Chapter 6 #2
I tsk at him and try to settle back into my daydream.
Dream Shayne is there waiting for me the moment my eyes close.
He’s pulling me to my feet, his arms wrapping around me like iron bands.
I run my hands up and down his back, savoring the feel of smooth skin over corded muscle.
He dips his head to mine, lips hovering just out of reach.
My whole-body tenses, reduced to a tingling mass of nerve endings.
If he ever kisses me, I might explode…Pull yourself together Paige!
I press my palms into my eyes. What am I doing?
Shayne, real life Shayne, is ten feet away from me, completely unaware of the borderline X-rated fantasy playing behind my eyelids.
If I was in his position, I would feel so violated if my maybe-platonic soak partner was mind fucking me while I floated unaware.
I open my eyes to find Shayne staring pointedly at my chest. He quickly looks away when he realizes I’ve caught him, his cheeks maybe reddening, although that could be from the lava water. Okay, maybe we’re both mind fucking each other. Two points for not- platonic!
Shayne pushes away from the wall and swims towards me.
Did I just manifest this? Is this a case of “if you dream it, he will come”?
He stops in the middle of the pool, closer, but not near enough for us to touch.
The look on his face is hard to gauge—not overtly amorous, maybe thoughtful? Minus one point for not-platonic.
“So when did you move to Silvercreek?” Shayne asks, reaching up to comb his fingers through his hair. His biceps bulge as rivulets of water snake down his body. I fight back a moan.
“Junior year of high school,” I answer once I feel like I can use language again. The affect this man has on me is criminal.
“Is that where you met Jo?”
“We met in the parking lot on my first day at Silvercreek High. Been inseparable ever since. She’s my sister in everything but blood.”
Shayne’s eyes narrow for a moment and I worry that I’ve said something wrong. But then, quick as lightning, his expression returns to neutral making me feel like I must have imagined the sudden shift.
“What’s the story with Jo and Andy?” Shayne asks. A tingle of annoyance zips through me. Jo and Andy don’t belong in this pool with us right now, buddy. Ask me if I want to come closer. YES.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my voice breathy. I want to wrap myself around him like the face-hugger creature in Alien.
“How long have they been together?”
“They were on and off in high school. They broke up when Jo left for college in San Francisco. But then she came back when her dad got sick, and they got together again.” I arch my back slightly and drop my head back, hoping I don’t look too obvious. Forget about my friends, think about me!
“How long have they been married?” he asks, clearly unmotivated by the view. Minus another point for not-platonic. That’s a big fat zero now for those keeping score.
I try and swallow down my annoyance. “Well, Kody is six…so they’ve been married…five years?”
“What did Andy do while Jo was away?” His tone remains nonchalant, but I’m starting to feel like I’m being interrogated.
“Um, honestly, I’m not sure. He was in and out of Silvercreek. Andy and I weren’t super close then. Why so interested?” I can’t help but think about Andy’s comment in the kitchen the other day. Maybe Shayne has a thing for Andy? God, talk about a buzz kill.
“I’m just curious. I like to know what kind of people I’m working for.”
It’s becoming abundantly clear that the two of us are here for two very different reasons. I let that sit with me for a second before answering.
“Jo is the greatest human I’ve ever met. She never wanted to run the ranch, but she took it up when her dad passed away and has done everything she can to keep it going. She treats her people and her animals with incredible respect and consideration. Anyone would be lucky to work with her.”
“And Andy?”
Alright. I’m done. I ignore his question and drag myself out of the water.
“Everything alright?”
“Everything’s fine,” I call over my shoulder. I quickly head to the lounger for my towel. I dry off and then pull on my sweats, feeling embarrassed and slightly concerned that I might be overreacting. Tonight didn’t go at all like I’d hoped, and the disappointment stings.
Shayne is now out of the pool, hands extended out in a non-threatening way that makes me think this is the same way he would approach a riled-up filly. It’s sexy and humiliating at the same time and peaks my annoyance even more.
“You seem upset. Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s fine. The water was just getting to me,” I say, pulling my dripping hair up into a knot on top of my head.
“I’m not great at the whole…getting to know people business. I never ask the right questions.” He gives me a rueful smile, all sweet innocence. The expression looks out of place on his rugged face.
“I don’t buy that. You’re too pretty to struggle.” His eyes flash. Was that too far? I really don’t know anything about him, maybe I’ve touched a nerve.
Shayne reaches toward me, and I brace, unsure of what to expect. He links his finger around the fallen strap of my bikini top and pulls it back up on my shoulder, snapping it against my skin.
“Do you still want me tomorrow?” he says and I look at him confused.
“Tomorrow?” I ask. Of course I want you Shayne, you idiot. I want you now. Why wait for tomorrow? The real question is, do you want me?
“For the book event. Do you still want me to be your little boy blue?” Shayne grabs his towel from the lounge chair and begins to dry himself off.
“The book event. Right. Obviously.” I say, trying and failing to look at anything other than Shayne. I hate how much of a space-cadet I am around him. This isn’t me! I’m not usually like this. It’s like he emits a neurotoxin that makes me act like a complete ninny whenever I’m near him.
I should never have asked him to be Lyndon. That was a mistake. Tomorrow’s signing needs to go perfectly, and it’ll be a disaster if all I’m thinking about is how many of Shayne’s abs I can count through his shirt.
“You know,” I reply, trying to keep my tone as nonchalant as possible. “I thought a little more about it and I think it’s overkill. Having a giant blue man wandering around will be too much of a distraction—” My voice catches and I have to clear my throat before continuing. “For everyone.”
Shayne considers me for a long moment. “As you wish, Banshee. I’ll drop off your Prince supplies the next time I’m in town.” His tone and expression are completely neutral. I can’t tell if he’s relieved or disappointed.
“No, keep them,” I say, waving him off, desperate to end this conversation. “You might feel the need to dress up as Violet Beauregard next Halloween. See you around, cowboy.”
I turn in the direction of the parking lot. The squelching sound of my wet sandals slapping against the pavement is a fitting soundtrack to my hasty retreat.
I text Jo when I get to the car:
Zero fireworks and I cancelled his Prince duties.
My back does feel a little better though.
Bummer! Whyyy? I was really hoping you’d get your O-face
I turn into a panting cat in heat whenever he’s nearby.
What’s so wrong with that? Isn’t that the whole point?
No. Maybe. I don’t know.
My ho phase is 0-2.
Maybe this means I should continue my nun era.
Nope. No nuns on my watch. You’ve just got rusty hinges.
I’m about to text her that he seemed much more interested in a threesome with her and Andy than a twosome with me, but I toss my phone on the passenger seat instead of going down that rabbit hole. I have a brand-new bruise to nurse now—my bruised ego for ever thinking Shayne might be into me.
I don’t leave right away. Instead, I sit silently in my car staring into space until I’m rational enough to really think about what just happened.
Now that I’ve calmed down a little, I can’t help but think that maybe I overreacted.
He didn’t do anything wrong, really, just seemed more interested in my friends than he was in me.
Discouraging yes, but maybe it was his backwards way of getting to know me?
I’ve been sitting here so long that my suit has soaked into the upholstery of my seat.
Turning out of the parking lot, I glance down and realize Shayne’s stupid coat is still folded up on my passenger seat. God dammit. There’s no way I’m going back up there to give it to him. I’ll just give it to Jo to pass along to him next time I’m at the ranch.