Chapter 7
Sunday morning dawns to a clear sky and a brisk fall breeze. It’s a perfect morning to sit out on the back porch drinking our morning coffee while we watch the dogs romp around on the grass.
“If I could stay here forever, I would,” I break the silence with my pondering.
“I think that once Todd passes, I’m going to move down here permanently,” Megan says absently.
That makes me turn to her with concern. “I thought you were going to move closer to your brother?”
Megan shakes her head.
“No, I need to have some space. I love my brother, but I can’t handle him being so negative about the whole situation, and don’t even get me started on the rest of my family.”
“You really think it’s getting close to that time?”
She sighs heavily. “The nurses are thinking so, and he is barely conscious anymore. I’m hoping that he will just slip away in his sleep.”
I take her hand, squeezing it gently. In this instance, the best thing I can do is to just let her know that I’m here for her. We don’t talk after that. For a while, we just sit in the silence of the morning, drinking our coffee, but I never let go of her hand.
I’m not sure how much time has passed, but both of our cups are empty. The dogs have both gotten a chance to lie in the sun as it rises just above the trees. It’s beginning to warm up, and as if our minds are linked, we both get up and make our way back inside, calling for the dogs to follow.
I take both of our mugs, having snatched Megan’s out of her hand, to the kitchen sink to be rinsed. Megan looks on as she perches herself on the countertop, before breaking her silence.
“Kinley, let’s do something fun today.Why don’t you call that hunk of yours and have him round up his boys to meet us down on the lake.I feel the need to lie in the sun and look at sexy men in their swim trunks.”
A smile creeps up my face, thinking that’s a great idea.
“That’s the spirit; I will call him right now and see what they are up to.”
“Did you bring a sexy bathing suit? You need to make that man drool and pant at the sight of you.”
I take a moment to think about what I packed, and then remember that I do actually have a sexy bathing suit.
“I do! I wasn’t really expecting to use it, not knowing if we were gonna go on the lake. I’m so glad I had the foresight to pack it.”
I run upstairs to grab my phone and the piece of paper with Donovan’s number. The butterflies slowly creep back in as I plop on the bed. I feel like a teenager calling a boy for the first time.
Goodness, why am I so nervous? He told me to call him, he gave me his freaking number. Get it together, Kinley, and call him.
I take a deep breath and dial his number.It rings a few times and then he answers, “Hello…”
At the sound of his deep voice, I panic for a brief moment before I find the words.
“Hi, Donovan? This is Kinley.” Ugh, so lame.
“Hey, I was hoping I would hear from you.”
Just hearing the happiness in his voice calms me down and a silly smile spreads across my face.
“So…the reason I’m calling is because Megan suggested going on the lake and having some fun. She has a boat down at the dock and she was wondering, if you guys weren’t busy, if you would like to join us?”
Hearing him chuckle does things to me that I don’t really want to admit to myself yet.
“So, only Megan wants to see us today?”
“Oh no, I want to see you, too,” I hastily blurt out. I can feel my face flame with a tinge of embarrassment. Smooth Kinley, really fucking smooth. My embarrassment subsides a little when I hear the grin in his voice.
“Good, what time should we meet you two at the dock?”
“You’re coming?”
Tension that I don’t realize is there fades from my body.
“Of course we are. We were planning on going to the lake today anyway, but two pretty girls is an even better reason to go.”
Fuck yes!
“Great! How about in an hour?”
“Sounds like a plan; see you in a few.”
We hang up the phone at the same time, my heart pounding with excitement.
I can’t help but wiggle with the giddiness that courses through my body.
I’m so glad I packed a sexy bathing suit now.
Needing to tell Megan that we only have an hour to get ready and be at the boat, I race down the stairs to tell her the good news.
Forty minutes later we are dressed and have a cooler packed with drinks and snacks.The dogs are loaded in the car, Beretta with her water toy held firmly in her mouth and Travis with his life jacket on. I have just heaved the cooler into the back when I notice Megan looking me up and down.
“Well you are definitely going to test his control today.”
“What do you mean?”
“That man is going to take one look at you and get all hot and bothered. Whether or not he throws you over his shoulder and carts you off to have his way with you is going to let you know how in control he is.”
That makes me grin.
“That is one of the nicest compliments you have ever given me, Megan. I have a cover up so I won’t completely blow his mind though.”
Taking in my bathing suit, I guess I don’t look bad. “In all seriousness, you think this looks alright? Not too bulgy?”
“Kinley, I ought to smack you. Of course you look alright; you look amazing. You’re a man’s wet dream, all flat and curvy in all the right places. I would kill to have your ass and your boobs.”
That makes me reach over and scoop Megan into a hug.
“Thank you for that. I’m trying really hard not to get swept up by this guy…but I can’t help wanting to look good for him, too.”
“That’s smart. I know it’s been a while since your last relationship and you’re right to want to hold back and not get carried away, but just don’t keep too much of yourself closed off. Let him see the real you.”
God she’s going to make me cry if she keeps going. With one more squeeze I let her go. “You’re the best friend I could ever ask for.”
I grab my cover up off the back seat and slip it on.
“Ok let’s get this show on the road and go meet those men.”
“That’s the Kinley I know and love.”
We get everything unloaded from the car and are working on stowing all of our gear and coolers on the boat as the guys walk down the dock towards us.
They are a sight. It’s really a wonder that we have never run into them before; they definitely don’t blend into a crowd.
All four men are dressed in board shorts and cotton t-shirts.
Brent and Camden are carrying coolers. Aiden is carrying a kneeboard.
And Donovan, goodness, carrying a bag with what looks like towels, makes me want to drool.
It has to be illegal for a man to look that good.
Brent is the first to jump aboard the boat, his movements way more graceful than any large man should be.
“Hello ladies, you two are sure looking good today.”
He has a roguish grin on his face as he gives us both a once over.
“Oh hush,” Megan tells him as she blushes brightly, which makes me smile. Megan deserves to be appreciated.
The rest of the guys get settled on the boat, stowing their gear and getting comfortable. Megan is bantering back and forth with Aiden, Brent, and Camden, but Donovan is eyeing me hungrily. He sits right next to me, his body heat radiating into my hip and arm.
I look up at him as he leans down close. Quietly so no one else can hear, he whispers in my ear. “That cover up is just see through enough to be a tease. Maybe you should show a little mercy and take it off.”
His boldness causes my cheeks to heat, but I can’t help letting a little playfulness shine through.
“I don’t know if it would be merciful,” I reply cheekily.
He growls in my ear. Goosebumps spread over my skin, and before I lose all my good sense and straddle his lap in front of our friends, I give his thigh a pat and get up to help Megan get the dogs settled. Be smart, Kinley. Don’t let his sexy talk and rippling muscles addle your brain!
It doesn’t take long for us to get the boat out on the lake. The sun is out, not a cloud in the sky; the water is calm and there is hardly anyone else here, we are in our own little world.
Megan is about to sit down to get the boat started, but Brent is practically bouncing up and down, begging Megan to let him drive.
“Megan, you have to let me drive this baby. Please, please, please.”
“Sheesh, how old are you? You can drive, but if you crash my boat, I will inflict extreme bodily harm on you.”
“Baby, that sounds like foreplay to me.”
She punches him in the arm. “If you’re gonna drive, do it before I take the keys back.”
Brent slides into the seat behind the wheel and starts the boat up, steering it out into the lake. Content that Brent knows what he’s doing, Megan sits down next to me.
Quietly she asks, “So what did Donovan say in your ear earlier?”
“Well, it was along the lines of the cover up being a tease.”
“Seriously? Oh man, this is going to be fun to watch. So…you want to go sunbathe?”
“Megan, you have a truly devious mind. But I think we should wait until we figure out what the guys are wanting to do.”
“I already know what Donovan wants to do, but not on my boat.”
I shush her to keep her quiet. She’s about to say more but can’t because Aiden, Donovan, and Camden sit down next to us.
“So, have either of you been on a kneeboard?” Aiden asks.
“I have, but not in a few years,” Megan admits.
“What about you, Kinley?” Aiden asks.
“Nope, never have. I’m not sure I want to either; it kind of terrifies me.”
“It’s not hard, so if you decide you want to, then just let us know alright?” Aiden stands up and looks at Megan.
“Come on, Megan, I have a running bet with Brent that a girl is going to show Camden up at kneeboarding. It looks like you’re that girl.”
Camden objects loudly. “Hey, that’s not cool.”