Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,13

in dark blue trunks with a towel tossed around his neck, he returned to find Spencer standing at the pool’s edge.

Each gleaming ripple of muscle looked like etched granite in the sunlight. The trunks Spencer wore fit snug, outlining his firm ass.

When Spencer turned toward him, Liam let his gaze wander over his shoulders, chest, and rippling abs. Intricate tattoo designs that covered his lower forearm would take weeks to figure them all out. Lower, below his pant line, but exposed by the swimming trunks, was a stitched-up bullet wound that had almost cost Spencer his life.

After noticing the gunshot wound, it was easy to pick out other small injuries that had been done to this magnificent man. He realized Spencer’s form was growing closer before he lifted his gaze to catch and hold Spencer’s.

“When they brought you off that plane…” He swallowed hard.

“I know,” Spencer said roughly, his voice low as if sensing how worried he’d been.

“I thought I’d lost you before I had a chance to…” Liam searched for the words, but Spencer beat him to it.

“Be friends?” Spencer said.

“Yeah,” he said slowly, sheepishly. “Friends.”

“Well.”

“Well what?” He stared at Spencer, trying to figure out the expression on his face. But before it dawned on him, he was hefted over Spencer’s shoulder like he didn’t weigh two hundred pounds. Before he could get a sound out of his mouth, he was tossed into the pool.

The sound of teenagers laughing and whooping ended as he sank beneath the water. White bubbles signaled Spencer had followed him in. He cleaved underwater, racing toward the trickster, and met with a wall of muscle.

Gripping Spencer’s hips, he pushed upward, bending his knees and lifting Spencer partially up and out of the water.

Spencer’s torso hit the air and then he was toppling backwards with a loud laugh. The teenagers attacked and all hell broke loose for the next forty-five minutes.

Calling it quits, he swam toward the edge of the pool and propped his arms on the side.

Wesley, Jessica, and Adam climbed out of the water and sprawled on the lounge chairs.

“I look like a prune.” He held up his wrinkled hands when Spencer floated near.

“Me too. It’s just so nice.”

“You and Wesley can come over any time. I don’t mind.”

Spencer searched his face for a long moment while Liam held his breath.

“Thanks,” the soldier said and left the pool without another word.

Not sure what had brought on the sudden closed off expression, Liam followed more slowly, giving Spencer space.

The last damned thing he wanted was to fuck up their friendship. And the hope that it would someday turn into more.

“Hey, Uncle Liam? Can we sleep over and Wesley too?”

“Yeah!” Wesley added.

“It’s up to Spencer,” he told Wesley. Turning to his cousins, he squinted. “Go get your things. Leave a note for Rick in the kitchen.”

“Whoop!”

“Can we?”

“Let me think about it, Wes. Go with them and get their things,” Spencer replied.

Liam couldn’t tell what Spencer was thinking.

“It’s okay if he stays. I’ve got plenty of rooms for everyone.”

“I can imagine.” Spencer gazed at the house.

“Adam and Jessica stay here a lot,” he added.

Spencer slid him a side long glance. “You don’t get along with their dad?”

“Rick tries, but I think he has no clue how to be a father,” Liam muttered.

“What do you mean?” His eyebrows lifted at the frustrating tone in Liam’s voice.

“He’s been in and out of their life from the beginning. Then he got into some trouble with the law a while back. Ended up doing a two-year stent in prison.”

“How long has he been out?”

“He got out about three months ago and is currently on parole. He got early release for good behavior, and recently got a job as a mechanic down the street.”

“And he lives in the house?” For some reason that surprised him.

“He’s not a bad guy. He’s just made some stupid mistakes.”

“So, the kids stayed with you while he was in prison.”

“Yeah. I miss having them full-time. I’d like to give them a break from Rick and vice versa. Plus, they have more fun over here.”

“Is that so?”

God, he loved Spencer’s smile.

“Yes, that’s so. So, you’d be doing me a favor if you and Wesley stayed over.” Liam kept his tone casual, trying not to come off as too hopeful.

He saw the argument forming in Spencer’s eyes, but before the man could voice it, Liam cut in.

“I can put in a movie for us all to watch. We’ve got popcorn and snacks galore,” Liam finished.

Spencer’s eyes crinkled at