THE CRAZY GOOD SERIES - Rachel Robinson Page 0,176

hot. She’s the fake variety of hot. Rocking body, bottle blonde hair, and makeup so thick that it’s always smudged on my pillows and only comes out with bleach. Cass always hated that. Don’t get me wrong, Chloe is an intelligent woman, but I have no interest in that part of her body.

“You want her Cody? She does this thing with her tongue,” I say sticking out my tongue and rolling it slowly. “She’s wife material and definitely a frog hog.” Or a woman who chases after SEALs as sport. “I can put in a good word,” I joke. Panic sets in at the thought of having no one, but I can’t let them know. “She dated Dex before me. She’ll stick around while we’re away for deployments and trips and shit.”

Cody crushes his beer can and grabs another. “I don’t need your help finding women. I don’t want to be your Eskimo brother,” he retorts. Liar. “If you’re serious about creating something worth a damn with Morganna, you do need to break up with your female friends. All of them. No back-up plans,” Cody says.

I switch on the stereo system and turn the country music up to a volume that makes conversation impossible. My women aren’t that much work to begin with, but it would free up even more time if I didn’t have to remember to call, or see them, or have sex with them. Shit. Celibacy doesn’t sound appealing no matter what’s going on. I glance at Cody. It probably appeals to him.

The boat slows and the guitar-twanging, warbling crooner lowers in response. “I hate to break up this sincere convo, but Morg and company. Three o’clock. We’re coming in hot.” Mav chuckles.

I haven’t officially met Alex yet. That’s not what is making my heart pound in my fucking chest though; it’s the thought of Morganna in a bikini. I prepare myself mentally, because if I don’t I’ll regret it, and subtly peer over my shoulder. Black. Her bikini is formed of two tiny triangles and a black almost-thong. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing this particular swimsuit. She must have bought it specifically for this date.

“Fuck,” I whisper under my breath. I look at Maverick, who currently looks like the cat who ate the canary. “Slow down, Maverick.” He tosses a big arm in the air and waves like a buffoon. Cody stands and makes his way next to Maverick, and I’m left with no choice but to turn around and face their direction.

Waving, not like a lunatic, I smile at Morganna. I see her shake her head, but her smirk pulls to one corner just like it always does when she sees me. Alex jauntily swings around the ropes of the sailboat and lands next to her in one fluid motion. Mav motors the boat perfectly to rest next to their anchored boat.

I study the guy Morg finds so appealing and come to one conclusion: Average. Nothing stands out about him. Alex could be any guy walking down the street. Plain. Ordinary. With a lean build and hair that reaches his collarbone, he looks like any other struggling musician in the world.

“I shouldn’t be surprised. Phillipe told you I was here?” Morganna asks loudly, talking over my engines. Mav kills the engine. “Hey guys,” she says, no trace of her country accent.

I cock my head to the side. “I don’t need Phillipe to get the information I want, Morg. We just happened to be cruising around today. It’s beautiful outside.” I gesture to the sunny blue sky. “Are you going to introduce us to your little friend.” She reaches up and pulls her long black hair into a ponytail, annoyed with my choice of adjective, I’m sure.

“Alex these are the guys…my friends, Maverick, Cody, and Steven.” She nods to each of us as she says our names. Another thing I notice about Alex: he doesn’t balk at our appearance. He’s either been warned about Morganna’s friends or he’s stupid. Generally speaking, the tattoos and sheer body mass garner at least a slight eyebrow rise from the unknowing. They don’t call us America’s elite for nothing.

The guys grunt typical pleasantries and Alex shifts from one foot to the other. “It’s very nice to meet you. All of you,” he says, gaze connecting with mine. “Morganna has told me so much about you.” The fact that she’s been talking about me to him pisses me off.

“Only good things, I’m sure,” I growl, my gaze darting directly