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  He hesitated before answering. “Why are you asking me this?”

  “You’re delaying response.”

  “Maybe I don’t want to think about other girls when I’m talking to you, or at all.”

  She was grinning now, like an idiot no doubt. “Good answer.”

  “How you feeling?”

  “Great, why?”

  “You said you thought you might be walking funny today.”

  “Oh, yeah. I totally am.” She laughed. “Seriously, I’m fine.”

  “I can be home in five hours.”

  She giggled. “That’d be nice, but stay put.”

  He cleared his throat. “So how did your lunch with Seanna go?”

  Maya glanced at Seanna, who was looking at Felicity and laughing. “Good. I like her.”

  “What did you all talk about?”

  “Oh, just different stuff, our families, restaurants in Nashville we’d both been to, endangered sea turtles,” she said with a smile.

  “Did she talk to you about work a lot?”

  “A little, yeah. She’s hiring for a position at Chase’s company. I think she was looking for a little advice. She’s new at hiring, I guess.”

  “Did you give her the advice?”

  “Yeah, as much as it was worth. Hiring’s always a crapshoot. I’ve hired people who were excellent interviewers but weren’t so great at showing up for work or getting anything done. I think you just have to go with your gut most of the time. You know. You must do the hiring for your company.”

  “I’ve got a guy for that.”

  She smiled. “Good for you. Must be nice to be the boss man, have the buck stop with you.”

  “You ready to start your new job Monday?” he asked.

  Her heart twisted in her chest. “I am. It’s going to be quite the culture shock though, assimilating back to reality from this life. It’s weird for me to think this is your reality.”

  “Maybe I’ll come up to Indianapolis and check out your reality sometime, after you’re settled into your new job, of course.”

  A blanket of warmth came over her at that idea. “I’d love that. I’d take you to St. Elmo Steak House and show you how we do shrimp up north.”

  “Oh yeah? Is it good?”

  “Let’s just say it will definitely clear up your sinuses.” Silence sat between them, and she didn’t want to hang up. “What are you up to tomorrow, when you get home?”

  “Coming to see you.”

  She couldn’t get the ridiculous grin off her face.

  “Can I call you later?” he asked.

  “Tonight?”

  “Yeah. Maybe we can get each other to bed.”

  Her face was starting to get sore from smiling. “Are you and Blake sharing a room?”

  “I’ll kick his ass out.”

  “Don’t do that. I think we can manage a night apart.” Her heart sank at the thought of having to spend every night apart after Friday.

  “I’m not sure I can make it,” he said.

  “Be strong, Bo,” she whispered into the phone. “And I’ll make it worth your while tomorrow.”

  “Aww damn, I hate I’m here, and you’re there.”

  “Just a few more hours,” she said, and then glanced at the table where the server was delivering the appetizers. “I should go.”

  “All right,” he said, his voice low and gravelly. “Have a good time. Stick with Sebastian so it scares off the guys who want to hit on you.”

  She huffed a laugh. “You’re sweet, but with this bunch, I don’t think you have a lot to worry about.”

  “Why would you say that?”

  She loved that he saw her in the same way other guys probably saw Seanna, Marigold, and Felicity, all three of them being such attractive women. “Never mind. Have a good night in Baton Rouge. Eat some gumbo for me.”

  “You like Cajun food?” he asked.

  “It’s a huge vice. It’s impossible for me to resist.”

  “Good to know. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Okay.” She bit her lip. “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  She ended the call, and then held the phone to her heart like it could somehow make him closer to her. When she got back to the table, someone had made a plate for her with something from each of the three appetizers. “Thank you,” she said.

  “We didn’t know how long you’d be,” Sebastian said. “Wanted to make sure you got something before they cleared the plates away.”

  “I wasn’t gone that long,” she said.

  “I can’t believe you’re not in a car on the way to Baton Rouge with the way you were smiling,” Seanna said.

  She scratched the back of her neck, which filled with a tingling sensation.

  “Dang,” Marigold said, finishing a bite. “What are you going to do when you have to leave?” The table was silent for the first time all night, and everyone looked at Maya. “You’re from Indianapolis, right?” Marigold asked.

  “That’s right,” Maya said, her hand a little shaky as she pushed the food around on her plate.

  “Why don’t you move here?” Marigold asked.

  “Marigold,” Seanna said under her breath.

  “What? They’ve spent the whole week together haven’t they? She’s nuts about him, and he never dates the same girl consistently. If he called her from the road and had her smiling like that, then it seems like he’s into her. They should be together.”

  Maya’s heart felt like it was being squeezed like a sponge with Marigold’s simple and logical summary.

  “Maya got a big promotion at work,” Felicity said. “She starts Monday. VP job.”

  “Oh,” Marigold said. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks,” Maya said, dabbing her mouth with her napkin, her hands still a little shaky.

  “That definitely changes things,” Marigold said. “Bo’s got his business down here and all.”

  Seanna’s shoulders fell. “Marigold,” she said, this time without even trying to hide it.

  “Okay, I’ll shut up.” She did, and so did the rest of the table, everyone gaining sudden interest in their food, but Maya’s appetite had withered.

  Seanna set her fork down. “That was really good. Are you done, Maya?”

  “Oh, yes.” She pushed the plate forward a bit.

  “Can I steal you for a sec? This place has got a fabulous rooftop bar.”

  “I want to go,” Marigold said.

  “Give me ten minutes with her, okay?” Seanna said.

  Marigold pursed her lips and then sucked down the rest of her cocktail.

  “Order me a crab cake salad, please,” Seanna said to Sebastian.

  “I’ll take the goat cheese one,” Maya said and then gave him a smile. “Thanks.”

  “Sure thing.”

  Maya followed Seanna up the stairs to a rooftop bar that overlooked the hustle of Seaside nightlife to her left and the serenity of the sea to her right. She had to pause for a minute to really appreciate the beauty of this special nook of the world. “God,” she said, stepping up to a bar table and setting her clutch down on it, “it’s hard to believe this is where you all live. Do you just get used to it after a while?”

  Seanna huffed a laugh. “No way. I sit outside on the back porch pretty much every night and just watch the waves roll in. Not to sound new age-y, but it sort of puts the world into perspective for me. It can be cathartic at times.”

  Maya nodded, imagining having that as her nighttime scenery. Maya’s house was in a trendy part of Indianapolis where young professionals populated the area, so her backyard was a postage stamp-sized, fenced-in affair, and most of the surrounding sounds were of the traffic sort. To sit on a patio or a balcony and watch waves roll in every night was something that sounded as fantastic as it was unimaginable for her.

  Seanna put her hand on Maya’s arm. “I want to apologize for earlier today at lunch. I came on really strong, I think, talking about the job and this place. I get a little over
eager at times.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Maya said.

  Seanna opened her mouth to speak, and then closed it, seeming to be choosing her words carefully. “Bo did a lot for Blake and me this past year. Blake had been through something that was really tough, and he was having a hard time. Bo’s been the most incredible friend to him.” Seanna’s eyes started to water. Maya took her hand, her heart expanding in her chest. Seanna smiled, wiping back tears. “I’m so sorry. I’m trying really hard not to cry.”

  Maya gave her what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “You can cry if you need to.”

  Seanna nodded, pulling herself together. She blotted her eyes with a beverage napkin. “Bo’s probably one of the most special and dearest people I’ve ever known. He saved Blake’s life.” She teared up again and then shook her head, standing up straight. “He was there for Blake when he was in the darkest hole of his life, and he pulled him out of that. Then when he saw Blake had serious feelings for me that he was trying to push aside, Bo went to great lengths to push us together.” She laughed at the memory. “God, he even tricked us into this really romantic evening cruise on Chase’s boat.” She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s a long story. Point is, he’s a fantastic guy. Blake’s known him going on four years now, and he’s never seen him this happy with a woman.”

  Maya’s throat threatened to close with emotion.

  “I know this is an impossible situation, and I need to mind my own business.” She held up her hand like she was stopping traffic. “Blake made that very clear to me on the phone earlier. And I’m totally going to. But I’m just going to say this one last thing about it. Bo’s awesome, and you seem really kind and elegant and wonderful, and the fact that Sebastian adores you like he does already puts you on a pedestal in my eyes.” She took a moment to look into Maya’s eyes. “And Bo’s a really good judge of character. He sees something in you that he doesn’t see often. I can promise you that.”

  Her heart pounding like a stampede of horses, Maya forced a smile, trying desperately to calm the chaos in her chest.

  Seanna hit the table with finality. “Now that’s done. Let’s get a drink, on me.”

  “Oh, no—”

  “Please, let me. I’ve done enough damage for one day, God knows. What would you like?”

  Maya smiled. “May I hug you?”

  Seanna held her arms out wide. “Yes, please.” She took Maya in, crushing her large chest against Maya, hugging her so tightly Maya had to hold her breath, but that was fine. In the absence of her being able to express her feelings in words, this would do.

  When they pulled apart, Marigold stood beside them. “I swear I waited ten minutes. Even timed it on my phone.”

  Maya and Seanna both busted out in laughter and then brought Marigold into the mix.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Love-forty,” Sebastian called out with plenty of irritation. It’d been at least a decade since he and Maya had played a match, but they’d easily fallen right back into their typical competitive spirit without missing a beat.

  He served the ball right to her, and she sent it back to him, starting a volley that lasted several shots. When he hit one short, she rushed the net with her tennis instructor’s voice echoing in her head. Catch the ball with your racket. Don’t swing at it. It’s not about power, it’s about placement.

  Maya raised her racket with all intents of placing the ball at the corner of the ad court, but at the last minute, with the intensity and abandon with which she’d treated the rest of the week, she swung at the ball like she was hitting a homerun, sending it soaring near Sebastian, who swung and missed as the ball bounced squarely on the line then jammed itself into the fence. Sebastian walked over to it and pointed with his racket. “Are you serious with this?”

  She laughed and turned to walk back to the baseline to start the next game, but froze in her step as Bo Harrison came into view sitting next to Felicity in the grass.

  Her heart pounded as she approached the fence. “Hey.”

  He sat on the hill of Sebastian’s neighbor’s yard with his elbows resting on his knees, his legs apart, strong hands dangling. It was like he’d been infused in Baton Rouge with a double-dose of steaminess.

  “Don’t mind me. I just came to say hi. But this is better. I want to watch you play.”

  The past day and a half apart from him had seemed easily like a month. It was silly, she knew, because a day was nothing to be apart from someone she’d just met. Still, now that he was right here in the flesh, the idea of spending another half hour away seemed completely out of the question, even if she was spending that half hour whipping Sebastian’s butt on the court. She glanced at Sebastian, and he rolled his eyes. “Go. I’m sick of getting killed out here anyway.”

  Felicity stood and wiped off her shorts. “I’ll play.” She opened the fence gate and leaned in toward Maya’s ear. “We’ll keep away a good long while. Go.” She gave Maya a wink.

  Maya’s stomach did a little dance at the possibilities. “Thank you.” She scooted off the court and made her way to Bo.

  He wrapped his hands around her waist. “Man, I missed you.”

  His touch was so natural on her body but still made her core light up. “Me, too.” He pressed his lips against hers, and she let out a moan as her heart filled with the connection she shared with him.

  Seanna’s words had been lying heavy on her heart since last night, though nothing she said had come as a surprise. Maya already knew Bo was an incredible person. She just couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to grab his attention, even if it were for just one week.

  “Get a room!” Sebastian yelled from the court.

  “Come on. I need a shower.” She hooked her fingers into his belt loops. “Wanna join me?”

  “Damn, I’m glad I decided to stop by.”

  She pulled him toward the house and led him up the stairs to her room. She locked the door behind them and then headed to start the shower. As the water rushed down, she turned to find him standing in the doorway. She had been trying to picture his face for the past day and a half, and she thought she had it down—his dark eyes, skin deeply tanned from working in the sun, hair buzzed short but still thick. But she’d left out a few key components—his jaw peppered with a day and a half worth of scruff, that little scar on the side of his eye that she guessed was from a particularly determined chicken pock, the set of his jawline forming a perfect diamond.

  She brushed his cheek with her fingertips, taking in every inch of his face, committing it to her memory so she’d never forget, like she could. “I really missed you.” She took a step backward and peeled her tank top off. He moved to her and kissed her shoulder. “Sorry, I’m sweaty,” she said.

  He ran his hands appreciatively over her shoulders and arms. “I love your body.” His words made her heart melt.

  She grasped the bottom of his shirt and pulled it over his head, admiring the rippling muscles in his chest and abs as she went. “I’ve never been with a man as perfect as you.”

  “I’m far from perfect, darlin’.”

  “Your body is pretty perfect. And your lips.” She ran her finger across them. “I really like your lips.”

  He cupped her breasts. “I like these.” She gave a huff of a laugh. “I’m serious.” He pulled her sports bra over her head and admired them. “They’re perfect.”

  She let out a breath, getting comfortable with him looking at her naked breasts in the bright light of the bathroom. She’d never had a problem showing her body in a bathing suit, but her breasts exposed in the glaring light was a different thing. However, the more she was with him, the more she found herself warming to the idea of him seeing the most intimate parts of her.

  He laid his mouth on one, teasing her nipple with his tongue, sending tingles throughout her body. The bathroom was starting to steam up, and she wasn’t sure if it was from the hot water or from him.

  She nodded toward the shower. “Let’s get in.” />
  He pulled her tennis skirt and underwear down to the floor, and then she did the same with his shorts and boxers, releasing him with a smile. She remembered exactly what his cock looked like and was pleased to see it make its ready appearance.

  They stepped inside the shower, and he moved her under the spray, the water washing away the sweat from the tennis match. She scooted around to let the water wash over his hard body in turn, savoring the droplets of water rolling down his muscled chest and arms. He pulled her close to him back around under the showerhead and poured some shampoo into his hand, lathering it into her hair. She closed her eyes and let his touch on her scalp flow through her, the water and soap cascading down her body.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said.

  She couldn’t remember ever having heard those words before from any man, not even her father. She wasn’t a beautiful girl. She was plain, cute at best. Those had been the words used to describe her in the past. Never beautiful, at least not said by a man and with that sort of conviction. But he had used that word with her often now, and every time he seemed to put more meaning into it with his tone. He had no idea how much she treasured his words.

  He poured her coconut body wash into his palm and lathered it between his hands. He rubbed up her waist over the sides of her breasts, pulling her arms up and rubbing up the full length of them forcing them straight up into the air, exposing her body to him. He worked his way back down, past her underarms and to her waist, giving her one of the more sensual moments she had shared with him yet, and he hadn’t even touched an intimate part of her.

  His cock brushed against her leg, sending a bolt of anticipation through her core. She gathered some body wash from his chest and moved it down south, switching places with him and letting the water wash down his body. She played with his most sensitive parts, causing him to close his eyes and groan, loving the expression of satisfaction etched over his features.

  He braced himself against the shower wall, his face washing with color. “You better quit that or I’m going to ruin it for us,” he said.

  She wanted to watch him this time so she could see exactly what she could do to him. “I want you to come this way.”