Deep Blue by Jules Barnard Read Free Book Online Page A

Hormones—pheromones—whatever. Lots of them.
    This is not good. It’s all wrong. Neither of us should be feeling this way. Not with these guys. It’s my stupid advice coming back to bite me in the ass. I pushed Gen to get out there and look what’s happened. If she hooks-up with A-hole number two, it’ll be all my fault.
    She shakes her head. “I’ve never felt that kind of attraction. Not with anyone, especially not my ex. I can’t stop thinking about this guy.” Her petite nose scrunches. “It’s annoying.”
    I hear you, sister.
    I shift until I’m square with her. “Listen to me—forget that guy. He’s no good or he wouldn’t be staring at you with his girlfriend in the room, and rubbing on you—”
    “He didn’t—”
    “Whatever. Point is, you have the power to choose. You don’t have to fall in love with someone who will break your heart. That’s not love.”
    She sniffs in a deep breath and nods.
    “Don’t forget Mason and Jaeger. They’re both hot and single. Very important detail right there.”
    Gen looks at me as if she’s miffed. “It’s not like I wanted a cheating boyfriend.” Her voice catches and now I feel bad.
    I put my hand on hers. “No, but not all guys are trustworthy and you need to be careful. Stay away from the ones who give you—” I shake my head and look around. “—I don’t know, a gut feeling that they’re hiding something. There’s a good chance they are.”
    A vision of Eric flashes in my mind. I should take my own advice …
    “You’re right.”
    I watch her, trying to detect what’s going on inside her pretty head as she chews the corner of her lip. “Eat more ice cream—it’ll make you feel better.”
    Gen digs her warped spoon into my carton, and I do too. Sugar-shock therapy after the evening we’ve both had is in full effect.
    “The good thing is, you never have to see this guy again.”
    She glances at me guiltily.
    “ What? You didn’t make plans with him …”
    “No! But, I sort of made plans to meet Nessa tomorrow. They’re friends. He may be there.”
    “So, don’t go.”
    “Awesome.” She glares. “I’ll just become a hermit. You’re the one who pushed me to get out.”
    Dammit, she’s totally right. Foiled by my own advice.
    “Look, come with me,” she says. “They’re going to that place you talked about, Zephyr Cove. It’ll be fun and you’ll be there to intervene if I need it, which I won’t. The guy … he doesn’t seem the aggressive type. This is probably all one-sided anyway. There’s nothing to worry about.”

Chapter Six
    Eleven in the morning is pretty early given our swing shifts. Even on our days off, we stay up late and sleep in late. But some of Lake Tahoe’s best experiences occur in the a.m., which is why I’m on the sand at eleven in the friggin’ morning, waiting for Gen’s friends to arrive.
    I’m face down on my towel and Gen’s sitting next to me, fidgeting with her purse and her trashy book, and anything else her hands graze. I so have a bad feeling about this outing. It’s her life, but it’s hard to watch someone you care for make the same mistake twice.
    Nothing actually happened between her and the guy she met last night, so I say nothing and attempt to simmer down. Matter of fact, I’ll take a catnap while we wait.
    I’m just getting into pre-sleep body twitch mode when a shower of sand splashes the side of my face, shattering the beginnings of a dream involving me buck naked, sitting on the rock in the center of Eagle Lake, completely alone. I’m not disappointed that one ended. It was one of those anxiety dreams, but still. What the hell?
    I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my face, along with a bucket of sand granules. Long, muscular golden legs with a dusting of blond hair obstruct my vision. I gaze up, shading the sun with my hand.
    Mason. Thank God. This is who I need to get Gen’s mind off bad influences.
    “Cali! Sorry about that. You okay?” He squats in