The Summer Flings Travel Club: A Fun, Flirty and Hilarious Beach Read. Aimee Duffy

tiles and she cussed the Muirs for their expensive tastes. What happened to a good old fitted carpet?

      Zack was waiting for her in the kitchen, his arms folded across a chest she remembered with too much detail. ‘So you’re bedding that poser tonight?’

      The anger that swiftly burned through her wasn’t at the insult to Matt, it was the fact he thought she was easy. ‘Not that it’s any of your business, but no. We just met.’

      It was the wrong thing to say. She’d jumped into bed with Zack not long after they’d met too. Talk about leaving herself open to insults!

      Zack smiled, then crossed the room. He tilted her chin and the anger evaporated under his touch. It was like his fingers sent little currents into her skin, sweeping down to tremble in her belly.

      ‘Maybe it isn’t my business.’ He slid both hands up the side of her face and into her hair. Her eyes rolled back as he massaged her scalp. ‘I promise you this, Ireland. If you stay with me I’ll make sure you have a hundred times more fun than you would with him. I’ll even show you what I can do with a tub of Ben & Jerry’s and my tongue.’

      How could a girl refuse an offer like that? Why would she even consider refusing? She was lost in his eyes, his slightly spicy aftershave and the way he was touching her made her whole body tingle.

      ‘Ciara hurry up!’ Elle shouted from the garden. ‘The taxi’s here.’

      Her friend’s voice snapped her back to her senses and she pulled away with a boat load of regret. Zack’s jaw ground hard and she whispered an apology before she bolted to the door. He was too much temptation and the last thing she wanted to do was to hurt her friend’s family by leading him on. It was better he was disappointed now than years down the line when it was too late.

       Chapter Six

      At Elle’s suggestion, they hit a bar on the beach so she could top up her tan. Ciara lost hope that dinner was on the cards the second Gem and Elle said they weren’t very hungry and more cocktails were served.

      She was too busy remembering the way Zack looked when she left to care too much about what Matt was saying, but tried to at least look like she was paying attention. He took a swig of a creamy looking cocktail that left a white moustache on his smooth upper lip.

      Smiling, she picked up the napkin and wiped it off imagining his horror at looking anything other than perfect.

      ‘So does this mean you’re back with me?’ he asked.

      Maybe he wasn’t completely self-involved and had noticed her lack of interest. She forced a polite smile. ‘Sorry.’

      ‘No problem, babe. I know how you can make it up to me.’

      His wicked grin was the only warning she got before her mouth was assaulted by his. Matt wasn’t gentle about his seduction – or patient. His tongue filled her mouth before she had a chance to slap him away for his assumption.

      She shoved his chest hard, till he had to grab the table for support. ‘Are you mad? What made you think I wanted to kiss you?’

      Elle and Gem were gaping at her but she was too miffed to care. Matt had crossed the line. She hadn’t given him a hint that she wanted him. In fact, she’d been ignoring him all night!

      ‘Well you’re friends seem happy having a holiday fling, I figured you would too,’ he said with a shrug.

      ‘A fling?’ she said through her teeth, but then the anger ebbed. A fling. Of course! Why hadn’t she thought of that?

      ‘Cia, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of fun once in a while,’ Gem added. ‘You’re young, you’re single. Why not?’

      Elle smiled and nodded. Brandon frowned at Elle. Hmm, he didn’t look happy about just being a fling.

      Would Zack be happy? It would be the perfect solution to all that temptation.

      Something fun for both of them with a time limit to stop things spiralling out of control. They were leaving for Europe soon, why not enjoy a few days with someone she actually wanted. Ciara picked up her sex on the beach and downed half before she turned to Matt.

      ‘You’re gorgeous and I bet you can have any woman in here you want. But you’re not for me, I’m sorry.’

      Gem smirked. ‘The man for you probably has a private investigator following us and making sure we don’t get into any trouble.’

      ‘Define trouble,’ Rye said, squeezing her closer – if that were possible.

      ‘Ugh, Ciara. Really?’ Elle asked.

      Her cheeks flamed and she nodded.

      Elle sighed. ‘Well, Matt. Looks like we’ll have to find you some company.’

      Matt didn’t seem too put out by Ciara’s rejection. Then it clicked and she blinked. Had Elle really given her the ‘all clear’ to go seduce her cousin?

      Gem giggled and since Ciara couldn’t see Rye’s hands, she didn’t ask why. ‘Have fun, C. Don’t wait up for us.’

      ‘Have a good night guys.’

      ‘We will,’ they said, giggling.

      ***

      The taxi journey took forever during rush hour but the jitters in her stomach made it feel like no time at all. She hadn’t even planned what she was going to say when the car pulled up at the condo and she was handing the driver a note, telling him to keep the change.

      Her legs were unsteady as she made her way up the path to the pool. She wondered if he was still there since the place was tidy and all traces of their afternoon beers were cleaned up. But when she slid the doors open the sound of a familiar English band filled her ears. She hadn’t pegged Zack as an Arctic Monkeys fan, though she didn’t really know much about him did she?

      Maybe she shouldn’t. Weren’t flings supposed to be on a need to know basis? She wished she’d asked Gem and Elle.

      She wandered through the house. The lounge, kitchen, gym and every bedroom she walked past were empty. Then she stopped outside a closed door and reached for the handle.

      The thought of finding him with someone else had her snatching her hand back like the thing was on fire. This was a really, really bad idea. The cocktail she’d drained before she left the bar was weaker than the one Gem had bought her last night and she could use some courage about now.

      Then the door opened. Zack stood there in nothing but a towel and a few drops of water around his shoulders from his still wet hair. His eyes widened for a second, then narrowed suspiciously. ‘What’s up, Ireland?’

      He had to raise his voice over the music, but that made him sound angrier than before.

      ‘Can we talk?’ When he just frowned, she tried a little begging. ‘Please?’

      He came out of the room, nodding for her to go ahead of him and when they reached the kitchen he picked the remote off the breakfast bar, switched off the music and then took a seat. ‘You wanted to talk?’

      She stood at the opposite side, fidgeting with a loose gem on her purse.

      ‘Is your offer still open?’ she asked, unable to meet his eyes.

      ‘That depends,’ he said and she couldn’t keep her gaze off him any longer. He was back to folding his arms. ‘Who was that poser you were with?’

      She told him everything in a rush, the football game, the way he was too into himself and how he bored her to tears, then came the hard bit. ‘He suggested something that I never thought of, actually. He thought I was looking for a … holiday fling.’

      ‘And you weren’t?’ Zack asked,