Because of Low (Sea Breeze #2)(44)

Laughing she closed the bathroom door behind her.

Shaking my head to clear the images of Willow straddling me and crying out my name I studied the screen in front of me again. She was right. I needed to finish this. Like yesterday. But I’d spent every spare minute I had with Willow and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

The apartment door opened and in walked Cage followed by Preston. They’d been at baseball practice. Both of them were dirty and sweaty.

“Marcus, what up,” Preston called out as he came inside and made his way into the kitchen behind Cage.

“Writing a paper,” I grumbled knowing I wasn’t going to get anything done with these two here.

“I pay smart chics to do those for me,” he bragged and I rolled my eyes. He’d been “paying” smart chics to do his homework since middle school. However, his paying normally didn’t involve cash.

“Where’s Low?” Cage asked before taking a swig of beer.

“Getting a shower. She’s going with me to meet my family tonight.”

Preston let out a whistle, “The family. That’s serious shit right there.”

Cage grunted his displeasure and took another drink of beer.

Preston’s eyes shifted between the two of us. I could see the curious questions in his eyes. How were we getting along? Did we ever fight? Wasn’t it uncomfortable? And the truth was no. Cage was rarely here.

The shower cut off and I jumped up. Both guys stared at me like I was crazy. The idea of Low walking out in her towel thinking it was just me here scared the shit out of me. I ignored them and made my way to the door.

“Low”

“Yes”

“Preston and Cage are out here”

“Okay, um, could you bring me my things. They’re on the bed.” That’s what I’d been afraid of.

“Yep”

I didn’t look back at either of them but I could feel their eyes boring into me. No doubt Preston was amused and Cage was pissed off.

A pair of pink silk panties that consisted of very little materiel and a matching bra lay on top of that brown sundress that reminded me of chocolate. Picking them all up I headed back to the bathroom making sure to keep her underclothes hidden from prying eyes.

I knocked, “Got them.”

She cracked the door and reached out and took them from my hands. Smiling bashfully up at me I wanted to push my way inside but kept my cool.

She closed the door back and I turned around to face the firing squad.

Preston started up first, “A little possessive there aren’t ya bud. Afraid I’m gonna get a peek at Miss Low in her towel.”

I shot him a warning glare and sat back down.

“I’ve seen her in a bath towel many, many times,” Cage said smugly.

Taking a deep breath I forced myself to remain calm.

“The difference is, she’s mine now.”

“No, she’s just yours, for now,” he replied.

I turned and glared at him. He was leaning against the counter looking so damn sure of himself.

“Forever,” I corrected him.

Cage shoved off from the counter and raised his eyebrows, “We’ll see.”

I started to stand up and Preston grabbed my arm as Cage walked into his bedroom.

“Don’t. Just let it go.”

I sat back down. Not because Preston told me to. But because Low would want me to.

“He’s a jerk. Always has been. Just ignore him.”

Easier said than done. “She’s mine,” I repeated mostly for myself than anyone else.

“Got it bro. She’s yours,” Preston agreed.





Willow



“He’s not here,” Marcus hissed glaring straight ahead as we sat parked behind an expensive little Mercedes outside his parents house. It was just as big as I had pictured in my head. The pale yellow color of the house was set off by large white hurricane shutters. It was beach front and the main part of the house started on the second floor. The bottom was all garage. Which made sense for the Mercedes King of the Gulf Coast to have a large garage. The wide staircase was intimidating as it led up to two large front doors.

Marcus let out an angry growl and opened his door. Something was bothering him but I was almost afraid to ask. Instead of walking around to get my door he slammed his door shut and stood glaring up at those large glass paned doors as if he wanted to rip them off their hinges. As quietly as I could, I opened my door and made my way around the front of his truck. Maybe he was having second thoughts. I knew he was back home due to family issues. But this was much more intense than I’d expected from the perfect family I pictured him to have. Especially after meeting his bubbly sweet gorgeous sister. He jerked his head toward me when I stopped beside him and the angry scowl melted and he frowned.

“I’m sorry Low. I didn’t mean to leave you just sitting in there.”

I squeezed his arm, “It’s okay. I actually know how to open a car door.”

My teasing only brought a hint of a smile to his troubled face.

“My dad was supposed to be here. He’s not.”

Okay. Missing family meals must really rank high on the shit list around here.

“Mom was expecting him. She was excited,” he let out a sigh and reached down to clasp my hand in his.