The Vincent Boys Collection Read online

  He shook his head. “No, I was being considerate. I’m never full.”

  I leaned back on the sofa. “Eat all you want. I’m done.”

  He didn’t lean forward to grab another slice like I had expected him to. Instead his attention stayed on me.

  “Why did you invite me here tonight, Ash?”

  My face flushed. Why had I asked him to come? Answering that question wasn’t easy. Since he’d walked in the door, I’d been acting ridiculous. I never seemed to be at a loss for things to say to Sawyer. Beau rattled me. Now he was being bored to death by the preacher’s daughter when he could be spending his evening with his sexy, hot girlfriend, doing all those things I knew nothing about. I was depriving him of an exciting night. The idea that he’d come tonight to entertain me for his cousin’s sake made me feel awful. He’d been doing this as a charity, and I couldn’t even make it interesting for him. Well, at least I’d fed him.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I just didn’t want to be alone, but I’m okay. You can go. I know this is dull compared to your normal activities.” I managed a weak smile.

  His frown deepened as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, but he didn’t take his eyes off me.

  “Being with you isn’t dull. You just seem uncomfortable. If you want me to leave, I will. I have a feeling you’re rethinking the having me over thing.”

  I sighed and let out a small laugh.

  “No. I want you to stay. I’ve just never had any guy over here but Sawyer, and even then my parents were here. I’m nervous. It’s not that I don’t want you here.”

  “Why do I make you nervous?” he asked, watching me.

  “I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.

  “Hmm, you’re wrong, by the way,” he replied, grinning.

  “What?”

  “You’ve had other guys here. I use to come here often. Your room still looks the same.”

  I smiled. He was right. I just needed to remember this was the same boy who used to lie on my bed with me and watch movies.

  He closed the space between us and relaxed as he stretched his arm along the back of the sofa. “I don’t bite, Ash. It’s just me. Promise. Come here and see.”

  I studied the crook of his arm; the idea of snuggling up against him was extremely tempting. But I didn’t think he had that in mind. So instead I leaned back on the couch, careful not to touch him.

  His hand didn’t come around me and pull me closer. It remained on the back of the couch, and I hated that I was disappointed.

  “Relax and watch the movie,” he said in a soft voice I’d never heard him use before. It made me feel warm and safe.

  Beau’s arm eventually slid down to settle on my shoulders. Absently he started tracing small circles on my upper arm. It was almost as if little jolts of electricity were zinging through my body. I hoped he couldn’t tell my breathing was getting erratic. I closed my eyes and fantasized about how it would feel to run my hands under his T-shirt and touch the soft skin that covered his muscled chest. I glanced up at him through my lashes, and his attention was completely focused on the movie. He had no idea he was driving me crazy.

  I slowly moved closer to him until my head was nestled in the crook of his arm. The smell of Irish Spring soap and the outdoors filled my senses. Sawyer always smelled like cologne. I liked soap. I turned my head just enough so I could smell him better. His arm gently tightened around me. He didn’t mean anything by it, but it felt so very good. I turned my body toward his side and closed my eyes. My imagination took over, and I wondered what it would feel like if he didn’t have this bothersome shirt covering his chest.

  “Ash.” Beau’s voice entered my fantasy.

  “Hmm . . . ” I managed to respond as my hand touched his abs.

  “What’re you doing?” His voice didn’t sound right. There was a panicked tone to it that snapped me out of my dream and into reality. I gasped when I realized my leg was hiked up on Beau’s thigh. The hem of my sundress was barely covering my panties. To make matters worse, my hand was under his black shirt; his skin felt so warm and soft. The soft, circular patterns on my arm had stopped, and his hand was no longer touching me. Horror washed over me, and I jerked my hand out of his shirt and sat up.

  “Oh my God,” I blurted out. “I’m sorry. . . . I didn’t mean . . . I’m sorry.” I couldn’t look at him. Not after I’d been all over him! Instead I did the only thing I could think of: I ran for my room.

  I pushed the door hard enough to slam it, but the loud crack never came.

  “Ash, wait.” Beau’s voice made me cringe. Oh God, why did he have to follow me? Couldn’t he have just left?

  I couldn’t face him.

  “I’m sorry. Just . . . go, okay?” I crossed my arms and stared hard at the window, waiting for him to leave. His arms wrapped around me from behind, and I whimpered as the humiliation just got worse. He was going to try to comfort me.

  “I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but from the way you’re acting, I can imagine it’s pretty bad.” He lowered his head to my shoulder. “You want me to leave and I’m going to go. But first I want to make sure you understand something.”

  My throat was tight and sobs constricted my airway. Responding wasn’t possible.

  “I started that in there. Not you. I wasn’t prepared for the reaction I got. I thought you’d push me away—not . . . snuggle closer.” He stopped again, and his breath was warm on my neck as his lips touched my bare shoulder. I shivered, and his hands ran down my arms until they covered mine. “I shouldn’t have touched you. But I couldn’t help myself,” he murmured into my ear.

  I wanted to argue. It wasn’t his fault. I wanted to tell him I was the one who got carried away. But I couldn’t manage more than just a small snivel. “I can’t do this, Ash. God knows I want to, but I can’t.” And then he was gone. I turned to see him walking out my door. More than anything, I wanted to call him back. But I didn’t.

  Chapter 4

  ASHTON

  The ding alerting me of a text message woke me up. I rubbed my eyes and tried to focus before reaching for my phone. The message was from Beau.

  Beau: G’morning.

  The shock of seeing his name on my phone this early had me sitting up quickly and then flopping back down against my pillow as last night’s events rushed back to me. I could almost feel Beau’s lips on my shoulder, and I shivered under the covers.

  Beau: When u wake up, call me.

  I should ignore him. I should ignore these texts and pretend like last night never happened. But the memory of his breath in my ear and his hands caressing my arms threw all my good intentions out the window.

  Me: I’m awake now.

  In less than a minute my phone rang. I had a decision to make and fast. I needed to either ignore his call and save both Beau and me the future trouble or answer and not care about the consequences.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey.” His voice made me instantly glad I had answered.

  “About last night—” I began.

  “I want to see you today,” he interrupted.

  My heart pounded in my chest and I smiled up at the ceiling. He wanted to see me.

  “Okay,” I replied quickly.

  “Do you mind coming here?”

  “Your place?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I’ve got some things I need to do for Mom. Why don’t you come keep me company?”

  I sat up in bed, grinning like an idiot.

  “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Have you eaten?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “I’ll bring breakfast then,” I replied.

  “Sounds good.”

  “Okay, bye.”

  He hesitated for a moment then said, “See ya soon.”

  My heart was going at warp speed as I jumped up and headed to the kitchen to make some biscuits before taking a shower.

  BEAU

  I reached for my phone—for at least the tenth time—to cal
l and cancel when Ashton’s Jetta spun into the gravel driveway outside.

  Great.

  I’d successfully fought off my good intentions just long enough for her to get here. This was bad. Hurting people isn’t something I have issues with, but hurting Sawyer? That’s out of the question.

  Ashton stepped out of her car wearing another short dress and carrying a plate of food. Watching the sway of her hips under the wispy fabric as she made her way toward me, the corners of her mouth turned up in a shy little smile, I decided I didn’t care if I was being a dirtbag. Sawyer wasn’t here, and I couldn’t seem to help myself.

  My cousin should have kept his ass home.

  “I made sausage biscuits,” she said as she approached the door.

  “Yum, I’m starving,” I replied, holding the door open for her. The breeze ruffled her hair as she walked past me. Why did she have to smell so damn good? I closed the door and turned around to drink her in. Last night when I’d left her, I’d gone straight to Nicole. Reminding myself who I was had been vitally important. Nicole had been very willing, but my body hadn’t been able to forget how good Ashton had felt curled up against me.

  “I didn’t expect you to call me,” Ashton said softly while studying the plate of biscuits in her hands.

  I’d had a moment of intense weakness when I’d woken up from an incredibly good dream she had starred in. All I could think about was being near her again.

  “I hated the way we left things last night.”

  She blushed and glanced up at me. “I’m really sorry about how I acted.”

  Damn, damn, damn, I wasn’t going to be able to resist her. Pushing Sawyer to the deep, dark forgotten part of my mind, I walked over to her, took the plate of biscuits, and put them down on the counter.

  “I told you last night: I started it. I should be the one apologizing.”

  She let out a small laugh and stared down at her feet. “No, I distinctly remember it being my leg that was hiked up in your lap and my hand that was up your shirt. You had completely stopped touching me. Thanks for trying to take the blame off me, but I was there, Beau.”

  I slipped my arms around her waist and pulled her to me. Right now I didn’t care who she belonged to. I wanted her and I couldn’t see past my need.

  “Look at me,” I whispered, slipping my finger under her chin and tilting her face up so I could see her eyes. “The only reason I didn’t grab you and haul you onto my lap last night was because for the first time in my life, I want something that belongs to the only person I love. I started touching you last night because I couldn’t keep my hands off you. I thought if I could touch you just a little bit, I’d be able to handle it. But then you didn’t react the way I expected.” I stopped and closed my eyes. Staring down at her while I talked about her reaction to my touch was difficult. Those big, innocent green eyes soaked in every word out of my mouth. God, she was perfect.

  “And my good intentions were fading fast. If you’d kept touching me for just a few more seconds, I’d have lost it. I was hanging on by a thread. A very thin thread.”

  She stepped back out of my embrace and gave me a little grin.

  “Okay. Thank you for saying that.” She turned and walked over to the counter then began taking the plastic wrap off the biscuits.

  “We both love him. Neither of us wants to hurt him. But . . . we’re drawn to each other. We have history. The three of us. For the past few years, it’s been just me and Sawyer. I didn’t want it to be that way; it just happened. I think we can all be friends again. I want us to be. So while he’s gone, let’s just enjoy being friends. I promise to keep my hands to myself if you promise the same.”

  She peered at me over her shoulder as she moved to set the biscuits on plates she’d found in the dish rack. Telling her how I’d do anything she asked wasn’t exactly the best move. I nodded and went to get glasses and orange juice so we could eat breakfast together. Just like we use to.

  * * *

  After breakfast I convinced Ashton to help me wash my truck. I figured any reason to get her outside and in public so that I wouldn’t be tempted to haul her back to my bedroom was a good idea.

  “Stop it, Beau!” Ashton squealed as she ran around the side of the truck and away from the water hose I’d aimed her way.

  “But you’ve got soap all over your arms. I’m just trying to wash it off,” I replied. Her laughter made something inside me tighten, and I forced myself not to think about it.

  “Sure you were. By soaking me. I’d prefer the soapy arms, thank you very much.”

  “Ah, come on, Ash. I was just trying to help. I promise I won’t do it again. Besides, you aren’t even wearing a white shirt. I’ve got no reason to hose you down.”

  She walked cautiously around the front of my truck. She didn’t trust me. I dropped the hose and held up both my hands. “See, I promise,” I assured her.

  She tilted her head to one side and bit her bottom lip. “Hmm, okay.”

  I watched her slowly approach the bucket of soapy water to retrieve the sponge she’d dropped. Before I could respond, she stood up and hurled a large wet soapy sponge at my face and squealed in delight before turning and running back to the other side of the truck.

  “You’ve asked for it now!” I yelled at her, and took off around the opposite side of the truck to catch her.

  “I’m sorry!” she screamed through her laughter.

  “Too late for apologies, darlin’. I’m taking you down.”

  “Beau, I promise I won’t! Please don’t throw it at me.” She ducked down behind the back of the truck.

  “Well, isn’t this sweet?”

  Nicole’s voice caught me off guard. I stopped chasing Ashton and tossed the wet sponge into the bucket before turning around to find Nicole leaning up against her mother’s candy-apple red Camaro. The scowl on her face was directed toward Ashton. I glanced back to see Ashton standing beside the bed of my truck, holding the soaking-wet sponge in her hands and studying Nicole nervously. The comparison of the two girls was like night and day: Where Nicole fit into this run-down trailer park, Ashton looked completely out of place. Old man Macklery stepped out of his front door with a beer in his hand, yelling over his shoulder at his wife before slamming the door. Everything around me faded away when I was with Ashton. It was no wonder I’d missed Nicole’s arrival. Turning back to Nicole, I shot her a warning glare.

  “I didn’t hear you drive up.”

  She raised her eyebrows and shifted her angry gaze toward me. I knew why she had stopped by. The skin-tight miniskirt and halter top that barely covered her boobs meant she’d come over looking for some action.

  “You were having a little too much fun to notice anything but her.”

  Crap! This wasn’t good. Ashton was the one person Nicole felt threatened by. It didn’t matter how nice Ashton had always been to Nicole. Nicole hated her. Catching her soaking wet in a skimpy little sundress washing my truck didn’t look real innocent. Ashton was sexy as hell, all wet and soapy, a fact I knew wouldn’t go unnoticed by Nicole. She would love to see Ashton crash and burn. I needed to say something, but I couldn’t think of anything that would fix this.

  “Hello, Nicole,” Ashton said, breaking the tense silence. “It’s past time for me to leave. I’m glad you’re here to take my place.”

  I studied the worried frown tugging at the corners of her mouth. If shoving Nicole back into her Camaro and forcing her to leave would make those pretty lips smile and laugh again, I would. Ashton’s eyes met mine and she gave me a bright smile: the kind she used to give me, the kind she had to force. Not the smile I’d grown accustomed to the over last few days.

  “I’ll let Sawyer know I checked in on you and entertained you in his absence like he requested. Looks like you have someone who’ll no doubt be much more your speed here now,” she said, staring back at me. Then she swung her attention toward Nicole and blasted her with the same fake smile.

  “Have fun, you two.” She waved to
Nicole. “See ya around.”

  I watched as Ash walked to her car and slipped inside, dripping wet. I wanted to run after her and beg her not to leave, but I knew this was her way of saving our butts with Sawyer. I hadn’t been able to think of anything to say, and I’d left all the explaining up to her.

  “I find it hard to believe Sawyer meant for her to come over here and have a soapy water fight with you,” Nicole said as she walked toward me.

  “Shut up,” I replied, and bent over to pick up the hose so I could rinse off my truck.

  “I hate her, Beau. You know that. If she needs babysitting, someone else can do it. She isn’t your concern.”

  “You don’t tell me who I can and can’t spend time with, Nicole.”

  “Hell yes, I do! The last time I checked, we’re an item. You’re mine. I don’t want you around her. Stay the fuck away from her, or I’ll tell Sawyer just how friendly you two were when I drove up. I’m not blind, Beau. I saw the way you were looking at her. The girl might as well have been naked.”

  I swung my head around and glared at her. “No one threatens me, Nicole. You know better. Don’t make that mistake.”

  “So what, you can paw your cousin’s girlfriend and I just have to sit and take it?”

  “I wasn’t pawing her. We were washing my truck. We’re friends, Nicole. She was my best friend growing up. Our being friends now is not a big deal, and Sawyer’s okay with it. Ashton’s too good for me. She knows that. I know that. Sawyer knows that. You should know that.”

  Nicole didn’t say anything. I started rinsing off the truck, hoping this conversation was over.

  “But you like her?”

  It didn’t sound like a question. More like a statement.

  “Yes, Nicole. She’s my cousin’s girlfriend. She’s nice and kind and everything we aren’t. Everyone likes her. Everyone but you.”

  “I mean you like her, like her. The way you were looking at her. You want her.”

  There were a million things I wanted to say. But saying any of them would be a bad move. Keeping Nicole’s mouth shut was more important.