Chapter 2
He had a week before he needed to visit her again, but that didn’t stop Ford from noticing every damn time she stepped out to her yard, drove off in her car, or arrived back home. For the last five days, if he was around, he was aware of her.
Talking with her had become easier, though it was still pretty superficial. He kept thinking he needed to invite her to his pool, but that would cross a line, right?
Luckily his own schedule had been busy, so he hadn’t been able to spend all his time focusing on her. Only about eighty percent or so. Much as he’d fought it, she even inhabited his dreams. Some of them were casual. Some . . . not so much.
Best dreams he’d had in a very long while.
Had to be from denying himself. With most women who caught his eye, he’d make the natural suggestion of getting together for mutual enjoyment. She’d either accept or he’d move on. Nothing with Skye was that simple.
Finally, with an evening free, he’d invited his friends over to enjoy the pool. June was hotter than usual this year and the water had already warmed comfortably. While everyone chatted around him, enjoying his new patio furniture and the usual camaraderie, Ford stewed.
He didn’t like stewing, damn it. Again, he glanced over to Skye’s house. Should he have invited her to join them? She knew the guys now and . . . No. She’d made it clear that she didn’t want to get too friendly. Theirs was a business arrangement, period.
While he was attempting to convince himself of that, her back patio doors slid open, drawing his attention. Not even glancing their way, she stepped out in tan shorts and an army green halter, barefoot, and headed to the hose wrapped around a decorative hanger.
“He’s staring,” Knox said.
She was impossible to ignore now that he knew her a little better. Now that he’d touched her.
Now that he’d sensed her vulnerability and seen what she was up against with Clyde-the-obnoxious.
“Because she looks good.” Bray, with Karen beside him, also watched as Skye watered the plants on her back patio.
“She’s deliberately not looking at us.” Marcus frowned at Ford and added, “Probably because he made her feel unwelcome.”
Voice low and distracted, Ford said, “You already know I made it up to her.”
Lucy, who was there with Marcus, left her chair, stepped down from the deck, and started across the yard.
Alarmed, Ford sat forward. “What is she doing?”
Karen smiled. “You already know the answer to that.” She, too, left.
“Damn it,” he hissed. “That’s not our agreement.” Skye didn’t want his friends becoming her friends. She didn’t even want him.
The two women stopped at the edge of his property. Lucy asked, “Skye, right?”
Looking up, Skye paused, then turned off her hose and walked over. Not even for a second did she glance at Ford. “Yes. Can I help you?”
Lucy gestured back at the men. “I’m Marcus’s wife and a friend of Ford’s. This is Karen, married to Bray.”
Wincing, Skye said, “I hope I didn’t overstep the other day. I asked right off about who was single and who wasn’t.”
With a laugh, Karen waved off her concern. “No problem at all. I’m glad you took the initiative. I had a similar situation once.”
“Oh?”
“Then I trusted Bray, and that meant trusting all of them, because they definitely pull together.”
Lucy said, “I was already one of the guys, so they were always around to lend me a hand.”
Confusion left Skye floundering. “One of the guys?”
“A neighbor, a friend. We all regularly hung out together.”
“Ah.” Skye smiled softly. “I bet that was nice.”
What? Ford felt himself frowning and didn’t care. Hadn’t she recently told him that she didn’t want involvement? Okay, so she’d meant with him. Romantically. Whatever. His friends were a part of the deal.
“Now that I hang out with them, too, I can confirm that it’s very nice,” Karen said.
To Marcus and Bray, Ford grumbled, “Skye has to realize that they’re trying to draw her in.”
“So?” Marcus watched the women. “I’m curious to see how she’ll react.”
“Me, too,” Bray said. “Maybe they can accomplish what Ford couldn’t.”
Yeah, Ford was a little curious about that himself.
“They’re all terrific, you know.” Leaning in, Lucy said, sotto voce, “Ford and Knox were ‘men of honor’ at my wedding. Like bridesmaids, but male.”
Grinning, Skye finally flashed him a glance but quickly looked away. “That sounds like fun.”
“It was,” Lucy said fondly. “They’re my family now.”
Karen added, “She and Marcus were fighting the inevitable, but that could only last so long.”
“Look who’s talking.” Lucy added. “Not that Bray was fighting it. Only Karen.”
“When a weird ex came after me, I had to ask Bray for help. Turned out that was the smartest move I could have made.”
Even from the distance of his own yard, Ford saw Skye’s face heating. “Oh, um . . .”
In awe, Ford muttered, “They’re sharing their entire histories.”
Unconcerned, Marcus shrugged. “They’re encouraging her.”
“It’s been like . . . three minutes.” And now Skye knew everything of importance. Well, almost everything.
Lucy, who was always wonderful, didn’t give Skye a chance to retreat. “Your plants are beautiful.”
Karen asked, “Is that a potted orange tree?”
“It is, and it has fruit. Do you want to see?” Together, they meandered over to Skye’s property.
Watching them, Ford said, “Huh.” They’d just made that all seem so easy.
A second later, Knox stood. “I want to see the oranges, too.” And right behind him, Marcus and Bray said in unison, “I’ll go with you.”
Together, they bounded down the steps, leaving Ford sitting there alone on the deck.
Damn it. He hadn’t gotten new patio furniture just to watch everyone abandon him for his neighbor’s house.
With a disgusted sigh, he set aside his drink and got up.
His trunks were still damp from a recent swim, his hair messy from drying in the sun.
Reflective sunglasses hid his eyes, so he felt certain no one would know his surly mood.
Exactly why he was surly, he couldn’t say.
Heading that way, he noticed how Skye greeted the guys with surprise, while studiously avoiding looking at him.
He eyed her shorts, long legs, and the halter top that left her shoulders bare. She really could be a model.
As he got nearer, he heard mention of Bray’s dog, Rebel. Then Skye surprised him by saying she was considering getting a dog.
“I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I have a decent-sized yard and it’s a nice neighborhood to take a walk.”
Knox said, “It’s a great idea. There’s a local shelter where I help out. I could take you if you want. I know the place, and the pets.”
Practically stomping without knowing why, Ford started to say something—and he stepped on a bee. The hot burn immediately told him he’d been stung. “Son of a—” Everyone turned to him as he hopped around in pain.
Knox was the first to reach him, grabbing his arm and steering him to Skye’s small patio. “Sit down.”
She didn’t have chairs, so he lowered his ass onto the concrete as the throbbing in his foot intensified.
Squatting down, Knox said, “Damn, man.” He pinched the stinger, flicked it away, and then with a whistle, asked, “Are you allergic to bees?”
“No idea. I don’t think I’ve ever been stung.” Ford contorted himself to view the bottom of his foot, then cursed again. Already bright red and swelling impressively, it was something to see. And now that he saw the sting, it hurt even more.
“I’ll grab some ice.” Skye darted into her house, leaving the door open behind her, and seconds later she came rushing back out with a small plastic bowl of ice. Kneeling, she set the bowl aside and gently held one frozen cube against his foot. “This will help.”
Ford stared at the top of her head while she circled the ice over the sting. When he glanced at his friends, he saw them all grinning.
Yeah, he felt like a fool. “It’s fine.”
“You’re definitely allergic,” she countered. Lifting the ice, she pressed the backs of her fingers to his foot. “It’s already hot. Do you have an antihistamine?”
He grumbled, “I’m a pharmaceutical rep, not a drugstore.”
Exasperated, she told Knox, “Keep rubbing the ice on his foot.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Back in the house she went.
Knox attempted to do as ordered, but Ford didn’t let him.
“Give me that.” He could damn well ice his own foot.
Rushing back out again, Skye held two pill bottles in one hand and a cola in the other. “Here, an antihistamine and pain pills.”
Appalled, Ford pulled back. “I don’t need those.” Sure, he had pain, but it wasn’t all that. He didn’t want everyone standing around fussing over him.
Lucy bent down to peer at his foot, then winced. “Take the meds, Ford, or your foot will be too swollen for you to walk.”
Patting his shoulder, Karen offered encouragement. “They’ll help, I promise.”
Rolling his eyes, he said, “It’s only a bee sting.”
Skye deftly popped out the pills and lifted them to his mouth. “Stop being a baby.”
Unbelievable.
Mocking him, Marcus said, “Stop being a baby, Ford,” in a ridiculous voice.
“Here.” Knox took one of the pills, and then pretended to fly it toward his mouth . . . the way a mother might do with a toddler she was feeding. “Open up so the plane can land.”
“Swear to God, Knox, I’m going to punch you.”
Chuckling, Knox said, “You’re stressing out the ladies. Just take your medicine, already.”
Bray crossed his massive arms. “I could hold him while you jam them down his throat. Had to do that with Rebel once when he needed meds. Poor dog hated me for an hour.”
Ford narrowed his eyes. “I would hate you for life.” Huffing, he stuck out his open palm in silent demand.
Skye glanced at everyone, bit her lip to hold back a grin, and gave him the pills.