Page 54 of Bad Boy Crush
He cupped her cheek and gave her a soft kiss that still managed to scramble her brains. “Sorry I wasn’t able to come around much this week.”
After the lake swim on Sunday, he’d stayed until late afternoon. He’d come by on Wednesday to deliver Reggie’s subs, and something called “grinder dip” which was a droolworthy combo of mayo, lettuce, banana peppers, and oregano. It was usually reserved for a sandwich topping, but it turned out to be even better on top of Flamin’ Hot Doritos.
“Don’t worry about it. We were both busy.”
“Tonight, I’m all yours,” he said.
“To do with as I please?”
Outstretched arms propped on the back of the sofa, he turned his palms to the sky. “Fuck, yeah. Use me up. I’m good for it.”
The flutter in her stomach reminded her how much she’d missed him this week. The sex, sure, but also his steady presence. Her leaping nerves had calmed the instant he put a kiss on the center of her mouth.
“Watching the sun dip behind those pine trees makes it hard to remember your problems.” He squinted at the descending orange ball on the other side of the lake. “Reminds you how small you are.”
Leave it to him to invite her to use him for sex in one breath and offer a Zen-master observation on life with his next.
“Is that corny?” He grinned, the fading sunlight highlighting his perfect bone structure.
“Completely.” But his words touched her down deep—in a place she hadn’t explored in way too long.
sixteen
After they watched the sun set, Lou and Ant joined the rest of the party around the bonfire. He settled on a log, and she plopped down on the grass between his legs and rested her arms on his thighs.
May gave her an approving nod. No one else batted an eyelash. Xavier sat opposite Lou next to the three guys who were here when she’d arrived. May and Lisa were on folding chairs to her right, and there was an empty stump to her left about to be occupied. Fresh off his shift, an out-of-uniform Brady strolled over.
“Good evening, officer,” Lisa trilled. “Have you come to arrest us for disturbing the peace?”
“Hardly.” Lou hoped his amiable smile was thanks to an easy day on the job. “I’ve come to drink one beer before going home to my girls.”
“Dog and girlfriend,” Xavier explained to his friends.
“Hutch.” Ant tossed Brady a beer from a cooler.
Brady caught it smoothly and cracked it open, siphoning off the foam from the top before he wore it. He sat on the stump between Lou and Xavier, who did a fresh round of introductions. The two lighter-haired guys were brothers: Warner and Pearce. Until now, she’d only heard the dark-haired, intense-looking guy referred to as “G-man.” Evidently, his name was Griffin.
She repeated the names to herself so that she wouldn’t forget, but the loop was interrupted by ice-cold fingers on her abdomen. She let out an indelicate shriek. Ant’s low laughter was joined by everyone else’s. Lou stood and he scooted over to make room for her on the log next to him. When she sat down, he immediately wrapped an arm around her and snuggled her close, kissing her lightly.
“I knew you looked familiar,” Brady said to Griffin. “You’re related to Wanda, right?”
“She’s his aunt.” Lisa held the other man’s gaze while May and Lou widened their eyes at each other. So, Lisa’s damn sex was in their midst! Griffin, with his dark hair and staggering good looks was most assuredly her type.
“Great aunt,” Griffin corrected.
While Brady and Griffin conversed, Lou took the opportunity to lean over and whisper to Lisa. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Lisa cut the air with one hand but kept her gesture small and her voice low so she didn’t attract his attention. “I had no idea he knew Xavier!”
“Xavier is a bartender, honey,” May interjected. “He knows everybody.”
Xavier, who’d been paying them no attention, perked up when May spoke. “Did I hear my name?”
“Yeah,” May said. “We were wondering how you landed a gorgeous lake house that used to belong to a surly old accountant who had no interest in moving.”
Xavier grinned. “You mean you were wondering how I landed a gorgeous lake house when I bartend for a living.”
“Same idea.” May waved a hand.