Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(44)

I watched closely as they passed the DJ, gauging their reactions. There were a lot of kids here, different ages too, so the music wasn’t too loud. I wanted to make sure they weren’t bothered by it, Marley especially. But none of them seemed to mind the noise. Oliver and Olivia were racing to the chairs, and Marley giggled at something Jenna was saying, her feet kicking excitedly.

“Well, well, well,” Davis drawled.

I pulled my arms across my chest and stared ahead. “Here we go. Let’s hear it.”

“I was expecting Mary fucking Poppins, you bastard.” He laughed, bumping elbows with me. “Not the bombshell girl next door. Jesus Christ.”

“I told you I was bringing the woman who’s been watching Marley for me. Any assumptions you made are your own fault.”

Davis took a step forward and spun around, putting his back to the pool. “Nathan Bell, are you banging the babysitter?”

My gaze slid to his. “Come on, man.”

“Come on what? You did not just bring her today so your kids could hang out. Don’t lie to me.”

“There’s nothing going on.”

He cocked his head.

I shrugged. “Nothing has happened. That’s the truth. We’re friends. She’s watching Marley for me. We hang out—all of us—not just me and Jenna. What do you want? There’s nothing else to say.”

“Fine. You’re friends. Love the matching outfits, by the way. Do you do all your shopping together now?”

“Oh, fuck you.”

“You want something more to happen, Nate. Admit it.”

I didn’t answer that, mainly because I couldn’t answer that. I hadn’t allowed myself to admit to anything I was feeling. I knew I stared too long and found excuses to be around her. I sent texts that pushed the boundaries of friendship. I acted, though I didn’t acknowledge. I knew what acknowledging this would mean.

“You’re hesitating.” Davis narrowed his eyes. He was being serious now, a rare thing to witness. “Why? It’s been almost two years.”

“I know how long it’s been.” My tone became sharp. I felt a muscle in my jaw jump. “What are you saying? Two years…Shit, that’s the cutoff mark, right? Time to move on.”

Davis sighed through his nose. “I don’t think there’s moving on. I think there’s living. There’s no right or wrong here, Nate. There’s no judgment either. And fuck you for thinking there would be—you’re my best friend. However you continue, for you and for Marley, I’d back your decision. Hell, I backed it when you refused to talk to me. Are you forgetting that?”

“No, of course not.” I lifted the aviators and scrubbed at my face. “Fuck, man, it’s just…I don’t know what’s right to do here.”

“So do what you want. Nobody can tell you what you should be doing. Even if, God forbid, I ended up going through the same thing…what’s right for me might not be right for you. Stop thinking and fucking move, man. You’re always going to find a reason not to do something if you’re looking for it. My suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Quit looking.”

My mind opened up and grabbed at his logic. He was right.

The clarity had always been there, lingering quietly. Maybe I would’ve been able to work through this on my own in another month or so. Maybe not. I wasn’t sure I’d take any opportunities without being given permission first. It was the entire reason I hesitated.

“So, are we ready to admit how we feel yet? Dr. Davis has other things to do.”

I chuckled through a “shut up,” then slid my attention over his shoulder when Olivia squealed. Davis stepped aside and turned to watch as well, just as Olivia dumped into the pool off the slide. Oliver was quick to follow.

I smiled when they emerged from the water with their goggles on, giggling. They looked so fucking happy to be here.

“Cute kids,” he said.

“Yeah, they are.”

“Jesus.” Davis made a noise deep in his throat and cursed under his breath. I followed his gaze to the lounge chairs.

Marley sat on one with pool toys in her lap. She had streaks of lotion on her face and arms and was holding a bottle of sunscreen while bopping her shoulders to the music. And standing beside her…

Oh, holy fuck.

Jenna had stripped out of her top and shorts and was now wearing nothing besides a red, white, and blue bikini. Blue with white stars on one breast and red with white stripes on the other. The bottoms were solid white.

Again, preparation could’ve gone a long way here in terms of how I was going to react to this moment. It also could’ve done jack shit for me, because I wasn’t sure my imagination had any idea what it was up against—the real thing I was currently staring at.

Davis was right; Jenna was a bombshell. And that was fully clothed. In a bathing suit, she was sin personified. Soft curves and strong, shapely thighs. A tiny waist. Plump breasts.

She was a goddess straight out of my filthiest daydreams.

I watched her with rapt focus as she rubbed sunscreen on her shoulders and wiggled her hands beneath the strings to apply it to her neck and chest. When her fingers disappeared into her cleavage, I stifled a moan and pinched my eyes shut.

“God bless America.” Davis slapped my shoulder blade. I glared ahead. A hearty chuckle left him. “What a country, am I right?”