Read Online Key West by Lacey Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

moments, the trio was seated on a platform overlooking the marina and the ocean beyond. The morning sun beat down on their shoulders as they ordered hearty breakfast meals and made small talk. Carrie learned her companions lived in Chicago, and in turn, she told them about growing up in Maryland and the small bookstore she’d opened there two years ago.
    When conversation drifted to how they were all enjoying their vacation, Carrie discovered that, so far, she hadn’t actually done anything on the trip she felt comfortable discussing, but she found herself casually mentioning the Party Barge before she could stop herself.
    “I hear that’s a pretty wild scene,” Cole said, forking a bite of scrambled eggs to his mouth.
    You don’t know the half of it. “Yeah, more wild than I expected. Lots of girls taking their tops off, a wet t-shirt contest, that sort of thing.”
    She watched Amy and Cole exchange glances. “Maybe we should book one of those ourselves, babe,” Cole said, flashing a smile. “I’ve never actually seen you in a wet t-shirt before, but I have a feeling I’d like the view,” he concluded with a wink.
    And only when Amy said, “Yeah, might be fun,” did Carrie realize they were serious, and that they weren’t shy about admitting that sort of outing appealed to them.
    “Did you enter?” Amy asked matter-of-factly, lifting her juice glass.
    Carrie blinked. A minute ago, she’d have definitely lied, but their open honesty made lying feel silly. “I…won, actually.”
    Cole let out a chuckle of admiration and Amy grinned. “Way to go, girlfriend.”
    “I’m impressed,” Cole said. “That’s definitely the way to get over a wedding gone bad.”
    “Well…” She found herself glancing down at her plate, stirring her eggs around with her fork. “I didn’t exactly plan it. The, uh, rum punch made me do it.”
    Both laughed, and Amy said, “The rum punch would probably make me do it, too,” as she peered knowingly at her husband.
    He reached out to cover Amy’s hand on the table. “Yeah, this one can’t hold her liquor.”
    “Guess that makes two of us,” Carrie imparted with a sheepish smile.
    “That’s a sunset cruise, right?” Cole asked.
    Carrie nodded, and Cole looked to his wife. “Well, maybe we’ll hang by the pool today, then take the cruise this evening.” He raised his eyebrows at her, looking more than a little sexy. “We can have fun on the boat, and then we can head back and have fun in the room.”
    Amy agreed, then turned to Carrie, looking surprisingly embarrassed. “Speaking of which, I’m afraid we got pretty loud last night. I hope we didn’t keep you up.”
    Carrie didn’t know quite how to answer. “Uh…no…not at all.” She reached for a strip of bacon and bit into it, half regretting her answer. Was she blushing or was it just the morning sun making her face feel so warm?
    Amy gave her head a suspicious tilt, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You didn’t happen to be on your balcony last night, around eleven, did you?”
    Carrie took advantage of having her mouth full, chewing slowly, trying to decide how to answer. Would they truly find it exciting to know she’d watched them? Or was that just something Cole had said last night to relax Amy? “Well, I…”
    Amy smiled at her. “You were, weren’t you?”
    Carrie shifted her gaze to Cole, across the table from her. His warm eyes brimmed with anticipation. She took a deep breath, then spoke softly. “Okay. Yeah. I was on the balcony.”
    She was half afraid to peek back at Amy, but when she did, her new friend’s expression burned with as much passion as Cole’s. Pushing a long blonde lock behind one ear, Amy bit her lip. “Were you there the whole time? Did you see everything ?” Her voice sizzled with the thrill of excitement.
    Carrie felt as drawn into the conversation now as she’d felt drawn into their sex last night, as she’d felt drawn into getting wild with Chris on the