"Take it easy," I said, bracketing her face with my hands. "It's okay. This is Val Silva. I told you about him, remember? He and Eve own the resort. This is their house."
Over Mara's shoulder, I spotted her parents in the living room doorway. Sheryl had her hand over her mouth while she stared wide-eyed at Val. Peter watched everything with a slightly bemused expression. When Val shifted a little to the side, Sheryl got her first good look at his dick, and her eyes went even wider. Her husband, now smirking, slapped his hand over his wife's eyes.
"I'm sorry," Val said. "I didn't mean to scare her. Eve and I just came from the airport, and I couldn't wait to get rid of my clothes. I had no idea you were hosting guests in our house."
Val didn't mean "our house" as chastisement. He was stating a fact, that's all. And I hadn't called Eve or Val since I decided to let Mara stay here with me. So this was my fault.
I could explain that to Val later.
"Take a slow, deep breath," I told Mara, rubbing her arms. "Val usually has a strong effect on women, but you're the first one who's screamed at him."
She took my advice, hauling in slow, deep breaths until she calmed down enough to speak. "I'm okay. I promise."
Val snaked a hand around me to offer it to Mara. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mara. I'm Val Silva, and I don't make a habit of terrifying women. I hope you can forgive me."
She shook his hand. "It's okay. At least I didn't faint this time."
"I'll get some clothes from the truck and get dressed."
Val left.
Mara's shoulders sagged, and she leaned her forehead on my chest. "That was so embarrassing."
"Nah, that was nothing. You should've been there when Val got attacked by no-see-ums."
She lifted her head to look at me, her lips kinking into an almost-smile. "I'd love to hear that story."
"Tell you later. When your parents aren't watching."
Mara glanced over her shoulder and smiled sheepishly at her parents. "I'm okay. He surprised me, that's all."
Sheryl still had her hand over her mouth, but her husband lowered his hand from her eyes. Mara's dad looked tickled pink by the commotion. Well, at least he was having a good time.
Peter took his wife's hand. "Why don't we go outside and let Ollie and Mara have a moment alone."
Sheryl's eyes flared so big this time that the whites seemed to glow in the sunlight that came in through the window. She said in an indignant tone, "I am not going out there with all those perverts. And with that...man who has..." She fake shivered and made a disgusted noise. "Walking around with no clothing on is not proper."
Yeah, I decided she must've thought Val was hot---jeez, what woman didn't?---and now she was embarrassed by that fact. Even Ruth Norris, a seventy-something grandmother, made no attempt to conceal her appreciation for Val's body. Val had been a model after he retired from football, so yeah, nobody could deny he had the looks women loved. He was also smart and a nice guy, but that was never the first thing anybody noticed about him.
He worked out. A lot. I worked out too, but not like he did. Compared to Val Silva, I looked like a puny geek.
Peter Severins all but dragged his wife outside, winking at me and Mara as they passed by us. "I trust you to take care of my daughter."
"Yes, sir, I will."
He closed the door behind himself and his wife.
Mara sucked in a big breath and blew it out. "Wow, that was totally not fun in any sense of the word."
I shrugged one shoulder, trying not to laugh. "I don't know. That was kinda fun for me."
She slugged my shoulder. "Hey! My boyfriend isn't supposed to laugh at me."
"Come on, I wouldn't do that." I grinned. "Now your mom's reaction is another story. I think she was drooling. Definitely devouring Val with her eyes, even while they seemed like they might pop out of her skull any second."
Mara's lips puckered like she was trying really hard not to smile. "Yeah, Mom was ogling him for sure. I don't think she's ever seen a naked man before. I always kind of assumed she and Dad have sex in total darkness. I wouldn't be surprised if she has no idea what a man's penis looks like."
"Well, she does now."