His Curvy Girl at the Beach (Insta Love Island Book 6) Read online

  His Curvy Girl at the Beach

  Frankie Love

  Copyright © 2020 by Frankie Love

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  His Curvy Girl At The Beach

  1. Tanner

  2. Twila

  3. Tanner

  4. Twila

  5. Tanner

  6. Twila

  7. Tanner

  Epilogue

  More Insta-Love Island!

  Even More Insta-Love!

  About the Author

  His Curvy Girl At The Beach

  Insta-Love Island

  by Frankie Love

  My twin brother’s destination wedding sounds fun in theory — but the bridal party craves chaos.

  I’m not having it. I cut out drama years ago after selling my company and walking away from the corporate world.

  When I meet Twila, a local waitress, I’m more than smitten.

  She’s the one for me.

  She’s extra curvy, confident, and best of all, she believes in love at first sight.

  But when a misunderstanding threatens to break us apart, I have to make a choice.

  I know what I’m choosing… but does she?

  Dear Reader,

  Do you have any sunscreen? Because Tanner is burning me up! And if he’s the deep end, I’m ready to dive right in. Forget cooling off — this filthy-sweet romance will get you all hot and bothered. Just the way we like it.

  xo, frankie

  1

  Tanner

  The lobby of the Bahamas Grand Hotel is crowded, and yet I still manage to see my twin brother Mark the moment I enter. He raises his beer, walking toward me, grinning.

  After selling my company, I’ve been traveling for a year. And one more destination shouldn’t faze me — but it’s not Pole Island itself that I’m dreading.

  I haven’t been looking forward to this weekend because I’m here for my brother’s wedding. And I’m not some jaded asshole who has issues with family events in general… it’s because Mark has no business getting hitched. I know for a fact he slept with a woman last weekend at the bachelor party, but I know that’s not where his infidelity ends. So coming here to his destination wedding feels wrong.

  “You made it,” Mark says, handing me a beer. “Didn’t know if you’d show.”

  “I’m the best man, aren’t I?”

  “Yeah, but I know you have opinions on what I’m doing. But Alyssa knows about Vegas.”

  “And does she know about your secretary?”

  Mark rolls his eyes. “Yes. I’m telling you, it’s an open relationship. She’s cool.”

  “Why go to the hassle and expense of the wedding if you don’t plan on keeping your vows?”

  Mark groans. “God, Tanner. You’re such a buzzkill. Can you lighten up? Stop being so judgy. Besides, a wedding makes most sense for us financially.”

  I run a hand over my jaw, trying to shake it off. I told myself I would mind my own business, but a few minutes into this getaway I’m already asking too many personal questions.

  I lift my hands, shrugging. “I’ll stay quiet. Just tell me where to stand on the big day.”

  “Attaboy,” he says. “Now, let’s go get you checked in, and find ourselves a real beverage.”

  I chuckle. “This beer isn’t real?”

  “Hell no. I need hard alcohol to get through this.”

  I clench my jaw, refusing to comment, and instead tell him I’ll find him at the bar after I’ve dropped off my bags.

  “There isn’t a rehearsal dinner or anything — we’re keeping it low-key before the wedding tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to The Red Crab down on Sunset Beach for dinner. Meet us there?”

  I nod, turning to the check-in counter. “I’m Tanner Locke, I made a reservation online.”

  An older woman in a peach suit coat smiles at me, typing. Her name tag reads Galy. “Oh, Mr. Tanner, you have an executive suite. You’ll love the view.”

  “Great, I’ve never been to Pole Island. I’m looking forward to exploring.”

  “Well, you must take this brochure with you. It has a map of the island.” Galy opens it up for me, pointing to Main Street. “There’s Sunny Beach Coffee Shop if you want a delicious morning pastry. Temptation Night Club, if you are a night owl. And you must visit King’s Cloak Falls. It’s the most beautiful waterfall in the Bahamas.”

  “Wow,” I say, grinning. “Looks like Pole Island has it all.”

  She winks. “And if you find love on the island, you can always stop at Bijoutique to pick out a piece of fine jewelry.”

  I chuckle. The idea of finding love seems impossible. I’ve never met a woman who made me want to throw inhibition to the wind and get swept up in a hurricane of love. But God, I’d love to find that.

  “Yeah?” I lift an eyebrow. “Do lots of visitors find love here?”

  “The lucky ones do,” Galy says. “You know, the Maori seafarers who discovered this place called it Pull Island because they believed a strong current led them here. Maybe the same current has brought you?”

  I grin. “I wish. But it’s my brother’s wedding that brought me here this weekend.”

  “And you don’t look happy about that.”

  “I’m apprehensive about the whole thing,” I admit.

  “The wedding or the match?”

  “You ask all your guests this many questions?” I tease.

  She laughs warmly. “Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry. But a young handsome man like yourself in the most luxurious room at the resort shouldn’t be alone, is all.”

  “Well, I have no issues with weddings. Hell, I hope to have my own one day. But when I get married, I want it to be for the right reasons, and to the right woman.”

  She waves a finger at me, her clear blue eyes sparkling. “Smart man.”

  I take the brochure from her, looking at the map for the restaurant my brother mentioned. “How close are we to The Red Crab?”

  “It’s not far, just head down the beachfront and you’ll run into it.”

  “Any good?”

  Galy laughs. “I hope so, my daughter Twila is a waitress there.”

  By the time I walk away with a room key, I’ve shaken off my frustration with my brother Mark and have a smile on my face. And when I walk into my suite, the smile turns to a full-on grin. Damn, this room is gorgeous. Pushing open the blackout curtains, I take in the view — turquoise waves crashing against a white sand beach that stretches as far I can see.

  There is a pool below me, and I can make out a swim-up bar, but my gaze is pulled back to the beach.

  To the woman walking out of the ocean in a hot pink bikini, her long black hair wet and slicked back, her face glowing form the saltwater bath she’s just had. But damn, it’s her curves, her full tits popping out of the top, her hips that have my cock aching. Her eyes, blue as the sea behind her.

  Even at this distance, I’m captivated. It’s like she’s a goddamn mermaid, her skin sparkling like the sand.

  I wish I wasn’t three stories high, wish I was just inches away. But before I can even contemplate rushing to the elevator and making a mad dash to the woman of my fantasies, someone hollers at her. She runs toward a man who wraps her in a hug, and then, just like that, she’s lost in a crowd, gone.

  I turn from the window, wondering why it feels like I just lost someone I�
�ve never even met.

  2

  Twila

  I was born and raised on Pole Island, and I know how lucky I am to call this tropical paradise home. Today is no exception. The sun is shining bright, there is a prefect breeze coming off the beach, and my friends have all gotten together to celebrate my birthday.

  So why am I feeling so blue?

  “Wanna get drinks at Surf Sup?” Xander asks. He’s my best friend, a DJ, and always up for a good time. “We could take some photos out on Blood Moon Beach. You look sick in that suit.”

  I laugh, appreciating his compliment as I adjust my hot pink bikini bottoms. I always say if you got it, flaunt it. There may be lots of body shamers out there, but I figure every body is a beach body.

  “I close tonight,” I say, twisting my lips. “But that’s hours away. Sounds fun.”

  “Good,” Xander says with a laugh. “Because one, it’s your birthday, and two, you need some new content on IG, and three, that’s where everyone is meeting us.”

  I lift my eyes in surprise. “Really? You planned a party?”

  Xander shrugs. “What can I say, I’m a good bestie.”

  “You really are.” I give him a side hug before we collect our beach towels. We walk through the lobby of Bahamas Grand Hotel and pause to say goodbye to my mom.

  “Did you have fun?” she asks, smiling in her peach suit coat. She has been a manager here for years, and always gets Xander and I guest passes when we want to glam it up at the fanciest hotel on the island.

  “Tons,” Xander says for me. “But now I must whisk her off to her soirée.”

  “So early in the day?” Mom frowns. “Thought you kids liked to party all night.”

  Xander smirks. “I do, but you know Twila, won’t even take a day off on her birthday. She’s working tonight.”

  “I’m saving up my money. Australia is this close,” I say, pinching my thumb and forefinger together.

  “I love your drive, and that photography course in Australia sounds incredible,” Xander says. “But what you should really do is meet some sugar daddy here at the Grand and get them to pay your way.”

  I roll my eyes. “One, eww, and two, my mother is seriously standing right here.”

  My mom and Xander laugh. “Well,” Mom says with a wink, “there was a man who checked in a bit ago who was very handsome, wore a blue shirt the color of your eyes. Maybe it’s a sign.”

  “Mother. I don’t care about nonsense signs. I care about someone’s heart.”

  “Sweet,” Xander says. “Really precious, but this is the real world, Twila. You’re twenty-two, a virgin and—”

  I cut him off. “And my mother is still right here! Where is your filter?” I shake my head, laughing.

  My mom laughs too. I know my mom isn’t offended by Xander’s lack of discretion. She’s raised me on her own, and there are no secrets between us.

  “I just want my Twila to be happy,” she says. “Though, having a little fun might do you some good.”

  I grab Xander’s arm. “I am having fun. I’m headed to my birthday party right now, aren’t I?”

  Mom waves goodbye, but Xander hops up on the counter first to give her a hug. Soon we are in his Jeep, headed down the highway.

  When we get to the bar slash surf shop, my friends are all there, locals who work in tourism. Luca, Tandy, Kate, David — everyone came.

  “How did you guys manage this?” I say as they carry out a cake to a beachside table, candles lit.

  “It’s a Thursday,” Luca says. “We didn’t have any snorkeling tours booked.”

  “And I just put a closed sign on the coffee shop,” Kate says with a laugh. “Now make a wish.”

  I lean over my chocolate cake and close my eyes. I wish for this year to be better than the last. It’s a tall order. This past year I finally got over being self-conscious of my curves, and started an Instagram account to share that self-love with others. The outpouring has been incredible. Turns out there are a lot of women who like getting swimsuit recommendations from plus size women.

  “Let me guess what you wished for,” Tandy says with a grin. “A lovah?”

  “No one says lovah,” David teases. Then he hands me a knife to do the honors of cutting the cake. “But tell us, did you wish for a man? Because Twila, it’s time.”

  “You guys…” I shake my head. I may be crazy confident about my body… but the idea of being with a man still makes me nervous. “Sex isn’t everything.”

  They all exchange looks. “Sure,” Kate says. “We just want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy,” I say automatically, giving them a big smile as everyone digs into the cake Kate baked.

  But deep down, it’s not the entire truth. I’m not 100% happy. There’s something missing from my life. Or rather, someone. I’m living the dream, but sometimes I’d really like to be living that dream with a lifelong partner. A husband. A lovah.

  But considering I’m still carrying my V-card, I’m guessing that’s not going to happen anytime soon.

  “Hey, let’s do that photoshoot,” Xander offers. And I nod, happy to have this moment captured — eating cake with my favorite people, on a beach, in the prettiest place on Earth.

  Later, I’m clearing the last of my tables, happy I wasn’t given the twelve top. It’s a wild group of tourists who have clearly been drinking all day. “You should take off,” my manager Clive says. “A little bird told me it’s your birthday.”

  “I want the hours.”

  “I know, but how about as my birthday gift to you, I give you those hours anyways?”

  “Clive.” I shake my head. Giving me the last few hours off means he will be staying later. “You don’t have to.”

  “Hey, take it from me, an old dude on the beach — you’re only young once. Go live it up, Twila. Let your hair down.”

  I smile, squeezing his arm. “Thanks, Clive. I won’t argue with that.”

  In the back room, I take off my apron, change into a black sundress, and put on my flip-flops. After grabbing my purse, I pull out my phone and see Xander texted.

  It’s some of the photos from earlier today.

  My co-worker Jose walks out of the supply room with a case of rum. “Come get a drink at the bar before you leave.”

  “Will do,” I say, scrolling through the images as I follow him to the front of the restaurant and slide onto a barstool.

  “I’ll make you a birthday special,” Jose says as he begins concocting a fruity pink beverage. My favorite kind.

  “It’s your birthday?” a man asks, sitting down on a stool next to me. He is insanely attractive, dark black hair, scruff on his jaw, piercing brown eyes that could swallow me whole.

  Since I’ve just posted a photo of me blowing out my birthday candles to my social media account, I flip it to the man, showing him proof. “Yep. Twenty-two.”

  “Well, happy birthday, Curvy Girl at the Beach,” he says, reading my IG handle. “I’m Tanner, and… Can I buy you a drink?”

  “I already bought her one,” Jose says with a protective edge to his voice.

  I laugh. “Don’t mind Jose,” I tell Tanner. “It’s his job to be an overprotective big brother. The locals look out for one another.”

  “And you’re a local?” he asks, looking at me with a smile on his face.

  I nod. “And you are not.”

  “No, I’m actually staying at the Bahamas Grand Hotel and I swear I saw you there earlier.”

  I bite my bottom lip. “And you didn’t come over and say hi?”

  He chuckles. “You were with someone.”

  I nod slowly. “Right. Xander. He’s my best friend.” My phone beeps as I say that and I look down at it. “And he is actually texting me right now.”

  “No worries,” Tanner says, his smile sending a wave of warmth through my body. Men never look at me like this… or maybe just not the men I want to be looking this way. The man. Him. There is something about Tanner that makes me feel totally invest
ed.

  I read Xander’s text and make an in-the-moment decision. One my boss Clive would approve of, one that my friends would be shocked by. “Do you want to go dancing?” I ask Tanner. “My friend is a DJ. He’s at a club tonight and since it’s my birthday, I thought maybe—”

  “I’d love to,” he says, cutting me off.

  Jose lifts his eyebrows. “You sure, Twila?”

  “Twila — you’re Galy’s daughter?”

  I frown. “How do you know my mom?”

  “She checked me in at the hotel today.”

  I swallow, remembering that my mom mentioned a handsome man checking in earlier. Maybe this is him. Maybe this is a sign.

  Tanner wears a light blue button-up shirt and brown leather sandals. His shoulders are broad, his biceps shaped with muscle, his smile contagious. And he is into me.

  “Oh, I’m, sure, Jose,” I tell my co-worker. “I’ve never been so sure in my life.”

  3

  Tanner

  She calls a cab — and a few minutes later a car pulls up to The Red Crab. Apparently some friend of her mom is the driver.

  “Were you out to dinner alone?” Twila asks.

  I swallow, totally smitten and taken in by this woman. She’s the girl I saw from my balcony, and it feels like it’s meant to be — us seeing one another again.

  “I’m in town for my brother’s wedding,” I tell her. “A group of us went out for dinner.”

  She lifts her eyebrows. “And you didn’t want to stay with them?”

  “No. He may be my brother, my only family, really, but we’re nothing alike.”

  “Why are you so different?” she asks, rolling down the window of the cab. The balmy night air sweeps through the car and I exhale, relaxing more in her presence than I have in ages. The driver keeps looking in the rearview mirror as if checking where my hands are. They’re on my knees — but damn, that is sure as hell not where I’d like them to be.