“Holy fuck. You like her. You want to play boyfriend and girlfriend with her.”

“Shut the fuck up. What are you? Five?” I walk from the kitchen to the living room, grabbing a hair tie off the coffee table, and I tie my hair back.

Ignoring me, he laughs. “I get that she’s hot—really hot, in fact—but I never thought I’d see the day when Adam Gunner got pussy-whipped.”

“Yeah, and if you want to see another day, then you won’t call her hot again, assface.”

“Touch a nerve, did I?”

Bastard’s winding me up, and I’m totally biting.

Why am I biting? He does this all the time, and I never bite.

“No. She’s just not hot to you.” I narrow my gaze on him.

“Don’t worry, pussy boy. I don’t want to go near her if she’s managed to voodoo you into breaking your cardinal rule of one night only. I don’t want any of that relationship shit.” He flicks a hand at me.

“She hasn’t voodooed me, you idiot. And we’re not in a relationship. We’ve been on one date.”

“About to go on your second date, the very next morning after your first date. Like I said, relationship.”

Shaking my head, I laugh at him and head for the front door. “See you later, fuckface.”

“Later, Evie’s bitch.”

I flip him off before closing the door.

I get in my rental truck, my board and wet suit already in the back, and turn on the engine. Driving the McLaren with a surfboard is about as impractical as it sounds, hence the need for the truck.

As I pull out on the road, the sound of Beyoncé and Jay Z’s “Crazy in Love” fills the truck. I turn it up loud, the song igniting the nervous excitement I’m feeling at the thought of seeing Evie again.

She’s seriously gotten under my skin.

I’ve never felt like this about a girl before.

But if it had to happen, making me break my cardinal rule, then I’m happy as hell that it’s with Evie.

I pull up to Evie’s apartment building to find her already waiting outside.

I wind my window down as she approaches. She’s wearing pink flip-flops, jean shorts that are frayed at the bottom, and a pink T-shirt. I can see the bikini string tied around her neck, it’s white, and it has my mind wandering to all kinds of hot places. Her hair is down. It’s the first time I’ve seen Evie’s hair down. It looks beautiful. And I can’t help but imagine how all that long wavy hair would look spread out on my pillow.

“Hey,” she says. She has the biggest and most beautiful smile on her face.

And it’s all for me.

I feel a strange swelling in my chest.

“Hey.” I smile back at her. I reach my hand out, curling a lock of her hair behind her ear. I give it a little tug. “First time I’ve seen your hair down. I like it.”

She gives me a shy smile, touching a hand to her hair, as her cheeks turn pink. “Thanks. I haven’t seen your hair down either. You always have it tied back.”

Grinning, I pull the tie from my hair and shake my hair out. “How does it look?” I give her a cheeky smile.

“Good. Really good.”

The way she’s looking at me makes my shorts start to feel tight. I shift in my seat to rearrange the big fella.

Refocusing my attention, I say, “You didn’t have to wait out here. I would have come up to get you.”

“My dad and sister are still sleeping. I didn’t want to wake them. Anyway, it’s a nice morning to be outside.” She reaches up on her tiptoes, leaning against my door, and her fingers curl around the open window. “Good morning, by the way.”

“Morning,” I whisper. I slide my hand around the back of her head and guide her lips to mine.

She tastes like toothpaste and strawberries.

Fucking delicious.

Leaning back, she stares into my eyes. Hers are wide and innocent.

My heart starts to pound, and my cock is definitely paying attention. God, I want her innocence. I want to hide it from the rest of the world and keep it for myself.

I’m pretty sure Evie’s a virgin. I got that from the tentative way she kissed me last night. I’ve kissed a lot of girls, and I’m good at recognizing the inexperienced ones, not that I’ve ever fucked a virgin. That’s something I wouldn’t ever do. I don’t want the responsibility of being a chick’s first time.

But Evie…the thought of being her first…fuck yeah. I want to be her first…and last.

And listen to me.

Only one date, Gunner. You’re not even her boyfriend yet.

Yet?

“So, is this another car?” she asks, tapping a hand on the frame.

“It’s a rental. The McLaren’s not practical for getting my surfboard around, so I rented the truck. I could use Max’s truck, but I like to have my own. Hate relying on other people.”

“Yeah, I get that. That’s why I wish I could drive, so I wouldn’t have to catch the bus. I don’t mind riding the bus to work, but I hate the waiting around. That’s why I come to the beach for that hour—to kill time instead of sitting waiting for it.”

“Lucky me that you can’t drive.”

“Yeah, I guess we wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for me catching the bus.”

“No, we’d have met. I would have found my way to you somehow.”

And I’m turning into a pussy-quoting fool. But honestly, I can’t seem to find the will to care about that around her.

As long as I’m making her smile the way she is right now, then I’m happy.

“So, you wanna get in my truck and go catch some waves? Or stay here and make out? Just so you know, I’m happy with either, but my vote does sway heavier with the second option.” I give her my best smile, the one that always gets me laid—not that I expect that to happen with Evie anytime soon.

“Surf.” She grins at me and then starts to make her way around the truck. “There will be plenty of time for making out later, but the waves won’t wait,” she adds, climbing into my truck.

She’s right even though I would happily ditch surfing to make out with her, which says a lot. I wouldn’t normally miss a wave for a girl, not even for a blow job.

“Can we stop by Grady’s on the way to the beach?” she asks. “My surfboard’s there.”

“Sure, but will it be open at this time?”

“No.” She starts buckling up. “But Grady’s house is behind the Shack, and me and the others who work at the Shack all leave our boards in his garage. Saves taking them home, especially with me riding the bus.”

“Will Grady be awake?”

She gives me a crazy look. “He’ll already be out surfing. He’s usually out there the second the sun starts rising.”

Putting the car into drive, I pull out of the apartment parking lot and head back toward the beach.

“So, I’m guessing you’re not from Malibu,” Evie says as I drive.

“What gave me away?” I smile.

“The fact I’ve never seen you around before.” She smiles back at me. “So, where is home?”

“Beverly Hills.” I glance at her.