by Omasta, Ann
Chapter 16
The brunch was going well after our hysterics calmed down from Jenni’s scandalous and outlandish comment. She and Sam were seated at the far end of the table from Seth and I, so I pointedly ignored them. I was a firm believer that women need to stick together, but this chick had seriously crossed the line.
The conversation became boisterous as Seth and Sam got into a competition of one-upmanship. For each story that Seth told, Sam told one that was a little bigger and better. They both looked so handsome as they tried to top each other with their tall tales. We all laughed as the tone of the game switched and they started telling stories on each other.
We heard about the time in high school when Sam yanked down Seth’s shorts and shoved him in the girls’ locker room. “Joke was on you,” Seth taunted him “because seeing me naked is just like seeing you naked.” I shifted in my chair, trying not to think about that.
“It must not be exactly the same, or I wouldn’t bag all of the hottest babes,” Sam quipped, making Jenni preen. His mother inhaled a sharp breath, shocked by his words. “With the exception of one, apparently,” he turned and looked directly at me. I could feel my cheeks burning red as the whole group turned their eyes towards me.
Seth narrowed his eyes, clearly not liking where his brother had taken things. “No matter what you win, you’ll never be older.”
“You always make sure it comes back to that, don’t you?” Sam sat back in his chair looking annoyed that Seth had brought up their miniscule age difference.
“Boys.” Their father’s deep voice made the simple word a warning.
Seth lightened the mood by saying, “No, what it comes back to is that you saved my life, and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” He held up his glass and said sincerely, “Here’s to Sam, my hero.”
“Here, here.” The group clinked glasses and the merriment of the day resumed, but my eyes were drawn to Sam. His gorgeous, green eyes had taken on a dark look, and I wondered why. He caught me looking and raised his glass towards me, but his smile didn’t reach his haunted eyes.
After eating more fantastic food than I remember ever ingesting in any three full days, I excused myself from the table to go find the bathroom. The pool house was larger than most people’s homes, so once I was finished in the powder room, I decided to have a look around. The décor was island-y and comfortable with a plethora of wicker and Bahamian artwork. It was the kind of place where you could plop down with a good book and take a nap.
I was studying a family portrait from when the boys were toddlers, when I felt him come in. It was so strange how my senses of sight and hearing took a backseat to some sixth sense of heightened awareness where Sam was concerned.
He looked so handsome standing in the tall archway of the entrance. Just like Seth, I reminded myself, annoyed that I was so drawn to Sam. I couldn’t make myself stop looking at him, as he sauntered over. “Can you tell us apart?” he asked, leaning over me. I could feel his hot breath on my ear, and it made me tingly.
“You’re the one on the left,” I responded confidently. My voice sounded remarkably calm, considering the visceral reaction my body was experiencing from having him so near.
“Impressive.” He seemed surprised that I had been able to determine which one he was in the photograph. “Or was it just a lucky guess?”
“I knew it was you.” I didn’t offer further explanation.
“We confused caretakers and teachers for years. Hell, half the time our family couldn’t tell us apart. So, Miss Brown, do tell how you were able to know me from my brother.”
I pointed to his face in the photo. “It’s something about your smile. You have a slightly crooked grin. Seth’s is perfectly straight.”
“Oh, I should have known, you’d find a physical flaw in me that perfect Seth, my identical twin doesn’t share.”
“It’s not a flaw, necessarily. Some people might find a slightly crooked smile to be attractive.” I told him honestly.
“Do you find it attractive?” He grinned at me.
“There it is now.” I pointed at his mouth, trying to avoid answering his question.
He took my silence about it as an affirmation and started chanting and dancing around the room, “Abby thinks my crooked smile is hot. H-O-T. Hot.” The last word was whispered in extremely close proximity to my ear, and it sent a chill down my spine.
I forced myself to glare in his direction and say, “You’re such a child.” Despite my words, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him, and when I looked at him, all I could think of was mounting him and riding him to completion. My mouth fell open as I visualized myself climbing on top of him and taking his thick cock deep inside me. I knew his dick was huge because I had felt it pressing urgently into my back in the restroom at the museum. Besides, he was sure to be impressively hung, since Seth was. Realization dawned on me then that I technically knew what Sam looked like naked. The mental image surfaced and made me damp. Sam’s eyes travelled to my mouth and stayed there as I nervously licked my lips.
We stood there, eyes locked for several seconds. I hoped that he couldn’t sense the horny turn that my thoughts had taken, even though he had to feel the sexual tension that was zinging between us. Finally, he spoke. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you.” Then he turned and darted outside.
I leaned back against the wall and released the breath that I didn’t realize I had been holding. What the hell is wrong with me? I wondered, placing a cool hand on my forehead. I have finally found a handsome, sweet, wonderful man, and I have the hots for his pig of a brother.
It has to just be his similarities to Seth, I told myself. Seth is so perfect, and Sam looks just like him. Of course it’s confusing. Even the chickipoo that looks like a Barbie doll out there is attracted to both of them. I snorted, remembering just how attracted and willing she was. At least I wasn’t that bad.
I took a few deep, calming breaths. It all made sense when I thought it through. They were both physically attractive. Scratch that, they were both physically perfect. Seth was the one who was sweet and funny and kind and thoughtful, though. He was the one I cared about, not Sam.
The reaction I had to Sam was purely physical, and I had a strong physical reaction to Seth as well. Beyond the physical, though, I had real feelings for Seth.
Feeling renewed, I went back outside. I found Seth and we walked down the path to the bluff overlooking the lake and marina. Seth stood behind me with his strong arms wrapped around me. I felt safe and happy in his embrace, and I staunchly ignored the tingling feeling deep down in the pit of my stomach that told me Sam was watching us.
Chapter 17
It was still early afternoon when we left the party. I had a few hours before girls’ night with Courtney would begin, so I wanted to spend that time with Seth. I’d been dying to see the pole barn where he built his boats, so I asked him to take me there.
He seemed surprised, but delighted by the request. We drove there in silence, holding hands. Occasionally, Seth would look over and smile at me, and I grinned back at him, perfectly content.
The building was even bigger than it had looked from Seth’s camper. I don’t know what I had been expecting to see, but it wasn’t what I found when we entered the huge structure.
The enormous wooden boat in the center of the room was breathtaking. I stared at it in awe that Seth was able to build something so impressive. I had imagined that he made canoe-like boats, not anything as grand as this behemoth.
The building was pristine with a freshly swept floor and each tool in its spot. It was clear from looking around that Seth took great care and pride in his work, and he had every reason to.
“This is amazing!” I exclaimed, walking around the stern. “I had no idea.”
He looked truly happy at my compliment, but asked, “Did you think I spent my time making makeshift skiffs?”
“No, but I had no idea how grand your boats are. May I?” I asked, indicating the ladder th
at led up to the hull.
“Of course, but she’s not finished,” he replied. I had already kicked off my jeweled sandals and scrambled up, so he followed me.
I smoothed my hand along the glossy side of the vessel. “People must be lined up wanting to purchase one of your boats.”
“There is a bit of a waiting list.” He looked down, seeming slightly embarrassed.
I sensed there was more, so I asked, “How long is a bit?”
“About two years.” He beamed at me, and his beautiful, perfectly straight smile nearly knocked me on my butt. He went on, “but I don’t compromise quality. If people want one of my boats, then they have to wait for it.”
“I bet they do, too.” I grinned back at him.
He nodded, “I’ve had people try to bribe me to rush or to go to the front of the line, but I don’t want any part of that. It wouldn’t be fair to the people who have waited.”
This man was good and solid and kind and fair and gorgeous and smart and sweet, and I wanted him in the worst way. I tried to put on my sexy voice as I said huskily, “This boat needs to be broken in.”
“She’s not quite ready to put in the water,” he answered, misunderstanding my meaning.
I decided that I would have to be more direct, so I removed my wide belt and unzipped the floral dress that I had borrowed from Courtney. My breasts had been straining for freedom all day, and they spilled out as the dress pooled at my bare feet. I slipped out of my panties and laid back on the long bow, offering my naked body to Seth.
He licked his lips, and then sprang into action. He quickly ripped the golf shirt over his head. In one smooth move, he shed himself of his khakis and boxers. Then he joined me on the ship’s bow. We ran our hands over each other as our tongues tangled. I was almost manic in my hunger for him.
We melted together, our bodies completely entwined. He was hard, pressing into my belly. It wasn’t nearly enough, so I reached my hand down between us and guided him to me. He groaned as he slid inside me. I left my hand between us, touching us both as he pumped over me. My other hand reached around to grab his ass, pulling him into me, harder.
I cried out as I came. Pleasure pulsed through me. As I squeezed, Seth buried his head into my shoulder. His thrusts quickened until he released with a loud groan.
We stayed that way for a while. Seth was still inside me, as I rubbed a hand lightly over his back. “You’re amazing,” he said, nuzzling into my neck.
I was happy. There was no other word for it. I didn’t recall ever having felt so complete, so satisfied. “I love you.” The words bubbled out before I had a chance to think through voicing them out loud.
Seth stiffened, and I immediately regretted saying it. He stayed frozen for a while, but I felt him emotionally disconnect. Then he slipped out of me and said, “We should probably get going. You don’t want to be late for girls’ night.” He grabbed his clothes and went down the ladder.
I had a burning lump in my throat. I felt like crying, but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop, once I started. How could I have proclaimed my love so soon?
I sat there for a while, stunned, and then I slowly put on my clothes and went to find Seth. He was sitting in the Jeep waiting for me. We didn’t talk the whole way back to my house. When we arrived, he turned to me and said a brisk, “Take care.”
I couldn’t even respond. I nodded and quickly exited his vehicle, focusing on not allowing the tears to start flowing. As I walked up the sidewalk to my front door, a sob escaped, but I didn’t have to worry about him hearing it because he was already backing out of my driveway.
Chapter 18
“How could I have said something so stupid?” I asked, plunking my head down on the table for the umpteenth time.
“Telling someone that you love them isn’t stupid.” Courtney defended me, as she always did.
“It sure feels that way. What if I scared him off? What if he doesn’t want to see me again?” I moaned as I checked my phone again, sighing at its blank face staring back at me, mocking me.
“If those three little words scared him off, then he doesn’t deserve you, anyway.” At my sad look, Courtney grabbed my hand and continued, “Stop worrying. He’ll call. You just took him by surprise. That’s all.”
Joe stopped by the table with our tacos, and I suddenly wondered why he always waited on us, rather than having one of the waitresses serve our table. Maybe there was something to this Courtney and Joe idea that Seth had suggested.
I decided that thinking about the possibility of the two of them hooking up would help keep my mind off of Seth for a while, so I dipped my toe in the water. “Joe looks especially hot tonight.” I waggled my eyebrows playfully at her.
He did look rather handsome, with his unkempt, surfer-dude look. Court responded to my prompt with a non-committal “mmmhmm,” so I pushed on.
“He has his own business, he’s kind, he’s smart, he’s funny and he’s crazy about you, Court. A girl could do a lot worse.”
“Did he ask you to talk to me?” Her face crumpled as she said it. “I told him to let it go.” As she slid out of the booth, she added, “It will never work out, so just drop it. I need a tissue. I’ll be right back.”
I was shocked that Courtney and Joe had talked about the possibility of a relationship and slightly hurt that Court hadn’t mentioned it to me. How could she think of herself as unworthy of being happy? What kind of demons was she carrying around with her?
When she returned to our table, I weighed my words carefully before saying, “Sweetie, I don’t care if you want to be with Joe or with someone else or with no one. I just want you to be happy.” She smiled, so I continued. “You are a wonderful person, and you deserve happiness. I hope that you are able to find peace with yourself because you shouldn’t be carrying this heavy burden. If you aren’t able to talk to me about it, maybe we should get you an appointment with a professional.”
“A shrink?” Courtney snorted. “Been there, done that. It didn’t work for me.” At my concerned look, she continued. “I’ll be fine. I just have some things from my past that I’m not proud of. I need to work through them in my own way and in my own time.”
“In other words, you want me to butt-out.” I smiled to let her know I wasn’t angry. “You take your time. I’m always here for you, if you need anything. You know that, right?”
“Same goes for you, Sister. Hug it out?” Court stood and extended her arms to me.
“That is soooo hot, but a kiss would really seal the deal for me.” Joe said the words near our ears as we hugged, ending the sweet moment. Court balled her napkin and threw it at him as he swaggered away with a big smile on his face. I shook my head with an exasperated, “Men!”
Chapter 19
I was at work. It was Thursday, and I hadn’t heard from Seth since letting the dreaded three-word salute fly on Sunday. I checked my cell phone again. Nothing.
I had started to text him more times than I could count. I had pulled him up in my contacts to call him numerous times, as well. Each time I chickened out, wondering why he hadn’t contacted me.
I pulled my phone out again, and then I put it back in my pocket with a sigh. “Oh for Peter’s sake,” Annie shook her head “just text him.”
I had been around Annie so much that I barely noticed anymore how she butchered idioms. She looked like she was completely exasperated with me. “Give me the phone,” she glowered, holding out her hand.
I tried ignoring her, but she shook her hand, indicating she meant business. I tentatively moved it towards her. She snatched it up and quickly typed a message. “There, let the chocolate chips fall where they may,” she said handing the phone back to me.
I looked at the words she had texted to Seth from my phone. “I’m off tomorrow. Want to go on a picnic?”
“I’m not off tomorrow, Annie.”
“You are now. I’m sick of looking at your gloomy mug of root beer.” I tilted my head at that one, but she continued on. “
Get out of here, and go fix yourself up. You look like a ragamuffin. Relax in a nice, warm bath or take a yoga class or something.” She placed a hand on my shoulder and gently pushed me toward the door, accentuating her point.
From anyone else, her brutal honesty might have hurt my feelings, but I knew Annie loved me unconditionally and had my best interest at heart. So, I followed her not-so-gentle nudge and waved behind my head as she yelled after me, “Don’t worry. He will call, or he’ll have me to deal with.”
I smiled at the thought of the tiny firecracker that was Annie trying to take on big, strong Seth. He probably wouldn’t know what hit him if she shook her finger at him and defended me with her characteristic, nonsensical zingers.
When I got home, I took Annie’s advice and pampered myself a little. I put my cell phone on silent and hid it in a drawer, so that I wouldn’t be tempted to check it compulsively. Then I relaxed in my sudsy tub, letting the jets massage my achy body for nearly an hour. After that, I slathered myself with the thick, body cream that I save for special occasions.