“We’ve known Laurel since she wore her hair in uneven pigtails and dyed Dillon’s underwear pink. She’s like another cousin to me. I couldn’t think of her that way, even if I wanted to.”
Gabe sighed and said, “Yeah, I know, I feel the same way, but I think you need to get out there again, Rear, start dating again. Don’t let that Becca girl get you down. Plenty of women are dying for a man with a good job, beautiful home, and awesome family, even if he does look like you.”
I chuckled at his insult, then shook my head.
“I know not all women are like Becca, but it seems like any of the women that I’m interested in, just see me as the nice guy. The friend, their buddy.”
“Sometimes that’s the best place to start, brother,” Gabe said, then sauntered off to help Zoey apply sunblock to her back.
“I think you have a little drool there,” Jazz said, appearing out of nowhere and touching her finger to the corner of my mouth.
I swatted her away and said, “Stop it.”
Jasmine sighed and looked out to where Chloe was treading water.
“Just ask her out,” she said, her tone frustrated.
“I tried,” I said, then when she gave me a disbelieving look I replied, “No, really, I did. She came over for dinner, I showed her around the house and the neighborhood, and she put me right in the friend zone.”
“Really?” Jazzy asked, her brow furrowed. “Did you actually ask her out, or were you beating around the bush and hoping she understood your underlying meaning?”
“Uh,” I began, then said, “Hey!” when she punched me in the shoulder.
“You didn’t ask her,” she accused, and I realized Jasmine was right. I never actually asked her out, and said that I wanted to pursue something other than friendship, I’d just taken her lead after Chloe said she needed a friend.
“Not exactly,” I admitted.
“Well, if you don’t man up and get in there, you’re going to end up missing out. I have it on good authority that Zoey planned this little get together to introduce Chloe to Jed and Shane, in hopes of setting her up on a date,” Jasmine said, and I swear, it felt like she’d punched me in the gut. “Looks like someone is taking the bait,” she added, then pointed to where Jed was moving toward Chloe in the water, a smile on his stupid face.
I didn’t know Jed that well, he’d only been in town a couple months, and he’d seemed like a nice guy the few times we’d met, but right then, I hated his ass.
“Easy, Rambo,” Jazzy said with a laugh when she caught the glare on my face. “It’s not like you’ve staked a claim or anything, so you can’t blame the man for trying. Chloe’s a beautiful woman, plus she’s smart and funny. A woman like that won’t be single for long.”
Needing to change the subject, I turned to my cousin and replied, “I guess that explains why you’re still single,” then I braced for the blow that I knew would come, barely wincing when she socked me in the stomach.
“Screw you,” she replied, but she laughed when she did, so I knew Jasmine wasn’t mad. If there was one thing my cousin knew without a doubt, it was her own worth, and she could take shit as well as she could dish it out.
It was one of the reasons Jasmine was one of my favorite people in the world.
“What about you?” I asked, nodding toward where Chloe and Jed had moved up to the shallower water and were talking softly. “He’s new to town, so he hasn’t gotten the chance to get to know you yet. You could have a shot.”
I laughed when she glared at me and said, “If you want me to do you a favor and distract him, you’re going to have to butter me up better than that.”
“What do you want?” I asked, looking at my devious cousin curiously.
“Help Laurel out by being her date on Friday night.”
“What? Why? I thought you were trying to set me up with Chloe,” I asked, wondering what was up with my cousin’s trying to hook me up with our childhood friend all of a sudden.
“I am,” Jasmine replied, then scrunched her nose and said, “Ew, gross, that would be like her dating Dillon or something, just no … I know you don’t like her that way any more than she likes you, but her folks have been giving her a hard time about her ex and why she left Houston, and she just needs you to be there as a buffer. It would give you a chance to catch up.”
“I can do that,” I replied, thinking it would be good to see what Laurel had been up to over the years, and find out more about this ex and whether my cousins and I had to rough him up.
Jazz put her hand out and I shook it, solidifying the deal, then she grinned broadly.
“Watch and learn, cousin of mine.”
Jasmine turned and set her sights on her goal, calling out to Chloe so that both Chloe and Jed turned toward her, then she went in for the kill. Shimmying out of her cut-offs in a way that had me averting my eyes and Dillon audibly gagging from behind me, then sauntering down toward the water with sunblock in her hand.
She was still talking to Chloe, when, without saying a word, she handed the tube of sunblock to Jed, then turned and lifted her long hair to give him full access to her back.
Jasmine continued to talk to Chloe while Jed rubbed her back without protest, then she turned and shot me a wink.
My cousin was one dangerous woman.
Chapter Twelve ~ Chloe
I was about to wade out of the water toward Reardon and ask him how his current case was going, since I remembered he’d said something about a difficult client at dinner, but before I got to him, Laurel walked up and put her hand on his arm.
Reardon turned and his face blossomed with a genuine smile, before he bent and gave the bikini-clad blonde a hug.
Sue me for noticing the way their sun-kissed bare skin touched during the embrace, and for the painful clench in my stomach at the happy way they looked at each other. I also took advantage of the fact that he was distracted, and allowed myself a look at his half naked form.
Holy Hell, he’d been hiding tattoos under his three-piece suit. On his right bicep, the left side of his chest, along his side, and there was even one dipping beneath his board short. Good gracious, it was another facet at him that was unexpected, yet totally hot.
Stop it, I warned myself as my gaze trailed back up his body to take in his happy expression as he spoke with Laurel. Reardon is one of the only friends you have in this town, don’t let jealousy ruin it.
Because, honestly, that’s what I was feeling. Jealousy.
Yes, I’d said I needed a friend, and that was completely true, but I couldn’t deny that his Viking good looks, affable demeanor, and closet nerdiness hadn’t totally charmed me. And now, those tattoos…
Seeing him like that, with another woman, made me realize that maybe I was harboring a little crush on my new friend. I kept walking past them, trying to play it off like I’d been going for my towel the entire time, and not like I was trying to avoid the handsome pair.
“So, you’re good for Friday night?” I heard Laurel ask Reardon as I passed, then tried to tune them out when I heard him reply, “It’s a date.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes while I ran my towel over my body, then opened them with a sigh and spread it out on the ground, before laying down and ordering myself to relax and get some sun. I figured another half hour or so, and I’d be clear to make my escape.
“Want company?” a sexy voice, with a, no kidding, Australian accent said, causing me to open my eyes in surprise.
I looked up to see the hot, dirty-blond man Jasmine had introduced as Shane standing over me with a sexy smile, his body glistening. I wasn’t sure if it was oil or sweat, but as I rose up to sitting, I had to admit, I didn’t care either way. The man exuded sex.
Of course, that may have something to do with the accent.
“Of course,” I replied, as any sane woman would, then shifted nervously when he laid out a beach towel and unfolded himself on the ground next to me.
Damn, he smells amazing.
> “So,” Shane began with a charming smile. “I’ve seen you at the bar once or twice, but we’ve never had the chance to talk. How are you enjoying Cherry Springs so far?”
I gave myself a mental pep-talk, urging myself to remain calm and sound self-assured, before responding, “It’s great. Different from what I’m used to, but I’m enjoying the town. How long have you been here, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Shane laid back on his forearms, totally at ease with his long, lean body, rippling with muscles, laid out before me like a buffet.
“I came over three years ago with Gabe, who was one of my mates in school, and fell in love with the place. I’d been thinking about moving to the States for a while, and after that week, I knew that here is where I wanted to land. I officially moved here about a year ago.”
“And you work at Lewis’s Bar and Grill?”
“Yeah, I’ve been finishing up my Master’s and working there full time to get me through. It’s a great place to work. Ms. Annabeth can be a hard-ass, but she’s a firecracker, and has a good heart.”
I thought of Gabe’s mom, Christopher’s grandmother, and the reservations the woman still had about me and said, “I’ve seen the hard-ass part, I’ll have to take your word on the rest.”
Shane grinned, and I had to look away before he saw my eyes bug out of my head.
“She’ll come around,” he said, pulling my attention back. “I’ve seen the way she is with Chris, he’s a great kid by the way, and I know she loves your sister. Just give her a little time to get used to the situation.”
“It is complicated, I’ll give her that,” I admitted with a small smile.
“Definitely the first time I’ve heard anything like it outside of my mum’s favorite soap opera,” Shane replied, his face open and friendly, so his words had no sting to them.
I nodded, embarrassed like I always was when the subject of our weird family dynamic came up.
“Hey,” Shane said, reaching out a hand to rub my arm consolingly. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just life … You are all happy now, yeah? Focus on that.”
“You’re right,” I said, grateful that he was so understanding of the situation. “Thanks, Shane.”
“Hey, I’m the bartender, right? That’s what I’m here for.” His grin was charming and catchy, so I smiled along with him, and hoped maybe I had another friend in Cherry Springs.
“We should get together sometime, both of us being newbies in this rather incestuous town,” he said, causing me to laugh with surprise at his choice of words. “Grab a drink or coffee.”
“That sounds great,” I admitted, then we both leaned back on our towels and enjoyed the sun.
I ended up staying longer than I’d planned, and after enjoying a burger grilled perfectly by Gabe, I was packing up my bag when Laurel approached.
“We never did get a chance to talk about that job,” she said easily.
“I have a meeting with my realtor this evening,” I said as I pulled my cover-up on. “I think I’m going to make an offer on a house, but I’m free anytime tomorrow, if you want to get together.”
“Wow, congratulations, I hope you get it,” Laurel said with a friendly smile. “How about lunch at the diner, say eleven thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” I replied happily, then said my goodbyes to everyone and started out toward my car.
“Hey, Mom,” Christopher called out, stopping me at the tree line.
“Yeah?”
“I thought I’d come with you, and, you know, go with you to meet the realtor, then we can have dinner after.”
My body warmed and I nodded with a smile, then watched as he bounded back to get his stuff and say goodbye to Gabe and Zoey.
“I’ll meet you at the car,” I called, then walked away, happy that he’d reached out and wanted to spend some time with me. I’d been trying to be understanding, and not make him feel guilty about wanting to get to know Gabe better, but it felt really good to know that maybe he was missing me too.
“Chloe?”
I opened my trunk and threw my bag inside, leaving it open for Chris’s stuff, then looked over my shoulder to see Reardon walking up behind me.
“Hey,” I said, keeping my smile easy. Friendly. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk back there.”
“Yeah,” he replied, something flashing across his face before he grinned back at me. “Sometimes it’s hard when there are so many of us.” Reardon cleared his throat, and added, “We’ve got our tux fittings next week; this weddings coming up a lot faster than I anticipated … Anyway, being the best man, I asked Gabe about a bachelor party, and he said that he and Zoey were thinking of doing something combined, rather than separate,. Has she talked to you about it at all?”
I leaned back against my car and shook my head.
“No, not yet, but to be honest, I haven’t asked her. I know, terrible maid of honor. Things have just been so crazy,” I admitted sheepishly. “We have an appointment with the bridal shop this week too. I’ll be sure to ask her about it.”
“Great, I was thinking maybe we could get together and discuss it, maybe plan it together?”
Reardon looked so hopeful that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sure, that sounds good. I’ll call you after our appointment.”
“Perfect,” he replied, then said, “See you later, Chris,” when my son came jogging to the car.
“Later, Rear,” my son replied with his lopsided grin, then threw his bag in the trunk and got in the car.
“Bye,” I said, lifting my hand in a small wave.
Reardon nodded, and as I pulled away and looked in the rearview mirror, I noticed that he was still standing in the same place, watching us drive away.
Chapter Thirteen ~ Reardon
“Not trying to sound conceited here, but, damn, we look good.”
I turned my head slightly to smile at Dillon, who was checking himself out in the full-length mirror.
“I never had a doubt,” Gabe replied with a grin, putting his hand out to ruffle Christopher’s hair as he looked us over, checking the fit of our tuxes.
They’d decided to keep the wedding relatively small, with Dillon and Chris standing up as groomsmen, and me as the best man, while Chloe was Zoey’s maid of honor, and Jasmine and Serena were her bridesmaids.
That got me thinking… “Hey,” I began as I straightened my bow tie. “When is Rena supposed to get into town?”
“Jazzy said she should be here for the fitting on Wednesday, and she’ll stay until the wedding,” Dillon replied.
“Have you heard anything more about her moving back here permanently?” Gabe asked as he helped Chris secure his cummerbund.
“No, not yet,” Dillon said, running his fingers through his red hair before picking up his coffee cup and looking at me with a smirk. “But … I did hear a little something about you having the hots for a certain someone.”
I shot a death glare at him, then tilted my head toward Chris, who was luckily distracted by the awkwardness of wearing a tux for the first time.
“Ixna on the otsha,” I replied through clenched teeth.
“Why are you busting out the pig Latin?” Gabe asked with a chuckle. “There was nothing in that sentence that needed to be spoken in code.”
“Never mind,” I replied, hoping they’d drop it.
I should have known better.
“Who’s he after?” Gabe asked Dillon, totally ignoring my requests.
“Mom,” Chris answered without batting an eye, causing my stomach to drop and Gabe’s eyes to widen as we took in the teen who was biting his lip as he turned to look at himself at all angles in the mirror.
Dillon started laughing as I closed my eyes and tried counting to ten.
I barely got to four when Gabe asked, “You have a thing for Chloe? Still?”
“What do you mean, still?” Dillon asked, perking up at the new information. “How long has this been going on?”
Gabe glanced briefly at his son, and I could see him struggling to find the words that would explain what he meant, without bringing up the particulars of his past with Chloe.
“I liked her first,” I put in, cutting him some slack. “Back when we first met her.”
Dillon rubbed his hand over his chin and said, “Wow,” but didn’t say anything further, even though I was sure it was killing him inside.
Chris finally turned from his reflection to look at me.
“Really?” he asked, his young face contemplative. “That’s pretty cool. I don’t think she knows that. It could give you the in that you need.”
Gabe frowned, as if he wasn’t sure how he felt about not only me having feelings for Chloe, but Chris’s easy acceptance of it.
I was surprised as well, but wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, she doesn’t date,” Chris replied, then turned to Gabe and asked, “Can I take this off now?”
Gabe nodded, and as Chris began to take off the tux he added, “Like ever. She’s never introduced me to a guy, let alone brought one home, and I know she feels weird about this whole situation.” When he pointed from himself to Gabe, then to me, we all understood what he meant. It was already a weird situation, my having feelings for his mom just made it weirder. “But, she loves romance. Like totally loves it, in movies, books, music, and I think if she knew you had a thing for her before, and still do, even after all the weird, she would think that was pretty romantic.”
I nodded, getting where he was coming from, but still not sure Chloe would welcome my affection, especially after the friend talk we’d had before.
Chris laid his jacket over the back of a chair, then brought his serious eyes to mine and said softly, “And she deserves that, you know, some romance.”
He turned to step into the dressing room, and I caught the look of devastation on Gabe’s face before he could turn his face toward the wall.
I walked over to my best friend and cousin and clapped my hand on his back as I leaned in close to whisper, “It’s not on you, Gabe. You were both young and stupid, and caught in the moment. You didn’t treat her carelessly, and you had no idea that she was pregnant. It sucks that it happened, but it’s in the past now and you’re doing more than enough to make it up to both of them.”