In The Dark Read online

  Please. You’re renting the house for the summer. You’re such a rich bitch you prefer to go on vacation alone.

  That sounds ridiculous. What twenty-one-year old wants to vacation on her own? I need to get rid of the photos. Thank God none of them are on the walls. I can just…scoop them up, hide them in a closet and pretend I live there. I need to come up with some sort of explanation as to why I’m by myself in this giant house but I’ll worry about that later.

  “You sure?” he asks carefully.

  “Yeah. Nine o’clock.” I flash him a smile, trying my best to ignore the nervous flutters in my stomach. “Don’t be late.”

  I move through the house, methodically removing anything personal that belongs to the people who actually own this chrome and glass monstrosity. If it’s not bolted down, it’s going in the hall closet, dumped in a box I found out in the garage.

  Luckily enough there aren’t many photos downstairs of the family. And there’s nothing bolted down so I avoided that particular scenario.

  At eight Mama called but I ignored it. Five minutes later she called again. And again when another five minutes passed. Until finally at eight-fifteen I had to pick up the call.

  “I’m busy,” I say as introduction. I’m rifling through the clothes I brought with me while I was on house sitting duty, wondering what I could wear that would impress Mr. GQ.

  Nothing. I have nothing that would knock his socks off. My Target clothes can only take me so far and most of them are pretty boring.

  “You are never too busy to check in with me,” she says, sounding firm. Sounding super pissed off. My mother has always ruled with an iron fist and I’ve always let her. “I haven’t heard from you.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s been two days since we last actually talked. And I texted you yesterday morning.”

  She makes a dismissive noise, one I’ve heard many times before. “You check in with me every single day, mija. You know that’s part of the rules.”

  More eye rolling. She treats me like I’m a little kid instead of a grown ass woman, which is what I happen to be at the ripe old age of just turned twenty-one. “Sorry Mama.”

  “Humph. I hear the sarcasm in your voice. I know you think it’s foolish to have to check in with me but you’re all alone out there in a strange neighborhood. Away from me for the first time in your life.” She throws in a sniff for good measure, like she might be crying.

  Yeah, right.

  “A gated neighborhood,” I stress. “Full of rich people who don’t care about me. I’m invisible around here.” Which I have been—with the exception of a certain next door neighbor who’s been spying on me.

  “One of their rich sons would care if he got a good look at you!” She’s a mind reader. “My pretty girl all alone out there with them and no one to defend you. I know what they’re like. I’ve worked in enough houses over the years to see how those boys behave. Just like their no good fathers!”

  I think of my GQ boy. Mama would probably lump him in with the rest of the perverted, no good sons of their rich, no good fathers. He was nice. Disgustingly attractive. And I liked the way he looked at me. Though my mother probably wouldn’t.

  “I’m not out flirting with rich boys,” I reassure her, which is mostly true. The rich boy flirted with me. “I stick around the house most of the day and swim. Lay out by the pool and read.” Put on a show for the neighbor.

  “Sounds boring.”

  “You just said you wanted to keep me safe,” I point out. “I don’t go out much and put myself at risk. Isn’t that being safe?”

  “There’s safe and then there’s boring, Lucy. And you’re definitely venturing into the boring category.” She pauses, letting me fume for a few seconds before she continues. “You should go out to the beach! Take up a craft! Are there some summer courses you can take at the university?”

  “Mama!” I cut her off, checking the time. I need to go. Figure out what I’m going to wear before my date shows up. “I’m taking the summer off from school, remember? And I’m earning a lot of money now so I can have plenty when the fall semester starts.”

  I’m on my own from now on. After three years at the community college close to my home, I’m transferring to Santa Augustina State University as a junior. Two more years of intense studying, maybe three, and then I’m done, with a bachelor’s degree in hand and hopefully a solid career in my future.

  I’ve earned a couple of scholarships and saved some money. I don’t want to take a student loan but I might have to. This is why I took on the house sitting job. It’s an insane amount of money for minimal work.

  Mama sighs. “I don’t like you being so far away. It makes me think irrational thoughts.”

  “And makes you say irrational, conflicting things,” I add. “I need to go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

  “Where are you going at this time of night?” Mama asks shrilly.

  “It’s not even nine o’clock. And I’m not going anywhere.” Oh, crap. I can’t tell her about Gabe coming over. “I’m uh, having a friend over.” Whoops, I just told her about Gabe coming over.

  “Who is this friend? And how did you suddenly gain a social life when you just said you spend all your time inside that big fancy house?”

  “Um, her name is…Gabby.” Oh, look at me. Lying to my mother. Calling him Gabby, what a joke. “She’s staying next door for the summer with her family.”

  “And how old is this rich girl? Don’t let her make you feel like you’re below her, mija.” She means well when she says these sorts of things but half the time they hurt. I don’t think like she does, like everyone looks down their noses at us. But she says a few things and boom I’m worried. Self-conscious.

  I don’t like it.

  “She’s around my age.” I have no clue how old Mr. GQ is. I’d guess early twenties like me. “And she’s really nice. I know she won’t make me feel like the maid or anything like that.”

  “Good because if she found out you are the maid…”

  “But I’m not. I’m the house sitter. Big difference,” I say tightly, hating how she puts me down. How she puts herself down. “Mama, there’s no shame in your profession. You work hard. Don’t let that trip you up.”

  “I work hard for you. All of this, working two jobs, socking away every dime I made, is for you, Luciana.” Oh, she’s busted out the full name now, trying to make me feel guilty.

  It’s working.

  “I know, Mama.” My throat gets tight and I try to clear it. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” I repeat, ending the call before she says something else and keeps talking for another twenty minutes. I don’t have any time to waste.

  I have a boy to dress for. And I have no clue what to wear.

  I press on the doorbell. Lean on it really and it seems to go on forever, all of these chimes and bells that are like a damn song. I start to chuckle, shove my hands into the back waistband of my swim trunks and tilt my head back to stare up at the ceiling of the front porch.

  But yeah. That makes my head spin so I stop.

  She doesn’t answer the door and I wonder if she’s mad because I’m late. No one does and I figured a house this big would have a servant or five. I step close and peer through the narrow, clear glass window that runs the length of the door but there’s no movement within.

  Disappointment crashes inside me. The most beautiful girl in the world with the hottest ass I’ve never touched is ditching me? No fucking way. She was the one bright spot that got me through the shitty country club dinner I had to attend with the family earlier. Mom got invited by some snobby bitch she met at the beach and next thing I knew we were all swept up and going along with her dinner plan.

  There was a girl there. About my age with perfect blonde hair and fake tanned skin and pretty blue eyes. The daughter of my mom’s new friends, I had to sit next to her, make small talk, pretend I was interested.

  All the while I could only think of Lucy. Pretty little Lucy with the bikini top that bar
ely contained her spectacular rack, and the dazzling smile that just about blinded me. Oh and that sassy yet cute attitude. She’s adorable.

  I scrub a hand over my face and rest my hands on my hips, contemplating my next move. I know I’m freaking late when she told me specifically not to be. She’s probably pissed but damn it, I couldn’t help it. I don’t even have her cell number.

  I need to rectify that. Stat.

  Giving up on the doorbell, I start knocking. As in, I don’t stop. I’m annoying. And a little drunk. Okay, maybe just buzzed. I’m harmless. I needed to have a few beers and a couple of shots of tequila to get through the shitty dinner. And now I want to see Lucy. I’m desperate to see her and apologize. Offer to make it up to her. In any way possible.

  I can come up with all sorts of ways I could make up my being late to her…

  The giant door swings open and I’m greeted with icy cold silence. Lucy stands there, looking small in the overly grand foyer, her arms crossed in front of her chest, her chin lifted with a hint of impatience. Her hair is down, falling past her shoulders in long, glossy black waves. She’s wearing a bright red T-shirt and white shorts that are super short.

  Like really short. Showing off a pair of thighs I can imagine putting my hands on as I spread her wide…

  Mind out of gutter, asshole. Focus!

  “You’re late,” she says, sounding disappointed.

  Which is way worse than mad. Mad I can deal with. I can charm my way out of mad all the time. Disappointed?

  Yeah, not as easy.

  “Sorry, I, ah, had to go to dinner with my parents and it ran late.” I rub a hand along my jaw, trying to push past the dizziness that threatens. All from the beers—and the two shots of tequila—that I consumed earlier. Stupid.

  Really, really stupid.

  Her gaze flickers down. Along my chest, my stomach, landing on my legs. My swim trunk covered legs. “You look ready for a swim.”

  “You have a hot tub, right?” I smile at her. My most winning smile. The one that usually gets me out of every bad situation but this time, I don’t think it’s gonna work. I’ve blown it before I even got my chance.

  “Yeah,” she starts and I don’t hesitate. Don’t give her a chance to say no or shut the door in my face.

  I push inside the house, causing her to step back with a startled look on her face and I close the door for her, turning the lock. It snicks into place with a resounding click and I turn to smile at her, pushing my hand through my hair as I glance around the house. “Well, after the night I’ve had, a good, long soak in a hot tub sounds like heaven.” Not to mention having a pretty girl to soak in the tub along with me.

  Though I don’t say that. From the look she’s giving me, I figure I’d lose points for saying it versus gain any.

  “You want to go in the hot tub?” She glances from me to the front door, back to me again. “Um…I don’t have on my suit.”

  “Well, go get it on then.” I flash her a grin. “Unless you want to skinny dip.”

  Her expression turns horrified. “I don’t think so.”

  Bummer.

  I start walking through the house, making my way to the backyard in search of the hot tub. Lucy falls into step behind me, her flip flops snapping in the echoed quietness of the house and I wonder why a girl like her would stay in a giant, coldly modern house like this. It’s gotta belong to her parents but where are they? Why is she here alone? I’ve been spying on her for days and there have been no signs of anyone else at this house with her.

  “Do you want something to drink?” she asks, sounding a little out of breath.

  I slow my steps. She’s so much shorter than me, I figure she must be practically running to keep up with my strides. “I’m good.” I glance at her from over my shoulder. “You gonna get your suit on or what?”

  She sends me a look as we enter the kitchen. “You’re sort of bossy.”

  I don’t think anyone’s ever accused me of being bossy in my life. Stopping at the giant center island, I turn to look at her. “This kitchen is humongous. Do you cook?”

  “Uh…” Her expression turns unsure.

  “Of course you don’t. You probably have a cook.” I glance around. The kitchen is spotless. Stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, the air quiet and cool. “Is the staff off for the summer?”

  She steps toward me, bringing with her the scent of…damn, I can’t place it but she smells fucking amazing. “Let’s go outside,” she suggests brightly.

  I follow after her, admiring the swish of her ass beneath those white shorts, the tentative glance she gives me from over her shoulder. Ah, she’s hot. Pretty. Sexy. Kind of shy, when I normally don’t go for that sort of thing. I like them bold and flirtatious and giggly and silly. Not too smart because then they’ll realize I’m an idiot first thing and my cover is blown.

  Not that I’m an idiot, not really. But the smart ones have me all figured out. As in, they know I’m not serious about anything. I can’t be.

  I can’t afford to be.

  She throws open the double French doors that lead to the backyard and walks out into the night, disappearing into a dark corner in the left corner of the patio for a brief moment. I’m about to follow her when the hot tub turns on, the bubbling, frothy water lit from within, the hum of the motor low is almost soothing.

  “Go ahead and get in,” she suggests as she snatches her black bikini off of a metal stand that’s close to the hot tub. “Let me go change. I’ll be right back.”

  She trots off before I can say anything, heading into what looks like a pool house only a few feet away from the actual pool and shutting the door firmly behind her. I stare after her for a moment, my stance wobbly as I consider chasing after her.

  I bet she’d kick my ass if I tried to barge in and catch a glimpse of naked skin. Forget it.

  Reaching behind me, I shrug out of my T-shirt and toss it onto the metal stand Lucy just pulled her swimsuit off of and kick off my sliders, then step into the hot tub, the hot water bubbling around my ankles and calves.

  Damn, that feels good. I sink into the water, settling on the bench seat and spreading my arms out wide on either side of me, gripping the edge of the tub. I lean my head back and glance up at the sky, noting the stars twinkling down at me.

  Hopeful, pretty stars that almost mock me, make me want to wish for a future that I’m in control of. Not going to happen. Never going to happen no matter how much I want to make that untrue. I’m to do what my father tells me, whether I like it or not. He did what his father told him, and my grandfather did what his father said too.

  It’s a Walker family tradition. And a big bunch of horseshit.

  A door slams and I lift my head, ignoring the wooziness that threatens to swamp me. Lucy is walking toward me, her arms in front of her in a semi-awkward position and I wonder at that. Is she self-conscious? The girl who flaunts that hot-as-sin body for me on a daily basis like she doesn’t have a care in the world? What gives?

  Lifting a hand, I wave her over. “Come join me,” I call.

  She smiles and stops at the opposite edge of the hot tub, dipping just her toes in. Toes that are painted this vivid bright orange. Toes I want to kiss and suck and lick…

  “It’s hot,” she says but that doesn’t seem to stop her. She sinks into the water until it reaches her shoulders, sitting across from me and even though that’s only a few feet, I feel like she’s a few feet too far.

  “Feels good.” I keep my gaze on her, noting the unsure expression on her face as she tugs on one of the triangles of black fabric that barely contains her breast. “I’m sorry I was late. Went to a dinner with my parents and their friends.”

  “It’s okay.” She shrugs, like it doesn’t bother her anymore, which is good. Most girls want groveling, or for the guy to make it up to them. Usually by way of an expensive gift or another date. “How was dinner?”

  I make a face. “Awful. But I don’t really get along with my parents.”


  Her jaw drops open. “You don’t?”

  “That surprises you? Do you get along with your parents?”

  “Most of the time my mom makes me crazy.”

  “Exactly. Both of my parents make me crazy.” I lean my head back again, contemplating the stars. “My mom’s pushy. We went to dinner with this other family she just met. They had a daughter a little younger than me.”

  “How old are you?” Lucy asks.

  “Twenty-one,” I say to the sky. “Anyway, my mother wanted me to pair up with this girl.”

  “Oh yeah?” She sounds disinterested and I chance a glance at her, see the way she’s watching me. I don’t think she likes that I’m talking about this, which is good. Real good. It means she might care. At least a little bit.

  “Yeah. So I tried to pretend I was into her but I wasn’t.” I look at Lucy, who stares back me, irritation written all over her face. “You want to know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because all I could think about, the entire night, is…” I reach and grab hold of her leg, my fingers sliding down her smooth calf until I lock them around her ankle, giving it a tug. “You.”

  His long fingers curl around my ankle, pulling me to him at the same moment he says he’d been thinking of me the entire time he was with that other girl.

  Me. He thought about me.

  I’m so shocked I don’t even protest as he yanks me close. I practically dunk my head under water as he drags me across the hot tub and I end up in his arms, my legs having nowhere to go but around him as I bend them at the knees. I’m basically straddling him, his hands resting on my waist and holding me there, his face in mine as he smiles down at me.

  “Gotcha where I want you,” he murmurs as my gaze snags on his magical lips. And they are magical, full and soft looking. I bet he can kiss like a master, not that I’ve been kissed by a lot of guys. I’ve done my fair share of making out but it’s been a while.