The Divorcee's Redemption

6: Taste

"I miss the way that you looked in your sundress
The way that you looked when you undressed
The sound of your first steps across the room"

~-~-~

Annie's boyfriend, Charles, rented a private beach and the party would be held there. They managed to invite so many people, especially with the trademark that Gary Wilson would be attending it.

The music was great, and there were crowds of people around Annie's age. I looked like a seventeen-something kid in the middle of a crowd consisting of hunks and big-breasted gorgeous women. But Annie caught on to the fact that I'd be a lonely weasel. She pulled me with her to dance. I was giddy with happiness.

The sweaty bodies around me were pretty disgusting but I reminded myself that this was what parties were about- sweat, happiness, and fun. Coming here wasn't a bad decision at all. I danced to my heart's content with Annie. There was even a karaoke showdown and Arthur invited me for a duet. By the time I left there, my voice was like a toad's.

"Ah!" I squealed when Gary picked me up in his arms.

"What are you doing?! Put me down!" I squirmed but he was all laughs.

"Oh my god, Lucy! Brace yourself!" I heard Tania shout. She was half laughing, half coughing as she came out of the water.

Before I knew it, he tossed me into the sea. I shrieked for my life. Gary collapsed on the sand and rolled around with laughter. "That wasn't funny!" I yelled at him as I popped my head out of the water, drenched.

Struggling to drag myself out of the waves, an arm wrapped around my waist and I looked up.

"You alright?" Danny asked. His soft eyes were twinkling in the dark. To my surprise, he was wearing beach shorts, and his shirt was unbuttoned all the way revealing his sculpted chest.

I knew that Danny was fit but not to this extent.

"Yeah, no, I'm going to kill your brother"

He chuckled at this, "If you're able to drag him away from her, I'll give you a hand"

I turned to look at what he was hinting at. Gary was on top of Tania, kissing her like there was no tomorrow.

"He's drunk, isn't he?"

"You know him," Danny smiled, "Let's get you dried"

We walked over to the bar, the cold air was hurting my skin especially since I was in Annie's borrowed bikini top and shorts.

"Here," Danny took off his shirt and handed it to me. As kind as always.

"Thanks"

He nodded and ordered smoothies while I stayed draped in his shirt on the barstool.

"I have never seen you this happy at parties before, Lucy" He smiled as he handed me my drink.

"That's because I haven't attended these kind of parties"

"What, really?"

"You know how dad is" I sighed.

"Hmm... Guess I should have seen the twenty texts coming" He replied while checking his phone.

"Gosh!" I buried my face in my palm, "I'm so sorry that you have to babysit me... This is so embarrassing..."

"Lucy," He placed his palm on my back, "Mr.Xander's just protective of you. From my pov, that's quite adorable. It can be overbearing sometimes, but you're his entire world. His only world"