Book Boyfriends Cafe Summer Lovin' Anthology 2015

by Melinda Curtis

  Smitty’s eyes slowly open and he’s trying to hide his smile. “You mean what if we tried to date outside paradise, back home in St. Louis?”

  I bite my lip and nod, not because I fear rejection, but because I fear letting go of Cooper. Smitty stops my hand, putting it on his shoulders while his hands slide to my hips. The grin he was trying to suppress is let loose. “Well, then I’d plan on joining the Mile High Club on our flight home.”

  I giggle, not nervously, but in a relief. I love that he’s not making a big deal out of it, just letting it go as it will. “We’re doing that, no matter what.”

  He kisses my collarbone. “Good. Then once we landed, I’d take you back to my house and keep you there for a few more days before we have to really get back to the real world. Then we’d go about our daily lives, have sex every chance we get, and I’d take care of you and protect you every way I could.”

  Protect me? His head is still down, moving his lips along my bone so I can’t see his face. I’m looking too much into it, I relax against him and let his lips move along my chest. His mouth teases one breast while his hand works the other. This man is so sensitive, so tender, and I want nothing more than to see what happens once we leave here together.

  I lean forward, resting my head on his shoulder so my mouth is next to his ear. “That sounds wonderful,” I mumble and brush my lips across his shoulder.

  He looks down at me, his eyebrows quirked. “So that means you’re in? Because I was thinking I could extend our stay, but if you’d rather go back to St. Louis and hole up at my place for a few days, I’m all for that too. I mean, my place is just a bachelor pad, so it’s pretty basic and I’ll have to go to the grocer—”

  Laughing, I put my finger to his lips. “Sshh, Smitty. I’ll go where ever you are.” Then, I take his hand and use my finger to spell out R-E-L-A-X.

  Chapter 13

  Smitty

  “Bye, lover. I’ll see you after lunch.” Sloan stands up after kissing me and I reluctantly let her go.

  I sigh when the door closes behind her. Closing my eyes, a smile spreads across my face. Last night was nothing short of amazing and surprisingly, we only made love once. The rest of the evening, we spent getting to really know each other, like what our day to day lives are like. So far, it sounds like she’s a morning person while I’m a night owl, I’m going to have to learn to love her healthy cooking, which she swears is delicious, and I’m going to introduce her to the many fine hole in the wall bars in St. Charles County.

  I crawl out of bed and pull on a pair of basketball shorts. She’s headed to get ready with her family for Sissy’s wedding. I’m going to meet them on the beach for the ceremony after lunch. Until then, I have some extra energy to burn off, not to mention some plans to make. After three sets of push-ups, sit-ups, mountain climbers, and burpees, I grab Jules’ iPad off the nightstand and walk on the deck. Opening up the Skype app, I look through the contacts. I need someone to help me get things ready for when Sloan and I return home. Hmm…definitely not Jules, she’ll freak and say she told me so. Doug? No, his wife is due any day and he’s already helping me out with the business. J.P.? Yep, he’s the guy.

  Sipping my coffee as I sit on the deck, I wait for J.P. to answer my call. When he finally answers, he’s holding his one-and-a-half-year-old and he looks like a zombie. I try to muffle my laughter, but there’s no hiding the chuckle that escapes.

  “Is that Smitty? Laughing?” J.P. asks, forcing a half-smile that looks like he’s using every ounce of energy he has.

  “Ha, ha, very funny. What’s going on there? Cal okay?”

  J.P. bounces the little boy in his arms. “Yeah, think we’re getting one-year-molars so none of us have slept in the past few days.” J.P. yawns and shakes his head, forcing his eyes to stay open.

  “Well, I need a favor. If you can help me out then I’ll watch Callum one night when I get back so you and Bri can sleep, or sleep.” I wink when I say the second sleep. I don’t know what’s got into me. I guess since I’ve been getting laid, I want everyone else to as well.

  “Smitty, that’s the problem! Ever since she had the baby, her sex drive is through the roof. Anytime we have a free minute, she’s all over me! I just want to sleep.” J.P. whines and I don’t even try to hide my laughter anymore.

  “Wow, what a shitty problem to have.”

  “Sorry, dude. I didn’t mean anything by it,” J.P. quickly apologizes.

  I shake my head. “No worries. You’re not the only one with a sex-crazed woman,” I boast.

  J.P.’s eyes go wide and his jaw drops. “What the— Did you meet her there? Oh man, that’s awesome!”

  “Yeah, I know. She’s incredible, man. Totally down-to-Earth, laidback, kind, and her family is great, too.”

  J.P. narrows his eyes. “Her family?”

  “Yeah, she’s here for her sister’s wedding, which is this afternoon.”

  J.P.’s lips turn down. “You sure you’re okay with attending the wedding? I know it was hard for you at Jules and Bentley’s…”

  I rub my hand back and forth over my five o’clock shadow. “It’s different this time. I’ll have Sloan there and…” Shit, how am I going to tell him the next part? He’s going to think I’m crazy, which now that I’m about to say it out loud, maybe I am. “She’s coming home with me,” I blurt out.

  J.P.’s voice is loud and his actions are animated when he shouts, “She’s WHAT?”

  “Relax, man, relax.” I hold my hands up, bouncing them up and down in a calm down motion. At the same time, I’m smiling to myself as I think about spelling that word out for Sloan. “It’s not as bad as it sounds. She’s from St. Louis and we both agreed to try dating back at home, not to just leave our fling here in Jamaica.”

  I watch the tension relax out of J.P.’s body and he nods. “Okay, sorry. I just didn’t want you jumping into anything.”

  “I appreciate that, man, but it’s not like that. She’s been heartbroken, too. Hasn’t dated in five years since her husband died.”

  Callum starts fussing and J.P. bounces him up and down. “Wow, her husband died? How?”

  “Remember the shooting at Midwest Air Corps a few years ago? That was her husband.” I cringe as I recall the story Will told me.

  “Seriously? That guy was one of their top engineers, international security clearance, and I think he even worked on a project for the White House.”

  My stomach knots. “Wow, J.P. thanks for building me up. How am I, a construction guy, supposed to compete with her dead husband that worked for the president?”

  J.P. shakes his head. “Sorry, that’s not what I was going for. Anyway, you gotta picture of her?”

  Mmm, yes, I do. “Not one that Bri would appreciate me showing you.” I laugh and think of the naked pictures I took of Sloan on my phone. Aside from the hot, nude woman I have saved to my memory card, I love that she was comfortable enough, and trusted me to take them.

  Callum wiggles and lets out a loud cry. “What was that favor you needed?”

  “I’m going to stay an extra day here with Sloan after her family leaves. Then we’ll fly back on Sunday and spend a few days at my place before we have to join the real world again. I’ll email you our flight info, could you make sure to let Jules know about the flight change?”

  Callum screams bloody murder and both J.P. and I cover our ears until his shrieking subsides to dull fussing. “Sure thing. Anything else?”

  I run my hand over my hair and take a deep breath. “Yeah, one more thing. Could you swing by my house and hide everything of Caroline’s?”

  J.P. is all blurry on the screen as he tries to rock and console the fussy toddler. I can hear him perfectly clear though. “You sure about that, Smitty?”

  Below the balcony on the beach, a barefooted Sloan is holding a floppy beach hat. She walks with her arm linked through her sister’s and her laughter floats up from the beach. Grinning at the sound of the tinkling laughter, I nod and look back at the
iPad screen.

  “Absolutely.”

  Sloan

  Dragging my sister away from the resort toward the beach, I’m almost skipping I’m so giddy. My arm is looped through hers as I pull her quickly and she trips behind me.

  “What’s going on, Lolo?”

  I spin around and Sissy bumps into me after my abrupt movement. We both giggle and I place my hands on her shoulders, giving her a slight shake. “I know it’s your day, Sissy, but I’m too excited to keep this in.”

  Sissy’s eyebrows almost hit her hairline as she arches them in anticipation. “Well, what is it?”

  I take a deep breath. “I told Smitty we could try things out when we get back home.”

  Now her jaw practically drops to the sand and for once in her life, I think she’s speechless. Now that I’ve said it out loud, I begin to relax. Laughing, I put my finger under Sissy’s chin and close her mouth.

  She shakes her head back and forth quickly. “So you’re really ready to move on?”

  Contemplating her words, I slowly move my head up and down. “I… I think so. I thought about what you said, about Cooper’s last words and how he’d want me to be happy. I thought I was. I followed my dream, started my own healthy living and boot camp business, and I put my heart and soul into it. When business started thriving, I honestly felt as though I was happy, and maybe in some way I was, but it wasn’t until Smitty walked into my life a few days ago that I realized there was so much I was missing. I’ve missed having someone’s companionship, the intimacy of being held while I sleep, the secret laughs that we share. I don’t know if this relationship with Smitty is anything more than a fling, but I’m willing to give it a try back home. It’s a start, right?”

  Sissy bounces like a child hyped up on ice cream and cookies. “Yes, Lolo! Definitely a start! And I’m sure it’s more than just a fling. Watching the two of you is like watching an old married couple, it’s like you’ve known each other forever. You don’t see the way he looks at you, Lo, and how he touches you. He never wants to take his eyes off you and he holds you as though you’re the most delicate thing he’s ever held.” Sissy sighs and wraps her arms around me. “Sloan, we all want you to be happy. Mom and I really think Smitty is the key to that.”

  I squeeze my sister tightly. “I do, too. I wanted a sign from Cooper that it was okay to move on, to be happy without him. Once I started looking, they were everywhere…Smitty massaging my feet, he called me Lo, his tattoo is Coop’s birthday. It’s meant to be, right?”

  Sissy leans back, her nose scrunched. “Sure, but why does he have Cooper’s birthday tattooed on him?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know, but I’m sure I’ll find out.” Honestly, I was too afraid to ask what it meant. Maybe that’s part of the reason I feel like I’m finally ready to move on, because I want to.

  A seagull caws in the air above us and I look up. When I do, I see Smitty sitting on the balcony, grinning at me. My heart races and I know the signs are right, it’s time for me to move on.

  Chapter 14

  Smitty

  I pop the last button through the hole on my dress shirt and take a look in the mirror. I’m definitely dressed the part for the wedding, but my stomach is burning. I have good reason to hate weddings, being that I was about to walk down the aisle just a year ago. Jules and Bentley got married a couple months after my failed attempt. My date, Jack Daniels, and I tried to hide our misery, but I didn’t even make it to the reception. This will only be my second attempt at watching another couple get their happy-ever-after and I’m hoping I can hold it together.

  I take a deep breath and lean over the counter, staring at myself in the mirror. “Get it together, Smitty. You can do this.”

  Nodding at myself, I splash on some cologne and walk out of the bathroom, almost tripping on a pink leopard print suitcase. A smile creeps over my face as I push the luggage out of the way. I love being surrounded by Sloan, even when she’s not here. Maybe that’s why I still have Caroline’s stuff all over my house. Dragging my hands down my face, I try to push the thought away.

  Before I have second thoughts, I head to the beach where the ceremony will be held. Some of Will’s family that I’ve met is milling around, but none of the Talbott family is in sight. In the back of my dark mind, I wonder if Will’s about to go through the same thing I did. Looking at him though, he doesn’t seem too concerned.

  Will’s sister and her husband chat with me, which is a nice distraction. My hands are getting clammy and I keep wiping them against my white linen pants. I’ve already undone the top two buttons on my navy shirt, but even with the sleeves rolled up to my elbows, I’m about to have a heat stroke, but it’s not the sun that’s causing this reaction.

  Finally, the new version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow plays and the ten guests that are waiting turn our attention toward the resort. Gavin walks down the turquoise runner over the sand with his mother on his elbow. He gives her a kiss and takes his place beside Will in front of the arbor that’s covered with fuchsia and white tulle and green and white flowers adorning the top. There’s red rose petals sprinkled all down the runner and where Will is standing.

  I turn my attention back toward the resort and suck in my breath. Sloan walks toward us, a carefree smile on her face, her long honey hair curled and pulled half back. I’ve seen the woman naked, but now, she looks an entirely different kind of sexy in the deep fuchsia floor length chiffon dress. The dress may be long, but it has slits up to her waist and the top has a V all the way down to her belly button, and the back of the dress is the exact same. She’s wearing a simple pair of diamond droplet earrings and a lucky diamond pendant dangles between her breasts. As she walks past me, her eyes meet mine and she gives me a wink, sending me into an internal frenzy, ready to pull her away from the ceremony and have my way with her.

  I don’t pay attention to anyone, or anything else, at the ceremony. My eyes are trained on Sloan. Partly, because she looks so stunning, but mainly, so I can block out the vows and what I missed out on with Caroline. I smile, thinking maybe this is why she didn’t show up. Maybe my fate wasn’t her, but rather the sexy woman standing before me, who keeps looking in my direction, smiling at me as though we’re the only two that exist in this moment.

  The officiant declares Will and Sissy husband and wife. In a trance, I clap with everyone else, but the second Sloan walks past me, I reach out and grab her hand, pulling her to me. Giggling, she wraps her arms around my neck, her bouquet of flowers still in her hands. The strong floral scent consumes me, but it doesn’t distract me from what I want.

  In a low voice, I growl, “Fuck, Lo. Good thing I didn’t see this dress before the wedding or we would’ve never made it here.” My hands roam up and down her body, touching every piece of bare skin I can find.

  She tosses her head back, her long hair falling over my arms wrapped around her waist. “Don’t worry, I’ll wear it for you as much as you want.”

  I grin and lean down, kissing her neck, not caring who’s watching us. She purrs softly in my ear and my mouth moves to her earlobe, sucking on it. “We might not ever make it back to the real world. You’re too damn tempting, Sloan Talbott.”

  Sloan

  “...and here’s to my baby sister, Cicely and my new brother-in-law, Will. May your love last a lifetime… and be filled with lots of babies!” I hold up my glass of champagne and toast along with the small crowd of people.

  Will hugs me first, then Sissy after we take sips out of our glasses. Sissy squeezes me and whispers, “Someone’s waiting on you…”

  I turn around and see Smitty standing in the back of the room. Kissing my sister’s cheek, I walk his direction. He’s obviously uncomfortable, but he’s doing his best to hide it. When I reach him, I don’t say a word. Instead, I slide my hand around his neck, bringing his face to me, and then I slowly suck on his bottom lip. Instantly, his hands are glued to my body, pulling me to him.

  I let go of his lip and my finger runs down
his cheek. “Everything okay?”

  Smitty’s posture stiffens, but he shrugs. “Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?”

  I kiss him softly. “Just making sure.” I may have only met him a few days ago, but I can tell he’s lying. Crazy Love by Van Morrison plays over the speakers. Taking his hand, I walk us toward the dance floor. Once we’ve settled into each other, I rest my head on his shoulder, but keep my eyes on him. He sings along with the chorus and I smile, watching his mouth. The song ends, but we keep swaying back and forth.

  “I’m glad you’re here with me,” I whisper and kiss his cheek. The truth is I’ve avoided weddings at all costs ever since Cooper died, but this was my sister’s day and I wasn’t going to miss it. If Smitty wasn’t here though, I don’t think I’d be holding up so well.

  His hand cups my cheek and he kisses my forehead. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now,” he says and my stomach flips. This is what I miss most about being with someone. The sweet, tender moments that are only shared between the two of us. My fingers are crossed that this is only the beginning of many more that Smitty and I will share.

  Chapter 15

  Smitty

  Sloan’s gone to the bathroom with her sister. Why is it that women travel in packs to pee? That’s always been a mystery to me...

  I slip away from the reception to the edge of the beach so I can get some fresh air. I look up at the sky and when I see the full moon, the song Somewhere Out There from one of the Fievel movies comes to mind. It’s the one about although we’re in different places, we’re both under the same sky, maybe even wishing on the same star. For some reason, that scene has always stuck with me. Perhaps, because whenever I look at the moon, I always wonder who else out in the universe is doing the same thing. Maybe Caroline...

  “Full moon tonight.”

  I turn around and see Sloan’s father, Roger, walking toward me. “Yes, sir. You can see for miles across the water.”