Folly and Forever (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 3)

by Kimberly Loth

  She spun around.

  “Were you taking pictures of me again?”

  “Sorry, couldn’t resist. Here let me get those for you.”

  He reached above her and grabbed the three spice bottles.

  “Why were you taking pictures of me?”

  He sighed. “Because you make a very interesting subject. I promise I won’t publish any pictures without your permission.”

  She shook her head and took the spice bottles from him.

  “What are you making for dinner?” he asked in an effort to change the subject.

  “Fajitas. Could you please restrain yourself and not take any more pictures of me tonight?”

  So much for changing the subject.

  He nodded. “I’ve got enough kitchen shots anyway.” Bethany stuck her tongue out at him, and he chuckled. It was the first time he’d gotten such a reaction out of her.

  “Do you need any help?” He seemed so sincere when he asked, but Bethany didn’t know how she would handle cooking with him. He’d make her so nervous, she’d probably burn the whole thing. Normally cooking relaxed her, but if he were hovering over her, it would make everything worse.

  “No, I think I got it.”

  He pulled up a stool and sat across from her. She wasn’t sure this was any better. He didn’t seem to take the hint that she wanted to be alone. She put some onions and butter in a pan. Having him stare at her was disconcerting.

  She stirred the onions, but decided to break the ice. “So, you haven’t said much about yourself. Where are you from?”

  “I have an apartment in Manhattan. But I’m from upstate New York.”

  Of course. New York. Yankee. “How’d you end up in Charleston?”

  He paused. “My son.”

  She glanced at him. That was a mistake. She lost track of what she was doing. “I know, this time, but how’d you meet Zoe?” She grabbed the peppers and started chopping on the counter in front of him.

  “I did a series on beautiful trees a few years ago, and she did some modeling for me here.”

  “That was her? She’s pretty.” And she was. The girl he had in the tree in Charleston was a knockout. She looked a lot like Bunny. If that was the kind of girl he went for, then she didn’t have a chance. Annabelle probably did though.

  “How do you know what she looks like?”

  “You told me to look you up, so I did. Zoe was obviously the girl in Angel Oak. That’s the only tree you did in Charleston.” It was a phenomenal picture. Jamie had serious talent. He had ways of making the ordinary seem extraordinary. Though, Angel Oak probably made an easy subject. He had several dozen pictures on his website, but this one stood out because it was close to her home. Bethany grabbed some chicken out of the fridge and mixed it in with the onions.

  He gave her an incredulous stare. “Yeah that was her. She came to New York for a few months after that. Then she went running back to Charleston when we broke up.”

  “Why’d you break up?” Now that she had him talking, she wanted to know more about his past.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “I can’t remember. I went through a string of women during that time. It wasn’t a good time in my life. I’m not proud of it.”

  “So you’re a recovering womanizer?” She grinned at him and caught his eye. He faltered for a second and then gave her a huge smile that made blood rush to her face. She concentrated on dinner again.

  “I guess. I don’t know. A few years ago, I got tired of it all, you know. I’m ready for something serious, but I can’t seem to find it. Though, I should be careful what I wish for. A son is pretty serious.”

  “Yeah, it is.”

  She pulled the meat off the burner, grabbed a hot pad, and set the pan on the counter along with the tortillas. She chopped up a tomato and lettuce and climbed on a stool next to him. She reached for the food as he stood up, and she wondered where he was going. He came back with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He filled her glass halfway, and she took a sip. It was better wine than anything she’d had in a while.

  “What about you? Any skeletons in your closet?”

  She snorted. “I was never a womanizer, if that’s what you’re asking.” She felt her butterflies slowly dying.

  He grinned. “Oh come on, I told you a little about my past. You can spill a bit.”

  She kept her eyes on her plate. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to talk to him but surprised herself. “I have the opposite past. This conversation we are having now is the longest conversation I’ve had with the opposite sex in three years.”

  He set down his fajita. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

  “I’m pretty good at work, but I’m super uncomfortable around men.”

  “Is there a reason you are running your mouth now?”

  “I have no idea. Would you like me to stop?” She didn’t know why she was talking so much. She didn’t mean to. Perhaps it was the wine. That was stupid. She’d only had one drink.

  “No. I don’t. It’s rather refreshing. Why are you so uncomfortable with men?”

  She tucked her hair behind her ears. This wasn’t something she spoke of much. “Aside from my father and Danny, I’ve never been around men. I went to an all-girls high school and college.”

  “Why?”

  “Because my parents thought it would be best for me. Especially with my dancing. I’ve had like, two boyfriends.” She added the like in the hopes that he wouldn’t take it literally.

  “You know, I have friends I can hook you up with. Good guys. Seriously, you shouldn’t be alone.”

  She nearly laughed out loud. If only he knew what she was thinking. Yep, the wine was getting to her.

  “I’ll tell you what, you stay out of my love life, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

  He put his fork down. “Fair enough. I was only trying to help.” He didn’t seem all that bothered that she didn’t want to take him up on his offer. Maybe he wasn’t being serious.

  Sure he was. If she gave him long enough, he’d help himself. Though she wasn’t sure that would be a bad thing. Her face reddened thinking about it.

  “Your cheeks are sure red. The fajitas aren’t that spicy.”

  “It’s not the fajita meat,” she said the words before she even realized what was coming out of her mouth.

  Jamie chuckled. “Oh yeah, then what exactly are you blushing about?”

  She took a bite of her fajita and shook her head. She was done talking.

  “Come on, tell me.”

  She opened her mouth, and the words nearly came out. She was never drinking wine with him again. A half a glass should not affect her like this. She shoved another bite of fajita in. Her babbling was horrible.

  He scooted closer to her. “Beth, you want to tell me, you almost did.” He moved her plate away so she couldn’t reach it and tilted her head so he was looking in her eyes.

  He called her Beth, like they were friends or something. No one called her Beth. Not even her parents. Hearing it come out of his mouth like that sent a shiver down her spine.

  “If you don’t tell me, I’m going to assume the worst. I can tell you my theories.” He gave her a crooked grin.

  She shook her head. That would make it worse. She didn’t want to know what he thought she was thinking.

  Bethany made a grab for her plate at the same time as two black paws appeared on the counter, and Hexa snatched the fajita right off the plate.

  Both Bethany and Jamie dissolved into laughter, and when they finally pulled themselves together and went after Hexa, she was hiding in the living room with her head hung low, no food in sight.

  Bethany had to get her thoughts straight. She set down her glass of wine and looked down at Hexa. “Do you mind if I take her down to the beach for a walk.”

  “Only if I can come with you.”

  Bethany squeezed her eyes shut. She was trying to get away from him. She’d said too much. She needed to walk off her half glass of wine.

&nbs
p; “Okay.” She gave him a tight smile, not knowing how she could turn him down.

  Hexa took off down the stairs and was on the beach before they even reached the bottom.

  “How long have you lived here?” Jamie asked.

  She ran her fingers along the worn rail. “Since I was a baby. I grew up here.” And she never wanted to leave.

  “Where are your parents?”

  She squirmed a little. Her parents weren’t something she talked about much. But she couldn’t not give him an answer. So she gave him the short version.

  “They died a few years ago in a sailing accident. They left me the house.” That was a day she didn’t like thinking about. It was the worst day of her life. The day the sheriff came to her door and gave her the news. She was catatonic for weeks after that. She held on to their memory through the house.

  Jamie kicked off his flip-flops and picked them up. “That explains why you don’t want to move out.”

  “Yeah, it’s the one thing in this world that I love more than life itself. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost it. Though it’s expensive to maintain.” She couldn’t continue. It was too painful to talk about. If Jamie hadn’t moved in, she wouldn’t be here anymore.

  They reached the end of the boardwalk, and she took off her shoes. There was another thing she loved about the house. The beach was usually nearly empty. Mrs. Calhoun never came down, and Bunny only did when they were together.

  Hexa ran up to them as they walked down toward the water. She circled them, kicking up the sand. Jamie reached down and picked up a stick. Hexa froze and waited. Her whole body shook as he raised the stick above his head. He threw it far down the beach, and she took off after it.

  “I’ll bet she enjoys that more with you than she would with me. You can definitely throw it farther.” She didn’t want to admit that she was fairly impressed by his stick-throwing skills.

  He shrugged. “I have longer arms. And muscles, you know.” He flexed and wiggled his eyebrows at her. She laughed. What the hell? Was she flirting with him?

  He looked down at her. “Though your arms looked pretty toned. Do you work out?”

  “Yoga and dance.” She sat down in the sand, and he followed her. Hexa dropped the stick in front of him. He chucked it down the beach again. Bethany was surprised by how comfortable she was with him all of the sudden. It had to be the wine.

  “Dance, that’s right. Do you only do ballet?”

  “I prefer ballet, but I’m too short. I started dancing when I was three. I can do ballroom, jazz, hip hop, you name it, and I probably can do it.”

  “What does being short have to do with anything?”

  “Most professional ballet dancers are tall and lean. I’m not.”

  “So do you and Bunny take classes together?”

  She laughed. “I teach Bunny and a handful of other adults. I’d love to open a studio of my own someday, but I can’t afford it.”

  “Did you major in dance?”

  “No, I wanted to, but my parents convinced me that something else might be more practical. So now I work at the CVB and hand out brochures about Charleston. I’d probably make more as a professional dancer.”

  He looked her up and down and then wiggled his eyebrows. She swatted him. “Not that kind.” She shook her head. She was blushing like mad and didn’t want him to see.

  Hexa got bored with the stick and jumped around in the shallow water, barking at Jamie.

  Jamie stood up and whipped off his shirt. Bethany looked up at him before she could help herself and then couldn’t look away. Every muscle of his chest and stomach was defined. He flexed his pecs.

  “Like what you see?” He grinned at her.

  She looked away.

  “I’m going swimming. You wanna come?”

  She shook her head, her face red with embarrassment. She stood up and looked down at the beach. “I’m going inside. I trust you can find the hose and shower.”

  He nodded. “Wait,” he said before she could even turn around. “Can you swim?”

  “Of course I can. I grew up here. I know this water better than you do.”

  She made the mistake of looking up at him. Once again she was mesmerized by his chest. He smiled at her and then ducked down. Before she knew what was going on, he’d whisked her legs up and was carrying her like a small child.

  Then before she could react, he ran out into the water.

  Jamie wasn’t quite sure what possessed him to pick her up, but she was finally loosening up around him, and he wasn’t ready for her to go inside.

  She wriggled in his arms, and he relished the feel of her body against his. Except that wasn’t what he was supposed to be doing, but with her breasts pressed up against his chest, his mind was far from where it should be.

  Damn.

  “Put me down,” she squealed. She was feather light in his arms. He could have fun with this.

  “Patience, little flower, soon.”

  “Why are you carrying me?” She’d stopped squirming, but her whole body was tense.

  “Why were you going into the house?”

  “Because I don’t want to go swimming.”

  “And why didn’t you want to go swimming? Swimming is fun, a lot more fun than whatever it is you were planning on doing in the house.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have my suit on.”

  “You’re wearing a tank top and shorts. I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

  She looked down at the water. “What are you going to do to me?”

  “I’m going to set you down nicely.”

  “Really?” Her face lit up.

  He chuckled. “I’m gonna throw you in.”

  “That’s not very nice.” She frowned at him but didn’t seem that upset.

  “I can claim to be a lot of things. But nice isn’t one of them.”

  With that, he started to launch her into the air, but she didn’t go anywhere. She pivoted around, latching her legs around his waist and wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Her face was on level with his. Her wide eyes sparkled with delight, and her gorgeous lips formed a mischievous smile. If he hadn’t been so surprised, he’d have kissed her then and there. But the moment passed, and he instantly regretted it.

  “I’m a dancer. Remember? I know how to hang on.”

  “Got me there.”

  She didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and all he could think about was how those lips would taste on his.

  She let go of him and landed lightly on her feet, the water coming up to her waist. She walked around him toward the shore. He called after her.

  “You’re no fun, you know. Why won’t you swim?”

  She spun and stalked up to him, which was pretty comical in the water, stopping only inches from him. He backed up a bit.

  “No fun, huh? Maybe I don’t feel like swimming in my clothes.” Her face was twisted in frustration.

  She closed the distance between them again.

  “So take them off.” He was certain he was good at getting under her skin. If she continued to play along, they’d have a lot of fun together.

  “Ha, ha. You know it’s rude to throw a girl in the water.”

  He backed up, and she didn’t waste any time getting close to him again. He was getting mixed signals from her.

  “You’re making me nervous,” Jamie said.

  “Because I’m too close?”

  He couldn’t get a read from her. She didn’t seem angry. Then again, she wasn’t giving off come hither vibes either.

  He took another step back and nodded. She took another two steps forward and placed her hands on his stomach. His muscles tensed.

  “You’d think I was going to take advantage of you or something.” Her voice almost purred. She seemed completely different than the nervous girl up at the house. It was sexy as hell.

  He was about to say something about taking advantage of her when she shoved him with all the muscle behind those short little arms.
He fell backwards into the water.

  By the time he came up for air, she was already halfway to shore.

  “Well played, Beth!” he yelled.

  She flipped him off behind her back. He laughed. He wasn’t sure what the next several months would bring, but one thing was for sure. They wouldn’t be dull.

  A week later Bunny sat at the kitchen table with her eyes narrowed at Hexa, who was lying on the living room floor, chewing on rawhide that Jamie had given her when Bunny arrived so she’d leave her alone. He never understood people who didn’t like dogs.

  Danny got on the ground with Hexa and started teasing her. The growling wasn’t helping Bunny’s fears at all.

  Danny laughed at Bunny and left Hexa to go sit by her. “See, I’m still alive.”

  Bunny nodded and practically climbed into his lap. He put his arm around her. Danny was an average guy. He had dusty blonde hair, dull gray eyes, and crooked teeth. Jamie couldn’t for the life of him figure out how he landed someone like Bunny. It was arrogant for him to think that, but that was how his world worked. They’d make an interesting subject for a series of photos. Course he’d need more than those two. Beautiful women and average men.

  Danny held his glass up. “A toast to a new life for Sweet Pickles.”

  Bunny glared at him. “Don’t pretend to be all nice about it. You couldn’t wait for him to go.”

  Jamie had no problems with Danny’s toast. Bunny’s father had been there earlier in the day to pick up the gator. He’d had nightmares of that thing crawling into his room.

  Danny responded, “You’re scared of dogs. I’m scared of anything that’s reptilian. I don’t judge your fears. Don’t judge mine.”

  She stuck her tongue out at him and continued her stare down with Hexa, which was only one way because Hexa wasn’t even looking at her.

  Jamie sat down on the other side of Bunny. “You know, Hexa isn’t going to hurt you.”

  “You sure? Daddy says that about alligators too, but as soon as they get big enough, they’ll bite your face off.”

  “Hexa hasn’t bitten a soul, and she’s three years old.”