Read Online In Too Deep by Coert Voorhees - Free Book Online Page B

made a phone call, right?
    I snatched it up and pushed my way downstairs through the crowd and across the street. I hopped onto the seawall and dialed a number and let my legs dangle over the gentle lapping of the waves. I should have borrowed a mask and fins for a peaceful night snorkel instead of letting myself get dragged along like a little girl.
    “Gracia, it’s me,” I said when she answered.
    “Annie?” she said uncertainly. “Whose phone is this? Is that techno in the background?”
    “They made me sneak out! We’ve been here for two days and—”
    “Slow down. What do you mean, sneak out? What’s Cozumel like? How’s Josh?”
    “Katy said his last girlfriend was a princess.”
    “Okay, first of all, that totally didn’t take.”
    A cluster of drunk spring-breakers spilled out of the Hard Rock Cafe and onto the street. Someone told someone else to shut up. A beer bottle shattered. Then another. Then they all laughed and disappeared.
    “You knew?” I said.
    “Duh, and I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d get all, ‘Boo-hoo, I’m not a princess, I don’t stand a chance,’ on me.”
    “I can’t do this for a whole week,” I said. “Katy just now practically assaulted Josh with her bikini, and—”
    “I don’t want to hear any more of this ‘can’t do it,’ soldier. Make him jealous. Dance with the hottest guy you can find, and be sure to glance at Josh from time to time. Give him a look that says, ‘All this could be yours.’”
    I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see. “Good-bye, Gracia.”
    “You’re in Mexico, sweet pea. Now get back in there and hook up with a native.”
    Josh and Nate were getting busy with the Idahos on the dance floor when I went back inside. I couldn’t find Katy, but three fresh drinks had been added to the collection of empties at our table.
    A black-haired guy wandered tentatively up next to me and nodded. His sleeveless white T-shirt glowed under the black lights, revealing well-built arms and the broad shoulders of a swimmer. “What’s up?”
    I smiled and used my margarita like a crutch, taking a tiny sip before pushing it away.
    “Something wrong with your beverage?” His jaw was strong, and his eyes were dark brown and sultry. Except for the traces of a unibrow, he was far too good-looking for me to talk to. Maybe he had me confused with someone else.
    “Nope,” I said. “It’s fine.”
    He opened his mouth, then closed it. He looked confused. Then he shook his head and walked away. I reached for my drink again but thought better of it.
    Nate appeared over my shoulder, his hips still bumping with the beat. “Want me to kick that dude’s ass for you? I could, you know. I could kick it.”
    “You’re such a gentleman.”
    “The offer stands,” he said, moving back to the dance floor, the margaritas clearly having their intended effect. “If you want me to kick it.”
    “No offense, but you need to work on your moves,” Josh said, startling me as he collapsed into the chair. His cheeks were flushed, and he was sweaty and out of breath. “That guy was totally hitting on you.”
    “He was not.” Besides, it didn’t matter. How was I supposed to tell Josh I didn’t want that guy hitting on me?
    “Why are you surprised? I’d totally hit on you,” he said, and my own breath disappeared. A few strands of his hair were caked sexily against his forehead. “You know, if we weren’t related.”
    The DJ slowed the bumping and grinding on the dance floor. Unibrow had found a new target in Katy, and he held her waist and went to work as she laughed and threw her hands into the air.
    Josh placed his glass in the center of the table and pointed to mine. “You going to drink that?”
    I pushed my drink across to him. Condensation on the glass made it slide faster than I’d expected, and I might have shoved it harder than necessary. He caught it, but not before a hefty splash of margarita cleared the rim.
    “Oooh,” he said,