“Who are your houseguests?” Bo asked.
“So glad you asked that. I want to introduce you to my friend Maya tonight. Did you meet her earlier today?”
“Nah, I heard somebody leaving a while ago, but I didn’t see anybody.”
“Well, she’s fabulous, and she’s perfect for you.”
“For what, the week?” Bo asked.
Sebastian shrugged. “Sure.”
Bo shook his head, gathering his equipment. “No thanks.”
“But you haven’t even met her. She’s fabulous.”
“I’m sure she is, but I’m not into it.”
“Not into sex?” Sebastian asked, looking like Bo had a third eye.
“To be honest, no. I’ve screwed enough women to start a softball league. At some point, it gets old. I’m getting old, I guess.”
Sebastian put his hand in the air like he was stopping traffic. “Hold up. You are my age, I believe, so stop calling yourself old.”
“Fine. I’m old. You’re young.”
Sebastian put his hand on Bo’s forearm. “What is it, boo? Are you okay?”
If some of the knuckleheads Bo went to high school with saw the way Sebastian touched him and made a fuss over him, he’d catch hell for it. But Sebastian was one of Bo’s favorite people. They drove each other nuts, coming from two completely different universes—Sebastian, an effeminate gay man from Chicago, and Bo a redneck from Panama City Beach—but their friendship worked in the oddest way. Same went for all this group of friends he’d found himself in thanks to his closest friend, Blake. Blake had sort of connected the two worlds of Southern straight men and Northern gay men, tossing in a prom queen from Savannah and a free-spirited woman from New Orleans. They were as oddball as it came as a whole, but Bo couldn’t think of a group of friends he’d ever had that he preferred to be with more.
Bo pulled his arm away. “It ain’t nothing. Just don’t want to have another week of falling for someone who’s going home. Can you understand that?”
Sebastian crossed one arm over his stomach and bit on his knuckle. “Bo Harrison showing his vulnerable side. My God, can you get any hotter?”
Bo headed for the gate. “I’ve got supper with my parents.”
Sebastian followed behind. “You have dinner there every Sunday afternoon and it’s never stopped you from meeting us after when we’re doing something you want to do.”
“Exactly.”
“Come on, I really want you to come tonight. I swear I won’t do any sort of matchmaking. I just want my friends to all connect. I want to show my BFFs from home how fabulous my BFFs from here are.”
Bo kept going, thinking about it. He really just needed a night to chill with Jake on the couch and catch up on whatever was on Netflix. “Next time,” he said.
“I think Cassidy’s coming.”
Bo stopped at the gate. “She is?”
Cassidy, owner of Seaside Sweets and all-around hot as fuck forty-something, was Bo’s kryptonite. He’d been enamored with her since the time he made a move on her and she clocked him in the mouth, not that he didn’t deserve it. He hadn’t dared try to touch her since, of course, but just being in the same room with her lit him up. He always let her come to him, and she always would, eventually, with a no-nonsense smile and a few flirtatious words before someone else would inevitably steal her away. She was by far the most interesting one of them all with her past work in the Peace Corps and her world travel prior to being a bakery owner. She was close with everyone in the group, but she didn’t make it out nearly as much as all the rest of them did. He had to grab his chances to be around her when he could get them.
Sebastian grinned. “I knew that would change your mind.”
“What time?”
“Six.”
“Can I bring something?”
“Your beautiful self. I’ll have everything else.”
Chapter Four
Bo pulled up in the parking lot of one of his biggest clients. Besides owning this particular pool park, Roy owned two resorts off 30A and a water park in PCB. He had enough need to warrant his own staff of pool guys, but Roy’d had problems in the past finding good workers who knew what the hell they were doing, and after a close call with the health department, he was too rattled to go back to staffing that function on his own. That was just fine with Bo, but he knew Roy could pull the business at a drop of a hat, so he made sure he got plenty of face time with him and kept his properties pristine.
As Bo walked through the doorway, his eardrums were assaulted as the young Jordan shouted, “Bo!”
She was an itty bitty thing, all except her chest. She couldn’t be a day over twenty-two, but for some reason she wasn’t going to rest until he made a move on her. She’d be waiting a while for that to happen.
She scooted out from behind the front desk and jumped on him in a hug. He glanced around to make sure Roy wasn’t around. This was where he kept his main office, which was why Bo always came by to pick up his check rather than having him mail it. He wanted to keep reminding Roy he was here.
Bo pried Jordan off of him. “You got an envelope for me?”
“All business today, huh?”
“You got something else in mind?”
“I’ve always got something in mind when it comes to you.”
He was okay with a little flirtation with her, but that was as far as he’d ever let their relationship go. Six years ago, after he’d finally broken free of Angela, he’d have been all over that. But he was thirty-five now, and he’d sown all the oats he hadn’t been able to throughout his twenties. He needed something deeper now. He wanted to learn from the woman he was with and grow, become a better person in general. Girls like Jordan were fun, but what then? She rubbed up against him, hand on his hip. She’d always been forward, but the last time or two he’d seen her she’d gotten downright shameless. He had to find a way to politely put a stop to that.
“Your boss is going to come in here, and I’ll lose one of my biggest clients,” he said.
“I’ll make sure it’s worth your trouble.” She slid her hand down to his ass, and then moved it around to the front. He stepped away from her before he copped wood mid-day in front of God and everybody. She gave him a dirty smile and pulled an envelope out of the desk. “I saw the size of that check. Too bad you won’t spend that on an amazing night out with me. You’d be guaranteed to get your money’s worth at the end.”
“Bo!” Roy made his way up the hallway, and Bo had never been happier to see the big ole bastard.
“Hey, Roy. Thanks for the check.” Bo waved the envelope.
“Don’t spend all that in one place.” He offered Bo his hand, and they shook on it.
“I just wanted to check in and see how my guys were doing for you,” Bo said.
“Pools look great. While you’re here though, would you mind checking the filter on the kids’ pool? It might be clogged with something. I had a complaint earlier. I haven’t been out to check it yet.”
“I’ll take a look.”
“You up for golf this Saturday?” Roy asked.
“I’ll set it up. Seven o’clock tee time work for you?” Bo asked, happy to ass-kiss.
“I’ll be in touch. Jordan, be sure and treat this man real good when he comes by. He’s my boy.” Roy patted Bo on the shoulder.
“I always do my very best, Roy,” she said with the innocence of a schoolgirl. Roy gave a crooked-tooth smile and headed back to his office. “See,” she said, “the boss man even wants me to do you right.”
“Hey, old man. Come here on a Sunday to hassle our employees?” Tyler, a lifeguard not a day over twenty slung open the door leading in from the pools and stood in the doorway, sizing Bo up. He was young, dumb, and full of—
“Come in or out Tyler. The flies are getting in,” Jordan said.
Tyler stood up tall and crossed his arms over his puffed-out chest. “Hey, while you’re here, I’m going to need you to check the filter in the kids’ po
ol. There seems to be some issue with it. May need replacing.”
“I’m headed that way.” Any other punk kid would have gotten the finger, but this particular punk was the boss man’s son. Bo was planning on riding his pool business into retirement, and he figured this kid would be his client one day, as much as that pained him. But he wasn’t too proud to eat some crow now and then. The check in his hand was enough to make payroll. He was no fool.
“Hey, you box?” Tyler held both fists in front of his chest and jabbed in Bo’s direction.
“No.”
“Ah, chicken shit, huh? I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to fight a young guy like me if I was you.”
Tyler jabbed a little too close to Bo. He was rethinking that check. There were better ways to earn money, like hauling trash or emptying sewage tanks.
“Tyler, Bo’d whoop your ass one-handed if you two got in a ring,” Jordan said.
“We’ll see about that.” Tyler gave a series of quick jabs at Bo, just barely missing him.
The worst part about it for Bo was that it was like looking into a twenty-year-old mirror. As much as he hated getting older, he was thankful as hell for the ounce of maturity he’d gained throughout the years. He supposed he could thank Angela for some of that. He’d had to grow up fast once she came into his life. Bo opened the door. “I’ll go check that filter.”
Jordan glared at Tyler. “Dumbass.”
“We’ll set up that fight soon!” Tyler shouted at Bo’s backside.
As Bo made his way through the big pool area outlined with cabanas toward the kids’ pool around on the other side, he couldn’t help but compare Jordan to the girl from last night. They were on two different planets. If the two were standing side by side, and he had to pick one, there wouldn’t even be a contest.
The one from last night was smart, sweet, shy, strong, and goddamn sexy. That was the kind of woman he wanted in his bed. Jordan was easy. She didn’t expect much of anything from him other than to be good in bed. Marlene, aside from giving a fake name, was mature and challenging. She was the kind of woman to force a man to do better, be better. The kind of woman he needed and wanted. Goddammit. Why did he have to run into her last night? Now he couldn’t get her out of his head. And he couldn’t have her. The worst possible combination.
Felicity shaded her eyes with her hand. “Is that our pool guy from earlier?”
Maya followed Felicity’s gaze to a tall, broad guy walking with purpose toward the kid pool. Maya’s heart practically leapt from her chest. “Oh my gosh. I think it’s him.”
Felicity took off her sunglasses. “The pool guy?”
Maya backhanded her on the arm. “No. The guy from last night.”
Felicity’s face broke open in a grin. “You are right. That is him, isn’t it?”
“This can’t be happening. We’ve got to leave.” Maya shoved her magazine into her bag.
Felicity held her hand up. “Sit tight. He can’t recognize you in that hat and those glasses.” She had a point. “Damn, did he look this good last night?” Felicity asked.
This was what Maya got for even considering veering from her natural order of things and dipping a toe into those forbidden waters.
“I didn’t realize how hot he was. Look at those legs. Look at the muscles in his calves. I bet he’s a runner. Plenty of stamina.”
“Can we change the subject please?” Maya asked.
“I think this one’s worth a second try.”
“Felicity,” Maya said with a warning tone.
“Yeah, we’re not done here.” Felicity started waving. “Hello!” Maya sank deeper in her lounger. “Hello, big guy,” Felicity waved some more.
Bo did a double take, slowing his stride, and Maya’s heart pounded against her chest, her face flushing with heat that wasn’t coming from the sun.
“Come on over. That’s right, come on.” Felicity motioned the man to them.
This was why she didn’t hang out with Felicity that much. She always pushed Maya’s limits. “I will kill you painfully while you’re sleeping tonight,” Maya said through clenched teeth.
“Oh, goody. He’s coming. Ready for round two?”
Panic surged through Maya’s chest as Bo approached them. She’d been basking in humiliation since he shut the car door last night. The only saving grace had been she would never have to see him again, and now he was headed right toward her, and not on his own accord, but because her deranged friend had motioned him over. Like there was any way he could avoid Maya now.
God, was it possible he was even better looking than she remembered? Sensuality bled from him with every assured step he took. His muscles bulged out of the sleeves of his T-shirt, and heat filled areas of her where the sun didn’t shine.
“Well, hello,” Felicity said to Bo as he approached them. “Do you remember Marlene from last night?”
“How could I forget Marlene?” he asked with a grin that could melt a glacier. Maya gave a half-hearted smile, wondering when the brutality would end.
“You here for a swim?” Felicity asked.
“No, actually—”
A young male lifeguard passed by waving his fists in the air like an idiot. “Tuesday afternoon. Me and you.” The guy stopped and eyed the ladies. “See, now these two are more your scene, dude.” He started jogging backwards and turned around just before he tripped over a lounge chair.
“Is that douche a friend of yours?” Felicity asked.
He glared at the guy. “No.” He closed his eyes and shook his head, and then turned back to them. “You ladies have a good day for it today out here.”
“Pull up a chair and sit with us,” Felicity said.
He hesitated, considering Maya. She would not force him to sit down and muddle through awkward conversation with her. He was finished with her, and she wouldn’t hold him hostage here. She diverted her eyes down to her magazine and flipped a page.
“Thanks, but I’ve got to get going.” He pointed in the direction of the children’s pool.
There it was. The answer to everything. His wife and kids were over there, and he was coming to see them. Or maybe he had partial custody, and he was here to make the switch. He hadn’t mentioned a thing about kids last night, but why else would he be headed to the children’s pool? Maya flipped another page and tried to focus on a tampon advertisement.
“Good to see you again, Marlene.”
Her heart fluttered at the personal address. She barely glanced up from her magazine. “Mmm hmm.” She wanted to dive into the water and never come back up.
“Y’all take care, now.”
Felicity looked at her then back at him. “Okay, you, too.”
He turned and walked toward the children’s pool. As soon as he got out of earshot, Maya turned to Felicity. “Are you happy now?”
“What? That was harmless. At least from his end. You were positively rude.”
Maya gritted her teeth. “I was positively mortified.”
“Oh, now quit. It wasn’t that bad. We seriously never have to see him again. We won’t come back here this week.”
“He lives in Panama City. What in God’s name is he doing here?”
Felicity fanned herself. “Who knows.”
“I bet he’s a dad and his kids are over there.”
“Maybe, but that doesn’t mean he’s married. He is at that age when couples start getting divorces more frequently.”
“He looks about our age.”
“Yeah, so?”
“So you’re saying we should have already been married by now and on our way to divorce court?” Maya asked.
“Not me. You know I’m never getting married. But you can skip right past your first divorce and pick up one of these guys out there who’s ready for renewal.”
Maya eyed her friend. “Do you ever see the negative in anything?”
Felicity drew her eyebrows together. “Why would I want to do that?”
Maya’s heart warmed. Felicity was the po
lar opposite of her—laid back, relaxed, and completely uninhibited. And she’d been trying for over two decades to help Maya loosen up. They were unlikely friends, but Maya knew of nobody else in the world who cared for her more, and who truly wanted happiness for her.
“I love you.”
Felicity sat up and looked at Maya like she’d lost her mind. “I’ve known you twenty years, and you’ve never said that to me.”
Maya flipped another magazine page. “I’m on vacation. Anything can happen.”
Bo hadn’t seen that coming. He thought he’d never see her again. He wished he hadn’t. She looked damn good in that bikini. But she was having none of him. Uneasy and irritated weren’t really emotions a guy was looking for when gauging a girl’s interest. He was losing his touch.
As he pulled a T-shirt out of the drain of the kid’s pool, he considered whether he should go back and give it another try with her. But to what end? She’d be gone by Saturday. He couldn’t cave on this, no matter how drawn he was to her.
He rung out the shirt and headed back toward the front. He glanced at the two women. Marlene’s friend waved at him, wiggling her fingers. Marlene sank down lower in her chair, clearly not interested. With the clarity of the light of day, she was probably thanking God she hadn’t slept with him.
He walked into the front office where Tyler was sitting on Jordan’s desk while she typed into her computer. “Filter needs replacing, doesn’t it? I told you it would,” the punk kid said to him.
Bo heaved the wet T-shirt at his chest, and the surprise of it threw him off balance and knocked him off the end of the desk. “All set.” He winked at Jordan. “Stay good.”
“Don’t count on it,” she replied.
The wet T-shirt slammed against the door as it closed behind him.
When Maya and Felicity walked through the front door of Sebastian’s house, savory aromas filled the air. They found him busying himself with caterers. “Ladies, you have exactly one hour before the guests arrive. Go, go, go. Get your showers.”
Seacrest Sunsets (Love Along Hwy 30A Book 2) Page 4