Chapter 4 #3
As I went forward to greet my guests, those stunning, big blue/slate eyes settled on me. I was locked in his visual grip. My steps faltered as I stumbled over my own feet.
It was shocking to absorb how badly I wanted to have sex with Mace. My lip tucked between my teeth, gnawing like I wanted to do to his ass.
“We brought the chairs,” Lori said. The back of her hand patted against the unknown guy. “This is my husband, Max. Are we interruptin’ dinner?”
I was forced to move my gaze to Lori, reminding myself that this was my home. I was responsible for the welcome and greeting. When words didn’t come easily, I stuck out a hand, shaking Max’s. When I opened my mouth to suggest they come farther inside, no sound came.
Hell, my mind went completely blank.
“Come inside,” Scout said, confusion in his tone. “I figure that’s what Slade’s tryin’ to say.”
If nothing more, the cold air conditioning pouring from my home had me slinging a hand out, inviting them inside.
“It is him,” Max said, lifting a hand to push his ball cap up on his forehead. “I won’t say anything to anyone. Lori laid down the law about that, but I really thought she had gotten it wrong. Who knew Christopher Whitaker bought a house in this area? Nice to meet you.”
I shook the man’s hand as alarm bells rang louder than my over-the-top sexual need. “Call me, Slade.”
Mace pushed his hands inside his front pockets. “What’s happenin’ here?” he asked, brow furrowed.
“You’ll figure it out eventually,” Lori said, stepping aside as the door closed behind them. Thankfully, Scout was on his game, I wasn’t there with him at all.
“I’ll figure out what?” Mace tried again, this time looking at Max from over Lori’s head. Another shift happened. For the first time in all the years I’d spent my summers here, it didn’t bother me to be recognized. Especially if it helped sway Mace to my side of things.
“That show the kids love that we watch together…? He’s in that show. Lots more hair and lots less clothes,” Max added.
Mace’s blank stare said he still wasn’t getting it. “I don’t watch TV,” he said, and I stuck my hand his direction. The shake of his hand was only an excuse to touch him.
A faint blush tinted his cheeks, and he tilted his head as Max held up his cell phone, my picture as Poseidon was on the screen.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. Still don’t know you,” Mace said, sounding apologetic.
“Mace, just stop,” Lori cut in, embarrassed over her brother. “My brother doesn’t get out much. Probably never watched Netflix.”
Mace nodded in agreement.
I was living an actor’s worst nightmare of not being recognized, but all I could do was watch the heat flush his neck. How long had it been since anyone gave a genuine blush over a simple, obvious statement?
After a few seconds, Mace tried to remove his hand from mine. I held on tighter until our gazes collided again. Yeah, that was exactly where I wanted those pretty eyes to remain.
A dramatic clearing of a throat forced me to remember the others. Wyatt and Bryce were grinning annoyingly. Gray and Scout seemed to not understand the moment. I finally released Mace and hooked a thumb toward my annoying friends.
“These are buddies of mine from our school days. Wyatt and Scout you met earlier. Bryce and Gray got here about an hour ago.”
“It’s a pleasure. Nice to see you again, Mace,” Wyatt cooed.
For the second time in a matter of minutes, I wanted to punch Wyatt for that overly bright smile, especially after Mace acknowledged him with the tilt of his chin when I was barely able to steal a glance.
“We have the chairs in the truck. We don’t want to disturb you more than we have.
I’ll put them on the porch and get out of here.
” The more words Mace used, the more I liked the husky, breathy quality of his voice.
I realized my reaction was extreme when goose bumps sprang forward to prickle across my skin.
The only real problem with this moment was that Mace was still staring at Wyatt and not at me.
“We’ll help.” Wyatt eagerly started forward as Mace turned toward the door. My hand reached out, grabbing Wyatt’s forearm, stopping him in his tracks. The frustrated stare I gave Wyatt had Gray laughing as he passed by to help.
“I win,” Gray said over his shoulder to Bryce in some unknown bet. “That laser death ray Slade gave Wyatt would’ve drawn blood if it could’ve.”
“No. We need physical evidence of actual blood,” Bryce countered, following Gray out the door.
“Our host is having boundary issues. I’m Gray Bryant. This is my brother Bryce. We’ll grab the chairs. Are they out there?”
Mace was already down the steps, racing to his truck’s bed.
“Yeah. Max tied them down. He’ll have to release them. His knots don’t make sense to anyone else,” Lori said.
“It’s still so fucking hot outside,” Gray said, trotting down the steps. “Why do we camp this time of year?”
“I’m just messin’ with you,” Wyatt whispered, twisting his arm until I was forced to let go.
“Off limits. Swear,” I growled, my finger back in Wyatt’s face.
“You’re off your rocker or need meds,” Wyatt said, leaving me there to watch all Wyatt’s swagger as he went to help with the delivery.