Before we knew it, it was half past noon, so we decided to go ahead and make our way over to the clubhouse to drop off the donation for Meme before heading home for lunch.

Docking, Elz and I slipped our shorts on over our bikini bottoms. I grabbed the large box. Jarrett scowled and reached over, pulling it from me. Our eyes locked for the briefest moment, and I smiled, accepting his kindness. Tugging my gaze from his, I turned and stepped onto the dock. He followed, as did Devon and Elz.

The moment we walked through the doors to the clubhouse, my senses were ambushed by the mouth-watering scent of smoked brisket, and I knew it was the same for Jarrett, Devon, and Elz. We realized we were all starving after such a light breakfast. It took us very little deliberation to come to the decision to go ahead and eat at the clubhouse.

“Jarrett,” Devon said. “Why don’t you and I order the food while the girls grab us a table? There looks to be few available.”

“That’ll work.” Jarrett handed the box to Mrs. Quick at the donation table and turned to face the rest of us.

“Any preference on what we order?” Devon asked, looking at Elz and me.

“I’ll have whatever you’re having,” Elz said, “as long as you’re having the brisket.” We all laughed. “And water with lemon,” she added.

“Same here,” I said.

Devon nodded and leaned in, feathering a kiss over Elz’s lips. I looked at Jarrett to find him watching me. He looked away, and the two men walked over and filed in behind the long line of hungry boaters and golfers while Elz and I looked for a table in the crowded dining room. These charitable events always had good turnouts, plus the people in the area were friendly and generous. We knew the majority of them well.

We wove between the tables with neighbors greeting us. After chatting with a number of them, we finally made our way over to an empty round table. We started to pull our chairs out, but heard a familiar voice.

“Let us get those.”

Elz and I turned to see Travis and Chase McElroy approaching.

I laughed. “Oh my gosh—look what the cat dragged in, Elz. When did you guys get back? I thought you were still stationed in Germany.”

Travis shot me a wily grin and pulled out a chair for me.

“Nope. I’m afraid America is stuck with us again.” His voice faded to soft, his eyes shining with friendly affection. “We’re home to stay this time, Jay.”

There was a moment of silence as he stared at me, making me think how happy and emotional it must be for him to be able to say those words.

“Oh my gosh! Are you serious? That’s awesome! I’ll bet that leaves you with a good feeling.”

“You have no idea,” he said, “So, when did you get to Florida? Haven’t seen you around.” His voice had returned to its playful tone.

“We only flew in last night.”

Travis and I sat down and faced one another to continue our conversation.

 

 

 

I moved in close to Elz and pulled out a chair for her. My heart was pounding at unexpectedly seeing her. “Hello, Elz. How’ve ya been?” I said this with flirty innuendo.

She sat in the chair I held for her and glanced up with a cheerful smile. “I’ve been really good, Chase. How about you?”

“Good. But better now that I’m home and you’re here for the summer.”

I’d been flipped head over heels for this girl since we were kids. It was no secret that I was always antsy for summer to arrive, knowing she and Jaymi would be coming to stay with Barb and Chaffy, who owned the estate next door to ours. During the past four years, Travis and I had been able to manage a small bit of leave time during each summer to make it home for part of their visit.

When we were much younger, I’d only liked Elz as a friend, like one of the guys, since she was a tomboy. She was determined to achieve anything my brother and I could achieve, or any other boy in the neighborhood for that matter. She even beat us at a few of those activities, like racing to the top of a tree or hustling through the overgrown woods to our destination and other deeds of that nature. But then my feelings for her had done a sudden one-eighty.

It happened at my house when we were thirteen. The yard was a mess where we used a garden hose to create a mud hole. We were filthy after having a sludge fight and were arguing over who was the muddiest. We decided to enter into a tug-of-war, which would, no doubt, make the loser the muddiest. On the opposite side of the puddle from me, Elz was determined to win. She fought like a Trojan, but in the end she couldn’t match my strength. I gave the rope one last yank, and she refused to yield. Avoiding the hole, she jumped across it instead, and stumbled. I lunged forward to steady her but slipped, and we both went down right in the middle of the big puddle.

She landed on top of me, giggling and claiming that I was without doubt the muddiest since I was on the bottom. We lay there in the mud, laughing, and the feel of her stretched out above me with her hips nestled between my spread thighs caused a very unexpected reaction in my young body. My laugh quickly faded, though hers did not, and I gave in to the rash of new feelings. Before I knew it, I’d pulled her head low, forcing her mouth to mine.

She fought me and tried to push away, slipping and sliding against me, which only intensified my rising excitement, but I tightened my arms and legs around her, holding her close and praying she wouldn’t get away.

I knew she could feel me growing against her belly because I could sure feel it. I’d never experienced that before, and didn’t know what to do or what she would do. Would she scream at me to let go, which I would have to do? Or would she manage to squirm away from me? But she didn’t do either. Instead, she kissed me back, and her budding body molded to mine in a way that my young mind could only describe as being like cheese melting over toast.

I lost it.

We both experienced the thrill of a first kiss, but I experienced the thrill of my first ejaculation right there in my shorts. At that moment I was more than glad I was the muddiest so Elz wouldn’t know.

I’d never forgotten the way her surrender brought my body to life that day, and I was never able to banish her from my thoughts after that.

All this I’d confessed to her last year when she told me she’d gotten back with that prick, Hollister. I also told her that the effect the years had had on her only reinforced my attraction. Unfortunately, my confession wasn’t enough to make her break it off with him.

I felt sure she knew by the look I was giving her now that I still felt the same way, and that for the past year, I’d been biding my time until she was again free.

“You are here for the summer I presume, though it is earlier than you and Jaymi usually arrive?” My gaze dropped to what was under her bikini top. She shifted in her seat beneath my inspection, and I knew I’d made her uncomfortable.

She crossed her legs and propped an elbow on her knee with a fist under her chin to try and conceal her generous cleavage, as if she suddenly felt too exposed. Regardless that half the girls in the room were dressed the same way since we were on the lake, and the country club did have a pool right outside, she acted like she now felt naked, and I wondered what was going on. She’d never acted such a way with me before.

“Well, not the whole summer,” she said. “But we’re here for a while anyway.”

I flipped a chair around in front of her and straddled it. “Well, that’s better than nothing. I’ll take whatever time with you I can get. You know that.”

“So, Travis said you two are home to stay.” She avoided my comment and acted uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. “Does this mean your military careers are a thing of the past?”

I let it drop.

“Sure does. I’m ready for some R&R. Or at least ready for the freedom to come and go as I please. I might even check out Beantown for a while. It must have something going for it, some mysterious magnetism, since it always draws you and Jaymi back into its clutches and away from this sunny paradise at the end of every summer.”

She laughed. “If you do, don’t call it Beantown to anyone who lives there. I told you we’re not hip on that epithet.”

 

 

 

Planning to pay the bill, I reached into the pocket of my swim trunks for my wallet as I twisted around, scanning the room for Jaymi and Elz. I froze at the arresting sight of identical twins—too alpha for my peace of mind—there beside them. They looked military, and one of them was getting on very well with Jaymi, the other with Elz. Old friends perhaps, but the way the one kept touching Jaymi’s bare knee and thigh as they talked and the way she laughed at the things he said made my hair come off my neck.

In my peripheral, I saw Devon twist as well, following the direction of my gaze.

 

 

 

Chase, arranging his chin over his arms, which were folded on the backrest of the chair, sat staring at me.

Uncomfortable.

“You’re as gorgeous as ever, you know. Still able to add a few extra beats to the rhythm of my heart when I see you.”

Chase had always flirted this way with me, and I thought nothing of it…until now. I gave a genial snort and waved off his flirtations. “You’re nuts, Chase. Don’t even go there.”

He sat up straight, a grin burrowing into his cheeks. “Yeah, nuts about you.”

“You’re so cliché.” I frowned.

“I know. You gotta love me. And why not go there? You know I’m crazy about you, Elz. I’ve never kept that a secret. You do remember our last conversation?”

“Subject change.” I gave him a stern look.

He shrugged. “Fine with me. So, you still with that jerk, Hollister, or are you ready to give me that chance yet?”

“No, she’s with me, actually,” said Devon from behind me. Jeez, I didn’t even hear him come up. He set our tray of food on the table. “For the rest of her life.” He smiled politely, extending his hand. “The name is Phoenix. And you are?”

Regardless of his question, Devon knew exactly who Chase was. He’d seen him with me every summer for years and knew the guy had it bad for me.

Chase sat staring at Devon, then looked at me in disbelief, leaving Devon to drop his hand.

Oh crap.

Embarrassed, I grimaced and surged to my feet to make introductions. “Baby, these are some old friends of ours, Chase and Travis McElroy. They live next door to Barb and Chaffy. Guys, this is my boyfriend, D. Phoenix, and this is his cousin, Jarrett Phoenix.”

Chase didn’t budge. But Travis took the initiative and stood from beside Jaymi. Now wearing a far more serious expression than when he’d been speaking so carefree with her, he leaned across the table, extending his arm toward Devon. “Hey, man, how’s it going?”

Devon gripped his hand in a cordial shake. “Very well, thank you.”

At his brother’s warning look, Chase reluctantly stood, putting forth his hand. “Phoenix,” he said, addressing Devon with a bit of spurn.

Devon bit back a smile as he graciously accepted. “McElroy,” he said with a nod and a shake.

It plainly ticked Chase off and he looked at Devon as if to say, “Are you mocking me?”

Travis put out his hand toward Jarrett, no doubt trying to steer the conversation clear of the potentially explosive situation. Jarrett set down the tray that held Jaymi’s lunch and his, and grasped firmly.

Smiling without humor, Travis said, “I know who you are. You’re big news over in Europe, always in the papers. So what brings you to America?”

Jarrett took Jaymi’s food off the tray and set it before her. “Why, Jaymi, of course,” he said with a smile, and looked at Jaymi. “Here you go, love.” His lips pressed to the top of her head, then he looked back at Travis. “In fact, my cousin and I will be spending the next five or six months here in America with Elz and Jaymi.”

Travis looked down at Jaymi, appearing a bit stunned, and clearly a bit embarrassed. “Oh. I didn’t realize you were involved with someone, Jay.” He blinked, looking at his watch. “Man, I didn’t realize it was this late, either.” He slapped Chase’s arm while casting him a meaningful glance. “We gotta get. Dad is expecting us to bring him home some of that brisket.

“Good meeting you guys,” he said to Devon and Jarrett.

They reciprocated in kind.

Travis’s gaze dropped to Jaymi. “We’ll see ya around, sunshine.” His voice was soft with sentiment. She nodded, and his gaze lingered on her face longer than it should. I could tell she felt horrible.

He looked at me. “See ya, Elz.”

“Bye, Travis.”

Noticeably displeased, Chase looked at me, too. His attention moved to my bare waist where Devon’s possessive hand rested. He raised his gaze to Devon’s with a look that said he disapproved. Devon wasn’t intimidated and even slid his hand tighter around me. Fighting a scowl, Chase set his sights back on me. “Hope to see ya around, Elz.”

I smiled and nodded.

He lightly backhanded Jaymi’s shoulder. “You too, Jaymi.”

“Yeah, see ya, Chase.”

The brothers moved around the table and headed over to make their order.

Jaymi stared her reproach at Jarrett. “That was rude,” she said, unable to hold back her irritation. “Travis and Chase are our neighbors and good friends.”

He frowned, undeniably annoyed that she would scold him in order to defend Travis and Chase.

“What did I do, Jaymi? Brought you your food? Told the truth that we were going to be spending our time with you? What?”

Her sarcastic look said, “really?” And then she actually said, “Really? You know you made out like we’re together…love.”

“So what? I didn’t like the way he was touching you. He should keep his bloody hands to himself!”

Jaymi’s mouth fell open.

Wow! Po-ssess-ive.

 

 

 

The possible reasons why Jarrett might carry such an emotion as jealousy for me gave my heart a jolt. And moreover, why would he express it with such a lack of restraint?

Jarrett cleared his angry expression and bent to within a foot of my face.

“And if you’re going to point out anyone’s rudeness,” his voice was calm, “you should reconsider how your neighbor and good friend, Chase, just treated us, especially Devon.”

I breathed heavier from his nearness and his delicious breath tickling my lips. I knew I’d soon need a paper bag to breath in if he didn’t back off. Either that, or I was seriously contemplating grabbing him and—no, on second thought I couldn’t possibly do that right in front of so many onlookers, some of whom were good friends with Meme and Chaffy-Pop. Word might get back to them that their granddaughter was immoral. And besides… He has a girlfriend!

Jarrett, so close to me, drew a breath through his nose, as though he could smell me. His gaze drooped lazily as he swayed closer, moving it slowly over my face and bringing it to rest on my mouth now two inches from his. He licked his lips.

Having no idea if he would follow through with what it looked like he intended to do, I didn’t dare breathe. And his breathing seemed off. He even looked undecided of his next move.

Like a mouse frozen when a hungry tomcat saunters past, I waited, not moving, not breathing.

He blinked…and swallowed. Finally, he pulled away and sat down. I breathed a thankful sigh of relief, quite sure that if he had tried to kiss me, I wouldn’t have had the strength to deny him. That went against everything I believed in. How could he make me so pathetically weak?

I snatched a glance at Devon and Elz but returned my gaze to Jarrett. “I’ll have to give in this time, Jarrett. Chase was rude, and I apologize to both you and Devon for his behavior.”

Looking thankful that I wasn’t too proud to admit when I was wrong, Jarrett’s expression softened, and he didn’t hold back the warm smile playing on his lips. “Thank you, Jaymi.”

I smiled, too. “You’re welcome, Jarrett.”

Our gazes lingered for a moment. I knew for me, I was contemplating deeper thoughts—I believed he was as well—but we said nothing and both let it die.

 

 

 

Wow, the day had been warm, sunny, and beautiful—not a cloud in sight. Devon and I were up front in the bow, Jaymi was in the passenger’s seat, and Jarrett had been driving. We’d enjoyed a good leisurely morning cruising the lake, but after our revitalizing lunch, we were ready to have some fun. We sat rocking on the water.

“Hey, Devon,” Jarrett called out. “I think now is a good time for you to start learning to drive motorized transportation. Come on and take the wheel.”

A wide grin split Devon’s face. He looked at me. “This should be interesting.”

I offered an encouraging smile. “You’ll do great. I have every confidence in you, baby.”

“Well, I’ll take care not to let you down.” He leaned in and wrapped his lips around mine. He was such a good kisser, and such a wicked flirt, and man, did it ever make my toes curl.

Eager to learn, he got to his bare feet and trotted the few steps to meet Jarrett. Jaymi came up front and stretched out beside me as Jarrett coached Devon on a few things and then took Jaymi’s vacated seat, continuing his instruction.

Once we were again underway with Devon and Jarrett preoccupied, I noticed Jaymi studying me. I doubted she could tell the direction of my gaze since I had on a whopping pair of Gucci sunglasses. But I suspected that even behind the dark bronze shades, I couldn’t hide the satisfied expression itching to break free on my face. Yep, I knew what she was thinking.

She whispered, “Well, amica? I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since Ryder’s Club the other night.” She stole a quick glance at Devon and Jarrett and leaned a little closer. “Was he worth the wait?”

I sighed, tilting my head back against the cushion and stretched my arms out like wings over the backrest to bask in the sun.

She muffled a laugh. “That good, huh? You look like a cat that just lapped a platter of milk. Are you going to start purring, Elz?”

I hid my amusement and gave a quiet groan, or was it a purr? “Oh my God, Jaymi, he was incredible, and so worth the wait. In truth, I would wait an eternity for him. I wouldn’t want to have to, but I would. He’s so fiery, and painstakingly thorough”—I slid my large sunglasses low on my nose and cast a meaningful look over the rims—“if you get my drift.”

We each masked a squeal.

I cleared my expression. “But since I’m not going to give up any details, that’s enough of that. So, what’s up with you and Jarrett? He seems to be rather besotted with you, sunshine. Have him under your spell, do you?”

“Nooo!” Jaymi looked toward Jarrett, afraid he’d heard me. She saw he hadn’t and brushed her wind-blown hair from her cheerless face, looking off into the distance. “He has a girlfriend, one he plans to marry. We’re only going to be friends.”

I felt the pinch of a frown on my face and wanted to say more. Jaymi was obviously interested in Jarrett, and in fact had had an innocent crush on the racecar driver, “Jet” Phoenix, for a few weeks now. Had that innocent crush laid down roots in the past couple of days? Why would Jaymi know Jarrett had a girlfriend he planned to marry if they hadn’t discussed it, and why would they discuss it if there was no attraction between them, which noticeably there was? Jarrett’s jealousy at lunch left no doubt of that.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She shook her head and looked at me. “No. There’s nothing to talk about. Jarrett Phoenix is hot and definitely my type. But there’s one major pitfall—he’s taken. End of story.”

I could see it wasn’t “end of story,” but knowing Jaymi as I did, I knew to leave it alone. I didn’t pry any further.

Devon seemed to have mastered the boat fine. Impressed, I decided I could kill two birds with one stone—I could show him I had every confidence in his driving and I could cheer up my best friend in the process.

I dropped my feet to the boat deck and sat up, slapping Jaymi’s leg. “Come on, let’s have some fun. What do you say to some tandem wakeboarding?”

Jaymi’s gloomy frown gave way to a cheery smile, and we informed the guys of our intention.

Bobbing in the water, Jaymi and I held up our ropes. Jarrett once again instructed Devon, telling him to keep his speed between eighteen and twenty-four miles per hour. A sense of relief washed over me that Jarrett knew his stuff, and therefore, so would Devon since Jarrett was the one teaching him.

Devon started the motor and further impressed me by bringing us upright, waves splitting beneath our boards, cutting paths through the water. We were again under way, this time with Jaymi and me showing off in the boat’s wake.

We were dang good at making it look easy; we rode our boards with strength. We each had our own line and used every muscle to achieve our goals, loading our lines with precision, crossing each other’s paths, swinging wide and then doing flips over the other, and tricks out to the flats and so forth.

I noticed Jarrett seemed to have lost interest in all else. He hadn’t taken his eyes from the entertaining scene we created behind them.

Okay, we might be entertaining, but we were not above getting tired. Five minutes of such play was freaking hard work, and it was our first turn in the water all year. I saw Jaymi was no better off than I was, so I waved at Jarrett to have Devon stop. He did, and Jaymi and I climbed aboard and took a breather.

When we were rested, Devon said, “Though I’m thrilled to be driving, I think being in the water with Elz would be a bigger thrill. Jaymi, I think you and I should trade places.”

Jaymi snorted. “Hey, that’s fine with me. I probably won’t be able to move tomorrow.”

Devon would have to be taught. For this reason, we’d need to ride true tandem, so I pulled in Jaymi’s line, then plunged back into the water, and Devon followed. I told him what to expect and what to do during our lift and once we were up and so forth, then had him to get on my board behind me.

Again I bobbed in the water and waited for the boat to start, but this time, Devon was curled around me, and I felt him tucked right between my butt cheeks. I hoped to heck I could get upright.

I felt him grin against my temple as Jarrett started the motor. “I can tell you that I’m loving this so far,” he said into my ear, his hot breath scorching my cool, wet skin.

I took a breath as we pulled up through the water. We nearly fell, and I tried to concentrate on not losing control, in more ways than one.

Well, thank goodness I’d done it. We’d been playing for a short while, and I would have sworn, teaching Devon anything was like teaching water how to run downhill. He was a natural and had quickly learned the ins and outs, and the dos and don’ts of wakeboarding. We attempted no tricks, of course, but it had been a nice leisurely ride—much more relaxed than when Jaymi and I had been showing off. Plus, I was letting Devon do all the work since he was in the rear.

He felt so good sucked up behind me, periodically kissing my shoulders and neck, his arms caging me to him, so powerful, as he and I both held onto the rope. It was a good thing he was so powerful, since every time I’d felt his mouth on my skin, my legs had turned to spaghetti. Not a good thing when you’re on a wakeboard.

 

 

Having returned to the house, we went out on the water scooters. There were only two, so Devon rode with me, and Jarrett rode with Jaymi. But I think Jarrett discovered that that was a huge mistake. He’d complained more than once of a leg cramp and each time asked Jaymi to stop so he could get off and work it out. We all knew the real reason why.

But Devon—now, he was a different story. He’d taken full advantage of the stops. Though the lake was clean, it was still dark and concealing, and I was expressly thankful for it. Thankful each time he pushed the front of his trunks down and pulled me against him, sliding my bikini bottoms to one side to enter me as I wrapped my legs around his waist. It’s a little embarrassing being brought to orgasm and trying to hide that fact with others mere feet from you. But I couldn’t bring myself to deny Devon. I knew it was no easier for him to bump against my more-than-half-naked body than it had been for Jarrett to do so against Jaymi’s, but in all fairness to Jarrett, at least Devon had been liberated of his embarrassing dilemma each time we stopped.

After the third time of plunging into the chilly water, Jarrett simply admitted his real problem, embarrassing the crap out of Jaymi, and asked if we could find something else to do. So we went back to the house, got back in the boat, and indulged in a full day of recreational fun, taking turns wakeboarding with Jarrett and Jaymi.