Stay: A Shores Novella (The Shores Book 2)

by Allie York

  “I’m just borrowing him,” I explained, turning to back up. I got to appreciate her body in spandex and had to stop. A skin-tight pink tank top paired with barely-there black shorts and pink shoes at the end of the longest toned legs I’d ever seen made me need to adjust my shorts before we even got out of the driveway. Fuck, Blair was sexy.

  “Where are we going?” Blair raked her dark hair up into a high ponytail and secured it. All the make-up was gone, and I noticed a light dusting of freckles under her blue eyes.

  “It’s a surprise,” I answered, making myself focus on driving. We only had about two hours of daylight left and hiking in the dark was a bad idea.

  “I hate surprises.” Blair reached back to pat a very happy Ranger on the head.

  “You only have to wait about fifteen minutes.” I pressed the gas a little harder, trying to get us there faster. If we didn’t start an activity, I was going to pull over and fuck her in the car, screw hiking.

  With a shrug, Blair leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. It was a good effort on her part. Blair was pretty good at acting unaffected, but if you knew her, you could tell when she was faking it. Our drive toward the hiking trail was a classic example of her faking it. Ranger leaned up to rest his head on the armrest between us and Blair stroked his nose while I drove and watched them. Nothing was sexier than a hot woman with a beautiful dog. My phone buzzed in the cupholder and Kallie’s name flashed on the screen, but I ignored it. I’d been ignoring her since she came over and gave me the worst blowjob ever. The girl didn’t like being ignored, but I didn’t want to suffer through another encounter with her, so I didn’t answer her calls or texts. Once the phone stopped buzzing, I glanced back to see Blair watching me intently.

  “What?” I asked casually.

  “You break her heart too?” Blair had that mischievous smile in her voice.

  “No,” I answered honestly, but Blair scoffed. “Seriously, she wants sex, but she’s not great at it. I found something better, so she’ll have to take a hint.” I shrugged, turning off the main road toward the park.

  “Did you just compliment me?” Blair touched her chest, faking flattery.

  I rolled my eyes and parked. “Sure. If you need to think that.” I finally turned to face her.

  “Oh my gosh, a compliment without having your dick in me. Be careful; it sounds like you might actually like me.” Blair winked at me and jumped out of the car before I could even think of a response. Ranger leaped from the car after her, and she bent down for his leash, giving me a great view of her toned ass.

  “Nice ass!” I yelled at her as she slammed the door. Blair flipped me off through the window, and I got out of the car to chase that nice ass on a hike.

  “Careful with those compliments, Jax,” Blair warned, hurrying toward the openings to the trails. “I might get confused about our arrangement.”

  In two long strides, I caught up and grabbed her upper arm to spin her into me. “Let me clear it up for you.” Blair bit her bottom lip and I had the urge to shove her against a tree and fuck her senseless. “I love fucking you, you’re hot as hell, and I like being around you. Got it?” As I said the words, I realized how true they were.

  “I was joking. Calm down.” Blair pulled her arm out of my grip, slapped the side of my ass and started for the trail. “Coming, big guy?” She turned to watch me stare at her before tossing her long ponytail over her shoulder. I watched her ass sway for a beat, then ran after her.

  “Wanna make this interesting?” I caught up with her and Ranger.

  “Is hiking with me not interesting enough?” Blair shot back at me with a smirk.

  “Race. First one to Shore’s point wins,” I offered.

  Blair took two long strides then turned to face me, making Ranger stop with her. “What do I win?”

  “Bragging rights.” I hadn’t settled on a wager or even thought I needed one. I kind of figured beating me would make her pretty happy.

  “I want one better.” Blair thought, taking a few steps backward to let Ranger sniff a tree. “When I win, you have to do fifty burpees.” She looked more than satisfied with her demand for more exercise.

  “When I win, you have to give me fifty squats. Keep that ass in check.” I offered my hand for her to shake and pulled her close when she took it. “You made a big mistake little girl.” I leaned close to her ear, breathing lightly on her neck before I nipped her earlobe. Goosebumps broke out on her neck and shoulder.

  Blair came back with just as much intensity. “I’m going to love watching you sweat and cry over all those burpees.” She pressed her lips to my jaw to whisper the words, then backed up with more conviction in her face than I’d ever seen.

  We took our places side by side, facing up the hill toward Shore’s Point. Blair still had Ranger’s leash in her hand, and I knew he would only slow her down. She was about to give me enough squats to make her legs burn and I was going to brag about my win every chance I got. I watched Blair stretch her legs out, shaking her hands and rolling her neck. A show didn’t win races, speed won races, and there was no way in hell she could beat me. We took our marks, got into position, and took off. My plan for a leisurely hike turned into the two of us, Ranger in tow, weaving in and out of trees, hopping over roots and sticks as fast as we could. The trail was only about two feet wide in most places, so being ahead meant staying ahead until the opportunity to pass came up. I pulled ahead first, planning to pace myself in case she had a second wind near the top. At her first chance to pass me, Blair grabbed a thin tree and launched herself ahead of me by about a foot, Ranger was off leash, running alongside us. I grit my teeth and focused. Not quite half a mile wasn’t much time to get back in the lead, and the trail got steeper the farther we went, but I was determined to find my in. Blair hopped a root in front of me and I saw my chance. I hopped the root a fraction of a second behind her and slid in front past a dense wall of trees. I could hear her breathing as I passed but didn’t let it distract me. Blair cursed me as I passed but I kept my head down and pushed forward.

  The trail inclined steeper, the trees moved my in a blur of green and brown. All I heard was Blair panting and Ranger right behind her. The thud of my pulse in my ears picked up when I saw the sign for the point. I remembered the last curve and last incline before the top and realized she would be able to pass me at least twice if she really tried. I took a chance and glanced back to see her still several paces behind me. There was no way she could catch up and pass me before the top. I pushed harder, leaning into the burn in my calves. I tore around the curve, the end in sight, and pumped my legs harder for the last steep hill before the finish line. I couldn’t hear her breathing anymore, so knew I had it in the bag. Until a sharp bark rang out. The noise distracted me, only for a second, then a large warm body came barreling into the back of my legs and I stumbled forward, nearly falling on the uneven dirt. In a matter of a second, Ranger was jumping on me and Blair flew past me as if her pink running shoes weren’t touching the ground. She glanced back, a satisfied smile on her red face. I reached the top a step behind her and she let out a loud whoop that echoed through the woods around us.

  “Cheater!” I screamed through burning lungs and dropped my hands on my knees. “You cheated!” There was no way to prove that Blair told Ranger to trip me up, but I was hoping she would confess, and we could move on.

  “I. Didn’t. Cheat.” Blair panted in front of me, leaned back on a tree with her hands on her hips. Ranger sat in front of her with a big goofy smile on his face. “Now, give me burpees.” Blair demanded, sounding a little less winded.

  “Can I breathe first?” I looked up at her, hoping the begging voice worked. I should have known better.

  “Now,” Blair growled, pointing at the ground, and I stood to my full height to stretch out again before I started on my burpees.

  “You’re evil,” I grumbled.

  “Thanks,” Blair answered with a wink. I started the burpees like I was told.

 
; I was in pretty good shape. I worked out four times a week, kept myself nice and lean. I was in prime physical condition. Or I thought I was. Blair beating my ass at a race, making me do all fifty burpees to her specifications, then making me walk back down to my Jeep was more than my body could take. Maybe it was more my pride than my actual muscles hurting, but it felt like the same defeat. The worst part was that the hike and the race were my idea. Blair looked pleased as hell on our stroll back down to the Jeep. She kept whistling and had more pep in her step than I had ever seen. Once we reached the Jeep, I finally spoke.

  “Last time I make a bet with your cheating ass,” I grumbled, unlocking the car. Ranger hopped in the back like he always went places with us. I shut his door and turned to have Blair in my face.

  “I was prepared to lose, ya know. Ranger did me a solid, but I didn’t tell him to. So, stop pouting and take the loss.” Blair stepped closer so her body was almost touching mine.

  “You telling me to man up?” I asked, itching to grab her ass and haul her against me.

  “I am.” Her voice took on that sexy tone she knew I loved. Before I could respond, Blair was against me, my back to the door and her hands in my hair. I palmed her ass, pressing closer until she put her hands on my chest and shoved off me. “Since you did all your burpees, I’ll let you join me in the shower.” With a smirk, Blair turned and climbed into my Jeep. I walked around and got in, turning the engine over and taking a long swig from my water bottle.

  “I was looking forward to watching your ass do squats but seeing it in the shower sounds even better.” I offered her the water bottle and peeled out of the lot toward my apartment, itching to get my hands on her wet, naked body.

  Chapter Seven

  Blair

  We shared a glance across the store, and I turned to ignore him and finish my shopping. He chased after me. I felt him. “What the hell are you doing?” I turned to see Jax following me through the produce section. He smiled an evil smile. “Oz is across the store.” I rounded the rack into the snack cakes and cookies but was pulled back by the cart. I looked up at my fuck buddy of almost two weeks. The broad shoulders, the tattooed arms, the sexy smirk. I was starting to care about him a little more than just good sex, but neither of us wanted all the commitment crap that came with a relationship. He was probably sleeping with other people anyway. I wasn’t. I tried, but no matter how many times I went to dinner or movies, I never took them home.

  “Come here.” Jax took my hand, pulling me into him, and kissed me. It was quick, but enough. “Come over tonight.” I took a step back and looked around for my meddling friend.

  “I can’t,” I admitted. This time it wasn’t me going out, it was Ozma setting me up with a guy. I couldn’t let her down when she was positive the guy was the love of my life.

  “Right.” Jax took a step back, and something flashed in his eyes.

  “Ozzy set me up with some guy Harris knows.” The look on his face made me feel the need to apologize.

  “Cool. Have a good time. Call me after if you need to.” Jax tucked his hands in his back pockets. “I’m gonna go find Oz.” He leaned in to kiss my cheek. The soft brush of his lips on my skin made me close my eyes.

  “Have a good night.” I watched Jax walk off, and I tried to think of him fucking some other woman, figuring out if it made me jealous, but I couldn’t tell. I wouldn’t have sex with my date, but he didn’t need to know that. It was none of his business, that was the deal. Neither of us were allowed to ask or tell. It suited us both fine. I had high standards that I never realized when it came to sex and every guy except for Jax fell short. Anytime I got home from going out, I called him. I never felt the simmer with other guys, I felt with Jax, so why settle for less than total passion?

  I stayed over in the produce and waited for Jax to leave. I watched him pick up a bouquet of roses, pink ones and leave with that swagger that only he could pull off. Apparently, he found something to do without me. It was okay; I had to go out with Harris’s friend anyway. I watched the doors slide closed behind Jax, and I went off to find Ozma. She was waddling through the pasta section, looking like she was smuggling a beach ball under her shirt.

  “Hey girl, that baby need a daddy?” I walked up behind her and tapped her butt.

  Oz turned and glared. “I will knock you down and sit on you, skinny bitch.” Her threat made me bust out laughing, and so did Ozma. “You see Jax?” Once she was done giggle snorting, she started down the aisle again.

  “Yeah, I waved at him,” I lied, getting nervous for no reason. “So, tell me about my date. Is he going to be the love of my life?” I grabbed the whole wheat pasta and tossed it in her cart.

  “He’s really nice. Harris’s mom has a best friend, and he’s her son. They were raised like cousins.” We made our way past the cookie display without her grabbing any, which was pretty impressive.

  “Does this really nice guy have a name, age, location, or occupation?” I tried not to sound bored already. Truth was, I had no desire to go out with this guy, or any guy. Lately, since Jax and I hooked up anyway, I’d been listless. I was almost bored with myself. It was like the spark of a new hook up that I craved so desperately was impossible to find. Maybe I just knew that no guy could compete with the chemistry Jax and I had. It wasn’t an emotional thing, purely physical.

  “His name is Brody, and he’s a journalism student,” Ozma said it like it was an accomplishment, but I groaned. “What?”

  “A student? Is he at least legal?” I huffed and rolled my eyes.

  “A fourth-year student, so yes, I would hope he’s legal.” Oz rolled her eyes back at me. “Just play nice and behave the best you can, okay?” Oz tipped her head for me to follow her to the register. If I had to suffer through the date with a student, he had better be hot as hell.

  We paid and headed back to Ozma’s to get ready for our double date. At least she knew her man was hot and liked her, I had to try to impress mine. It was not my idea of a good time. I never did the blind date thing. It made me feel like a book, like I was being judged before they even cracked the cover. I made a promise to my bestie, and I was going to follow through.

  By seven we were primped and ready to go out on the town. Out on the town for us meant dinner and back home because Oz was big and tired, but it was still good to spend quality time with her. When she and Harris moved in together, it was like losing a sister and gaining a brother all at the same time. We still worked together, but it wasn’t the same as sitting on the couch and unwinding together after a long day of kissing customer asses. I did her make-up and Harris yelled at us from the door when the bell rang.

  “Please be nice to him,” Ozma begged, watching me check my lipstick in the bathroom mirror. I shot her a look. “I mean it, Blair. Give him a chance.”

  “I give lots of guys chances.” I fluffed my beachy waves one more time and spun her around to fix the bow on the back of her black dress.

  “Not a chance to sleep with you, a real chance.” Ozma studied her profile and ran her hands over her belly. A tiny twinge of jealousy hit me, but I swallowed it quickly. Ozma was the mothering type, hell she mothered me, but we were wired differently. I loved men, but not in the stick around and make a family sense.

  “I’ll be nice, but I can’t promise I’ll see him again.” I turned Ozma around and put my hands on her shoulders. “I’m happy Ozzy,” I promised. Harris yelled again, and we went running down to meet our dates for the evening.

  As soon as my foot hit the bottom step, I knew I was in for a long night. Brody immediately looked at me like he wanted to eat me. I hadn’t dressed sexy for a reason, but it didn’t matter. He brushed past Harris and held his hand out to help me off the bottom step. I let him.

  “Hi,” I said lamely.

  “Hey, yourself.” Brody smiled. “Harris didn’t tell me my date was so damn gorgeous.” I fought the urge to roll my eyes.

  “Thanks.” I walked past him to grab my purse and gave my best friend t
he dirtiest look I could muster without Brody noticing. I really didn’t have the energy to push a guy off me all night. Not that he was unattractive, but he was so plain. Like a Ken doll. I almost giggled at the thought of him having weird smoothed parts instead of a dick. He looked just like a college student named Brody. Brown hair parted on the side and gelled over. Angular features, and a polo with slacks, tucked in of course and Sperry’s. He looked like the boy left the frat, but the frat didn’t leave the boy.

  “Let’s go.” Harris waved us out the door and we all filed out. I kept repeating over and over in my head. It’s just one night.

  Harris and Ozma decided to take advantage of their last little bit at a twosome to make out across from us at the restaurant. At least it was a booth and we were hidden but watching your best friend who could barely fit in the booth suck face was fucking gross. Brody kept putting his hand on my knee and trying to slide it too high for his own good, and I really wasn’t hungry. Not for steak at least. I really wanted a nice healthy smoothie and to veg out on my couch.

  “So, Harris tells me you are a runner?” Brody puts on his best charming smile and picks up my hand.

  “Not professionally,” I answer, pulling my hand back to get my tea. I never drank around Oz after she got knocked up.

  “Maybe we could meet up for a run sometime. Before I started on my masters, I ran on the college team. I’m far too busy now though. Preparing for a career and stuff.” Brody looked so fucking proud of himself.

  “Wow. Master’s in Journalism,” I answered predictably. “So what are your plans after school?”

  Brody smiled, and I knew I asked the exact question he wanted to answer. Brody droned on and on about his plans to move out of his parent’s pool house after he got his fancy piece of paper and how all the newspapers on planet earth were already throwing offers at him to come work for them. I knew the type too well. My father was a criminal attorney, a huge one. He got bigger when he went into corporate law and one his first high profile case. With him working late nights and taking trips with his bimbos on weekends, mom and I spent a lot of time shopping away his money. Mom masked her hurt and betrayal with charity luncheons and thousand-dollar shoes. I ignored it as a child and had casual sex as an adult. I never wanted to be in Mom’s position. I’d never be the poor lonely wife home raising the kid because my piece of shit husband threw money at me to ignore his infidelities.