Family (Men of Steel #5.5) (8 page)

I paddled back to shore and dragged the board up the beach. I put it away and walked through the gate, but stopped when I saw the pool. I decided to take a dip to rid my body of the salt water. I was proud of my Irish heritage, but genetically my sensitive, fair skin had to be babied or I’d break out, and that wasn’t gonna happen. Five days from now, I’d be a golden tan and rash free when I returned to my office. I dropped trou and dove in. The water felt damn good, and alone or with someone, it didn’t matter much to me. Nothing felt as good as being naked in the water.

I floated around enjoying my privacy. I couldn’t do this shit at the gym or at the shore. Conservative or not, there was something cool about my dick being free outside of my home.

I thought I heard voices. When I opened my eyes, I saw three women standing around gawking at me. My ears hadn’t failed me.

I quickly pulled my lower half under the water and swam to the opposite side of the pool. They all started giggling.

“Something I can help you ladies with?”

The blonde smirked, “No please don’t let us interrupt you.”

She dropped her towel and jumped in.

The blonde was laughing like a fool, and I tried not to look annoyed, but fuck, I was a little taken aback by what was going on. The dark skin brunette jumped in laughing, too.

“Howdy neighbor,” she said when she surfaced.

“Neighbor?” I asked.

“The cottage right there is where we’re staying. Shared pool, shared lawn, shared…”

“Fuck! This was supposed to be private.”

“Nothing’s private around here anymore,” the blonde shed her shirt and jumped in.

“One of you ladies mind fetching me my shorts?”

“You go right ahead big guy, no need to hide it, we’ve already seen it.”

“So that’s how it’s gonna be?”

They all passed around looks, and the brunette swam to the steps and got out as the other’s continued giggling.

“Here you go.” She threw them into the pool.

“Thanks.”

“Need some help?” The blonde asked and they all started giggling again.

I pulled my shorts up, contemplating what the hell to do next, and I was at a loss. I could stand in front of a boardroom full of investors or behind a podium holding meetings for hundreds of employees, but this right here was way out of my comfort zone.

I swam to the steps and walked out of the pool.

“My apologies. I will straighten this mess out as soon as I can.”

I walked quickly to the back door of my semi-private vacation retreat and slammed the door.

I walked into the bathroom and got in the shower to rinse off the chlorine. I jumped out and grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my waist, and headed into the kitchen to call the fucking realtor and ream him a new ass.

I jumped and nearly lost my towel when the blonde was standing in the kitchen setting bags on the counter.

“Hey big guy, the delivery boy came. Hope you don’t mind I signed for ya and brought them in.”

“Thanks…um…”

“Laney.”

“Right. Thanks and sorry about earlier. Had I known I never would have … ”

“Don’t stress. You have nothing to be ashamed of ... ”

“Abe.”

“Abe, cool. We are all here for a couple more days, so let’s just not make a big deal about it, okay?”

“Sounds good.” I reached out to shake her hand and caught my towel right before I exposed myself a second time.

She laughed as I wrapped myself up again.

“We’re going to grill tonight, if you’re interested.”

“Not tonight, but thanks.” The look on her face told me I was probably being a dick. “Maybe I can cook for the three of you tomorrow night?”

“Four.”

“Excuse me?” I scratched my head.

“Four, our friend is coming in, so there will be four of us.”

“Four, good. That’s good. See you all then.”

She waved over her shoulder as she walked out.

***

I had some cheese and salad before I decided to put this fucked up day behind me and call it a night. Tomorrow would be better.

I lay in bed and returned Carly’s text.

Abe: Banner start to stress-free vacation. Exhausted. Going to sleep. Chat tomorrow.

I was almost asleep when I heard the neighbors giggling. I lay in bed trying to ignore the commotion. I had decided I should probably shut the window to give them some privacy when I heard the blonde’s voice.

“No girl, we’re not pulling your leg. All American boy naked as a jay bird floating around in the pool.”

“Shut up,” I heard a sweet voice giggle. I wasn’t alone. Shit stirred under the covers.

“He is built, too.”

“You guys are drunk.” The voice sighed quietly.

“Drunk or not, the boy had six plus eight.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, and those lines that make even the smartest chick lose her mind.”

“I swear I would have licked down that V if he’d have asked.”

“And kept right on going.”

“Eight plus eight.” The blonde purred. 

“What?” The sweet voice giggled.

“Eight pack, eight inches.”

“He wasn’t even hard.”

“Oh my god, you three are so bad.”

Damn that voice was killing me
.

“He’s cooking us dinner tomorrow.”

“We should tag team his ass.” It was the blonde Laney.

“You three have fun with that. I’m going in to shower and get some sleep. Maybe tomorrow after some shots I’ll be able to follow this conversation.”

“Hell no, you just got here!”

Yeah, hell no, keep talking sweetheart, please
, I pleaded in my head.

I heard a door shut and then the girls all laughed.

“Six months, do you think she’s over him yet?”

“She’s fine.” The blonde piped in. “She deserves better than a douche that’s gonna cheat on her. She’ll be just fine.”

They all stayed quiet and then I heard the door shut again. I closed the window, cranked up the AC, and fell asleep thinking about that voice.

Surf’s Up

Nikolette

I woke feeling better than I had in weeks. I wasn’t going to let the past hinder what I was to become. I am a strong woman. Beautiful in my own way. That had been what I had told myself for the past five months since Steve and I had split up.

“Split up” was a nice way to put the hell that I lived for five months. How is it possible that two words – split up, break up, end this, I’m out –could have so much emotion attached to them? Those two words couldn’t begin to describe what had gone on between us since I caught him in bed with a girl who had been not only my friend, but my college roommate for almost three years.

She was a Texas girl. She had been in pageants from the time she was five, always doing what her Bible-toting momma told her. Always lived to make everyone happy. Then Sally went to college. What happens when the straight and narrow go off to college? All hell breaks loose. Sally went through a phase where she was bringing home boys every weekend. Then she went through a period where she was sure she’d go to Hell and she ate those damn éclairs like there was no tomorrow. Girlfriend gained her freshman fifteen and then some. Her momma came up and the way she looked at her with contempt, still upsets me, and I’m no fan of Sally anymore.

Don’t get me wrong, no one loves Jesus more than I do. Southern Baptist girl, here. Raised up in church and my extended family living with us. My Daddy is a podiatrist, whitest white boy on the planet. He met my momma playing piano at church and immediately fell in love with her. Neither one of my grandparents minded the fact that he was white and she was black. As my Granny Ivy would say, “It’s a heart thing. Love isn’t black and white, either is life.”

Granny Ivy lived with us from the time Grandpa Isaac died. That’s how family is supposed to be. Mom and Dad both agree. When Steve and I broke up, it was her and my mom that got me through it, “Love is a funny thing, not always good, not always easy, and not always meant to be forever.”

Sally begged me not to move out of our room. She just didn’t know how she would explain it to her mother. “Not your cross to bear,” Granny said when I told her, but I only had one semester to go before starting my internship over the summer that would last through my senior year. I sure as hell wouldn’t give Steve or Sally the satisfaction of breaking me. Momma taught me right. “Hold your head high and don’t give nay-sayers the satisfaction. Grace under pressure. And when you just can’t do it anymore, come home and fall apart. We’re here for you sugar plum.”

I lay in bed contemplating what was next. I would have rather not have come here before moving on to the next part of my life, but my parents insisted I go and have fun. So here I was, passing the time, hanging with my girls in Florida, who were doing the same.

I sat up and looked in the bed next to mine, Laney was still asleep. The girls had gotten pretty tipsy last night; probably needed to sleep it off. I walked out of the room and peeked in at Mel and Paige, they were still passed out, too. I decided to go for a walk on the beach.

The beach was beautiful and peaceful. Small waves rolled into the white sand beach. A few surfers paddling around and one in particular rode a small wave toward shore. The sun behind him made him appear to be glowing. I was glad I had my sunglasses on because I didn’t want to get busted for staring at him. I couldn’t help but stare. He was a vision, even from a distance. Tall and built very well, his shoulders squared. He looked so comfortable and confident, like he belonged out there amidst the rolling waters.

He hopped down from the board and into the water. I should’ve walked away, but I didn’t want to. It wasn’t like I’d see him again anyway.

He picked up his board and held it under his arm as he walked toward me. My god, he was even more beautiful close up. He ran his hand through his hair and shook the excess water out as he continued toward me. I looked left so that he didn’t notice my stare, but I kept my eyes on
Neptune
; he certainly was a beautiful creature.

As he continued walking toward me, I began to feel uncomfortable.

“Hey.” His voice was soft yet strong.

“Hey to you.” I smiled. He stopped and stood his board in the sand.

He smiled.
Beautiful.

“You number four?”

“Excuse me?” I laughed and he bent over and grabbed a towel that happened to be beside me. I hadn’t noticed it before.

“You with the three ladies staying up there?” He pointed to the beach house and then began to towel off.

It hit me right then that he was the All-American boy who my friends had caught floating naked in the pool. I bit my cheeks so that I wouldn’t laugh and he smiled and shook his head.

“Yeah, I would be the neighbor who uh,” he stopped. “Well, let’s just say I met them last night.”

“Oh, I heard about you.” I smiled, embarrassed.

“I’m sure I made a great first impression. But in my defense I had no clue it was a shared space.”

“I don’t think they minded much.”

He tilted his head and looked at me like he was questioning something. Then he chuckled and leaned down to grab his shirt. He shook the sand off and threw it on.

“I offered up dinner tonight as a peace offering. You’re welcome to join us, Four.”

“I see.” I smiled because there was not much else I could do. He gave off that kind of vibe. He had a warm, inviting smile, the kind of guy you could be comfortable with immediately.

“So, any special requests, Four? I only ask because I haven’t embarrassed myself in front of you, so you’re like the safe zone.”

There was a moment of uncomfortable silence that he broke. “You surf?”

“Never tried it. You looked amazing out there though.”
Oh dear, god I just said that out loud
. The corner of his lip curled up slightly. “I just meant…”

“Don’t worry about it, Four. I know what you meant. If it helps, you look pretty amazing standing here on the beach as well.”

Now I was the one smirking.

“I’ll be back out here in a couple hours if you’re interested.”

I nodded and smiled. Then I kicked at the sand,
giddy
. Neptune made me feel like a giddy little school girl.

“I think I’d like that.”

“I think you will, too. How long are you here?”

“Three days.”

“Me too. I can teach you a lot in three days, if you’re up to the challenge.”

“I’m always up for a challenge.”

His expression changed and his eyebrow lifted a bit.

“Yeah?”

“Uh huh.”

“I’m gonna push you hard, Four.”

I may have not been in the game for a few months, but he was flirting. “I wouldn’t want it any other way, Neptune.”

He bit his lower lip and looked me up and down. “You got a suit?”

“A wet suit?”

“No Four, please not a wet suit.”

“I’ll have to see what I brought. I’ll surprise you.”

“I will look forward to it.”

He hesitated before grabbing his board and walking up the beach toward the house. I watched him. He looked great from behind as well. This man could be the one to pull me out of my funk.

I was still gawking when he turned to look in my direction. I wasn’t gonna hide it. I was excited about the possibilities. This vacation just got way more interesting. I waved and he waved back.

Wow.

***

I walked up the beach, looked toward his place, saw his silhouette pass by the window, and smiled at the glimpse of him. I held my hand to my heart and laughed out loud. Over at our little place, three sets of curious eyes stared at me before quickly ducking out of sight.

I walked in and they all sat quietly around the table. I sat down and looked at them, trying to keep it together. When I couldn’t stand it anymore, I smiled and looked down.

“You met the neighbor,” Paige goaded, and they all busted up laughing.

“Shh, geesh he’s right over there, keep it down already.”

“Ooo, looks like Stella’s about to get her groove back,” Mel whispered.

“He’s very nice-looking.” I whispered.

“Nice looking? That’s all you got? That man is H.O.T. hot.” Laney whispered.

“Yeah, he is. He offered to teach me to surf.”

“No way!”

“Shhh,” I giggled.

“When?”

“Well, in a couple hours, for starters.”

“Oh no. We have massages set up in an hour and a half.” Paige interjected.

“I didn’t know.” I tried not to sound disappointed, but I kind of was.

“Ho’s before Bro’s,” Laney laughed.

“Yeah, I’ll just have to go over and let him know.”

“Go now.” Mel sounded a little bit too eager to get rid of me.

“Fine. I will.”

I pulled my shades back down, walked out into the shared lawn and across the patio to Neptune’s door, and knocked.

He opened the door with a towel wrapped around his waist. He didn’t have sunglasses on and his eyes looked like the ocean, sparkling and light blue, something I could definitely get lost in. The towel was slung pretty damn low and I was stuck on the tattoo on his hip bone. That tattoo pointed to the V.

He lifted my chin up so that I was looking at him now.

“You have a tattoo.”

“I do.”

“It’s nice.”

“Thanks.”

I didn’t say anything and he smiled.

“What brings you by, Four, did you need a cup of milk, some sugar?”

“No, um no.”
Get it together, Nikki.
“The girls made massage appointments so I won’t be able to take you up on the surf lesson. I just didn’t want to leave you hanging.”

My eyes went down again and then quickly up.

“Four, you keep checking out my stuff and I won’t be hanging much longer.”

“Well, I only thought it fair that I got to see it, too. You know since the rest of the girls did.” I laughed, trying to make light of the situation.

“All in due time, Four.”

I laughed, “So, I’ll see you around.”

I turned to leave and he grabbed my bicep stopping me. His touch was gentle yet strong, and it felt good. I looked back at him as he slowly released my arm.

“Dinner for four tonight. Don’t forget.”

“I won’t. Thanks … um … what’s your name?”

“I’m kind of liking Neptune, how about we stick to that?”

I smiled, laughed, and walked away.

***

As we lay on our stomachs getting massages, I told the girls what the neighbor had said.

“He likes you, Nikki.” Laney giggled.

“Like,
really
likes you,” Paige said, in her sexy voice.

“It’s an obvious attraction, not love.” I laughed.

“Love, lust. Who cares? You need to jump on that one, get out of your slump.” Paige laughed.

“I’m not in a slump. I’m just not a ho.”

I could only imagine what the masseuses were thinking.

“See, girl, you need it bad. You’re coming apart under poor John’s hands.” Mel laughed.

“Who the hell is John?”

“That would be me, miss.” The masseuse chuckled as he continued massaging my left leg.

“Mel, good lord!”

“Magic Mike over here is hittin’ real close to home.” Paige cackled.

We all laughed, and once we got going, it wasn’t likely we’d stop any time soon.

“You bitches better quiet down or my guy’s gonna get a golden shower.” Laney snorted, and that did it. We all busted up laughing like we had back in high school. Tears falling, some snorting, some cackling, and we all had to sit up to try to keep from falling off the tables.

When we had all calmed down, I looked at the four men in white trying to maintain their professionalism. Yep, my guy was John, his name tag said so. I laughed again and wiped the tears from my eyes.

“See, you need the big O so bad you’re crying.” Paige held her stomach and laughed harder.

“What I need is a damn drink if I’m gonna have to deal with you bitches for three more days,” I laughed and looked at my girls, all of them looking at each other like they were hiding something.

“What? Spill it.”

Silence.

“Come on, Laney give it up.”

“We’re all flying out tomorrow night … ” Laney began.

“WHAT!”

“We told you,” Mel spoke up.

“Like hell you did!”

“Well, when do you fly out?” Paige interjected.

“Three days. So I have two nights left here.”

“The neighbor will be here. What’s his name again?” Laney asked.

“Neptune.”

“No, that’s not it.” Mel scratched her head in thought.

“That’s what I call him. He calls me ‘Four.’ ”