Keep Her (25 page)

I sat back and admired the connection these two had. I wanted that so badly, drool and all. Not just because I felt even lonelier in the last few weeks since Beck and I decided not to pursue a relationship, but because I was starting to concede the fact that kids may not be in my future. I was almost thirty with no boyfriend and no time, thanks to my booming business, to meet anyone new. I hadn’t been out socially the last few weekends because of other things that kept me busy—tending to my dad as the anniversary of my mom’s death came closer, helping Tessa plan Luca’s upcoming birthday party, taking business trips around the tri-state area to brush up on some of the new interior design trends at conferences I’d been looking forward to.

While all of that was fun, rewarding, and time consuming, in the back of my mind I always thought about the coming home part. It was depressing. I came home to emptiness. To microwaveable dinners on the couch, to a half-unoccupied bed, to silence only filled by the voices on the television or stereo. I was starting to think about putting an ad in the paper for a roommate. I could always move back home with Dad and rent out my place or sell it altogether, but I’d gotten used to being independent. Something about moving back home felt like taking a step back. That would make things even more depressing.

“Hey, Auntie Riley,” Tessa broke me out of my pity-party, dangling Luca in front of me. “Wanna go to the beach tomorrow?”

I usually made sure to spend Sunday afternoons with Dad, but a change of pace and some vitamin-D might be good for my soul—and my paling skin. “I’d actually love that. Will Marcus be joining us?”

“No, just us girls and the Luca man. Marcus has plans with… Beck. I think some firehouse poker tournament or something.”

“You don’t have to do that, you know?”

“What?” she pretended not to get what I was saying.

“Beck and I are fine. I just talked to him a few days ago. There’re no hard feelings.” It was a half-truth. Beck and I still kept in contact through texts—just not as colorful as the ones from a few weeks ago. I liked having him in my life, even if only as a friend, but there were definitely hard feelings. On my side at least. I didn’t like the way things ended so suddenly. It wasn’t even like we talked about ending it. It just did. And with no explanation.

“Bullshit,” she whispered, holding Luca’s ears so he couldn’t sponge up her dirty word. “I know you’re still hung up on him. I’m not blind, Ry.”

“Well, then check your eyesight because I am indeed fine. See,” I said, exaggerating a smile and pointing to it. “Really. I’m not kidding. He obviously doesn’t want to be with me and he’s got shit to figure out. I can’t wait around for him to change his mind—that would just be stupid. Beck Matthews is not the only guy in the world. There will be others… one day.” The head-scratching question was
when
.

“I’m sorry, Ry. I really am, but I think he did the right thing. And if it’s any consolation, he definitely does want you. From what Marcus tells me he hasn’t had any contact with Marissa and he hasn’t seen anyone new since… well, since you. You want to know what I think?”

What did it matter? She wasn’t a fortune teller. The sooner I got the idea of Beck out of my mind, the better. There was no use holding on to hope when it was only false hope. “Sure, lay it on me, sista.” I shrugged, promising myself not to put any weight into what she was about to say.

“I think the two of you would make an amazing couple. Sometimes the best things come totally unexpected—like me and Marcus, for example. I just think you guys started things up at the wrong time. You’re practically dying for your happily ever after and he’s not ready for that. I don’t doubt that he’s done with Marissa—she wasn’t for him either, but he can’t start a new relationship, the kind you deserve, wholeheartedly. Whether he admits it or not, his heart is still a little broken by what went on with her. You want a man who has his whole heart to give. Give him time. It heals all wounds.”

She meant well and had great points, but she couldn’t predict my future. And she had no idea what Beck felt. Smiling just to pacify her, I gave her kudos for being a dutiful friend. “You’re one big cliché, Tessa Bradley. Your words are wise and I sincerely appreciate the pep talk, but I don’t want to think about Beck anymore right now. I’ll save my wallowing for when I’m all alone tonight in my half-empty bed. Right now, I want to talk centerpieces and favors for this little guy’s bash. October is only two months away and we need to get a move on it if we want it all to be perfect.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you,” she said with a wink.

That’s right—no one expected anything less than perfect from me. But I couldn’t help thinking that was a façade I’d created. On the outside it all seemed perfect, but on the inside, I was anything but.

The next day at the beach, I sat with my feet buried deep in the warm sand as Luca crawled across his blanket, flinging Cheerios in the air. The seagulls were swarming, picking up Luca’s discards and creating a spectacle in our little section.

“Oh, shoo, you annoying fuckers. Go feast off someone else’s crap. Tessa, can you make your adorable son stop?” I hated seagulls. They were gross and needy and causing a scene. Some of the nearby people rolled their eyes, some laughed at Luca’s antics, but one in particular caught my attention and was smiling directly at me. His chest muscles tightened, glistening in the sunlight as he laughed at the scene going on with the dirty birds.

I adjusted my sun hat so I could see him a little better, and smiled shyly as I took in his slim but defined physique when he stood from his lounge chair. Taking my eye contact for interest, he ran his fingers through his salt and pepper spikes and licked his plump lips. Slick. And full of himself, it seemed. I shook my head, rolling my eyes at his obvious cockiness, hoping he’d get the hint and fuck off.

But that didn’t happen. He was headed my way.

Just as he was getting closer, Tessa rolled over from her tanning position on her stomach, and caught my admirer making his way to our blanket.

“Oh, yummy, and it looks like he’s got his sights set on you, doll.”

I giggled as I watched Tessa’s eyebrows wiggle up and down, but became serious as Mr. Middle-Aged but Smoking Hot made his way closer.

Adjusting my bathing suit so I wasn’t giving anyone a free show, I sat back in my chair and waited for my suitor to approach. When he was within a foot or two, his tight, fit, and tattooed body casting a shadow over me, I slid my sunglasses down my nose, and addressed Mr. Full of Himself. “Do you mind? You’re blocking my sun.”

“I don’t mind at all. The sun causes cancer, love,” he said with an adorable wink and a smile that displayed a dimple in his scruff-covered cheek. Oh, I was a sucker for dimples. “Hi, I’m Griffin. The seagulls sent me your way.” He introduced himself, extending his hand with a breathtaking smile.

Before I had a chance to answer, momentarily stunned by this guy’s forwardness
and
goodlookingness, Tessa stood up behind Griffin, holding a sandy Luca. “Griffin, this is Riley. Her nephew Luca and I are quite happy that his Cheerio throwing caused the seagulls to swoop in, prompting you to come over and join us. But as you can see, my son has more breading covering him than a fried chicken cutlet. So I’m going to wash him off in the water while you two get acquainted. Ciao.” She spoke in a whirlwind of words, not so much as taking a breath to get it all out. Before I could scold her for being a tool, she took off, holding Luca like a football at her side. All that was left for me to do was laugh. Oh, and talk to this handsome stranger.

“As my blabbermouth of a friend just pointed out, I’m Riley.”

“That’s one cute kid she’s got there… quite a wingman too.”

“Cute, yes. Wingman, not so much.”

“Oh, no? How so, love?”

I didn’t know what it was, but something about this cocky dude irritated me. In a good way. I didn’t like that one bit. The last guy who’d gotten under my skin—in a good way—dumped me via text message. It was in that moment that I took my Beck anger out on poor Griffin. “First of all, Griff, I’m not your
love.
Second of all, a wingman is someone who comes out with you to help you pick someone up. I did not come to this beach today to pick anyone up. I came here to spend time with my friend and my nephew and to relax in the sun. So, if you don’t mind, you can stop making presumptions for me, and let me get back to my magazine and my tan lines.” I sat back in my chair, pushing my sunglasses back up my nose and ignoring the delicious man who was sure to stomp all over what was left of my dignity if I allowed him to reel me in.

“I love them feisty. Seems like the seagulls sent me in the right direction.” Instead of stalking off like I’d hoped he would, he plopped down into Tessa’s vacant lounge chair and made himself comfortable.

“And what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Sitting straight in Tessa’s chair, he leaned over and grabbed my sunscreen. He popped the top open, squeezed the white lotion into his palm, and began applying it to his sinewy shoulders.

“You see, Riley, I
did
come to this beach today to pick someone up. I’ve been sitting here all day people watching, and not one girl has caught my interest the way you have. Forgive me for sounding like a dirty old man, but I’ve been observing you for quite some time. I watched you with your nephew. I saw how loveable you can be, how much you care for him and his mother. I noticed how you weren’t like ninety percent of the girls on this beach, squealing and squirming every time a grain of sand touched their skin or attempted to ruin their pedicure. And as if all that didn’t make me want to get to know you, you are absolutely gorgeous in that little number you have on there. So, let’s try this again: Hi, I’m Griffin and I’ve gotten to know you from afar for the last few hours, but I’d love to take you out some time and get to know you better.”

Humina humina humina.
I was speechless. There were no words. How did I come back from something like that? Not one wiseass remark fluttered through my stupefied brain. Somehow I stopped my mouth from dropping open and making me look more dumbfounded than I already was. Instead I summoned my inner gumption and decided to… flirt.

“Well, since you twisted my arm, I guess it’s not a sin for you to sit and join me until my friend comes back for her seat.” From the look of things, she wasn’t returning any time soon. They were literally frolicking in the waves—Luca laughing uncontrollably every time the water rolled in and slapped him and Tessa in the face. Tessa was laughing so hard herself I was afraid she might drop Luca in the water and let the sea carry him away. Yeah, that would never happen. She’d never let any harm come to that kid. He was her life.

“Hey,” Griffin snapped his fingers, pulling my gaze from the ocean back to him. “I’m here. Where’d
you
just go?”

I mentally evaluated his sharp features—brown eyes with flecks of green and gold and surrounded by the tiny lines of age that just made him seem all the more interesting. His face was covered in just the right amount of scruff that matched his hair color—the dark brown locks he’d probably been born with, accentuated by the perfect amount of silver that gave him that distinguished gentleman look. But what threw the whole package slightly out of whack were the tattoos. He had one rather large one covering his neck. It was a dragon tattoo, full of vivid color and so animated and detailed it seemed to jump off his skin. The dragon reminded me of Beck, the other tattoos scattered across his arms and chest reminded me of my brother.
Please tell me he’s nothing like those two. I can’t handle another boy—I need a man this time.

“I gotta say, I’m digging the tattoos, but… I don’t know, forgive me for being so blunt. You seem a little
mature
for some of them.”

“Mature, huh? Is that your way of calling me old?”

Oh, I didn’t want to insult him. I mean, he was definitely nowhere close to my age, but I didn’t have to point it out to him and make him feel older than he was. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… I can picture you in a suit, with a briefcase, commuting to the city for your big important hedge fund job.”

Griffin slapped his knee and laughed so hard I found it a bit rude. “Hedge fund? What in the world would give you that impression?”

“Well, so-
rry
! What is it you do for a living, then? No, wait. Let me guess…”