Always You: A Lilac Bay Novel (Friends with Benefits) by Lucy Riot, Rachel Schurig Page A

huh?” Cora asked, looking more than a little jealous. David laughed and pushed her down into his empty seat. “Take your break, Cora. I’ll go help out in the kitchen.”
    “Thank you!” she called, reaching for an empty glass and filling it with beer from one of the pitchers. She took a long sip. “That’s much better. So.” She looked around the table eagerly. “What was that about girl talk?”
    “We’re going to set Riley up with someone,” Libby said.
    Cora looked like Christmas had come early. “Really? Who?”
    “That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”
    “Then it sounds like I came over right on time.” She pulled her order pad from her pocket and started to write. “Okay—possibilities…”
    “Are you guys seriously doing this?” Andrew asked.
    “Let’s see,” Cora said, ignoring him. “There’s Donovan.”
    “Ooh, yeah,” Libby agreed, rubbing her hands together. “He’s cute. Total silver fox.”
    Posey leaned over the table a little, lowering her voice. “Did you see him at the kayak race last week? He took off his shirt at the end. Boy is easy on the eyes.”
    “This is pretty gross, you know,” Andrew said. “Talking about him like he’s a piece of meat. You know there are guys still at this table.”
    “What about Caleb?” Edward asked. “He’s not so bad either.”
    Andrew looked at his twin in disgust. “You’re as bad as the rest of them.”
    “Oh, shut up and drink your beer,” Zane said. “This is fun.”
    “You know,” I said, rubbing my chin as I thought about it. “I did always like Caleb.”
    “I knew it!” Cora said, writing something on her paper. “So, who else is there?”
    We all fell silent. Unfortunately, it was a pretty small island. And when you’ve known everyone for most of your life, their attraction level tended to drop off pretty steeply.
    “Why don’t you tell us what you like,” Libby suggested. “You know, what’s your type?”
    What was my type? I’d had a few boyfriends in high school, though nothing too serious. Since moving back home the pickings had been kind of slim. Then, of course, there was Carter, my college boyfriend. But had he been my type? Or did I go for him because it was easy? I certainly hadn't been heartbroken when we'd ended things after graduation.
    I let my gaze flicker around the crowded dining room as I considered it. Over in the corner, something caught my eye. Or rather, someone. A man, looking right back at me. Smiling. The pitcher from the hotel team! He winked at me, and I felt color rise to my cheeks.
    Then Andrew let out a divisive sound, drawing my attention back to the table. “What did I tell you?” he asked, and I realized that my silence had stretched on for several conspicuous moments. “Riley is totally not interested in dating.”
    I narrowed my eyes at him. “As a matter of fact, I was about to say that I like tall, dark-haired guys.”
    His eyebrows shot up. “Really. Dark-haired guys. What dark-haired guys have you ever dated?”
    “I’ve dated plenty.” I turned back to the girls. “Dark-haired and…polished. Like, someone who knows how to wear a suit.”
    “Ooh, that’s good,” Cora said, scribbling. “There’s nothing better than a man in a good suit.”
    “David looks good in a suit,” Iris murmured, a dreamy look on her face. Libby, Cora, and I all groaned. Before Iris came along, David had been the hottest prospect on the island. Everyone wanted to get with him. Even Jenny was looking distinctly jealous as she glared at Iris, and Jenny pretty much never noticed any guys. Or at least never talked about it if she did.
    “Sorry,” Iris said quickly, but she was still grinning.
    “Okay, so polished brunettes who look good in a suit,” Cora said, reading from her sheet.
    “What about job preferences?” Zane asked. “Employment is very important.”
    “I didn’t have a fancy job when we met,” Edward pointed out.
    “You worked at Fran’s,” Zane said,