of protein sustenance from swine and bovine to fowl.
Mike and his wife greeted them on the patio beneath the elevated beach house. While the guys caught up and the women complimented one another’s outfits, Jo ghosted for the beach. While passing one of the coolers, she stopped and snatched a couple brewskis before trekking to the top of a dune.
A line of bathing beauties gathered along the sidelines of a volleyball court boasting way too much testosterone. She picked an obscure spot with a view of the ongoing game.
After unrolling her beach towel, she shed her cutoffs. Her modest black bikini accented her legs, which had been voted best on the west coast surfing circuit. She’d have rather had more in the boobs department.
Ray stood on the court, shirtless and smoking hot. Tanned and glistening with sweat, she itched to run her fingers along his sculpted abs and lower. His team consisted of firefighters she recalled from the Broncosaurus versus bike incident.
Had he noticed her? He probably didn’t remember demanding her presence, or had another woman pining for his attention.
The game reminded her of when she played with Bobby, Ray and their gang. The girls at the net withered against the guys’ hard-core play. After match point, they hit the water. One of the female players swam out with Ray.
Jo waded beyond the breakers and floated in the building swells. If only she’d brought her surfboard. It’d be easier to talk to him while bobbing in the ocean, if he decided to look for her. Once again, she waited for him. This would be the last time, she swore in California she’d never play the waiting game again. Swimming for shore, she intended on downing the second beer in her bag.
Ray shaded her as she reached the water’s edge. Muscular shoulders tanned to perfection met sock solid pecs. His torso V’d into a six-pack outfitted in a pair of black trunks. If OBX had a best body calendar, he’d be the perfect cover model.
The wicked tribal tattoo encircling his brawny bicep begged to be touched.
“You hiding out?” Pale eyes probed over top his dark glasses as he nodded toward her spot and smiled.
“And laying low.”
“Sexy bikini. Sexier body in it.” He winked, slid his hand to the small of her back, and escorted her to her towel.
Heat coiled in her lower belly. The man always knew exactly what to say.
“We need players. You game?” he asked.
While an expert surfer, she was no slouch at volleyball after years of playing while waiting for waves. “Let me get a shirt from my bag.”
“No way, you’re our secret weapon with your hot body.” A grin spread across his handsome face.
She’d be his secret weapon any time.
* * * *
Ray loved catching her off guard and swore her nipples peaked at his compliment. His second brain went on alert at her reaction. Down boy.
The first serve rocketed toward her. She double-handed a setup to the player beside her, who spiked it over the net. The attack had a thin blonde diving into the hot sand to no avail.
With an overhand serve, Ray drove the ball deep into the left side court. An opposing player ricocheted it into the net, but his teammates failed recovery. He served another point before the ball stayed in play.
Jo proved her skills at net, not missing a single setup. The opposing team quickly modified their strategy moving their better players to the net. Teaming with her on volleyball reminded him of old times. Playing with the boys with not a care. Acting like the girl he’d known before California. Fearless.
How silly of him to believe he might sneak a peek of those fine cheeks or lovely breasts. Surfers, especially the pros, were masters at keeping their swimsuits in place. Her laughter made his heart soar.
They bowed out of the next game and took a quick dip to rinse away sweat and grit. At her perch on the dune, he sat beside her. “You still got it.”
“So do you.” Her knee bumped his thigh.
He held the contact. “I wish I could have seen you compete at Baja. It must’ve been intense.” He flipped up his shades and held her gaze.
“Make you wet your pants.” She blushed.
“Better than sex?” He smirked.
Her eyes narrowed. “You’d be the better one to judge.”
His face heated like a sunburn. She hadn’t forgotten his player days.
“If there’s better sex than shooting through the tube of a six foot wave, I’d love to experience it.”
Her subtle wink lit a fire in his groin as a verbal bet lodged on his tongue. “Well―”
“Why’d you became a firefighter? For the rush?”
Before now, he’d never considered his reasons, other than a paycheck. “Construction work was hard to find when I returned from Iraq. I ran into your dad’s lieutenant. He suggested I volunteer until I found a job. Being on a crew, is kinda like when I was on the football team. They’re family now. With Cappy gone and you away at college, Bobby was busy with the police department.” He clenched his jaw. “I never stopped missing you, Jo.”
Her eyes widened. “I didn’t want to leave but―”
“You needed to or you would have regretted it later.” Sentiment lodged thick in his throat. Now wasn’t the time. He stood and offered his hand. “Man, I’m starving. You?”
“Thirsty.” She rose and stepped into her shorts.
“Love the cutoffs, Dahlin’.” Her velvety skin sent his pulse skittering as his fingers slid around her trim waist.
“So in an ass man’s opinion, they’re better than stretch denim?” She cupped his butt in play making his dick stir.
He would have to thank Craig’s girlfriend for stirring Jo’s jealousy. Confirming feelings he’d hoped she’d had for him all along. “Baby, you’d look good in anything and I bet better in nothing at all.”
* * * *
His compliment had her giddy as teen. His hand rode possessively on her lower back as they headed for the food tents. After piling barbeque, fried chicken and sides onto their plates, he opened the back hatch of the Hummer to sit.
She sipped her beer. “How’s your mom?” No doubt, Mona was still searching for the man to fix her broken heart. In contrast, her dad never trusted another woman. Jo barely remembered her mother.
“Living in Pennsylvania with some guy, for now.” He chewed and rolled his eyes.
“Have you met Sarah?” She doubted Bobby had time for his brother from another mother now.
“While grocery shopping with the crew. She seems his type. He says she’s a great cook.” He bit into a chicken wing.
She laughed and bumped her shoulder against his. “That’s so Bobby. No man will ever compliment me on cooking.”
“Mom offered to teach you.” He arched a brow.
“And mess up the cooking for car and house maintenance barter system she and dad had going?”
“I believe your talents lay elsewhere,” he said with a mischievous squint.
His innuendo made her nipples tighten. Sex with Ray would be like surfing the Hawaiian Pipeline, something she’d always dreamed of, but considered a near death experience.
Twilight descended and the party moved inside. Desperate to avoid the house and questions about her return, she asked, “Can we go for a ride?”
“Is this a date?” His blue eyes gleamed.
Years ago, when they took off for Hatteras to surf