times like that. Me, you, the crew.” The words faded into a small, uncomfortable laugh. She gave me a smile, part hopeful, part puzzled.
The crew. I was part of the crew.
And though she was very obviously attracted to me, the friendly part of our relationship was more valuable to her. If I was reading the situation correctly.
I opened my mouth to say something and then closed it. Her eyes were tired. It had been a long day. And though I was incredibly attracted to her, I also wanted her to have other days like today. Uncomplicated. Easy. Friendly. I took her hand in mine and pulled her to the shore where we both picked up our towels and dried off, Haven sliding her shorts back over her swimsuit and slipping her flip-flops on once she was dry.
We walked in silence to the house, the quiet of the night and the gentle lapping of the water making it seem almost unreal, as if what had just happened had been nothing more than a fevered dream.
There were voices and laughter coming from the back porch of the house, but we didn’t move in that direction, instead walking silently to the bottom of the stairs and then climbing them together.
We both paused at the top landing. Haven’s expression was peaceful, though her eyes remained uncertain. Her hair was windblown and in complete disarray, and the corner of my lip tugged in a smile. She bit at her lip. Cleared her throat. “Goodnight,” she said. “Thank you again for . . . today.”
“My pleasure,” I said and her eyes flew to mine, widening slightly. I smiled, saying nothing. I hated that we were suddenly so awkward. It was strange. And sort of amusing in a disappointing way. And frustrating. And I was still semi hard. That shower was calling. Loudly. “Goodnight, Haven. Sleep well.”
She nodded, her gaze lingering on mine for a moment. I swore she held her breath as she moved around me, heading for her room.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Haven
“You sound happy,” I said. Easton turned around, his teeth flashing as the tune he’d been whistling abruptly ended. “And you look happy too.” I eyed him suspiciously. “What have you done now?”
He laughed. “Ah, big sis, you always think the worst of me.”
“Yes, and you generally give me a good reason to.” I crossed my arms as I leaned against the side of the structure that housed the club’s pool equipment.
Easton swung a float over his arm, spinning it onto his shoulder. “Okay, okay, I deserve that. Except you’re wrong this time.” A blade of sunlight split his face as he stepped toward me and squinted one eye, using his hand as a visor, looking every bit the naughty but lovable little boy he’d once been. Only then his naughtiness had generally resulted in cracked windows or broken furniture. His own bones on two occasions. He’d moved on since then to breaking bigger things, namely lives and relationships. Things not so easily replaced or put back together.
Like Travis’s relationship.
At the thought of the other person involved in Travis’s relationship, broken though it may be, my body had dual reactions. My ribs ached a little bit while something simultaneously eased inside of me. She was the reason he was unavailable for anything more than friendship . . . with benefits. Because he’d loved her. And he likely still did. Love didn’t just fade to nothing in the span of a month. And how could you trust someone who loved that . . . temporarily anyway?
He probably still thought about her a lot. Maybe even while he was kissing other people.
People such as myself.
Maybe even while his skilled fingers were between other people’s legs.
Again, people such as myself.
I waved my hand in front of my suddenly heated face in an attempt to stir up some breeze.
Maybe even—
“How are you wrong, Easton?” my brother mocked, raising the pitch of his voice as my mind had wandered to Travis and I’d zoned out of the conversation, staring unseeing at Easton as he’d waited for a response that didn’t come.
“Okay, first,” I said, taking a deep breath and attempting to shake myself into the here and now, “that was a terrible impression of me. My voice is throatier. Much sexier. Second, how am I wrong, Easton?”
He grinned again, and his green eyes glinted in the sun. His grin wasn’t slow like Travis’s. It flashed instantly, like an unexpected streak of lightning, the unfortunate smile that allowed him to wreak havoc