Page 18 of The Night Ride
“Hey Squirt!”Evan said as I laid the roast on top of the stove and shut the oven door.
I swiveled with a smile on my face and froze.Standing behind Evan was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen.He was as tall as my brother with the finely honed body of a Navy SEAL.But that’s where any resemblance ended.
The ground shifted beneath my feet as I tried to suck oxygen into my lungs.The man was a tanned, golden Adonis.His dirty blond, ginger hair liberally dusted with platinum blond from his time spent outdoors.An engaging grin was on full-bodied lips on a square jaw dusted with stubble.
I felt like I was in one of the teen movies where the frames switch to slow motion as the hot hero enters the classroom, and suddenly there’s wind and a golden halo around him.My heartbeat raced and palms went damp.He was utterly gorgeous, like the men I imagined in the romance novels I hid from my mother.
“Earth to Beth.”Evan waved his hand in front of my face.It shook me out of my stunned stupor.My cheeks heated to the surface temperature of the sun and were likely beet red.
“Uh hi!Sorry, busy week.”I went into Evan’s open arms and hugged him.Evan always gave the best bear hugs.I always felt safe when he was around.Like for once, I didn’t have to be the strong one and could lean on him.
But then I glanced beyond his shoulder and spied his friend.He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.My heart ached for him.This beautiful man had been hurt and hurt deeply.I understood the sentiment and felt the need to comfort him.
When Evan finally released me and stepped back, he gestured to the gorgeous man at his side.“This is my buddy, Aiden.His folks were out of town when we got our leave time, so I invited him home.Hope that doesn’t put a wrench in the dinner you made, Squirt.”
I’d known he was coming, but even if he hadn’t, it wouldn’t have mattered.The roast was big enough to feed ten people.“Not at all, there’s more than enough for everyone.And I made dessert too.”
“I can see that.”
“Dinner’s ready if everyone wants to fill their plates.”
I went into action, putting the serving utensils beside the roast.When I turned around, I almost ran into Aiden.Because he was right there, tall and utterly gorgeous, he made me want to swoon, just like the women in those historical romances I secretly read at night when mom thought I had gone to bed.I read them under the covers with a flashlight.
I stood there awkwardly, trying and failing miserably not to blush.But my cheeks were hot to the touch.
“Mind if I get some of that amazing smelling roast on my plate or are you its guardian?”he gently teased with a wry grin.His deep base pinged through me.And the smile he bestowed upon me almost made me swoon.
“Um…yes, sorry.Here’s the serving utensils.Take as much as you want.”
Our fingers brushed.Tingles of energy raced from the point of contact.He was so big and strong, and seriously, the hottest guy on the planet.There were things he made me want that I had never experienced before with a man, starting with a swoon worthy kiss and ending with him professing his undying love for me.
“I’ve got ‘em.Thanks for including me.”He smiled.My brain cells fainted.I couldn’t even form words.My tongue tied in knots.He was gorgeous and kind.No guy was ever that way with me except for my brother and he didn’t count.The frumpy, frizzy-haired homebody with more on my plate than most of my peers.
This never happened to me.The boys at school were rude.Some were even downright mean.
I waited for everyone else to load their plate before I made one for myself.When I sat down at the table, my mom glanced at my plate, and I flushed.Being chubby in my mom’s eyes was the greatest offense known to mankind.I’d always been thicker than my classmates and shy to boot.That puts a bullseye on your back for the bullies.
At school I was teased relentlessly.
Every barbed word tore at my self-worth and confidence.I was never mean to anyone, was always willing to share what I had and help where I could.But then, I’d always been a softie with the inner consistency of a marshmallow.I loved baking and romance novels.When most of my peers wanted to party and get drunk.
No matter how much I tried, I never fit in.
On my plate was half of what everyone else was eating, but it still wasn’t good enough.I felt her disdain as I scooped up some of the mashed potatoes.
“You really shouldn’t be carb loading, Beth.Stick to the protein and veggies.”
Embarrassment flooded me.I glanced down at my plate, fighting tears.She just had to do this here, in front of such a gorgeous man.And I simply wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
“Mom, she’s fine.Stop picking on her.”
Mom slurped down more wine.She always had a drink in her hand.Since dad died, she drank every night.It was why I had been forced to pick up the slack around the house.
“Beth knows she could stand to lose a few pounds,” Mom argued, glancing my way with utter disdain.
“Mom.Stop it.Leave her alone.”Evan glared until she finally caved.
“Of course.I didn’t mean anything by it.”She smiled at Evan, before shooting me a hot glare laced with meaning.It meant she would get me alone and tell me I ruined the evening by simply existing.
