Bayside Fantasies (Bayside Summers Book 6)

by Melissa Foster

  “You. Me. Why you’ve invaded my thoughts.”

  “Well, I am hot,” she teased, loving the laughing-groaning sound coming through the phone. “We have great chemistry, Jett, and we work well together. There’s no mystery to why we can’t stop thinking about each other.”

  “You’ve been thinking about me.” He said it with relief, not as a question.

  “What did you think would happen? You’d leave and I would fill up my dating card the second you left?”

  “I don’t want to think, Tegs. I just want to hear your voice.”

  “Okay,” she said softly, feeling all kinds of wonderful. “Let’s catch up. Tell me about your day.”

  “My days are booked with meetings and conference calls with analysts, lawyers, and clients. That’s the last thing I want to talk about. Tell me about your day, Tegs. What have you been doing? What are you doing now?”

  “I’m mourning Berta. They couldn’t fix her.”

  “Oh no. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks. Cici and I paid homage to her, reliving all our memories. It feels weird, and sad, like I’ve lost another piece of my uncle.”

  “Aw, babe.”

  She wasn’t going to let her sadness ruin their call. “It’s okay. She needed a new engine, and even the guy at the shop said it wasn’t worth it. So for now I’ll drive my uncle’s car, and who knows, maybe I’ll learn to love it. Moving on to happier news…” She told him about what she and Harper had decided for the direction and name of the production company, and how she’d been working with Brandon on the logo as well as ad designs.

  “That’s great. Do you feel good about everything?”

  “I really do, and I wouldn’t have had the guts to bring it up to Harper if not for you.”

  “Eventually you would have gotten there. Tell me more about your week. I like hearing your voice.”

  She moved to the couch and sank down to the cushions. “I FaceTimed with my parents yesterday. I swear they always act like they haven’t seen me in years when we never go more than a week without talking.”

  “That’s nice, Tegs. You’re lucky.”

  “Yeah,” she said, realizing too late that she might have accidentally made him feel bad about his relationship with his father. “I also talked to my best friend from back home, Leesa.” She told him all about Leesa and her family. “I also talked to a few other friends from home who are in Chloe and Daphne’s book club with me. We had a lot to catch up on. What about you? Do you have friends in LA? Do you catch up with friends in the areas where you travel?”

  “No. Just business associates.”

  “Oh. What about on the weekends? Do you catch sporting events? Baseball games?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “But you loved baseball. I think I need to find out when baseball season is and drag you to a game.”

  He chuckled, but then his voice turned quieter and he said, “We’re so different, Tegs. You’re a social butterfly, and I’m a workaholic whose closest friends are guys I grew up with but hardly ever see.”

  “You do have the power to fix that, you know. I’d be lost without my friends. Just knowing they’re around makes me happy. How often do you and your brothers talk?”

  “Every few weeks or so. What about you and your sister?”

  “We text all the time and talk once a week.” She told him about her conversation with her sister, leaving out the part about him, and ended up rambling on about how adorable Melody and Billy were.

  “I can hear how much you miss them,” he said empathetically.

  “Yeah. But it’s probably good that I don’t see them too much because Cici’s worried that Melody will end up like me and make big decisions without giving them enough thought.”

  “I’ve seen your clock diagram, Tegs. I know just how thoroughly you think things through. Your niece would be lucky to turn out like you.”

  She liked hearing how much he believed in her. He asked if she’d had a hard time when Cici moved to New York and about where she’d traveled over the years and whether she had a favorite spot. She told him about each of her favorite places and realized she’d been talking for almost forty-five minutes.

  “Am I totally boring you?” she asked.

  “Not even a little. I could listen to your voice all night.”

  She swooned at that. “I bet you’ve seen some cool places with all the traveling you’ve done.”

  “I do business internationally, but I don’t really have time to sightsee.”

  “What about vacations? Do you have a favorite vacation spot?”

  “I can’t remember the last time I took a real vacation.”

  “Jett Masters, when do you rejuvenate? Even superhumans need downtime.”

  “Have you forgotten Monday night?” he said seductively.

  “Sex can’t be your only source of rejuvenation. I mean, it’s a great pick-me-up, but our bodies and minds need more than that. You need to get out and experience more than offices and hotel rooms. Breathe in fresh air, climb mountains, or explore a new town, learn the culture, soak in the history, and gorge on new foods. I love meeting people from around the world. Everyone’s lives are so different, but on some levels we’re all the same. I think about the people I meet and the places I’ve been all the time. It’s like they’re rooted inside me somewhere, and it’s fun to revisit them in my head. I have a long bucket list, too, including trying out the best bakery in every place I visit. Don’t you feel like you’re missing out? Wouldn’t you love to explore a rain forest or traipse across a desert? The world is a huge place. Don’t you want to see it?”

  “I want to own it,” he said.

  “Where’s the fun in that? To each his own, I guess. You go right ahead and try, and once a year, when I go on my adventures, I’ll send you pictures.”

  “Where are you right now?” he asked.

  “In my living room. I was working on a mermaid costume for Joni with lion fur and wings. My place is a mess.”

  “I want to see it. I want to see you. Let’s FaceTime.”

  A minute later his handsome face appeared on the screen. It happened so quickly, she didn’t have a chance to fix her hair, which was pulled back in a headband, or put on something nicer than the old faded shirt she’d made in college. But none of that mattered as she gazed into his eyes, feeling a little light-headed at the way he was looking at her.

  “Tegs…” he said softly. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  “I’m a mess,” she said, absently touching her hair.

  “You’re the best thing I’ve seen all year.”

  Butterflies took flight in her belly, and she said, “Let me show you Joni’s costume.” She flipped the camera and showed him the mess of fabric and supplies scattered around the room. “I’m making all the scales different patterns, and the wings will be glittery. I told you it was a mess.” She flipped the camera again, and her heart skipped at the light in his eyes.

  “I like your messy room, and the costume is incredible. She’s going to love it. How did you learn to do that?”

  “My mom taught me. She was always making clothes for us when we were growing up, and I used to bug her about making me these funky outfits. I think she taught me to sew so I’d stop bugging her. I’ve made my own clothes forever.” She waved to her faded long-sleeved patchwork top. “I made this in college, and I made the jumper I wore to Harper’s bachelorette party.”

  “It’s a good thing I didn’t tear it into shreds in my haste to get you naked.”

  Her pulse quickened at the thought. “I can make more…”

  His laughter was like music to her ears. She loved this version of his smile. It was more carefree than she’d seen before.

  “I’ll remember that,” he said. “Want to see my place?”

  “Yes.”

  He showed her his luxurious hotel suite. His laptop sat on the desk beside a stack of folders and loose documents. The coffee table was also littered with papers. There was a
living room, kitchen, and dining area. She imagined him coming back to the empty room, kicking off his shoes, and sitting right down to work until he was bleary eyed.

  “Pretty boring room, huh?” he said, turning the camera back to him as he walked to the couch and sat down.

  “It looks nice.”

  “It would be a hell of a lot nicer if you were here.”

  His comment was so unexpected, she wondered if he even realized he’d said it. “If I were there, you probably wouldn’t get much work done.”

  “True.” He leaned back and said, “What’s on your schedule for the weekend?”

  She noticed his quick subject change, but she didn’t mind. She knew that in his head, he’d already crossed a lot of lines by calling. Tegan noticed her phone battery blinking red. She hurried upstairs to plug it in. They joked about Jett thinking the characters from Friends were real, and they talked about their favorite meals—his was steak and potatoes; hers was anything Mexican with lots of colorful foods, like red, yellow, and orange peppers—their biggest pet peeves—he hated wasting time, incorrect grammar, and head games, while she disliked (because hate was too strong a word) men who demeaned their girlfriends or wives, friends who took advantage of each other, and Boston cream doughnuts that weren’t filled with enough custard—and their least favorite colors—they agreed dark brown was the worst. Jett told her about a crush he’d had on a dental hygienist and how he’d spent hours playing out scenarios between them in his head, and she told him that the first time she held hands with a boy she got sweaty and nervous, and she was afraid to do it again for weeks afterward. They talked about their first kisses, the prom she went to and the one he didn’t.

  Hours later, as the clock hit two a.m., they were still talking. Tegan lay on her bed feeling like she was talking with someone she’d known for years, happier than she could ever remember being.

  “What are you thinking?” he asked softly.

  “That I’m glad you called.”

  “Me too. Tell me something I don’t know about you, Tegs.”

  “I like when you call me Tegs.”

  That earned a sexy grin. “Something else. Something no one else knows about you.”

  Her nerves tingled. I’m falling for you and I know I shouldn’t was on the tip of her tongue. She didn’t know what to say, so she said, “You first.”

  He was quiet for a long moment before saying, “I want to know everything there is to know about you.”

  “That’s not a secret about you.” She was sure he was giving her a pat answer to keep from having to expose a real secret.

  “Isn’t it, though?” His eyes drilled into hers.

  Oh God. You meant it.

  “Now that you know my biggest secret,” he said, holding her gaze, “it’s your turn.”

  “Um…” Her body prickled with the desire to confess her feelings, but she was scared to do it, remembering how he’d gone from being open and emotional Monday night to all business Tuesday morning.

  “Come on, Tegs. Give me something.”

  “Okay. I probably should have told you this when you were here. I’m not interested in going out with Bryson. He seems nice, but I’m not ready to date a guy who has a child.”

  “No?”

  She shook her head. “I want kids one day, but I helped raise Melly after she was born, and I know how much time and attention kids need. I have a lot I want to accomplish before giving up that much of myself.”

  “Such as?”

  “Figuring out the theater business, traveling, falling in love…” Her eyes widened when that last part slipped out. “I mean one day, not now.”

  His eyes narrowed, studying her, as if he were weighing the truth of her words. “You’ve never been in love?”

  “I didn’t mean to say that.”

  “The most honest things come out accidentally. You’re such a big-hearted person. Have you really never been in love?”

  She shook her head, seeing an opportunity to shift the focus off her, and went for it. “I’d ask if you have, but you already said you’ve never been closer to anyone than we were Monday night.”

  “I haven’t; you’re right. The strange thing is, we’re fully dressed and thousands of miles apart right now, and I feel even closer to you than I did Monday night.” He exhaled, like he’d been holding that in for a while, and said, “I shouldn’t tell you things like that when we both know I can’t be the guy you need.”

  But you can be the one that I want. “I’ve never needed a man in my life.”

  He sat up, jaw tight again, and said, “It’s late. I should let you get some rest.”

  “Okay,” she said softly.

  “Good night, Tegs, and for what it’s worth, I didn’t just miss our benefits. I missed you.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “FEEDING TIME AT the zoo,” Violet said as she walked into Daphne’s apartment Monday evening carrying two pizza boxes. She wore a pair of tight leather pants and her ever-present motorcycle boots, looking like she was ready to go for a ride.

  “Thank you,” Daphne said as she set down her paintbrush and picked up a slice of pizza.

  Harper reached for a slice. “This looks delicious.”

  “I’m starved. Thank you.” Tegan set her paintbrush down on the paint tray.

  “Me too,” Chloe said, snagging a slice and handing one to Serena.

  As Tegan bit into the delicious pizza, Emery peered around Serena and said, “There are so many toppings. What kind are they?”

  “The kind you didn’t have to make.” Violet handed Emery a slice and said, “If you don’t love it, pretend it’s your husband and fake it.”

  Emery laughed, nearly spitting out the bite she’d taken.

  “I doubt she has to fake anything with that man,” Chloe said. “If a guy looked at me the way Dean visibly eats her up, I think I’d pass out.”

  Tegan’s mind went straight to last night’s sexy FaceTime session with Jett, and she felt her cheeks burning. She shoved more pizza into her mouth, eating as fast as she could, and picked up her paintbrush. She and Jett had been FaceTiming nightly, talking into the wee hours of the morning. He hadn’t been kidding about wanting to know everything about her. He’d asked each night about the progress she was making on the theater and Joni’s costume, but he also liked knowing what else she was up to, like going to the Sundial Café for breakfast. Each night he found his way back to her youth, asking about what she was like as a teenager and how she’d changed since then. He’d often interject with tidbits about his life back then, giving her insight into how his relationship with his friends had changed when he began putting all his energy into staying away from home. She loved their video chats and wanted to hold on to every second they shared, wishing the calls wouldn’t end. Two nights ago they’d watched an episode of Friends together, after which Jett had said he could take Ross, Chandler, or Joey with his eyes closed. She secretly loved when he got jealous, even though he tossed out enough clarifiers to keep the lines in the sand drawn between friends with benefits and something more. But there was no denying that the more they learned about each other, the deeper and more intense their connection became. Last night, as she lay sleepily gazing into his eyes, she could feel his desire, and they’d ventured into sexier territory. What started as a few seductive innuendos had quickly turned into confessions of their dirtiest fantasies. Unable to hold back, they’d both gotten carried away and stripped naked, taking each other over the edge with whispers and moans as they’d touched themselves. Seeing his big hand wrapped around his erection, his sexy-as-sin blue eyes locked on her as he seduced her with dozens of filthy whispers was hotter than anything she’d ever experienced.

  “You should join us,” Harper said, jerking Tegan back to reality.

  Everyone was on their second or third slice of pizza already. Holy cow, how long had she been daydreaming? Tegan set her paintbrush down as she scrambled to figure out who Harper was talking to. She hoped it wasn’t
her, because she had no idea what she was talking about.

  “The last time I painted, Andre and I were naked and the paint was edible,” Violet said.

  Tegan breathed a sigh of relief, telling herself to stop thinking about Jett. Especially naked! She picked up another slice of pizza and took a bite.

  Violet looked at Chloe and said, “I heard Justin got caught at your place in the storm. About time you gave him a ride.”

  “What?” Emery scowled. “You spent the night with Long Dong Naked Man and you didn’t tell us?”

  Chloe popped her last bite of pizza into her mouth and picked up her paintbrush. “You’ve all lost your minds. The only kind of wet I got that night was caused by running through the rain.”

  “Is that why you didn’t return my call until hours later?” Tegan asked, glad for something to concentrate on besides her steamy video chat.

  “No,” Chloe insisted, but something in her eyes told Tegan there was more to the story.

  “Then you’re an idiot,” Violet said, heading for the door. “Justin’s a great guy, and you could use a man who knows what he’s doing in bed to loosen you up a bit.” Her eyes shifted to each of the girls and she said, “Don’t forget, Desiree’s making dessert for everyone tonight.”

  “I’m looking forward to it,” Tegan said, finishing her pizza. Because of the time difference, she and Jett usually talked around eleven o’clock, which gave her all evening to have fun with the girls.

  “I have to pick up Hadley from my mom as soon as we’re done painting,” Daphne said. “I’ll try to make it. But if Hadley’s cranky, I might have to skip dessert.”

  On her way out the door, Violet said, “Bring her along and let her nap in a playpen. Des is making enough to feed an army.”

  “We’ll help with Hadley,” Serena offered.

  Daphne’s shoulders sagged. “You know how much I adore my baby girl, but if she’s cranky, it will ruin everyone’s night. The only person who can make Hadley smile these days is Uncle Jett, and he’s gone. I swear she’s in love with the birdhouse and bird he bought her.”