Survivor (First to Fight #2)(45)

“Then, yeah, I guess that’s okay.” She slips into a pair of black heels that make her legs look a mile long.

I can’t resist pulling her to me for another kiss and this one runs long. So long that when I come up for breath, I realize I’ve got her pressed against the bedroom door with my hands in her hair and one of her legs wrapped around my waist.

Leaning my head against the wood, I say, “Shit. I’m not doing so well about just being your friend.”

Rafe pounds on the door and Sofie looks up at me, “I think you’re doing just fine.”

“Are you gonna be okay today?” I ask. “Do you think we should go to the police? If he’s threatening you, we should report it.”

She shakes her head immediately, already disengaging from my arms to grab her purse and open the bedroom door. “No, I’d rather not.”

“Are you sure—”

“I’m positive.” We find the boys on the couch in the living room. “Load up in Jack’s truck,” she says and they both leap from the couch and bound out the door.

“At least consider it,” I say as I follow her out and double check her locks.

“Maybe.”

I step around her on the steps so I’m below her and look up into her eyes. “Consider it,” I repeat. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”

She puts a hand on my cheek. “I’ll consider it, but I’m not making any promises. Reporting him won’t do much good without solid evidence and the only thing it would accomplish is pissing him off. My plan is to ignore him until he gives up and goes away.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“I’ve taken self-defense,” she says, her hand dropping to my shoulder for a squeeze. “I won’t let him catch me off guard ever again.”

“You did?”

Smiling, she says, “Why? Wanna find out if I can kick your ass?”

I take another step up, putting me level with her mouth. “Maybe I do.”

Her lips brush mine and then her car horn blares, causing her to laugh. “Rain check,” she says. “Want to do something with them this weekend? Maybe a movie or something? I feel like we could all use some fun.”

“Actually, I’ve been planning to go down to the beach and was wondering if you’d like to come? Livvie, Ben, and Cole are coming, too. Thought we could all make a day of it. Plus, it’s an excuse to see you all oiled up in a bikini.”

“Sure. What time?”

“We’ll be leaving about eight so we can get there before all the good spots are taken.” I back down the steps toward my truck. “Make sure it’s your skimpiest bathing suit.”

Her laughter follows me to my truck.

A cold shower is definitely the first and last thing on my list of priorities.





A couple days have passed and I’m already itching with the urge to see her again. I end up closing the gym so the contractor can come in during the weekend and give me an estimate for repairs and renovations before I list the place for sale. I’ll be sad to see it go because it’s one of the last things I still have of my father’s, but after what Sofie told me, I can barely stand to be there without it making my skin crawl.

A few sun soaked hours is exactly what we all need. I plan on making it the first fun weekend of many. So we can get to know each other again. So the kids can get used to seeing us together.

The ride to her house is a long one, mostly because I spend it thinking of her in a little suit diving into the water, then what her tan lines will look like framing my favorite parts.

They’re already waiting on the porch when I pull up and the reality of her dressed in nothing but the bathing suit and a skimpy little cover up dress that leaves little to the imagination is just as good as all of my fantasies. I make the prudent decision to drive the truck right up to the front of the house to let the boys climb in the back because getting out right then isn’t an option. Sofie lunges herself into the front seat, grinning at me when I curse at the sight of all of her skin up close.

I lean across the center console to kiss her when I can’t put it off anymore. She smells like coconut tanning lotion and sweet mint gum. The kiss lasts a little longer than I plan and I only pull away when I hear Donnie mutter, “Man, I almost liked it better when they were fighting. At least then they didn’t kiss so much,” in the back seat.

Leveling him with a look I say, “You just wait until you get your own woman, then you’ll understand.”

He makes a face at me and I kiss Sofie one more time before we pull out of the driveway and make our way to the beach.

“The sun feels so good,” Sofie says a few hours later. “I’m never leaving.”

“Best. Idea. Ever.” Livvie’s voice is muffled from laying face down on her arms.

Rafe and Donnie’s excited shouts come from the water, punctuated by the mad giggles from Cole, as they take turns jumping over waves. They both make sure to keep eagle eyes on the younger boy to make sure he doesn’t strain himself too much. Cole was born with a heart condition called Hypoplastic left heart syndrome where the left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped. As a result, we’ve all had to be extra careful to make sure he doesn’t strain himself too much.

“Thank you for this,” Sofie says, her voice slurred and relaxed.