The Friendship List(50)
Damn, she looked good, he thought absently. All female and sexy. The skirt of her wrap sundress was blowing open in the breeze. He found himself wanting to pull her close and kiss her until they...
He came to a stop. Kiss her? Kiss Ellen? No. Not going there. No kissing. No anything. They were friends. He liked being friends with her. She was a constant in his life and he liked that, too.
She walked up to him and leaned her head against his chest. “I’m trying to be brave, but it’s hard. Jeremy was there. I’ll admit I was half hoping he wouldn’t show, but he did and Coop was so excited.”
Keith put his hands on her upper arms. “It’s going to be fine.”
“I don’t think so, but I don’t have a choice. I know I’m doing the right thing. I just wish he’d never called.” She straightened. “Okay, I’m done whining. Show me where we are so I can text Coop the location. Jeremy’s going to walk him to the beach after lunch and point him in the right direction.”
“Too bad he’s not walking him the whole way. I’d like to meet him.” And crush him like a bug, he thought, unexpectedly feeling territorial. “How did you feel, seeing him after all these years?”
“Strange. He looks different. I guess we all do. He’s like a grown person. There was no chemistry, if that’s what you’re asking.” She shuddered. “Thank you, no.”
She stopped and looked out at the ocean. “That’s beautiful. I’m going to pay attention to the view and forget everything else.”
She pulled a large towel out of her tote bag and spread it on the sand, then looked around. “Why is everyone so perfect?”
He followed her gaze. All he saw was a bunch of people lying in the sun. There were teens, young families and a few people pushing retirement age.
“Who’s perfect?”
She pointed to a couple of women in maybe their early twenties. “They are. My boobs were never that perky. Do you think they’re real? I’ve always wondered what implants must feel like. Is it different to have them or different for the guy when he touches them? I wish I knew someone who had implants so I could ask.”
Boobs? They were talking about boobs? A couple of days ago it had been whether or not he wanted to see her naked. What was going on with Ellen?
She unfastened the tie at her waist, then looked at him. “Don’t laugh, okay? I just couldn’t do a two-piece bathing suit. I felt too exposed. So I went with the old lady version. Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it.”
Before he could figure out what she was talking about, she shrugged out of her dress, folded it and tucked it into her tote bag. She fished a straw hat out of her tote, plopped it on her head, then stood there, staring at the ocean.
“This is nice,” she murmured.
This is nice? This is nice!
He took a step back. Ellen was in a one-piece bathing suit. And nothing else. He could see everything. The outline of her breasts, her hips, her butt, her long legs. Yes, she was pale, especially compared to the average LA beachgoer, but her skin was soft-looking and smooth.
He’d always known Ellen had a body, but she’d kept it hidden for all the time he’d known her so he’d never thought about it, or her, that way. Worse, now when he thought about her slightly scornful “Of course I’ve had orgasms” comment, he could picture things a lot more clearly. At this moment he knew exactly how her legs looked and could imagine them spread wide, her body arched as her fingers rubbed faster and faster and—
He dropped to his towel, bending his knees, hoping to hide his rapidly growing erection. WTF! This had to stop. Ellen was a safe zone. She couldn’t become dangerous—he needed her.
She sat on her towel, which she’d happened to put next to his. After pulling out a bottle of sunscreen, she handed it to him and presented her back.
“Put it on heavy, please. I don’t want to burn.”
As she spoke, she pulled her long hair out of the way. Holy crap, he was going to have to touch her.
He looked around frantically, hoping Lissa had come back so he could pass the task to her, but his daughter was still playing in the water. He sucked in a breath, then poured the thick lotion into one palm. After rubbing his hands together, he quickly spread the protection all over Ellen’s back and shoulders.
Her skin was just as warm and soft as he’d imagined it would be. Wanting ignited. He thought about leaning close and kissing the side of her neck. No, first he would shift close so he could do that while reaching around to cup her breasts. Then they would—
He slammed on the mental brakes and quickly searched for a distraction. What about that game against New England when he’d been intercepted and the entire stadium had erupted in boos? It had been his own fault—Rogers had been open, but he’d thrown to Jefferson, and after that, his team couldn’t do anything right. He should have thrown to Rogers. Everybody knew that.
The familiar litany of self-recrimination did the trick. The desire eased, as did his dick, and by the time he was done with her shoulders, equilibrium had been restored.
Unity had to make an executive decision. Did she want the full Apple Store experience and a ninety-mile drive, or was she willing to buy her new iPhone from an authorized retailer a mere thirty-five miles away? As much as she wanted to see the T-shirt of the day and have the total immersion moment, practicality won out.