“Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” he said as he plopped down on the sand next to me.
“Stop throwing sand on me,” I moaned.
“Technically, I was kicking sand on you, not throwing it.” He picked up a small bit of sand and threw it on my arm. “That’s throwing sand.”
I flipped over to face him and sat up. “I don’t want any sand on me.”
“Then you might not want to lie on the beach.” Boy, was he on a roll.
I glared at him. “What do you want, Eddie?”
He gave me a sexy-as-hell grin that showed his dimple. Electricity raced through my body.
Shit.
He had his shirt off and I noticed beads of sweat were glistening on his tanned abs. I had to restrain myself from wondering how salty his sweat would taste if I licked it from his chest.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I immediately scanned the beach for signs of Daniel.
“He’s out there,” Eddie said pointing toward the gulf. I could see Daniel was pretty far from shore.
“And why aren’t you out there with the other guys?”
“Because I’d rather be here with you.”
His eyes locked with mine and my stomach clenched. “Just so you know, if you were mine, I’d have you sunbathing in the middle of the beach in your little bikini so every guy within half a mile could see you. But that’s because I know I’m the only guy who’d be tapping that. Obviously, Daniel’s still not sure.”
I could feel my breath quicken and all of the blood drain from my face.
Eddie grabbed my book and inspected the cover. “
Savages
. Hmmm. Don’t best friends share the same girl?”
I gulped. “Have you read it?”
He put the book down. “I saw the movie. I found it intriguing. I wonder if Daniel would be willing to share?”
The air between us had become so heavy with sexual tension, even the gulf breeze couldn’t blow it away.
“I’m with Daniel,” I said, looking into Eddie’s eyes. He didn’t even flinch. His eyes were filled with lust and challenge.
“For now,” he said. “Some things are worth waiting for.”
“You may be waiting a long time,” I countered. “I really like Daniel.”
“And I really like you,” Eddie said as he reached over and placed his index finger on my ankle. He circled around it slowly with his fingertip. I gasped as a wave of shivers rippled through my body.
I eased my ankle away from his finger. Eddie gave me a half smile, then placed his index finger on my other ankle. He circled it gently with his finger and my body reacted. When I felt desire spreading deep into my core, I knew I was in trouble.
Eddie met my gaze, his eyes scorching. “Your body doesn’t
lie, Alexandria. I can see you still want me.”
Angry tears began to pool in the corners of my eyes. “I want Daniel,” I managed to get out through clenched teeth. I hopped up, grabbed my towel and other things and marched toward our campsite. I could hear Eddie’s laughter behind me.
By the time I got back to the campsite, I was enraged. I couldn’t believe how quickly and easily Eddie could get to me and I couldn’t believe I allowed it.
At that moment, all I wanted was to see Daniel, to touch him and to feel him touch me. I wanted to feel his strong arms around me. I wanted to press my face against his chest and nestle in his warmth.
I stared at the fire pit. It was still too hot to start the fire. It wouldn’t get dark for several hours. That’s probably how long it would take for the guys to get back. I doubted they would want to give up any daylight kite surfing time.
I contemplated taking a long walk on the beach by myself to clear my head. The more I thought about it, the better the idea sounded. As I headed back toward the beach, I thought I heard my name being called in the distance. If it was Eddie, I wanted to be as far away from his as possible.
“Lexie.” I heard a male voice call again.
It couldn’t be Eddie, I thought. He never calls me
Lexie. I stopped and turned to see Daniel running toward me.
“Where are you going?” he asked as he tried to catch his breath.
“For a long walk,” I said.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“What about the kite surfing?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I think I’ve had enough for the day.”
I started to walk and Daniel walked with me. He held out his hand, so I placed mine in his. He laced our fingers.
We walked silently for a few minutes. The beach was getting quieter as the afternoon sun peaked. All I could hear was the waves splashing against the shore and our footsteps as we splashed through those waves.
“What was Eddie talking to you about?” Daniel said. As casually as he tried to make the question, I could hear the strain in his voice.
“
Savages
,” I said.
“I wasn’t too fond of the movie,” he said.
“Especially them sharing the girl.”
I cringed.
We were silent for a few more paces. “Do you mind if I ask you a question? If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay.”
“You can ask me anything,” Daniel said.
“Did something happen between you and Eddie? I don’t mean recently. In the past.”
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yeah, kind of.”
Daniel sighed. “It was our senior year of college. I started dating a girl, Cara, and I really liked her. She was a freshman. She wasn’t very experienced with guys, if you know what I mean.”
I could tell Daniel was getting a bit uncomfortable but I thought it was important for him to tell me the story. “It’s okay to say she was a virgin, if that’s what you mean.”
When I glanced at Daniel, I could see he was biting his bottom lip. “That’s what I mean,” he admitted. “Anyway, we were taking things slow but I was really starting to fall for her. She told me she wanted me to be her first and that she wanted her first time to be special. For obvious reasons, I had tried to keep the contact between Cara and Eddie to a minimum. He was as much of a player then as he is now, maybe even more so.”
Daniel bit his bottom lip again and then continued. “One night, I invited Cara over. Eddie was supposed to be at a party. I got tied up at the crisis center, where I was working, and was late meeting her. When I got back to my room, Cara ran out crying. Eddie had never made it to the party. He seduced Cara and the two of them had sex. Her first time was with him instead of me. He didn’t even care about her. She was just another score for him. Cara was so embarrassed that she didn’t want to see either one of us again.”
I could feel my heart breaking for Daniel. Even though words could not adequately describe what I was thinking or feeling, I still managed to tell Daniel I was sorry that happened to him.
“I haven’t dated much or very seriously since then,” he admitted.
“Why are you still friends with Eddie?” I wondered aloud.
“That’s a good question. And I don’t have a good answer. I never had a brother and I always thought Eddie was like a brother to me. Or maybe I just wanted him to be. He’s kind of a jerk, isn’t he?”
“Jerk is really a nice word for what he is,” I said and we both laughed.
I stopped walking and turned toward Daniel. He stopped and turned to face me. Our eyes met and we both looked at each other for a long moment. “I hope you know you’re the only one I want.”
Daniel swallowed. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “I want to be with you. Tonight.”
Daniel stroked the side of my face lightly with his fingers. He didn’t take his eyes from mine. “You really want to be with me?”
“Yes,” I insisted. “You and only you.”
A smile crossed Daniel’s face and his eyes gleamed. He leaned down and touched his lips to mine. His kiss was gentle at first, but as I responded with a little more heat, his kiss became more intense and urgent. “Tonight,” he said breathlessly. “I can’t wait for tonight.”
***
B
y the time Daniel and I returned from our walk, the three other guys were starting on the beers.
“We need to think about doing a grocery run for dinner,” Ricky said. “I’m starving already.”
“The usual?” Joey-G offered. “Burgers and brats.”
Daniel and I took seats next to Ricky. Joey-G was on his other side and Eddie was seated across from us.
“And what does Alexandria like to eat?” Eddie asked as he glanced in my direction.
Daniel grabbed my hand and held it tight. “What would you like for dinner,
Lexie?”
I turned to Daniel. “Whatever you guys are having is fine.”
“Burgers and brats it is,” Joey-G said. “Let’s head for the supermarket in ten.”
When I snuck a glance at Eddie, he was scowling. Then he jumped to his feet. “I’ll meet you guys at the car.”
“Going to see Cyndee with a ‘y’ and two ees?” Ricky teased.
Eddie didn’t respond. He just hurried toward the concession stand.
***
T
en minutes later, we stood at Joey-G’s SUV. Daniel pulled Ricky aside and said something quietly on his ear. Even straining, I couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying.
“Yeah, sure, man,” Ricky said as he
walked to the back of the car and hopped into the seat behind the driver, the one that had been occupied by Eddie on the way up.
I slid into my seat next to Ricky and Daniel sat next to me. Joey-G took the driver’s seat. We only had to wait a minute before Eddie ran over to the car. I could see Eddie furrow his brows as he noticed that Ricky had taken his previous seat. He let out a barely perceptible sigh,
then hopped into the passenger seat in front of Daniel.
“Okay, kids,” Joey-G said.
“Food shopping time.”
ELEVEN
True Wind
T
he drive to the food superstore was quiet. I assumed everyone was tired and as lost in their own thoughts as I was. Daniel gently caressed my thigh with his fingers and played with my knee, which was quite sensual. Even though we were in a crowded car, I would feel myself getting aroused. It made me wonder how long it would be before the guys decided to go bar hopping and I could get Daniel alone in the tent. Daniel must have been thinking similar thoughts, because when I looked over at him, desire filled his eyes.
When we arrived at the market, we all hopped out of the car. The three guys walked a little bit ahead of Daniel and me. Daniel grabbed my hand and whispered in my ear, “This is our first shopping trip together.
Hopefully, the first of many more.”
I had to grin. I was glad that Daniel was starting to have a little bit more confidence in me and our relationship.
As we entered the market, Joey-G yelled back to me and Daniel. “Do you two mind getting the sides, buns and condiments? Me and Ricky will get the meat and Eddie can get the plates, napkins and cutlery.”
“Sounds like a plan, man,” Daniel yelled back.
“I don’t mind standing in line at the deli for the sides, if you want to get the buns and condiments,” I said. “You can meet me over at the deli.”
Daniel eyed me. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“I promise I know how to get around a supermarket by myself,” I teased.
Daniel hesitated before he finally let go of my hand. “I’ll be over at the deli counter in a few minutes.”
I kissed his cheek and he left for the bread isle. I grabbed a cart and headed toward the deli counter. The line was as long as I expected it to be for a Saturday; there were about six people ahead of me. I grabbed a number and waited.
A few minutes later, I could feel someone walk up behind me. Without looking, I knew it was Eddie. I recognized his energy. When I turned to face him, he grinned at me. My breath caught when I saw that irresistible dimple of his. Too bad there’s such an asshole attached to it, I reminded myself.
I saw that Eddie’s hands were full with paper plates, napkins and a box of plastic forks, knives and spoons. He placed the items in my shopping cart.
“That was fast,” I said.
“I can be very fast when I need to be,” he said. “How fast do you want me to be, Alexandria?”
I cringed. “Daniel will be right back,” I cautioned.
Eddie leaned in a whispered, “He doesn’t own you, Alexandria. At least not yet.”
I gulped. I wanted to make some kind of snide remark but I came up empty. Luckily, Daniel arrived with the buns, ketchup and mustard. He placed the items in the cart then made a point of standing right by my side. He glared at Eddie.
“Did I mention that I want potato salad?” Eddie said. “The kind with the mustard in it.”
Now I was the one glaring at Eddie.
“And coleslaw, too,” Eddie added.
My number was called, so I asked for the potato salad Eddie wanted as well as coleslaw. When the old woman at the counter handed me the order, I grabbed it and looked at Daniel.
“All set,” I said as I placed the salads in the cart. Then Daniel and I headed toward the checkout area.