Blondie walked round the breakfast bar, he opened the fridge and handed me a bottle of water. I took it gratefully.
“I have my good friend Jack with me, if you want to venture away from beer?” He offered me.Jack? Oh he meant alcohol Jack.I shook my head, taking a sip of the water.
I watched him fish around the freezer locating the ice cubes and then he started to search for something in the cupboards, a glass I assumed. He seemed very familiar with Colton’s kitchen. A short cry of triumph later and he was dishing out ice into two tumblers. I continued to watch him and he continued to let me. When he was finished, he turned to me and ran his eyes over me from head to foot and then a very slow deliberate assessment was carried out from feet to head. I could feel my cheeks warm.
I moved away from him and situated myself behind the breakfast bar. His grin was wide and he leaned his hip against the counter, still assessing. I took another sip from the bottle of water – he wasn’t making me uncomfortable and I was slightly uncomfortable that Iwasn’tfeeling uncomfortable.
“So darling, who are you with and what do I need to do to convince you I am the only guy you need?” My eyes widened as I tried to hide my reaction with my bottle of water. He threw his head back and laughed. He grabbed the two glasses in one hand and walked over to me, confident and self-assured. I tensed slightly and relaxed minutely as he walked past. He looked over his shoulder at me as he opened the door leading to the patio.
“C’mon darling, it’s too beautiful out there to be cooped up in here. Drinking alone is just sad, let’s go.” He stopped at the door, that easy grin kind of hard to resist. His head nodded to outside the door in an open invitation. What was there to lose by going outside really?
“What’s your name?” I asked as I moved away from the breakfast bar, grabbing my bottle of water.
“Jay.” He propped the door open with his hip, whilst still carrying the glasses and he extended his hand. I smiled at him as I shook.
“Arielle,notdarling,” I offered.
“Well darling it’s a pleasure.” His eyes twinkled with mischief, and with a wide grin he was off. I followed him because really, why not? Theo and Matt were asshats, Colton was too dangerous to be near and I couldn’t go find Connor when he was with Corey. I couldn’t do my usual which was find a corner and hide, my e-reader was at home.
Jay was heading to some loungers away from the pool where there were a few guys maybe slightly older but all relaxing and chatting. I quickly noticed there were no girls, which was odd as they weren’t an ugly bunch. Although they were kind of intimidating. I reached out and quickly touched Jay’s arm. He slowed down and turned.
“Darling?”
“Arielle,” I corrected. My eyes shifted to his friends. “Um, so...”
“Darling my ice is melting and trust me that ain’t no euphemism.” I knew I was blushing again.
“I’m a girl,” I blurted. Jay’s grin was downright sinful. His eyes leisurely roamed over me again.
“That you are darling.” He turned away again.
I snagged his arm. “Jay! All your friends are guys,” I muttered lamely. Seriously what was wrong with me? I didn’t know this guy, he looked like he fell off the cover ofCountry Boys R Us, but I felt absolutely no pressure from him and I was curious to learn more about him.
“I’m going to waste this ice,” he grumbled. “Look darling, we don’t bite, you’re just saying hello, it’s a party. Mingle. If you hate us, move on. No harm done.” With those sage words of advice, Jay resumed his trip. Feeling like a fool, I followed. He was right. Matt was right. I was a definite overthinker.
Jay dumped both glasses down and flung himself onto a two-seater. He reached out and grabbed my hand and I very ungracefully toppled down beside him. Once I straightened myself out, he moved slightly so I wasn’t pressed up against him, which was a sweet gesture and I appreciated it immensely.
“Who are you?” came the question from the guy to my right. His head was shaved at the sides and back with longer hair slicked back on top. He was covered in tattoos. Even his neck was tattooed.
“Did it hurt to get your neck done?” I asked without thinking. He didn’t even blink. Jay chuckled.
“This is Arielle and I found her in the kitchen,” Jay supplied the table. He was pouring liquor into the two glasses. He handed one to tattoo man.
“Damn, there any more that look like you in the kitchen?” came the question from my left, I slightly turned to the questioner, blushing.
“Nah man, just this little darling and a bottle of beer.” A grunt from tattoo and then they all just started talking as if I wasn’t even there. After a few minutes I felt myself relaxing. There were about three conversations going on all at the same time. Jay shifted again and handed me a bottle. I took it.
“You’ll like this more than beer, trust me.” The cap was unbroken, so I was happy accepting it. I twisted the lid and took a tentative sip. It was nice, I liked it. I studied the label, which read Angry Orchard Pear. I took another drink, a proper swallow this time. Jay reached over and took the bottle off me.
“Easy darling, I get the feeling you aren’t used to this.”
I frowned. His quick grin loosened me up. I smiled in return and leaned into him, I heard him catch his breath as I moved closer.
“Mine,” I said, then I reached down and snagged my bottle back.
He threw his head back and laughed. Conversation was halted as people turned to look at us, then they resumed talking.
I took another drink and settled into the seat. I didn’t join in any of the conversations, but they flowed around me anyway. I listened and I watched the group. Jay included me with explanations or excuses depending on the story at the time. People drifted off, people drifted in, it was all very relaxed. I wasn’t sure how long I had been there when I saw Theo heading over to us. The sun was sitting lower in the sky. Theo grinned at me and sat down beside the two-seater. He looked at me questioningly.