Swimming For Seduction (Sexy As Sin)

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Ricki

I pull out onto the highway and try to ignore the way my heart is pounding. I’m not sure if it’s from the cop’s admission that he knows my brother, or the way his blue eyes bore into mine when he delivered the news. Judging by the wet spot in my underwear, I’m guessing it’s the latter.

I’ve never been a fan of authority since I prefer to be in control. I don’t yield to anyone. I don’t want anyone to have that kind of power over me. The only exceptions are the swim coaches I’ve had, driving me to be the best athlete I can be since my soul focus has been on the Olympics for years.

I’d been so excited when I received the offer of a full-ride scholarship to attend Thorngrove University. Their swim coach was an Olympian, herself. So, who better to coach me to be the best in my sport? Then, last week, the news of my father’s demise almost had me ready to give up on my dreams.

10 Days Earlier

“MOM!” I shout as I watch the news report.

“Eric Hargrove was shot dead by police when he attempted to kill his son, Brady Hargrove,” the reporter says as she looks into the camera. The rest of her words are drowned out by the blood rushing through my ears with a repeat of the word, SON.

I didn’t even know I had an older brother. I knew that Mom was in an affair with my father while he was married to another woman. I knew that she’d named me after him in an attempt to make him stay with her…with us. I knew that he was a deadbeat who never showed us any kind of support despite her constant attempts to win his love. But I never knew about Brady.

“What’s all the fuss?” my mom asks as she steps next to me before looking toward the television when the reporter says my father’s name again. “NO!” she wails as she falls to the couch behind us.

As much as I want answers, I know I won’t get them from her right now. Deadbeat dad or not, she’s loved him for years. I sit next to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders as she cries for a man who’s not worth her tears.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me about my brother?” I ask once my mom finally stops crying.

“I wanted to,” she says. “But Eric forbade it. He said that Jillian would never let her son have a relationship with you anyway. So, there was no point telling you about a brother you’d never know.”

“And you believed him,” I scoff. It’s not a question. She’s always been a gullible mess when it comes to my father. “Just like you believed that his wife was the one who refused to get a divorce all these years.”

The news told a story of a man who refused to divorce his estranged wife and then attempted to take her estate away from their son in court. When he lost the lawsuit, he tried to kill his own son to get the money and house that never belonged to him.

“I was so stupid.” My mom sniffles as she drops her head with shame. “I knew Jillian since we all worked together. Before she caught your father and me together, we were almost friends. But Eric insisted that she was a scorned woman. He was always so convincing. Now, that boy is an orphan with no family.”

“ I’m his family.” I tap my chest. The realization hits me that Brady will never want anything to do with the daughter of the man who tried to kill him. “Or I could have been if you and Eric hadn’t kept us apart.”

I scour the news reports about the shooting over the next few days, trying to get any information I can about the brother I never knew. When one of them mentions him moving to Thorngrove, Tennessee to complete his college degree, I panic.

How is it possible that I’m on my way to the same collage as my estranged brother? What if he finds out I’m there? What if he thinks I’m like our father? What if he hates me?

I pick up my phone and dial the admissions office at Thorngrove University, ready to pull my enrollment when I think… What if I could get to know my big brother? I end the call before it connects and pack the rest of my things.

The following week, my run in with a young sheriff’s deputy has me facing those same original fears. I thought I’d be able to come to town, get settled, and start my swim practices. Then, I’d decide how to introduce myself to Brady once classes begin. Now, I’m terrified that he may learn of my existence before I’m ready. There was no mistaking the warning that deputy gave me. He doesn’t just know Brady; they’re obviously friends.

Tyler

I step into the locker room to change out of my uniform after my shift and pause when I see our rookie—the only female on the force—in her tank top and bootie shorts. Until last week, I would’ve backed out and waited for her to leave so I didn’t embarrass myself by revealing the hard-on that popped up every time I saw her in here. I give myself credit for learning to control myself around a sexy female instead of admitting that since my cock took notice of Erica Hargrove, he’s not interested in anyone else.

“You ready for the school year to start, Becky?” I ask as I shed my uniform shirt and replace it with a t-shirt.

“Ugh,” she groans. “I don’t know what I was thinking, joining the station before graduating from college.” She shimmies into a pair of skinny jeans. “This double-time is going to be hell.”

“That’s the reason I decided against college. This is where I wanted to be, and I didn’t need a degree to get here.” I laugh as I kick off my boots before dropping my pants and grabbing my jeans from my locker.

I glance to the side to see Becky watching me with pink cheeks before shaking her head and turning away to pull a button-down shirt from her locker. She’s a couple of years older than me and if I’d thought I stood a chance in hell at her looking at me that way, I would have gladly let her see the affect she had on me before a certain firecracker caught my eye.

“Yeah.” Becky sighs as she sits on the bench to pull on a pair of ankle boots. “Well, I need the degree to get into the F.B.I. training academy. I just thought some law enforcement background would give me an edge.” She shrugs as she stands before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “Are you headed to your cousin’s party tonight?”

Is she flirting with me? I’ve been drooling over this woman since she joined the station after a fast-track academy course earlier this summer. And now that she’s actually showing me the interest that I wanted, I can’t help but wish that her light brown hair was a rich chocolate, or that her crystal eyes were green instead of blue. What the fuck is wrong with me?

“Naw,” I tell her with a shake of my head. “I don’t go to Tracey’s parties. All of her friends look at me like the kid cousin. Which I am.” I shrug. “But I feel weird turning a blind eye to the underage drinking since I’m also a deputy.”

“Oh.” Becky drops her eyes. “I didn’t think about that. Maybe I shouldn’t go either.” She raises her eyes to mine again with a grin. “Where are you headed tonight?”

Yep, she’s definitely flirting with me. And I feel…nothing.

“I didn’t mean that you shouldn’t go to the party. You’re actually old enough to drink.” I wink, trying to act the way I would have a few days ago when her attention was all I wanted.

“I guess I’m barking up the wrong tree.” She laughs, proving her instincts are on the mark as she throws her hands up in surrender. “I can see you’re not with me.”

I let out a relieved sigh at the smile she gives me, letting me know she’s not offended that I’m blowing her off. But I’m pissed at myself on her behalf.

“Honestly.” I wait for her eyes to connect with mine before I confess, “If I though I stood a chance, I would have asked you out months ago.”

Her eyes widen in shock before she recovers with a snide grin. “Who is she?”

“An explosion waiting to happen,” I admit.

“Well.” Her eyes dance with amusement. “I hope I get to witness the fireworks when they ignite. If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She turns and leaves the locker room without another word.