Someone Else's Ocean(61)

“Then let’s not argue.”

“Damnit, woman.”

I eyed my waiting coverup dress on the couch and thought better of it.

“Don’t bark orders at me, I’m doing you another favor.”

The creak of the screen behind him put a stop to our argument.

“S’up, fucker,” the guy at the door greeted as Ian turned to face him grinning from ear to ear.

“How the hell are you doing, Kemp?”

The man caught sight of me as they hugged and cleared his throat. “Sorry about the profanity, ma’am.” The man was tall, with shortly-cropped brown hair and gorgeous dark blue eyes. “I’m Julian Drake.”

I smiled. “Koti.”

“Ian, you didn’t tell us you had a new girl.”

Ian glanced between us and I let him sweat a little before I spoke up. “We’re just friends. Ian’s parents own the house next door, but it’s rented at the moment, so you guys are shacking up here.”

Julian did a full sweep over me with appreciative eyes before he looked back to Ian. “Did you go blind?”

“Shut up,” Ian snapped. “Where are dumb and dumber?”

“Getting their bags out of the car.”

“I’ve got your dumb and dumber, dickhead,” a guy said, climbing the porch steps and looking back at the ocean. “Nice spot.” He grinned at Ian. “Ian Kemp, you ugly bastard.”

“Doug, you piece of shit.” They clapped backs and he grinned wider as he looked over at me. “Damn, I see things are good for you, Kemp.”

“I’m Koti,” I offered as he kissed my hand.

“I’m Doug and you must be his new lady.”

I shook my head adamantly. “Nah, Ian’s more of a big brother to me.”

Ian cleared his throat, gray laser beams directed at me until he was struck by a duffle in the back and let out a loud “oomph.”

“What the hell, Drew,” Ian grunted out, as he turned to face his attacker.

“You poor bastard, you just keep getting uglier,” he said, as Drew hugged Ian before eyeing me. “God, please tell me she’s my birthday present.”

Ian cringed as I spoke up on my own behalf. “Sorry pal, I’m more of a Navy guy kind of girl.”

All four of them looked at me with matching scowls before Drew spoke up with a shit-eating grin. “Beautiful and a ballbuster. I’m in love.”

Ian smacked him playfully in the back of the head. “I see you haven’t grown much. I’m assuming it’s the same sad case for your dick.”

I bit my lips to hide my smile. All four men spoke animatedly as beers were passed from the fridge and I sat on a stool with my wine in hand, the odd girl out. After half an hour of feeling like a fifth wheel, I decided if I was going to make it through the weekend, I would need backup.





“I could kick your ass for giving me a last-minute invite,” Jasmine said under her breath as she walked up the porch steps. “A house full of Marines? And you were going to keep this from moi?”

“Hell yes, I was,” I said, grabbing her bag. “Try to behave yourself.”

“Oh, well yeah, that’s impossible.”

She stepped into the room where four gorgeous men sat around my kitchen island shooting the shit.

“Jesus. Okay, let me pick out Ian. Oh God, he’s not handsome, he’s Bradley-fucking-Cooper hot. What the hell have you been hiding from me?! I’m decreasing your pay.”

“You can’t legally do that.”

“You’re a real asshole. God, Koti, he’s so beautiful.”

I sighed. “I know.” A beautiful self-absorbed asshole.

“Who’s the tall one with the blue eyes?”

“Julian.”

“Dibs.”

“There’s no one else here to call it.”

“Dibs anyway,” she said retrieving a bottle of tequila. “Hey fellas, the party has officially started.” All four men turned to see Jasmine in her Salma Hayek getup and all jaws dropped, including the jaw of the bastard I was sleeping with. I narrowed my eyes as he cleared his throat.

Two of the guys whistled as Ian searched for shot glasses. I moved to the kitchen to help him.

“In here,” I said as he stood behind me and grabbed the glasses from the cabinet I couldn’t reach. He pressed into me and I smelled a hint of his cologne and damn near fell into his frame.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“You seem to have the need to say that a lot.”

I stood encased in his arms, his smell unavoidable, my body coming alive with every brush of his chest.

“I’m dying to touch you, but I’m afraid you’ll slap me.”

“I should.”

“Don’t complicate this, Koti. Please.”

“Oh, you’ve made yourself clear.” I pushed at his arm and he kept me trapped as he leaned down and whispered. “I’m just asking for you to understand.”

“I understand just fine. But you’re the one who blurred the line. A friend would have been the first to show up for me for that shit show. But don’t worry, I have one of those and she’s enough. I don’t need you to go thinking I need you.”