Off Limits

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

It’s a sunny July day in Oceanside, California, as I lie back on a lounger by my pool, relaxing next to my friend Claudia. The air shimmers with heat above the exposed areas of concrete as we drink and unwind, swimming and sunbathing as we please.

Claudia has been a close friend for twenty years, about as long as I’ve lived in this house, and she comes over often. She lives alone in a small apartment a few blocks away—just close enough to her son and his family that she can choose when to visit. And when to stay away.

“I love your pool, Chelsea. It’s so much more private than the one at my complex,” Claudia says.

“I didn’t think you went to your pool.”

“I don’t. Only when the grandbabies are over. It’s a good way to wear the toddlers out before I ship them back to their parents.”

I laugh, grateful not to have that problem yet. My twin girls are twenty and off at college, and my youngest, Gage, just graduated high school. “The quiet is nice. Most days.”

Two years ago, my whole life turned upside down. Nineteen years of marriage ended in a shattering divorce. Married at eighteen, I’d had the twins shortly after and Gage just two years later. I never thought I’d be staring down the barrel of an empty nest alone.

Claudia cocks her head. “It’ll be an adjustment, won’t it?”

I nod, pushing away the small surge of emotion. “Yeah. Just me here, all by my lonesome. Especially on the days I’m off work.”

It’s a strange, scary prospect, and I spend much of the time dreading it, burying myself in helping Gage with planning and preparing. I encourage him to have friends over often, so I have a happy crew here as much as possible, and I distract myself by entertaining and taking care of them.

Other times I feel… not quite good, but hopeful, I guess.

Besides my part-time work as a physical therapist, I have a few plans I’m cooking up.

A volunteer gig at an animal shelter, some neglected hobbies I’ve been missing.

A giant stack of books to read, of course.

And I might even resurrect my love life.

I don’t know if she’s intuitive or clairvoyant, but Claudia gazes at me thoughtfully. “Who says you have to be lonesome? Maybe it’s time you opened yourself up to possibilities, eh?” She waggles her brows.

I flash her a crooked smile. “Yeah, maybe so. Might have to blow the dust out of my lingerie drawer, though.”

She cracks up then gestures around her. “Do it, girl. This is a lot of house for one single lady.”

I nod. This charming, though dated, house is something I am happy to have kept in the divorce.

It’s all on one level and wraps around the large outdoor area in the back, complete with grill, fire pit, swimming pool, and tons of space for hanging out.

My family has seen many happy times out here, and I love my home.

Car doors slam outside the back gate, and male voices float over to us. My mouth tugs up in a smile as I glance over at Claudia. “Here they come,” I say as the gate yawns open and they pour in.

Six young men. All tall, some more or less muscular and filled out than others.

Mostly tan, except for Gage’s friend Chase, who is a freckled ginger and seems genetically incapable of being anything but pale and pasty, even while living in Southern California.

Two of them are brothers, Kael and Brian.

Brian is a few years older, but Kael was in Gage’s graduating class.

Both blond, they have the long, lean lines and cut muscles of those who surf a lot. Most of Gage’s friends do.

My heart squeezes as Gage comes out of the house to greet his friends. They exchange various hand clasps and half hugs and back slaps as they toss their belongings down onto chairs and tables and make themselves at home.

Man, I’m gonna miss this.

“Good morning, Mrs. Owens,” calls Gage’s friend Kyle from across the pool.

He stands under an umbrella, rifling through a backpack on the patio table.

He has this funny habit of always greeting me very vocally when he comes over, like he’s trying to prompt the others to say hello as well.

I can’t say I mind, as a corresponding chorus of good mornings rises from various spots around the pool, making me smile.

“Hey, guys! Say hi to Miss Claudia.”

They do, in unison. Claudia grins at me.

One of the new arrivals stops in front of my lounge chair, and I squint up at him, shading my eyes to see who it is.

My gaze slides up, from his well-worn sandals to his rumpled swim trunks and faded T-shirt with a picture of an octopus playing guitar, then settles on his face.

He’s Hispanic, with black hair, warm dark-brown eyes, and perfect white teeth. My heart flutters just a tiny bit.

Julian.

Julian is a looker, no doubt. In the last year, he’s put on a lot of muscle, and he’s tall, though long past the gangly stage every young man seems to go through.

But he’s also very sweet. He always greets me by name, making and holding eye contact.

He talks to me like I’m an actual person, not just the hired help or his friend’s mom.

Julian smiles warmly down at me then crouches so our noses are level and I don’t have to squint.

“Morning, ladies,” he says. His voice is deep and smooth.

Claudia and I exchange a glance. Her eyes are wide.

“Julian,” I say, giving him a nod and a smile. “Nice to see you today.”

“Thanks for having us over.” His eyes flick down to my body and back up. I’m wearing a white two-piece swimsuit. Of course. I am at the pool, after all. My breath catches, and I’m suddenly self-conscious. I am definitely not used to that sort of attention from my son’s friends.

Did I imagine it? Maybe he just wanted to see what I had on. Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it was.

He stands, strolls over to where the guys are gathering, then sets down the large cooler he’d rolled in behind him. He peels off his shirt and tosses it to the side.

Neither Claudia nor I can help but stare at the rippling muscles of his back as he jumps into the pool with a big splash. We meet each other’s eyes again.

“Holy shit, Chelsea,” she whispers, leaning in toward me. “When did Gage’s friends grow up?”

I laugh. “Well, it’s been happening gradually for a while now, I guess.”

“And they’re, uh, eighteen?” She tries to suppress her grin.

I swat her shoulder. “Claudia! Yes, they’re eighteen.”

She arches a brow, tilting her head. “So, technically, they’re adults.”

I huff out a small laugh. “Yeah, I suppose they are.”

Watching young adults grow up is strange. I don’t feel “old.” I don’t feel much different each year, especially not compared to the stunning changes in Gage’s friends. Their attitudes, maturity, height, and build all change while I stay suspended. Static.

Maybe growing up is like climbing a steep cliff that’s topped with an enormous plateau. Once you reach adulthood, you’re on the same plane as everyone else, and then you just exist on that plane, free to watch others coming up behind you. Like a seasoned hiker at a scenic overlook.

“How well do you know Julian?” Claudia asks casually.

My cheeks heat, and I throw back the last of my wine cooler. “Not that well. He’s always here when the crew comes over.”

“Ahh,” she says, with the look of a cat who has spotted a mouse. “So, was that the first time you noticed him checking you out?”

I gasp, my eyes darting around to make sure no one heard her. “What? He did not check me out.”

She looks me up and down. “He certainly did. And it’s no wonder. You’ve got a great body. Your tits are amazing.”

I’m sure my cheeks must be bright red as I stare at her, wide-eyed. “Claudia, stop. Seriously.”

She smiles, laughing at my obvious discomfort. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. I’m just saying that it’s fun to look.”

I shake my head, sighing and gazing over at the pool. She’s not wrong. “Fair.” I lean back again in my chair and pull my shoulder-length dark hair up in a messy bun, debating whether to stay in the sun, get wet, or pull my chair into the shade.

I opt to stay in the sun, and Claudia and I spend the next hour chatting about her kids and grandkids.

Apparently, her daughter-in-law has established some new rules about gifts for the kids.

They have to be made of natural materials only, no plastic.

We chuckle at this together. It’s a very California thing to do.

I realize we’ve finished our stash of beverages as I set down my empty bottle.

“I’ll go grab us more drinks,” I tell Claudia, throwing on my black floral knee-length robe and heading inside to the kitchen.

I’m standing in front of the fridge, enjoying the cool breeze wafting out of it.

My skin has that hot, tight feeling of a sunburn, and I tilt my head back, letting the cold air soothe it.

After a moment, I tuck two wine coolers under my arm then close the fridge and turn, only to jump back, startled.

Julian is standing at the other end of the long granite kitchen island in all his tanned, muscular glory. He’s shirtless, dripping wet, and staring at me. Staring with a burning intensity I haven’t seen in a man’s eyes in, well… forever.

Is he looking at me like that? I resist the urge to turn and glance behind me.

My hand is on my chest, my heart pounding beneath it. We stay like that, frozen, for a moment.

I try not to breathe too heavily. “Julian. Hey.”

“Hey, Mrs. Owens,” he murmurs back, eyes still locked on mine.

Suddenly I feel hot again, like I did sitting out in the sun.

“You look…” I swallow. “Hungry?”

His eyes lower. “Starving.” His voice is deep, almost a growl.

My mouth drops open. I glance down at myself and realize my robe is gaping open, revealing my bikini-clad body underneath.

I snap it shut, cinching the belt around me and hastily tying a tight knot.

My heart is in my throat, and thoughts are whirling through my head as I realize I might spontaneously combust if I don’t get the hell out of here.

“Um, okay. I’ll, uh, order pizza, then,” I say, hurriedly setting down the wine coolers and fumbling my phone off the counter. I retreat into the house toward my room.

“Let the guys know, will you?” I call to Julian over my shoulder, too chicken to glance back.

After ordering four pizzas, I text Claudia to meet me in the master bedroom, and we spend the rest of the afternoon drinking and playing board games.

She’s curious about why we moved the party inside, but I don’t tell her what happened.

Our talk from earlier has my mind going to places I might never have dared before, and it freaks me the hell out.