His eyes practically glowed from his tanned face.
She tossed the towel in the hamper. “I know what I look like, Erick. Davis is the one guy around my age who never seemed to notice or care. Now that I know he’s related, I can add him to the list of men in my family.” Moving a bit closer, she rested her hand on his shoulder.
He felt like he was vibrating at a low frequency.
“You’re not a brother to me, no relation at all. Your siblings did a damn fine job raising you. You’re attractive, smart, and kind.” She slid her palm to his neck and found his pulse throbbing rapidly there.
He was warm and it felt good to touch him.
“You’re a male. You’re pushing me because I’ve had feelings for you since I was thirteen and you know that. You think it gives you an edge to get what you want. You’re approaching me as if I’m still that girl, naive and flustered.”
Leaning forward, she explained clearly, “I’m not that girl anymore, Erick. I don’t give parts of myself to anyone who doesn’t want the entire package. I certainly don’t encourage the attention of a man who fucked his girlfriend on the family boat in the last hour.” She kissed the skin in front of his ear and took a step back. “I can smell Taylor on you.”
His jaw clenched.
“You’ve known her for three months. You’ve known me four years. You react to nothing unless it might jeopardize your pussy supply. I thought I was your friend, she thinks she’s your girlfriend. Given your obvious goal right now, I’d say both of us were wrong.” Moving around him, she paused at his side. “Finish growing into the man you’re going to be and remember this talk. I have no intention of waiting for you. You didn’t and I get it. Life is too short.”
She walked to the guest room and closed the door softly behind her. Leaning against it, she listened as the friends started sparring a few minutes later.
Few things helped purge stress and emotion as well. Davis would help him work the temporary insanity out of his system. By the next day, she imagined Erick would be himself again.
Amanda took a long shower, had a good cry, and stared at the ceiling for hours before finally falling to sleep.
In the end, Amanda left the Keys a little smarter and stronger, with almost no realistic hope of Erick wising up any time soon.
They barely spoke after their conversation in Chaz’s gym and it was obvious that everyone noticed.
He continued to date Taylor because it was easy and she filled a need for him. The realization shouldn’t have surprised her. After all, it took her own dad until his mid-thirties to get his shit together about women.
Amanda looked Taylor in the eye, held polite discussions, and hoped the girl didn’t get her heart broken.
Erick’s choices were no longer her problem. She had her own choices to make and she had some damn good ideas.
All things considered, she felt pretty fucking good.