Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
My heart might not ever beat properly again.
The idea of Beau being unhappy overwhelmed me. He walked chin to chest, tucking his fingers into the front jeans pockets. What did that mean? What was he hiding?
“So you’re the guy everyone’s talkin’ about?” I glanced over at Chae. She only held my attention for a fraction of a second before I shifted my gaze back to Beau.
My entire body tensed. A slow exhale escaped. Everything in my life changed in a moment.
I was physically overwhelmed by him. How hadn’t I noticed before? My nipples tightened, the fabric of my polo brushed lightly against them, sending tingles racing along my body. My cock strained against my shorts.
The world ran in slow motion. Although time had stopped for me, it hadn’t for anyone else. Somewhere in my peripheral vision, I saw Chae looking at me, then over at Beau again.
“I see,” Chae said, knowingly.
“See what?” Ginny asked, standing on the log with Jessica to ogle Beau.
I continued to stare as he walked to the crowd of guys. Clearly, he’d known them for a long time with the dap slaps and knuckle bumps he gave as he passed by.
To give my crazy body’s reaction a break, I forced my attention to the beer bottle in my hand that I wasn’t drinking and placed it on the ground at my feet. With Beau not consuming my vision, I could think easier.
“What’s your deal, Dasham?” Chae asked. Her tone gave away her dawning speculation.
Of course, I knew what Chae implied, but I had a lot to consider before I spoke my truth.
“My name means the number ten. I’m my parents’ tenth child. I’m also smart,” I answered absently and grinned down at my Sperry shoes. “I skipped a grade in elementary school and I’m on track to graduate high school a semester early with my associate degree.” I lifted my head enough to wink at Chae, trying to hide my smile. “I’m also sporty. I played Lacrosse for my school’s team but stopped because I’m graduating early.”
I shifted my gaze to stare at the silhouette of Beau. My breath shuttered again at the nice-looking view.
“You know I work for his grandmother?” Chae asked, garnering all my attention. My head whipped her direction. Screw hiding because my dad’s resort rested on my shoulders. Chae had the answers I needed.
“Tell me?” I whispered.
“His name is Beau Brooks. He’s hot, obviously. Maybe he’d be interested in you because he’s not interested in any of us,” Chae teased, flipping her long dark hair over her shoulder and glancing back to the small circle I’d been sitting with.
“Not for a lack of tryin’,” Jessica added.
Hope built fast.
“His grandparents live here. He comes here every June and July but had to go back home in August for football practice. His dad’s a football coach and a massive jerk. He’s really mean. Nobody likes him.”
“Yeah, but he and his mom moved here permanently about a week ago,” Jessica said.
“You know exactly how long ago they moved here,” Ginny teased, calling Jessica out. “I bet you’re hidin’ in his bushes at night.”
“He quit football. Somethin’ happened. I don’t know what,” Chae explained.
“Everybody here hopes Josh can talk him into playin’ again. He’s supposed to be really, really good. I believe he’s a tight end or maybe a receiver. He makes lots of touchdowns but also blocks, so whatever position that is,” Ginny said, and glanced over at me for verification.
I only shrugged. How did I know?
“Josh is my brother. I overheard him and my dad talking about it. They live for football. I don’t,” Ginny said.
My gaze turned laser beam focused, willing Beau to look at me.
I understood my overwhelming attraction was my limbic system bolting like a speeding bullet causing my body’s extreme physical response. But when he did finally look my way, breath slowly left my lungs. After a moment’s stare, I decided there was no question that he was looking at me. Words like fate and destiny shouted from every fiber of my being.
This was the most significant moment of my life.
If souls were real, mine did loops around Beau’s, trying to rope us together.
“My old man caught a twenty-inch speckled trout at Tabbs Bay yesterday. We need to go check it out,” Hunter Jenkins said, knocking me in the arm. Hunter was a year older than me, and along with Josh, we spent a lot of time fishing together over the years.
I nodded, trying my best to listen to Hunter as my body’s nerve endings took flight. I fought the inner call insisting I turn to where the girls sat. If I did, I’d draw unwelcome attention.
I anchored my hands on my hips for balance and gave a shake of my head to clear the low-level buzzing in my ears.
“I’ll go with y’all to Tabbs Bay. I haven’t been there in a while,” Josh piped in and whacked me hard on the back, causing me to step forward or fall down. Irritated, I glanced up ready to tell the guy to kiss my ass, only to see Josh winking at Hunter. “Our guy here’s gonna think about joinin’ the team.”