Another Chance at Love (Another Series Book 1)

by Suzanne Sweeney

  As I lean over him, I get the chance to ogle him without fear of being caught. I marvel at how broad his shoulders are. And how the angles formed from his shoulders to his waist make a perfect triangle.

  I touch every single freckle that graces his perfect skin – on his arms, his back, and although I cannot see them, I recall every single one that resides on his chest.

  Luckily, his shorts are long and I don’t have to work on his thighs. I don’t think I could handle being that close to his nether-region and maintain my own self-control at the same time.

  I could sit and touch him like this all day long. But eventually I realize that I’ve stopped spreading lotion quite some time ago and at this point, I’m just running my hands up and down his firm body purely for my own enjoyment.

  The rest of the day goes by in a flash, and we all realize that we haven’t really had much to eat since our bountiful brunch. So Derek puts the pedal to the metal and he careens though the bay, into the Manasquan inlet, and docks the boat at the pier of a restaurant.

  We choose a table on the patio with a great view of the river as we dine and enjoy each other’s company. It’s the perfect ending to the perfect day.

  “So, Kenny – we’re having a big party at Rush on the Fourth of July,” Derek mentions. “You should come and meet everyone. The whole gang’s going to be there. It’s going to be a blast!”

  I open my mouth to make an excuse, but Cole beats me to the punch. He places his hand on my knee and squeezes as if to tell me, I’ve got this. “Oh, sorry, Derek. I meant to tell you. Kenny and I have plans that night. Maybe another time.”

  But somehow, for some unexplained reason, I feel stronger and braver with Cole by my side. I think I might enjoy seeing where Derek works, even if I have to suck it up for one night and brave a crowded bar full of people.

  “Oh, gosh – I forgot to tell you, Cole. My brother cancelled his barbecue. I’m wide open that day.” I hear the words as they leave my mouth, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Everyone stares at me and bursts out laughing. Freudian slip much?

  “Dammit, you guys. You have filthy minds. You know exactly what I meant!”

  When we finally pack our sun-shined bodies into the truck and start for home, it’s nearly nine o’clock.

  I throw the door open and slip out before he even puts the truck in park. Looking through the window, I say, “This was an amazing day; thank you so much. Like, it was one of my favorite days . . . ever.” I mean it. It was perfect. “So, thanks.”

  “I’ll talk to you soon?” he asks. “Breakfast?”

  “You bet,” I answer.

  “It was an amazing day, Kenny,” he nods, his gaze burning into mine. “Thank you.”

  “Okay. So . . . bye.” I whirl around and head inside before I say anything else. Though what else could I say? How could the day possibly get more amazing? Oh wait, I have an idea— boy, do I have an idea.

  CHAPTER 11

  THE SOUNDS OF THE BIRDS CHIRPING OUTSIDE MY WINDOW pull me from my dreamless sleep. It is a bright sunny day and it feels like there’s a world of possibilities out there, just waiting to be discovered. The weather seems to match my buoyant mood perfectly.

  I take a deep breath and hold it in my lungs for a moment before exhaling with force while a vision of Cole appears in my thoughts. I push my long hair back off my forehead and try to rub the sleep from my eyes. Maybe if I press hard enough into my skull the vision will disappear. Does he have to be the first thing I think of when I wake up?

  As I trudge my way down the hall to the bathroom, my thoughts unwillingly drift back to the amazing day we spent together. He made me laugh, pushed me to be more daring, and took excellent care of me all day long. I could not have asked for a better date. I mean day.

  Cole McGuire is not going to become my boyfriend. He is not looking for a girlfriend and I am not about to get involved with a professional athlete. It’s just not smart, and as they say, there are too many fish in the sea.

  I take a long look at myself in the mirror as I brush out my long hair. My summer tan is glowing, bikini lines are showing, and my cheeks are rosy and sun-kissed. I turn the sink on, splashing some cold water on my eyes. The more I rub, the brighter my hazel eyes appear.

  “Not bad for a city girl,” I whisper out loud to the mirror. But I’m not an urbanite any more. I’m a local now, and I have the tan lines to prove it. Back to the beach; back to the boardwalk; and back to work.

  I don’t know what I expected to find when I return to TitleWave. Maybe some sign that I had been missed would be nice. Perhaps some disorganized bookshelves; a chaotic mess behind the counter; unopened deliveries of books that need to be sorted and shelved. Anything, really, that would show how indispensable I am.

  But instead, everything is exactly as I left it – only better. Not only did Cait find a way to hold down the fort in my absence, she went out and bought red, white, and blue twinkle lights, star garland, and American flags which are tastefully draped atop bookshelves and book displays.

  I had every intention of doing the same exact thing. I have a whole Pinterest page dedicated to the idea. I just never got around to actually doing it.

  Maybe I should take more days off.

  “Good morning!” I turn to find Brie rushing up to me just as I am finishing my cursory inspection.

  “Morning,” I answer. She and Cait were out for the night by the time I got home, so I never got a chance to tell either one of them about my day.

  Brie comes up and grabs a hold of one of my hands, lifts it high above my head, and has me spin around for a closer look. “You look like a breath of fresh air . . . there’s no other way to put it,” she marvels.

  “Do I?” I ask, looking down, trying to see what she thinks she sees.

  The bangles on her wrist clatter as she places her hands on her hips. “It’s written all over your face. You got some color in your cheeks.” She takes a closer look. “And is that mascara you’re wearing?”

  “Maybe,” I admit, grinning. “I really feel like a new person.” Every day I spend with Cole, I begin to feel more and more alive and I guess it shows.

  Cole comes walking over carrying a small bag and a cup of our house black iced tea in his hand. “Hey, Kenny, I thought that was your car out there,” he says, smiling and stopping just a few inches from me. “Morning, Brie.”

  “Hey, Cole, how’s it going?” I ask, turning from Brie slightly to look at him, which means looking up at him. Damn, he’ tall – it surprises me almost every time I’m around him.

  “I overslept this morning. And that never happens. You wore me out yesterday.” He groans, rotating his shoulders a bit.

  “I know the feeling,” I agree, reaching up to massage his left shoulder. “It’s been so long for me, I didn’t realize how sore I’d be this morning.”

  “I must say, you have a great stroke for someone so out of practice,” Cole compliments me.

  “Thanks. I used muscles yesterday I didn’t even know I had,” I tease, wiggling my hips suggestively. I look up to see Cole smiling widely at me. “What?” I ask.

  “Nothing,” he answers. “I was just thinking of other ways I could get you all wet again.”

  “That’s really up to Derek. He knows all the best spots.”

  “Oh, I almost forgot.” Cole reaches into the bag he’s carrying and pulls out my bikini top. “Derek and I found this after you left. We thought you might want it back.”

  “Thanks – I was wondering where I left it.”

  Brie’s head is about to explode. “What the . . . But when did . . . Now wait just a . . . Who the hell is Derek?”

  The two of us just grin at each other, perfectly aware of what we’d just said and how it sounded.

  “Ready for breakfast?” I ask.

  “I’m always ready,” he murmurs, his voice full of promise. “Let’s go grab something quick.”

  “Okay,” I nod, pursing my lips. Cole licks his slowly. “Lead the way.
”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” He places his hand in that sweet spot on the small of my back, the heat of his touch radiating deep in my core. Tenderly, he guides me out of the bookstore and into the coffee shop.

  “I’ll be back in a little bit, Brie,” I call over my shoulder, resting my head on his bicep for good measure.

  “You’ve got a little evil streak in you,” Cole whispers as we stand in front of today’s pastry display.

  “Yeah, I don’t know how you kept it together. I thought for sure I was going to lose it with the whole getting you wet again line. Genius.”

  “Well, I was just following your lead,” he teases.

  We select a few pastries and make our way outside to our table. “You’re off again, today? Right?” I ask, hopeful that he doesn’t already have plans.

  “I am,” he grins. “Why, are you free?”

  For just a moment, I think about spending the day with Cole, shirking my responsibilities and playing hooky from work for the second day in a row. But no matter how much I may want to, I know I shouldn’t. I know I can’t. “No, probably not,” I whine.

  “Me, either,” he explains. “Evan and I are heading up to Manhattan for the day. Sports Illustrated is doing an article on families in professional sports. They’re featuring the Manning brothers, the Barbers, the Earnhardts, the Williams sisters, and us, the McGuires. Do you believe it?”

  “Cole, that’s frigging awesome! Oh, my God. That’s the biggest sports magazine in the world. Are you excited?”

  “I don’t think excited is the word I would choose,” he says sullenly.

  “Why?” I ask, baffled by his reaction.

  “This is the last thing I need right now, but the Front Office is thrilled, especially Adam. So I really have no choice.”

  “Adam?” I ask.

  “Adam Cooke. He’s a family friend and the Director of Player Development. He’s the one who fought for me to come up to the Bigs.”

  “I still don’t get it.”

  “Let me put it this way,” Cole pauses, clearly searching for the right words. “I have a friend who’s keeping a very low profile right now. For personal reasons, she has to stay out of the public eye. I’m worried that this could be the one thing that makes her turn her back on me and walk away . . . for good this time. But if I want to keep my position with the team, I have to do this. It’s a real dilemma.”

  He’s upset because of me. Cole has actually started making life decisions and career choices based on how it will affect me. I can’t allow this to continue. He’s worked too hard to get here and I can’t just sit back and watch him throw it all away because of how I might react.

  “I have to tell you, if this friend can’t get past your success, then she’s not much of a friend at all. If she cares, even a little bit, she’ll find a way to separate your public and private life.”

  “Since there’s not much I can do about it, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens I suppose.”

  Awkwardness lingers in the air for the rest of our shared meal. Cole makes an excuse and slips out early. He and Evan have an early appointment at the Time-Life Building in midtown Manhattan. I’m sure he’s going to do great. He’s witty, charming, and not too hard on the eyes. If the editor-in-chief is smart, he’ll put the McGuire boys right on the cover and sell millions of copies.

  It’s the last Friday before the Fourth of July, and Brie, Cait, and I decide to treat ourselves for lunch today. We may not have a chance to do it once the summer officially begins. So the three of us make the short walk down the boardwalk to Martell’s Tiki Bar for some sushi and ginger beer. It’s the perfect combination on a hot summer’s day.

  The walk to Martell’s is short, and we’re seated quickly. Brie asks to be seated in Joe’s section and the young hostess is happy to oblige.

  “Who’s Joe?” Cait asks.

  “My favorite waiter.”

  “Is he hot?” Cait asks.

  “So hot,” Brie answers.

  Joe’s section is on the pier with a direct view of the ocean. We’re seated at a table beneath a thatched tiki umbrella, surrounded by palm trees. I take my usual spot with my back to the railing so no one and nothing can surprise me from behind.

  All around us are all sorts of guests – scantily clad beach goers, professionals out for a nice lunch, and every type in between.

  “Ladies,” hot waiter Joe says, as he approaches the table. “Welcome.”

  “Hi, Joe,” Brie says with a smile. “Ladies, this is Joe.”

  “Well, hello, Joe,” Cait says, blatantly looking Joe up and down. “You’re delicious.”

  “As is the food,” Joe says without missing a beat, and I mentally high-five him. Not many can keep up with Cait’s special brand of snark.

  “You’re going to get along with us just fine,” Cait says with a laugh.

  “What can I bring you to drink?” he asks, and lays his hand on Brie’s shoulder – his very big, very firm hand. “Lemon drop?” he asks Brie with a wink.

  Brie smiles up at Joe. “You’re the best.”

  He laughs and takes all of our drink orders, and when he’s gone, Cait lets out a low whistle. “Dear, sweet God, the things I could teach that man.”

  “I don’t know, Cait. I think Joe would much rather take some private lessons with Brie,” I observe. “And it looks like he’s already pretty good with his hands.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” Brie counters.

  “He touched your shoulder,” Cait reminds Brie with a grin. “He obviously likes you.”

  “Nah, he’s like that with everyone,” Brie argues.

  Both Cait and I give her the stink eye.

  Brie leans in and whispers, “Well, he did wake up my girly parts.”

  Joe delivers our drinks, and Brie smiles at him as he sets her lemon drop in front of her.

  “Are you having lunch this afternoon, ladies?” Joe asks.

  “I’m starving, so yes,” Brie says, and orders her tuna roll. The rest of us follow suit, then clink glasses when Joe leaves.

  “These drinks are strong!”

  “I know. One and done,” I reply.

  Lunch is full of laughs, awesome food, and lots of flirting with Joe, who takes all our banter in stride. I’m starting to get my appetite back and it feels like I could take on the world right now.

  “Kenny, I don’t know what’s gotten into you lately, but . . .”

  “It’s not what got into her, it’s who got into her. Cole and some guy named Daryl,” Brie blurts out, cutting off Cait midsentence.

  I turn to Cait and with a poker face I clarify, “Let me set the record straight. His name is not Daryl, it’s Derek. And he didn’t get into me, he just gave me a ride on his vessel.”

  Brie turns to Cait, exasperated. “See what I mean?”

  I look at them incredulously. “What? Derek is a very skilled Seaman.”

  “You’re doing that on purpose!” Brie chastises me. “You let me go all day thinking you’re sleeping around.”

  “Sorry to disappoint, girls – but we just spent the day on Derek’s boat and did some swimming in the bay. There was no sex. Unless you count the Copper Tone climax I almost had as Cole rubbed sunscreen on my back . . . and on my legs . . . and on my shoulders,” I sigh heavily just thinking about it.

  “So you didn’t sleep with Derek?” Brie asks, looking for me to confirm one final time.

  “No!” I admonish her. “He’s definitely not my type. Besides, I don’t think his fiancée, Shea, would have approved the idea.”

  “And you didn’t sleep with Cole?” Cait pushes the point.

  “Nope, not recently at least. Just that one time in Hawaii,” I regretfully admit.

  Brie turns to Cait. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m glad Kenny hasn’t gone off the deep end.” She turns to me holding out her thumb and pointer finger very closely together. “I was this close to calling your brother,” she says.

  We al
l lean back and have a good laugh together. We haven’t laughed together like this in a very long time.

  “Listen, girls – hear me out. It’s Friday night and unless you two know something I don’t know, none of us have dates for tonight.” Cait pauses to look at me and Brie. We just shake our heads. “Good. Then I’m declaring Girls’ Night Out - just the three of us. No boys. Just like old times.”

  “You know I’m in,” Brie declares.

  They both look at me, waiting for my response.

  Paul is safely behind bars. And I know neither one of the girls will let me out of their sight. “Oh, what the hell – I’m in, too.”

  “Can I borrow these earrings?” Cait asks, holding my silver chandelier earrings up to her lobes and looking in the mirror to my right. Cait is her usual sultry self. Her exotic face and dark, dramatic features make her stand out in any crowd. “They totally go with my shoes.”

  “Your shoes?” I chuckle and look down, and sure enough, she’s right. “You’re going to have a hard time walking on the boardwalk in those heels.”

  “It’s Girls Night Out,” she says with a shrug. “I’ll be fine. I’ll kick them off and walk barefoot until we get to the bar.”

  “That’s gross. And not too smart. You’ll get splinters.”

  “No I won’t. But if I do, I’ll find someone to carry me.”

  “Right on,” Brie answers. She brings out her inner seductress with a hot little tunic mini-dress and thigh-high fringe boots. Her hair rests on her shoulders with loose relaxed curls making her flirty, whimsical, and sexy.

  “You look awesome,” I say, and offer her a fist to bump.

  I step back and take stock. My hair is down, and thanks to the products Cait recommended, it hangs in pretty waves past my shoulders. Makeup is done bolder than usual, because hello, girls’ night. “Is this dress okay?”

  Brie examines me thoughtfully, and then nods. “The color matches your eyes, which I kind of hate you for, because I can’t wear green, and it shows off your boobs. Excellent choice. But you need a pair of FMPs.”