Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
When we reach the living room, he heads for the kitchen while I grab the soccer ball from where it rolled under the coffee table.
“You want a beer?”
“Yep.” I toss the ball in the air and catch it on the top of my foot while he digs around in the fridge. When he comes out with two beers, he opens both, then heads for the sliding glass door. I meet him there, taking my beer, and we clink them together.
“To a really good weekend.” He holds my gaze. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
“Don’t start getting sentimental on me. I just might cry.” I grin, and he chuckles as he opens the door to the deck that overlooks the beach and ocean.
When we get down to the sand, I spot Troy and Lincoln chatting with two women down the beach. “The gorgeous one with dark curly hair and legs for days is Nalia. The cute blonde with her is her sister, Willow. The other two girls must be up at the house.”
When we get close to the group, all eyes come to us, and Lincoln grins before running at me full force and ducking low so he can shove his shoulder into my stomach. Next thing I know, he’s lifting me off my feet and over his shoulder.
“I’ve missed you, mate.” He spins me around like some chick, and I laugh as he drops me to my feet, giving me a hug. How a man his size is light enough on his feet to play soccer is anyone’s guess, but he’s built for football—as in American football.
“You’re looking a little red out here under the sun, buddy,” I point out, and he glances at both his shoulders.
“I’ve already gone through a bottle of sunscreen.” He shrugs, then grins. “It’s bloody good seeing you, English.”
“You too.” I pat his back right before he wraps his large arm around my shoulders, squeezing tight, then lets go. When we reach Troy, he’s scowling at me, and I open my arms.
“Come on, man. You’re not still pissed at me, are you?” I ask, and he grunts something under his breath, then grins and drags me forward to pat my back. Damn but it feels good seeing my boys again. For four years, while I was living in London, they were all I had. We lived together, vacationed together, traveled together, and worked together. The three of them became my family, and even more than soccer, I miss them.
“Let me introduce you to the girls,” Troy says, slapping my back, and I turn to face the two women watching us, with smiles on their faces and their eyes dancing. “Nalia, Willow.” He sweeps his arms out to each one. “This is Aiden.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I greet with a smile before taking a swig from my beer.
“Just so you know, English—” Lincoln elbows me. “—Willow is off-limits. She and I are getting married.”
“Sure we are, big guy.” She rolls her eyes at him as Carlo places his arm around Nalia’s shoulders, and she glances up at him, giving him a very cute smile.
“I think we’re going to head over and rent some jet skis. Do you guys want to go with us?” Willow asks, and Troy—in Troy fashion—grunts his agreement, while Carlo and Lincoln say sure. “Cool, we’re gonna run up to the house to tell the girls and change. We’ll be right back,” she tells us before grabbing her sister away from Carlo and dragging her with her through the sand.
“I hate watching you leave me, babe,” Lincoln calls out, and Willow turns in the sand and starts walking backward.
“I hate to tell you this, but you’re gonna see that a lot, big guy.”
“You wound me,” he yells back, covering his heart, and she laughs, then turns and runs with her sister toward a house that looks almost identical to ours. “I think she thinks I’m joking,” Lincoln mutters to us.
“The charms aren’t working?” I ask him, and he shrugs.
“It’s only been forty-eight hours, I’ll wear her down.” He grins, and we all chuckle. Really, I don’t doubt that he will. Women like the big lug and are normally falling all over themselves to get his attention.
I take a drag from my beer, then almost choke when I see the girls hit the deck of their house and a gorgeous brunette stands up to talk to them. The short, white, almost-sheer sundress she’s wearing blows in the wind around her, making her look angelic.
No fucking way.
I blink, sure that I am imagining things, but when she looks in our direction and our eyes lock, I know I’m not.
May.
Jesus, what are the odds she’d be here?
I stopped by her house twice since I saw her last, but she didn’t answer either time. I wasn’t sure if she was home and avoiding me, or if she was out, but I promised myself that when I got back, I would track her down. Looks like I don’t need to do that, I think as I watch pink infuse her cheeks before she drags her eyes off mine.