“You tell me all the time if I say sorry you will forgive me. Maybe Tristan just needs to tell you sorry.” Gabe yanked his hands from mine and took off running back to the group. “Tristaaaaan!”
Great. I wanted to avoid him today. Now my son is going to have him trying to talk to me and be friends. I don’t want to be Tristan’s friend. I still wish Tristan would have been the one who died in the wreck, not Derek. I watched as Tristan smiled at my son and listened to every word he said. I may not like him, in fact I hate him, but he does love Gabe. The more Gabe said to Tristan, the more his smile faded. Tristan flashed his eyes to me. Standing, he brushed the sand off his hands and started walking toward me but stopped just a few feet away.
“Didn’t think I would see you until later.”
I froze. That voice. There it was again. I really didn’t want to deal with Gage, even more so than Tristan. This is not my damn day. “Why are you here?” I didn’t bother turning around. There was a small, albeit a teeny tiny part of me that wanted to run into Tristan’s arms and away from Gage. But, I didn’t. I stood frozen in place and watched as Tristan retreated back to our group of friends.
I heard Gage snicker. “It’s a public beach and last I checked, I’m the public.” His voice was getting closer.
“Oh. I thought with all your ball playing that you would be above all us common public folk.”
I couldn’t be sure, but I think he growled. He was right behind me now, his breath brushing my neck. “I’ve told you before, Annie, I don’t play with balls. I’m more than willing to show you.”
I needed to get away from him. He already had my heart racing and my brain mushing. “Didn’t I read something in the employee handbook about fraternizing with the help? Pretty sure if you show me your balls, that would be the definition of fraternize.”
“Not when I’m the boss.”
My gaurdian angels were watching over me. Jase and Ryker were walking in my direction. Thank you, thank you, thank you! When they were close enough Jase pulled me to him, spinning me so I was finally facing Gage. Wrapping his arm low on my waist he asked, “You going to introduce us to your friend?”
Was this man human? I was used to being around attractive guys. Gage made them all look homeless. He was shirtless, of course, why wouldn’t he be. It has already been established that today is not my day so why not kick Annie while she’s down? His black and green swim trunks were low on his hips showing his toned stomach. Letting my eyes slowly travel his body I saw all the tattoos on his arms, chest, and ribs. He looked like a walking story. I wanted to know what his tattoos were about. But, I would never ask.
Finally bringing my eyes to meet Gage’s I answered Jase, “Nope.”
That didn’t matter. Gage held his hand out, “I’m Gage Tucker, nice to meet you.”
Jase and Ryker introduced themselves. Ryker said, “You know, I bet Gabe would love to meet you. If you don’t care.” Snapping my head to Ryker I glared. He ignored me.
Gage smirked. “I would love to meet him. Let me check on my daughter then I will be over.”
“You have got to be kidding me right now, Ryker Duncan. I am trying to avoid this man not invite him into my life.”
Ryker played with his lip ring, almost looking sorry. “It’s not like I invited him to dinner, damn Annie. You know your son would love meeting him.”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I pouted like a four year old. “But, I don’t want to!”
Jase and Ryker laughed. Jase said, “Now, now princess. No need to get your panties up your ass. You only have to play nice for a few minutes. If you’re a good girl I will buy you something shiney.”
“Humph. How about a nice shiney baseball bat so I can knock the shit outta you stupid men.” Stepping out of Jase’s hold I stomped to my son. Leigha and Lydia were sitting next to him, helping him build a sand castle.
“I saw owner man talking to you.” Leigha said, her voice a litle too happy for my liking.
“And twat biscuit over there,”- I pointed to Ryker- “invited him to play.” My voice laced with anger.
“Aw now be nice, Ms. Holland. What is that saying? ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.’ I’m sure Ryker was just being friendly to your new male friend.”
“If that’s the saying I might as well have my voice box surgically removed now. Gage Tucker is not my friend. He is my boss. He is a conceited cock jockey.”
Gabe popped his head up. “You have a new friend, mommy?”
I ran my hand through his hair and said, “No, buddy.”
Lydia laughed. “On a first name basis, are we? How interesting. I don’t call my boss by his first name.”
Jase sat down beside Lydia, bumping her with his shoulder and joked, “No, it’s more like ‘Oh God’ or ‘Fuck Yes’.”
Leigha stuck her fingers in her ears and shut her eyes. “Eww eww eww! I don’t want to hear about my brother and his so called assistant like that.”
Leaning over Lydia kissed Jase. “Sorry, Le. Your brother is the best boss I’ve ever had.”
“Damn straight baby.” Jase winked.
“And speaking of best bosses, look who is walking this way. Oh my God! Look at that little girl he’s carrying.”
Taking my eyes off of Gabe I glanced at Gage. He was smiling and looking at his daughter. This Gage looked different from the Gage I had met last night or the Gage that was talking to me earlier. That Gage was rough, sexual. The Gage that was walking toward me looked soft, loving. And damn if my heartstrings weren’t being tugged.
“Hello, ladies,” Gage greeted us.
Huffing I sat back. He didn’t come over here for me. He came for Gabe. No need to talk to him. Gabe stopped packing the sand and looked up. His light green eyes sparkling. “My mommy doesn’t like you.”
That’s my boy.
Gage looked from Gabe to me. “Is that so? That’s a shame because I like your mommy. Maybe if you like me you could talk your mom into being my friend.”
Gabe gave me his watery grin and laughed. “She said you were a conceited cock jockey.”
Leigha, Lydia, and Jase busted out laughing. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. I chanced looking at Gage to see his reaction. Laughing. That ass nugget was laughing.
“I think we should be friends, little man. What do you say?” Gage asked. He sat his daughter in the sand next to my son. “This is Londyn. She likes to play in the sand, too.”
Gabe stared at the baby. “She’s cool as long as she doesn’t poop. I don’t change poopy diapers.”
And that my friends sealed the deal. Gabe and Gage were inseperable the rest of the afternoon. Which also meant, Gage and I were inseperable the rest of the afternoon, too.
I watched as Gage taught Gabe how to toss a football. Something felt different having Gage around. He seemed to fill that father figure role for mys on just fine and never blinked an eye.
…And I liked it.
Oh yeah, I was screwed.
17
Gage
“You know I play football, right?” I asked Gabe as he tossed the football back to me.
He nodded. “Yeah. My Uncle Jase likes football. We watch it a lot.”
“What would you say if I told you I could get you tickets to one of my games?” I watched as his eye lit up. His smile took over his face.
“Could I bring my mommy? I don’t think she would let me go by myself, I’m only five.” This kid was hilarious.
“Of course. You could bring your Uncle Jase, too, if you wanted. I will make sure you get to meet my team and you can even come into the locker room. Only the really cool kids get to do that.”
“No, I don’t think I want Uncle Jase to come. Just me and mommy.” Gabe smiled at me then looked at his
