Page 5 of Meet You in the Waves
“You checking for the family resemblance?” Nick asked, eyebrows raised. “Don’t worry, I’ve already looked. There is none.”
“Thank God for that,” Dane muttered.
“Aw, little bro, don’t be like that,” Nick replied, stepping forward to cuff Dane around the neck, leaving droplets of seawater in his wake.
“Get off me,” Dane grimaced, pushing his older brother away while Nick just sent that disarming grin my way again. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to have some of those drops of water slide off his skin onto me. I shook my head, wondering where those weird thoughts had suddenly come from. Must have had too much sun.
“Glad to see a year at your fancy university hasn’t changed you a bit,” Nick said to his brother. “You must be Ajay,” he added, turning the full force of that quizzical gaze back on me.
“Yep. Nice to meet you,” I answered.
“You too, Ajay,” Nick replied, holding his fist out for what I assumed was a fist bump. I awkwardly complied, not wanting to get this wrong for whatever reason. He seemed like one of those effortlessly cool guys and I was man enough to know I was feeling a little overawed, maybe a little starstruck in his presence. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around. And whatever this guy has told you about me, don’t believe it. Or maybe do. Who the hell knows?”
I let out a short laugh, ignoring Dane’s scowl as I was no doubt caught out by theinfamous Nick charmas said charmer winked at me then walked away towards the house. I couldn’t help turning and watching him leave, almost like my eyes had a mind of their own. Nick’s back was as glorious as the front, muscles in all the right places, legs that looked like they knew what they were on about. Perfectly rounded ass.
“So that’s my brother,” Dane finally said and I hurriedly turned away from my perusal and back to my best friend.
“He seems all right,” I offered weakly.
“That’s what they all say at the start,” Dane replied confidently. “Give it a week and you’ll see exactly what I mean.”
I risked a glance back at Dane’s brother as he walked up the path that led to the Tempe home. That little zing that had started ringing in me as soon as I stepped onto this beach was still ringing loud and clear and I was suddenly full of anticipation about what, exactly, I would be thinking about Nick a week from now.
CHAPTER 3
nick
So that was the best friend. The sweet, gorgeously adorable best friend with his delicious brown curls and big innocent eyes that had instantly called to that naughty, hidden part of me. The one that wanted to take those innocent brown eyes and corrupt.
I chuckled to myself as I let those thoughts have their moment as I washed down my board and soaked the salt and sand off under the outdoor shower. Knowing my luck, Ajay would prove to be just as stuck up and snooty as my younger brother and this would be a long, long summer where my so called various inadequacies were laid out to bare for the amusement of others.
But if my vibes were correct, and they generally were, I did not get that feeling from the ridiculously sweet, absolutely gorgeous boy I had just met on the beach. No, I had a very strong notion that this could be a very fun summer indeed.
He’d hidden it better than most but I’d seen the way his eyes had widened at the sight of me, drunk me all up, fixated on my abs the way many other eyes had done before him. Sweet Ajay wouldn’t be the first presumably straight guy to look my way twice and he probably wouldn’t be the last.
Besides, I certainly wouldn’t say no to a bit of fun this summer. And Ajay sure looked like a bit of fun. I hadn’t had anyfunsince Mateo and I broke up and that was four long months ago. I hadn’t had a dry spell like this since before I’d discovered the wonderful, exciting world of gay sex way back at the sweet old age of sixteen. I was twenty-two now and that world had so far been most kind to me.
Besides, Mateo had well and truly moved on from me with his brand newgirlfriend,so it was time for me to do the same. We were never meant to be serious anyway, Mateo and I, but I think the guy might have crushed my heart a little more than either of us had anticipated when we’d decided to test the boundaries of years of friendship into something more.
I shoved thoughts of Mateo back into the crevices of my mind and focused on the pretty face I had just met instead. The guy looked like he could do with a bit of fun and sun and I knew I was just the man for that particular job. And if it would get my little brother’s snobby nose out of joint in the meantime, well then, all the better.
I had a long, enjoyable summer break ahead of me since my site foreman, Brad, had decided to piss off to the Maldives to impress his new girlfriend. But Brad’s need to impress meant that Rob and I got to extend our little festive season holidays for a couple more bonus weeks which was super great because the sun was out and the surf was up and my little brother had just brought home a pretty young treat for me to look at. And hopefully play with a little too.
Not that I didn’t love my job. Brad was an awesome supervisor but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t also anxious to finish off my carpentry apprenticeship with him next year. As soon as I was signed off I would be free and fully qualified to do whatever I wanted to do next. Not to mention getting off the slave labour apprentice wages. I could hardly wait.
I took my time in my shower upstairs, the one that came with continuous flow hot water unlike the cold water tap outside that was a real shock to the system on a winter’s morning and forgot about the pretty new boy for the moment.
That was until I made my way downstairs in time for dinner to the melodic sound of a guitar duet and the most gorgeous voice I had possibly ever heard. I knew immediately who it belonged to. Dane, as much as it pained me to say, was an absolute natural at everything musical, could pick up a new instrument and master it in a matter of days. But he could not sing to save his life meaning the angelic, husky voice I could hear had to belong to Ajay.
I made my way towards the sound, feeling like one of those sailors caught up in the call of a siren, unable to look away. Dane and Ajay had their guitars out, Mum and Dad sitting in the formal front lounge we never sat in, listening with matching serene smiles on their faces as the boys playedHere Comes the Sun. And Ajay sung the lyrics, his tone catching me right in the guts. And maybe a little lower than that too if I was being completely honest.
I leaned up against the doorframe as I watched, my eyes laser focused on the head of brown curls as Ajay smiled at Dane when he tripped over the lyrics. I was right. The guy was beyond adorable, like one of those sweet, perfect cupcakes you want to squish and mess up a little. And maybe have a cheeky taste while you’re at it.
Ajay’s eyes flicked up to me and I felt a zing right to my stomach before he looked back down to concentrate on his fingers and a faint flush crossed those cheeks. Oh, hello there. Was that gorgeous trail of pink just for little old me?
Mum, of course, chose that very opportune moment to glance up at me, a knowing smile crossing her face as she busted me admiring the cute boy. I winked back at her before deciding aretreat was in order before I gave my entire game, and possibly my entire heart, away.
Mum and Dad clapped at the end of the song like they were at the symphonic orchestra and demanded more music. I hovered in the kitchen like some creeper as the boys humoured my parents and played a couple of Harry Styles and Taylor Swift songs and I tried to pretend I wasn’t just a tad enamoured.
