He laid her on the carpet and felt her silky legs wrap around his hips.
Slowly, he worked up the sweatshirt. Bared her belly while pressing kisses against her soft skin. The glittery diamond stud in her navel had nearly driven him crazy all day. With a swirl of his tongue, he traced the jewel, imagining more wicked play. He was moving too fast, but he’d never wanted anyone or anything more than her. His heart squeezed in a vice of contradiction while his unethical dick protested as he retreated. “I’m sorry, I’m rushing this.”
She sat up and stroked his face. “It’s okay. I’m still trying to find my true North since coming home. You’re like a magnet sending my compass in all directions.”
She had him scattered most of the time, too. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me? I was starting to get a complex.” He laughed.
Her return giggle lightened his heart. They always talked best on the beach. Years of surfing bonded them. Although he wanted to take their relationship to the next level, getting physical raised the stakes.
If he fucked this up, he’d lose her for good.
* * * *
She craved him like no other previous lover. His impressive erection still wedged between her thighs made cognitive thought difficult. For years, she’d dreamt of him. Taking his hands in hers, she asked, “So, what’s the real reason you never asked me on a date? Fear of Bobby? Or being teased about seeing your best friend’s sister?”
His muscles tensed, and his mouth thinned to a line. After a deep breath, he said, “You were hands-off, Jo.”
“Huh?”
Ray groaned. “Cappy wasn’t about to let me or any other guy spoil your chances of making it big in the surfing world.”
“Dad?” He’d taken care of competition entries for surfing and arranging travel plans, but he’d never meddled in her social life. Or had he. All the first dates who never called back came into sharp focus. She’d always blamed them on her athletic endeavors. Jo’s mouth went dry and her stomach hollowed.
Ray had kept this from her. Bobby must have known, too. Why? Her head began to spin. Their betrayal was a lie by omission, but cut her deep. Nausea burned the back of her throat.
She shot him an angry glare. Her life kept upending, shaking her confidence to the core. Sick of lies and half-truths, she slipped from the truck and met him head on. “Guess my feelings never entered into the equation.”
He stepped back. “I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said lowly, holding out his hands in surrender. “I couldn’t tell you, I’m sorry.”
His apology came too late. She covered her face with her hands. “Take me back, please.”
“Cappy only wanted the best for you.”
Excuses only made her angrier. “I always believed I could trust you.”
He winced. “What else can I do, Jo? Just tell me.” He stepped closer.
“Nothing.” Turning away, she refused to let him see her tears. The ache in her chest deepened and spread. The one person besides her brother she’d never doubted and he’d kept a huge secret from her. Including his love. Loneliness threatened to swallow her whole. She opened the passenger door and climbed in the truck.
The ride back was silent except for the radio. Jo reached in her bag for her cell and angrily tapped a message on the screen.
“Don’t bother Bobby. I’ll take you home.”
“You’re right. It wouldn’t be fair to ruin Sarah’s night.” She glanced at the man behind the wheel she didn’t know anymore. The father she’d idolized seemed a stranger as well.
He pulled into a gas station. “I need to put some air in the tires.”
The small amount of security she’d regained during her few days home evaporated like an early morning fog on the beach. She’d been so stupid. A lump welled in her throat.
Men. So meticulous with machinery. He inflated the tires checking them with a gauge. If only they were only so conscientious with others’ feelings.
She peeled off his hoodie and tossed it on the backseat, and shivered at the loss. Resting her head against the headrest, she quickly wiped away her stray tears.
The cottage sat dark when they arrived. Ray opened his door. “I’ll walk you in.”
“No need.”
He followed her up the steps anyway.
As hard as she tried, she couldn’t let go of her anger. All the crap she’d boxed away in California acted as a catalyst for pent fury at this new treachery.
Before she unlocked the door, he braced the doorway in a capturing stance. Nearly a head taller, he was a wall of imposing muscles. He’d never physically hurt her.
She shook with fear at losing his friendship and his love, but the recently played bitch refused to back down. How could she not have seen the truth before now? What true friend hid such a secret?
His jaw muscle twitched. “Jo, please. I know you’re pissed and you think we betrayed you, but you would have never fulfilled your dream. Your Dad might have been wrong, but he loved you. Bobby and I love you.”
His sincerity struck her, but accepting his apology made her a pushover. Again. Covering her hurt by playing hard core had always been her way. “Y’all have a funny way of showing it.”
“This isn’t how I wanted tonight to end,” he conceded and pressed a light kiss on her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
More tears threatened and she gritted her teeth. “We’re all sorry about something. But hey, it’s still early. You can hit The Casino. I’m sure you find something in stretch denim to take home.” She ducked under his arms, unlocked the door and stepped inside.
She resurrected her wall. This time stronger than before.
Chapter 7
The ball shanked left, and Ray cursed under his breath.
Craig followed through on his swing, and the ball lofted high, dropping close enough to the pin for him to birdie the hole. His stocky roommate strode across the fairway and lined up his putt. “Just call her.”
“I sent roses. The next move is hers.”
“Yeah, well some women want you to grovel.” He smoothed a hand over his shaven head and got behind the wheel of the cart.
He hopped in and Craig took off. He didn’t belly up and Jo wouldn’t respect a man that did. She’d come around when she was ready. Bobby lectured him for telling, but he was done covering for them. Jo had every right to be angry. The man responsible was dead, so that left him and Bobby to share the blame.
What he’d give to have even one cherished memory of the man who had abandoned his mother and him without a word. Cappy probably thought Ray would do the same to Jo, so he held no animosity toward him for protecting his daughter.
What Jo had said to him at the door cut like a razor. He didn’t have notches on his headboard because he’d never taken a woman to his bed or home for that matter. And he’d never slept over. For that, he’d been labeled a player. There was only one woman he wanted in his bed, sleeping or otherwise and that was Jo.
Although her hot, tempting kisses on the beach had him wishing for more, he’d felt her apprehension. Trust issues ran deeper than her anger at her father’s meddling.
He’d be patient, but with her stubborn nature, it might take a while.
At the next hole, he gripped the iron taking his stance, keeping his eyes on the ball as he swung and propelled the annoying white sphere to within