Page 23 of Bad Boy Crush

“None. He picked up subs from Reggie’s and we ate on the back patio while chatting about the weather and Donovan Pate’s contract to restore fireplaces and stone walls for the historical society in the Cove.”

“That’s it?” May squawked.

“It’s a lucrative contract,” Lisa said defensively. No doubt she’d helped Donovan secure it with her myriad city connections.

“The point is not Donovan’s contract,” Elli told Lisa. Then to Lou, “You wanted him to show more interest when he showed up the next day.”

“No. I was worried he might.” Lou sipped her Mai Tai while she thought of how to explain. “Ant and I used to be close friends, and then we weren’t. I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid and lose him again. Whenever he’s around, I feel… I don’t know. At ease. More stable. Acting on the attraction between us would only confuse an already confusing situation.”

“So you admit there’s attraction between you?” May’s left eyebrow winged skyward again.

Shit. She sort of had admitted that.

“Whatever it is, I’m not mentioning it, and Ant isn’t either.” Which was for the best.

She stood by her conclusion. She didn’t like uncertainty. Uncertainty had led to her divorce. Uncertainty was why she’d curled into a tight ball on the sofa as a storm raged over the lake. Uncertainty was unsafe. And Lou was all about playing it safe these days. She’d had a wild ride with Liam. On second thought, “wild” wasn’t a great way to describe their relationship. Tumultuous might be a better word.

She expected an argument from her friends. Especially from May who hadn’t stopped giving Lou her best Vivian Leigh impersonation. But before further argument could come—verbal or no—Elli let out a sharp “Ha!”

“Look what I just received from Brady.” She swiveled her phone so that everyone could see it.

“If it’s a dick pic, I’m out.” Lisa shielded her eyes with one hand.

“I’m in.” May grabbed the phone. “Oh my God.”

“What is it?” Lou had to know now.

“It’s not a dick pic. It’s a video of our boys being wild. Xavier too.” Elli sent a pointed look at May. Seconds later, May and Lisa burst out laughing.

“This I have to see in person.” May held up a hand to signal the server and then asked for their food to be boxed up. Elli snatched the phone back and then replayed the short video for Lou.

Ant was standing on the tree trunk from Lou’s yard, only that tree trunk had been shoved out to sea. He shifted his weight and stayed upright for a few steps forward and a few steps back before falling forward into the water with as much grace as one would expect.

“Oh my God, he’s going to kill himself.” Lou put her hand on her forehead. “And he will hate me forever since I was the one who talked him into participating!”

“He could never hate you, even if you inadvertently killed him,” May assured her as she gathered her purse. “Drink up, bitches. We have someplace to be!”

* * *

At home, Lou parked in her garage. May and Lisa pulled in behind her. They piled out of the cars and met Elliott halfway between their houses.

“Wine? My treat.” Elliott took the boxed appetizers from Lisa. “Help me pour. Hurry before we miss more of the show.”

Lou moved to help but Elli stopped her with a look. “Not you.”

“She’s right.” May looped her arm in Lou’s. “There are shirtless, beautiful men over there and you are going to ogle them with me.”

Lou turned toward the three men in the waist-deep water surrounding the log. It wasn’t dark yet, but the sun had dropped from its high perch in the sky. The day was still warm, not a breath of air moving the needles on the pine trees. Lou wondered how cold the lake water was. Too cold for her, she’d bet.

Elliott and Lisa scuttled into the house as May and Lou crossed the yard. From the dock, Ant climbed aboard the log with much more grace than he’d displayed falling off it in the video, while Xavier and Brady held it steady. Once upright, Ant wobbled a bit before recovering his balance and spinning the log in the water.

“He’s doing it,” May said under her breath.

He sure was. And he looked good rather than silly, which was saying something given what he was doing. He wore short black swim shorts instead of his skivvies this time around. His chest was broad and bare, a warm orangish glow highlighting his muscular torso thanks to the setting sun. Every time he shifted his weight, one delicious muscle or another flinched. He was a beautiful sight.

“He’s doing it!” Xavier echoed May without knowing it. Lou had never seen the bartender without his shirt and was pleasantly pleased. His arm muscles were cut, his left arm decorated in tattoos, and his pecs were bulging. His thick, coiffed hair and beard were a cross between red and blond. His style was rockabilly but impeccably neat. Not a hair was out of place—yet, as he clearly hadn’t had his turn on the log.

“Do it, baby!” May called out. Ant looked up, noticing them for the first time, and promptly lost his balance. He hit the water, splashing Brady, who let out a belly laugh.

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