Page 53 of Bad Boy Crush
“What are they paying bartenders now?” Lisa asked as Lou pulled up to the front of Xavier’s house. “Is this that tall two-story house I am always admiring on the water? I thought it belonged to an accountant.”
“What do you know? Lisa, the eyes, and ears of Evergreen Cove, doesn’t know everything,” May teased.
The house fit into its surroundings. The siding was rustic brown, the roof a deeper shade of pine green. Surrounded by tall pines on each side, the color scheme was appropriate. They followed the freshly stained deck around to the back, where the view only got better.
“This is the two-story house I thought belonged to an accountant!” Lisa squawked.
The party was in full swing, as Lou had hoped it would be by the time they arrived. Thank goodness May had requested an extra forty minutes to get ready, or they might have been the first guests to show. Nightmare.
Xavier’s lawn was neatly trimmed and weeded, the hillside less a sharp incline than a subtle pitch. A path to the dock was made up of huge slabs of rock that acted as stairs. Flowering shrubs and plants in fresh mulch flanked either side of the path.
“Happy Friday, ladies.” Their host approached from a wide stonewalled circle housing a bonfire burning at a reasonable height. A handful of guys were lounging on the provided benches and chairs surrounding it.
Xavier’s smile was genuine behind his meticulously groomed beard. He kissed Lou and Lisa on the cheek, saving May for last. His lips pressed against her temple instead, and he held on to her fingers for a beat. Lou and Lisa exchanged glances.
They followed their host down to the dock, where three coolers were lined up. “What can I pour you?” he asked after he’d rattled off the contents of each. “I also have a full bar in the house, which isn’t on offer to any of these jokers.” He gestured at the three other men around the fire. “I don’t need to pick their asses up out of my yard after they have too much tequila. But for you ladies, I’ll make an exception.”
“Beer. It’s less fussy than a cocktail,” Lisa said.
“Same,” Lou and May agreed.
Xavier mentioned that he was “good with fussy,” but only after passing out cans of beer in koozies and walking back to the fire.
Lisa, Lou, and May settled onto a couple of pieces of patio furniture in the shade. The view of the blue water was exquisite, and quiet since Xavier’s home was in a cove off the main throughway. This was the perfect party spot.
“Why don’t you date hot men?” Lou asked May. She had heard the No. Hot. Men. declaration more times than she could count, but she had never pressed.
“Her ex.” Lisa fanned herself.
“He was hot?” Lou guessed.
“He was an underwear model,” Lisa said.
“When he was younger—that was before me.” May took a drink of her beer. “He was also a complete asshole. Is still.”
Lisa stroked May’s arm. “Sorry, hon.”
“You’re good.” May waved her off. “After that dumpster fire, I decided to pursue men with other qualities. Brains over brawn. Clunky conversationists over smooth talkers.”
“Is that a forever rule?” Lou asked carefully.
“It’s at least a for-right-now rule.” May sent a pointed look in the direction of the bonfire and then said, “Your honey’s here, by the way.”
It took Lou a second to realize that May was referring to Ant.
Six-pack of beer in hand, he loped down the stone staircase, shaking Xavier’s hand when their host intercepted him. Xavier pointed in Lou’s direction, and Ant headed straight for her.
“Let’s check out the fire, May.” Lisa stood. “You can flirt with Xavier for a while. That’s harmless.”
“You guys—” Lou tried, but they were already gone.
Ant passed May and Lisa, who each slugged him in the arm. He sat down next to Lou and cracked open a bottle of beer from the six-pack he’d carried in. “They know, don’t they?”
“I didn’t tell give them details, but they already knew something was up. Elliott saw your truck in the drive last weekend, so…”
“So, she figured out I wasn’t sleeping in it?”
“Guess so.”