I’m just getting into pre-sleep body twitch mode when a shower of sand splashes the side of my face, shattering the beginnings of a dream involving me buck naked, sitting on the rock in the center of Eagle Lake, completely alone. I’m not disappointed that one ended. It was one of those anxiety dreams, but still. What the hell?
I sit up slowly, rubbing the sleep from my face, along with a bucket of sand granules. Long, muscular golden legs with a dusting of blond hair obstruct my vision. I gaze up, shading the sun with my hand.
Mason. Thank God. This is who I need to get Gen’s mind off bad influences.
“Cali! Sorry about that. You okay?” He squats in front of me, absently grabs the football wedged in my armpit, and smiles at Gen.
Gen’s leaning on her arms, grinning back. She looks comfortable and relaxed. Which I can only assume means the fidgets earlier were because of the other guy, not Mason. It’s not like she knew Mason would be here today anyway.
“I’m okay,” I say, a sinking feeling settling in my belly. “No harm done.” I try to look around Mason, but his snowboarding behemoth shoulders block my view. “Who are you with?”
“Jaeger.” Mason plants the football in the sand beside him and drops to a seated position. Guess he’s staying a while. “Too beautiful to go to the gym this morning. We came here instead.”
I lean all the way to the side and that’s when I see Jaeger—talking to a petite brunette. She’s wearing a tiny red bikini and smiling at him. The dread from a moment ago vanishes, and my stomach tightens, chest burning. Who’s that?
Jaeger looks over and our eyes meet. My breath catches and suddenly my heart’s humming like he wasn’t just talking to another girl, igniting jealousy.
He says something to the brunette and walks toward us, his long stride eating up the sand. The girl stares after him, her face a bit forlorn, and then I don’t know what she’s doing, because my mind goes blank.
Jaeger is shirtless, his broad, muscled chest and shoulders lightly tanned, narrowing to an eight-pack above low-slung swim trunks. His legs aren’t skinny like most tall guys, they’re proportional and well-muscled, just like the rest of him. Even the vertical scar down the middle of his knee appeals in a rugged way.
My heart hammers. Suddenly, it’s hot as hell out here, though my hands are ice cold. I smooth out my towel and dust off the sand the football splattered on me.
Jaeger walks up and sits in front of me, one arm on his knee. “Hey.”
I smile. It’s all I can manage. He smells like sunscreen and something so yummy … I’m trying not to let it show, but I’m literally sniffing out his scent. I have issues.
He grins playfully. “Been fishing lately?”
There are several ways to interpret that comment. Immediately, my dirty mind goes to innuendo. “No, you?”
He shakes his head and grabs the football Mason has propped between his hand and the sand. Mason doesn’t seem to mind. Gen’s telling him about the friends we’re meeting.
Jaeger looks over my shoulder to the barbecue section and I do too. It’s still early and no one’s there yet. “Come on.” He stands with the football under his arm, hand outstretched.
I reach for it and he pulls me up. “Where are we going?”
“To toss the football around.”
Oh shit. Shit, shit. “Uhh, probably not the best idea. I’m not good at catch.” Or sports, but no need to give him the dirty details.
He glances over his shoulder, increasing the distance between us along an empty patch of beach. “I’ll be gentle.”
Why do I translate everything out of his mouth into something sexual? I need to stay away from him. He’s messing with my head.
Jaeger throws the ball. I lunge for it and miss. I pick it up, dust it off, and throw it back—the way I always throw balls—like I’m launching a grenade. I can’t help it. Gen has tried to show me how it’s done, but I can’t seem to get the hang of throwing.
My toss lands a dozen feet from Jaeger even though he ran for it. He picks it up and stares at it, then turns and walks toward Gen and Mason.
“Where are you going?” I call.
He doesn’t answer. He keeps walking until he reaches Mason and firmly sets the ball beside him. Mason absently puts a hand on the football while he continues chatting with Gen.
Jaeger turns and stalks toward me.
Oh shit. “What?”
He nears me like a lion preparing to pounce. “You’re not allowed to play catch. Ever.”
My heart thrums in my ears. “I just need a little practice,” I say shakily, a combination of excitement and uncertainty bubbling inside.
He shakes his head. He’s only a few feet from me now. “You need to be punished for that toss. It was pitiful.”
My jaw drops, but instead of fearing the overgrown male stalking me, I’m turned on, and too curious to see what’s he’s going to do to care that it might not be right. I shutter my expression. “You are mean, you know that? Umff—”
Jaeger has picked me up and thrown me over his shoulder.
“Hey! What are you doing?” I quickly adjust my blue bikini top to keep my boobs contained.
“Dunking you. That’s your punishment.”
I scream like a little girl. “Stop! The lake’s freaking cold! Please don’t.” But I’m giggling, and he’s hot beneath my bare belly, and his arm is wrapped around the back of my thighs, making my skin tingle. My ass is bent in an unflattering position over his shoulder, flat and wide, and I don’t even care because I’m laughing so hard. “Jaeger, I’m serious. I hate the cold.”
“You grew up here—you can’t hate the cold.” The sand disappears below us, replaced by clear blue water.
Shit, he’s deep enough now that my toes graze the freezing surface. “I do—I do—please stop,” I say, but I’m smiling and I can hear it in my voice, so he must too.
He glides me down the front of his chest, my breasts pushing up between us. We’re eye level, my legs submerged in ice-cold water to my knees, but I’m hot as hell. He’s warm, and we’re warm, and my breath hitches.
The corners of his mouth turn up. “What will you do to get out of your punishment?”
My gaze flickers from his forest-green eyes, downturned slightly at the edges, to his full lips. I want to kiss him. If I were single, I’d lean in and gently kiss the corner of his mouth, teasingly.
I glance back to his sensual eyes. They’re darker and his smile has slipped, his chest rising and falling quicker.
I swallow. Shit. I have to stop this. “Please don’t put me in the water.”
He must read something on my face, because his brows pull together. He stares for a long moment, then bends over. For a split second, I think he’s going to dunk me, but instead, he curls his arm beneath my knees and cradles me to his chest.
His mouth curves and he leans down and dips my feet in the water. I gasp, but he doesn’t drop me, he carries me to shore.
Jaeger sets me on the sand. “You’re safe. For now.”
I don’t know what just happened, but I think he sensed my hesitation and backed off. I’m glad of that, but at the same time, I’m not. I should tell him I have a boyfriend, but he hasn’t asked, or made an overt pass that would force the conversation. To say something now would be presumptuous.
We walk silently to our friends. Gen’s folding her towel. I look past her and find the barbecue pits occupied.
Jaeger’s quiet. He’s got to know I’m attracted to him, but I can’t tell if his flirting is merely a wingman maneuver to keep me occupied while Mason talks to Gen, or if he’s seriously interested.
Mason looks over. “Cali, I was just telling Gen about the party we’re having next weekend. You guys should come.”
Gen glances up while putting away her things and smiles. It’s not a tight smile, flagging me to come up with some excuse. It’s friendly and warm. Happy.
This could be a good opportunity for her and Mason to get to know each other. “Sure. I�
��d love to go,” I say.
Gen grabs her beach bag and swings it over her shoulder. We say good-bye to the guys and make our way to the barbecue pits.
Halfway there, I glance back. Jaeger and Mason are jogging down the beach, passing the pretty brunette Jaeger was flirting with earlier. She’s off to the side, smiling his way.
I don’t know why I care. It’s like some sick torture I’m putting myself through. I shouldn’t be attracted to him, but I am—and I can’t help feeling jealous over another girl who’s able to flirt freely with him.
A handful of Nessa’s friends at the barbecue are from the local Washoe tribe. Nessa introduces us and I realize one of the guys is Zach, a dark-skinned dealer from Blue whom I took for Mexican when I met him at work. We chat for a half hour about which pit bosses are lax, while I keep an eye on Gen.
Why?
Because that guy—Lewis, the one she had the spark with—is freaking hot as hell. And his girlfriend, Mira, is here with him. She’s a bombshell with shiny, long black hair, and she’s been sending eyeball darts Gen’s way for the past hour.
No joke, there could be a catfight. Gen’s at the barbecue talking to my dealer buddy, and Lewis, who’s six and a half feet of deliciousness—he might actually tower over Jaeger—walks up.
This is so much worse than Gen indicated. Lewis wants her and she has no idea. Lewis has been playing it cool for the past hour, but he watches Gen when she’s not looking. Whenever he has an opportunity to break free, he hovers around her.
So not good!
I glance at Lewis’s girlfriend. Oh yeah, Mira has her eye on them. Nothing gets by that chick. She’s sipping her beer and standing very still, glancing at Lewis in between fake smiles with Nessa, who’s chattering on about who knows what.
Haphazardly tossing more chips on my plate at the picnic table, I prepare to intervene if necessary. Lewis hands Gen a hot dog from the meat he pulled off the barbecue after Zach stepped away from his ’cueing duties. Lewis leans down and says something into Gen’s ear, touching her shoulder. Gen’s chest rises, her body leaning toward him. I’m convinced I can see actual sparks.
Casino Real World has infiltrated the beach.
I glance at Mira. She’s not even pretending to listen to Nessa anymore. Nessa’s brows pull together and she follows Mira’s glare. Shit is about to go down.
Gen’s frozen in place, her chest rising and falling too quickly. She glances up, her expression serious as she meets Lewis’s eyes. They stand like that for a few seconds. Mira looks ready to wrestle Gen to the ground and I’m a breath away from breaking up the eyeball sex Gen and Lewis are having, when Lewis’s mouth kicks up at the side and he walks away.
Damn, and I thought my situation sucked.
Eyes wide and unblinking, Gen scans the area and sees me. She says something to Zach, who reappeared moments ago, and hightails it to my side.
“I have to leave. Now.”
“On it,” I tell her.
We thank Nessa while Lewis sips his beer from the side, subtly watching Gen.
Oh, yeah. Gen definitely needs to stay away from this guy. She’s no match for him. With high cheekbones, a straight nose, masculine full lips, and a smooth tan complexion, he’s tall, dark and delicious, and he wants her. No woman could fight that kind of attention.
Gen squeezes my hand and I glance over. Lewis has her in a staredown. Damn, I wouldn’t be able to look away either.
I grab her hand and haul her toward the car. When we’re far enough away, I ask, “You okay?”
She nods, but she’s staring straight ahead and not speaking.
“Gen, what the hell was that?”
“Something that has to stop.” She takes a deep breath. “I won’t make plans with Nessa next time unless I know he’s not coming.”
Chapter Seven
Gen and I lie low the next week. I run into Jaeger once at the casino, and he reminds me about the party that weekend. I confirm we’ll be there, but my first priority is to talk to Eric. I can’t stand not knowing what’s going on. Eric has avoided me for a month and I’ve had enough. I’m driving to my old college, where he’s living.
It’s Friday and I manage to get off early. Gen is letting me borrow her car overnight and I’m crashing at my friend Reese’s place near Dawson University.
The drive down goes faster than I expected. That’s what happens when you spend the entire time trying to figure out how to ask your boyfriend why he’s avoiding you without sounding completely pathetic. I’ve decided it’s impossible.
It’s dark out, but all the lights are on at Reese’s when I pull up.
Reese has a serious boyfriend, so I don’t see her as often as I used to when we were freshmen, but we’ve remained close. Conveniently, she found a job on campus after graduation and still lives in town, while most of my friends have moved on to greener pastures.
Reese answers the door to her apartment in black skinny jeans, heels, and a designer sequined top.
“Bow-chica-bow-wow,” I singsong. “Going out?”
She drags me inside. “Yes, and you are too.”
“Actually—” I stop in the middle of her simple living room, consisting of a plain, muted brown couch, a coffee table, and a television. It always amazes me that someone as fashionable as Reese lives in a place without flair, but her roommate is down-to-earth and Reese’s aesthetic obsessions tend toward clothing and accessories. “—I was planning on finding Eric, then crashing early.”
Reese’s roommate Elena waves to me from the kitchen, her dark, wavy hair pulled into a messy bun on the top of her head. She’s in flannel pajama bottoms and a ribbed tank top, stirring something that smells like beef stew in a large pot. My mouth waters. I wouldn’t mind throwing on flannel PJs, forgetting this whole confronting Eric business, and joining her.
Reese studies my face. “What’s going on? I figured when you asked to stay here instead of with Eric, something was up.”
“To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on.” Which means there’s a strong possibility I’ll be making a butter pecan run in the near future.
“Okay.” Her eyes narrow. “So what’s your plan?”
“Find him and figure it out?” Then eat my weight in butter pecan?
I’m pretty sure I know what Eric’s going to say, but I still need to hear it. When your boyfriend doesn’t call for a month, doesn’t return your calls, and doesn’t appear to care whether you breathe—what was that ingenious book title?—oh yeah, He’s Just Not That Into You. There’s no sense in pretending everything’s okay, because it’s not.
Reese drums her multicolored nails against her lips—are those rhinestones on the tips? “What do you think about going to a bar?”
My upper lip curls. “Umm—”
“I only suggest it because I’ve seen Eric out a few times. Some of my co-workers have run into him at the bars too.”
Okay, that’s weird. I have no flippin’ clue where Reese works on campus. She’s vague about it. “Your co-workers know him?”
She waves her hand absently. “Never mind that. The point is, you might have better luck running him to ground at a bar.”
And doesn’t that just sound depressing? I have to hunt my boyfriend down to get him to dump me. “I guess that’s as good a plan as any.”
A sad smile crosses her face. “Let’s try Big Billy’s. It’s the new hotspot on Friday nights.” She scans my outfit. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but … did you bring anything else to wear?”
I glance at the baggy jeans and T-shirt I threw on for the drive. “Are you trying to tell me I look like crap?”
“If things are as bad as I think they are between you and Eric, you should look hot. Make him see what he’s missing.”
Hot. Jaeger makes me feel hot, and desirable, but my boyfriend doesn’t. Something’s wrong with that picture. “Okay.” My voice comes out weak and sad. When did I become this broken, pitiful thing?
“So, what did you pack?”
I pick at my T-shirt.
She shakes her head and grabs my wrist. “Come on, we’ll raid my closet. My mom just sent a batch of new clothes from Rodeo Drive.”
I forgot how rich Reese’s Hollywood parents are. This should be interesting.
An hour later, I’m dressed in a black mini, a butterfly-style top, and five-inch heels, entering Big Billy’s. My old college town is small, but you’d be surprised how dressed up people get. The clothes I’m wearing are mild compared to the short, sequined ensembles blinding me.
Reese and I squeeze through to the packed bar. We order Purple Hooters and beers, and Reese lifts her shot glass. “Cheers!”
I gulp down the grape-flavored concoction, chased by beer that tastes like piss. There’s a special on tap and I’m trying to conserve money for graduate school.
It isn’t long before Eric walks in. He’s dressed in faded jeans and his favorite vintage 2006 World Cup T-shirt with an open short-sleeved button-down. He’s surrounded by a group of friends.
I don’t feel the urge to run and hug him, which is what I would normally do. Yes, he’s been shitty and inattentive, to say the least. I’m not happy about that. I don’t like the limbo our relationship is in, but I’ve been telling myself that my attraction to Jaeger is because I haven’t seen Eric. Well, I’m sitting here, staring at my boyfriend, and I don’t feel anything stronger than fondness.
What the hell?
Without the bond of school connecting Eric and me, it’s like there’s no anchor and nothing is left. Was our relationship really that shallow?
Reese stares at me from across the booth. She glances from me to Eric, but she doesn’t say anything when I don’t go to him. In the meantime, Eric approaches the bar with his friends and immediately turns to a leggy blonde in dressy shorts that ride up her crotch, while his friends wait for their orders.
Eric leans in and touches the girl’s thigh. A sharp burn sears my gut. Eric’s not here to help a friend hook-up, he’s flirting to score. He could have broken up with me at any point and moved on, if that’s what he wanted. Instead, he dragged things out.
Deep Blue Page 5