Incumbent(47)
Lucy blushed as I pulled her to my side.
“Damn, possessive much?” Dane shot Lucy a wink, and I shook my head.
Typical Dane.
“Lucy, this is my younger and not-so-shy brother Dane. Dane, this is my girlfriend, Lucy.”
“Good to meet you, Lucy.” He maneuvered close to her ear, but spoke loud enough for me to hear. “If you ever get bored with this old man, call me.”
“I don’t see that happening,” she said sweetly with a big smile, “but thank you anyway.”
That’s my girl.
I kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get out of here.” As we made our way to the parking lot, I said, “You did great today, Dane. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks, man, and thanks for coming and bringing my next girlfriend.”
He chuckled, but I put him in a headlock and gave him a noogie like when we were kids. Lucy started laughing, and I finally let him go with a playful shove. Dane rubbed his head and rolled his eyes.
“See you both at the house tomorrow.”
On the way to my parents’ place, I was glad to see Lucy looked at ease. I gave her a sideways glance and said, “Excuse my brother.”
She waved a hand in the air. “I think he’s adorable.”
“Yeah, he’s a cutie, that’s for sure.” Sarcasm dripped from each word, but my brother was undeniably a good-looking man and definitely a chick magnet. I was surprised he didn’t have golf groupies—or maybe he did.
“I envy your family,” Lucy said, her words tinged with a hint of sadness.
“We aren’t perfect.”
“Maybe not, but you have and love each other.” As I glanced at her curiously, she added, “That’s more than some people have.”
She was right; sometimes we took those in our lives for granted. Naturally, no one ever thought they did, but then time passed, things happened, and before you knew it, you forgot to say the three simple words you’d been meaning to say: “I love you.” Some people seemed terrified to say those words, but when you said them to someone you didn’t want to be without, it wasn’t scary at all. It was simple.
I planned to tell Lucy this weekend, and I prayed it wasn’t too soon, but it was how I felt. I’d said those words in my head every time I’d kissed her—and hopefully she heard me.
CHAPTER 15
Lucy
Wow! I craned my neck to look at the Prescotts’ beach house as we pulled up to it. It was larger than some of the other oceanfront houses on the street, but not at all ostentatious. The swing on the wraparound porch practically called out my name, inviting me to sit down and relax.
When we got out of the car, Drake slung his arm around my shoulder. “Welcome to our home away from home.”
He popped the trunk and grabbed our bags. With my hand in his, we walked up the wood steps leading to the front door that creaked when we opened it. “I’m so glad you’re here with me. It looks like we’re the only ones here.” His eyes sparkled as they met mine.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
Drake showed me around the downstairs, and then we went upstairs and took a long hallway to the end. When he swung open the door, I was sure my chin hit the floor, because the bedroom was absolutely gorgeous. In the center of the bedroom was a king-sized bed with a tufted headboard, covered in luxurious bed linens I couldn’t wait to sink into, surrounded by cream-colored walls adorned with silver-framed abstract pictures in soft colors. Other furnishings looked as if they were antiques, including the rocking chair that sat in the corner, but it was the small bronze chandelier hanging in the center of the ceiling that set this bedroom apart from any other I’d seen.
“This is my favorite room in this house.” He tugged me forward. “Let me show you around.”
That was apparently code for let me strip you naked and get you in the shower because that was exactly what happened. Before I knew it, my T-shirt was off and Drake’s mouth was on my breasts. I dropped my head back and gripped his hair. The warmth of his tongue caressing my nipple through the lace cup of my bra drove me crazy.
“Take it off.” His guttural tone made my panties damp, and I was glad he reached back and turned the shower on.
I unfastened my bra and dropped it as he stepped back to appraise me.
“Now the rest. I want to see all of you.”
“I will if you will.”
“So, we’re playing tit for tat, are we?” His dimple appeared, and I couldn’t get out of my clothes fast enough.
“Well . . .”
His hands grabbed my bare hips. “Just remember, you started it.”
Steam rose from the glass-enclosed shower, creating a sheen of sweat on my body. Anticipation of what he meant by that aroused me so quickly, I was nearly ready to orgasm before he even touched me.
I pulled the shower door open and stepped inside. Drake removed his clothes and came in behind me, urging me forward and away from the hot stream of water. Just as I was about to turn, his hands clamped down on my shoulders.
“Lean forward and brace yourself.”
It was as if I was in a hypnotic trance. I never questioned him; I just did as he asked. The tile was cold under my palms and I shivered a little since the water barely touched me. All I could feel was the heat radiating from his body into mine.