penalties
THE CLIPPED WINGS SERIES
Cupcakes and Ink
Clipped Wings
Between the Cracks
Inked Armor
Cracks in the Armor
Fractures in Ink
STANDALONE NOVELS
The Librarian Principle
Felony Ever After
FOREVER ROMANCE STANDALONES
The Good Luck Charm
Meet Cute
Kiss my Cupcake (August 2020)
All IN SERIES
A Lie for a Lie
A Favor for a Favor
A Secret for a Secret
ABOUT HELENA HUNTING
NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.
CONTACT HELENA HUNTING
WEBSITE
GOODREADS
NEWSLETTER
“WELCOME TO PARADISE!”
It’s the first thing I hear as I unfurl my limbs from the back of the taxi and stand to face the entrance of the hotel.
Paradise. Right.
I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months now. Tulum, Mexico, has been on my must-see destination list for years, and I finally convinced my friends to join me on vacation here. There was originally a whole group of us coming: my best friend, Natalie; her husband, Connor; and their daughter, Noelle. Then Natalie thought it’d be fun to add her brother, Noah, to the mix. After all, he’s best friends with Connor. It just made sense to include him.
I panicked at the prospect of Noah joining us, so I immediately invited my boyfriend, Von, as well.
We booked one of the hotel’s family villas. Three bedrooms, three bathrooms—lots of space to spread out and avoid my best friend’s hot older brother.
I thought I’d survive just fine, but then they started to drop like flies.
Connor had a last-minute work thing he couldn’t get out of.
Noelle came down with a double ear infection and Natalie didn’t feel safe traveling with her outside of the country, especially without Connor.
Von is…also not here.
So that leaves me and Noah.
On vacation together in a tropical paradise.
“Welcome to The Beach!” The hotel’s curbside attendant smiles and holds out a huge pink hibiscus, which he apparently wants me to tuck behind my ear based on his enthusiastic gestures. I do it, nestling it in my long blonde waves, even though it feels a little corny. I also accept the jalapeño margarita he hands me, warning myself to take it slow even though I’m tempted to shotgun the thing on the spot. I already had some drinks on the flight down from Boston in preparation for my inevitable face-off with Noah. If I don’t pace myself, it’ll end up being a face-plant.
“I’ve got your luggage,” the attendant tells me. “You can head into the lobby and check in.”
I nod and thank him for the help before ascending the shallow concrete steps toward the front of the hotel. Lush plants grow on the perimeter of the stairs, making it feel like I’m stepping into a treehouse rather than a five-star resort. The lobby has no walls. Instead, lightweight white linens drape down from the ceiling of the thatched-roof hut, tied up against the support posts to allow the ocean breeze to carry in off the water.
Rattan chairs pair with sofas and trendy coffee tables. The common area is filled with guests checking in and out, so I’m not immediately aware of Noah sitting on a chair facing me. Then I hear him call my name.
“Lindsey!”
My stomach squeezes tight as my gaze locks on him.
It never gets easier.
Looking at him, that is.
Natalie likens her brother’s appearance to a moody French model. She only means it to be teasing, but it is, in fact, heartbreakingly true. His cheekbones are almost obscenely chiseled, and his brows are as dark as his artfully tousled hair. He rises out of the seat, drawing a few curious stares as he walks toward me.
He’s wearing shorts and a loose white linen shirt with the top two buttons undone. A red hibiscus sits in his breast pocket, a splash of color that draws my attention only for a moment before I continue my quick perusal of him.
He shouldn’t already look so tan and handsome—we only just arrived here. Some of us are still one shade shy of eggshell.
He towers over me as he draws near, and I have to resist the urge to withdraw. My gaze focuses on his lips as he smiles.
We don’t touch.
We’re usually careful not to. At least I am.
“Did the attendant grab your luggage?” he asks, glancing behind me.
I nod. “Yes. Did you already check in?”
His dark eyes snap back to mine and seem to carry a sense of amusement when he replies, “I was waiting for you.”
So then we’re really going to do this.
Vacationing together.
What could possibly go wrong?
Noah and I have known each other for years. He came into my life because of my friendship with his
