Four Seconds to Lose (Ten Tiny Breaths #3)(80)

“Really?” Trent licks a spot of ketchup off the inside of his thumb before he takes another bite of his burger. He’s a tall, attractive guy, with unkempt brown hair and a flutter-inducing smile. He’s the type of guy I would have easily fallen for before I met Cain.

And, now that I have met Cain, I think I’ll be measuring all future men against him for years to come. Turning to take in a peripheral view of that intent gaze on his friends as he quietly eats, I wonder if there are more of him in the world. I wonder if I will ever meet anyone who will measure up, who will make me feel whatever it is I’m feeling right now.

Or if Cain is right and there are no second chances in life.

“Better tenant than you ever were,” Tanner ribs with that goofy smile of his.

“That’s because she’s been spoiled with renovations and air-conditioning,” Trent throws back, grinning at me.

“Hold on. Wait just a minute.” Ben’s hand is in the air. “When did you move in there, Charlie?”

“Just over three weeks ago,” I answer, wondering where this is going.

Ben turns his sizeable body to face Tanner, who now has his head down and is inhaling his food as if it’s his last meal. “I’ve been waiting for an apartment in that building for a year and you keep telling me there aren’t any available, you ass**le!”

“Ben!” Storm snaps.

“Can we wash his mouth out with soap, Mom?” Mia asks, an impish grin on her face.

“Forget soap. I think we need bleach,” Storm mutters.

“I’m sorry!” Ben exclaims. “But the rent is ridiculously low for that place. Why wouldn’t you give it to me, Tanner? No offense, Charlie.”

I guess Cain has still managed to keep his ownership status somewhat private because Ben obviously doesn’t know, otherwise he’d be riding his ass about it and not Tanner’s.

“Tanner has strict rules against orgies,” Cain answers for his superintendent.

Ginger and I barely keep our food in our mouths with the snort of laughter that ensues.

“What do you have against orgies?” By the expression on Ben’s face, you’d think he was completely serious.

“What’s an orgies?” All amusement cuts off as heads turn to take in the eight-year-old peering up with curious eyes at a frozen Nate—a raised brow and a fork heading for his gaping mouth.

Dan is on his feet instantly. “Okay! Mia, it’s time to get ready for your sleepover. I’ll drive you.”

“But, Dan . . . ” comes the whiny voice, though she stands and trails him sullenly.“You two are on cleanup duty for that.” Storm juts two fingers out, aiming at Ben and Cain, who both have the decency to look sheepish.

The little girl’s disappointment at being forced to leave doesn’t last long, though, as I hear her excited shriek from inside only seconds later. “Livie!”

“Hello, hello!” Two stunning young women step out onto the patio: one with bright red hair, the other with raven black. Both have the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen on a person, and anyone can see that they’re sisters. Their windblown cheeks and wild manes make me think they were hanging out of a car, driving at high speeds down the autobahn.

The redhead makes a direct line for Trent to bend over and lay a borderline inappropriate kiss on his lips. Her black bikini shows off a solid muscular body, marked with white scars along one side. If she’s self-conscious about them, you’d never know. Given her ass is angled directly in Ben’s face, I’d say she’s either oblivious or just that confident. I wonder if she stripped at Penny’s, too.

“Are you intentionally torturing me with this view, Kace?” Ben mutters. That makes her break free of her lip lock with Trent. She turns to smack Ben’s forehead playfully. “Always.”

The black-haired girl—I’m guessing the younger of the two—quietly places a box in front of Storm before reaching down to rub her pregnant belly.

“Oh! You picked up another key lime pie!” Storm squeals, her eyes lighting up.

“Kacey said we need to keep Genghis happy,” the girl answers with an eye roll.

Storm snorts. To us, she explains, “Kacey swears the reincarnation of Genghis Khan is growing inside me and is trying to conquer the world by eating its entire food supply.” Sitting up to eye the pie with wide eyes, she adds in a murmur, “She may be right.”

The redhead—Kacey, I’m presuming—turns her attention to us, those haunting blue eyes scanning over the table, slowing as they pass over me, before settling on the man next to me. She walks over to pat his shoulder. “Glad to see you’re alive.”

“Good to see you two again.” Gesturing toward me, he says, “This is Charlie. Charlie, meet Livie and Kacey.”

I get a polite smile from Livie. From Kacey, a suggestive brow and, “The Charlie?”

I answer effortlessly, “The Kacey?” though I feel a blip of discomfort inside. I don’t know how I should feel about being a topic of conversation among all these people that I don’t know.

“The one and only,” she answers with a laugh. “Tell me you didn’t come with that schmuck over there?” Her chin juts in Ben’s direction.

“No, but she’ll be leaving with me. Right, Charlie?” His question is to me but his eyes and crooked smirk are on Cain, and I get the impression that he’s intentionally needling his boss about something.