Too Dangerous: The Lewis Cousins, Book 5

by Bethany Lopez

  That was the night I’d walked in and found Dillon and Laurel kissing, and learned they’d been carrying on a relationship behind my back.

  I wasn’t upset because my brother and best friend were together, I’d been pissed because they’d lied to me.

  “I didn’t even know he could play … or sing.”

  “He’s really good,” Chloe said.

  Huh, looked like another facet of Shane that I knew nothing about. I wondered what other secrets he had.

  “I heard him after hours at the bar once. He is really good,” Serena agreed. “I think he gets stage fright or something. He doesn’t really ever play in public, unless the Lewises are forcing him to.”

  I watched as Zoey came bounding back outside with a full pitcher in one hand and an acoustic guitar in the other. She walked up to Shane and held it out. He took it reluctantly, his gaze catching mine.

  I gave him a smile of encouragement, because I really wanted to hear him sing.

  He shrugged, looked a little embarrassed, and walked to the bench in the corner of the yard, putting himself a few feet away from everyone else.

  I wondered if he sat so far away so that he’d feel like he was alone and if he was nervous playing in front of the eight of us, even though we were the people closest to him.

  I figured that was the case when he closed his eyes and began to play. When he opened his mouth and started singing, my jaw dropped to the floor. He’d talked about putting in his applications to put his biology degree to use, but this is what Shane should be doing with his life.

  “He’s amazing,” I murmured and sat back with my margarita to relax and enjoy the show.

  Shane

  I kept my eyes closed until I was comfortable and sang covers from Jack Johnson, Zack Brown Band, and Bob Marley.

  I knew everyone was watching me as they drank margaritas and chatted softly, but I tried not to let it get to me. Once I got into the music, I could forget about the audience and enjoy myself.

  It was just in the beginning, before I was swept up in the chords and melody, that my father’s words would intrude and bring about my nerves.

  You’ll never amount to anything.

  Focus on things that matter, not that stupid guitar.

  God, how did I raise such a fuckin’ wooz?

  And, that was all by the age of nine, before I’d even been old enough to get a job or pick a career path.

  My father was always an arsehole, but after my mum died, he’d become a deadbeat, too. I was grateful he was no longer in my life. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near Jazzy or her family. The Lewises showed me what family really looked like.

  Hopefully, Jasmine and I would be able to build a family like theirs.

  There I go, getting ahead of myself again.

  I sought her out, like I had continuously while I sang, before making sure I made eye contact with everyone. Something funny happened inside of me, seeing her sitting there, enjoying herself while singing along with me.

  I imagined what it would be like to sing just for her, maybe a song that I’d written, and wondered if she’d like it or think I was foolishly wasting my time on something that had no future.

  I finished up the song and smiled out at the group.

  They started clapping as I stood, the guitar hanging from my hand, and Gabe placed his fingers between his lips and whistled, just like he’d been doing since the first time I played for him in college.

  “Thank you,” I managed quickly, embarrassed by their praise.

  “Someone get this man a drink,” Gabe called out.

  “I’m headed in,” Jed said, rising from the table. “Beer or margarita?”

  “Beer, please. Thanks,” I replied, and looked at Zoey. “Where do you want this?”

  She took the guitar from me and said, “I’ve got it. Thanks for playing; you’re so good. Made me want to get up there and sing with you again.”

  “Next time,” I assured her with a smile, although, if she’d come up and sat next to me tonight, I would have been more than happy to pick out some duets.

  The seat next to Jasmine was free and although I wasn’t sure if it was by design or accident, I was choosing to believe she saved it for me.

  “I had no idea you could sing, or play,” Jazzy said, turning to me as I sat.

  “Yeah, I picked it up as a kid,” I said, then quickly added, “It’s just fooling around, though.”

  I didn’t want her to think I was a bum. It was bad enough I was still bartending, rather than utilizing my degree.

  “It didn’t sound like fooling around,” she said gently, her eyes searching my face.

  I hoped my vulnerability wasn’t there for all to see. Music was a touchy subject for me, always had been.

  Jasmine reached out and covered my hand with hers. “You’re very talented.”

  “He writes songs, too,” Gabe offered.

  I glared at him across the table, but Gabe just grinned and lifted his beer in acknowledgement.

  “You do?” Jazzy asked.

  “Oh, will you play something of yours?”

  This came from Chloe.

  “Come on, guys, leave Shane alone for a bit, it takes all his energy to get up in front of everyone and put himself on display like that,” Jed said as he joined the group.

  He handed me a beer and I said, “Thanks.”

  Jed grinned, knowing I was talking about the drink, and the assist.

  “Sorry,” Chloe said, looking guilty, and quite adorably tipsy.

  “No worries,” I assured her, not wanting her to feel bad. It was flattering that they liked to hear me play and wanted to hear my songs, but I’d never sung an original in public.

  Only Gabe and Jed had heard me sing my own songs. I wasn’t ready for anything beyond that.

  “Okay, so Shane can sing and play guitar, what about everyone else? How can you entertain us?” Jasmine asked, and I squeezed her hand softly, thanking her nonverbally for taking the pressure off.

  “I can win a Super Bowl,” Gabe said with a cocky grin.

  Jazzy rolled her eyes and said, “Next.”

  “I can write you all into a book and have you do whatever I want,” Zoey offered.

  “How about something that can entertain us right now?” she asked.

  “Jazzy and I can sometimes finish each other’s sentences, although, not on demand,” Dillon said, smiling at his sister.

  This was the first time I’d seen them relaxed around each other since he found out we were married. I hoped it was a good sign.

  “I can roll my tongue,” Chloe said, opening her mouth and demonstrating.

  “I can shake my eyes.”

  I sat up and peered around Jasmine to look at Reardon.

  “You can what, mate?” I asked him.

  “Shake my eyes.”

  “It’s true, he can,” Jasmine said, finishing off her drink.

  “How?” Jed asked.

  “Come closer,” Reardon told us.

  Jed and I got up and moved to where Reardon was sitting. Apparently everyone else had already seen it, because they stayed put.

  Once we were crouched in front of him, staring into his eyes, he did it.

  “Whoa,” Jed cried with a laugh.

  “That’s pretty wicked,” I agreed, clapping a hand on Reardon’s shoulder before going back to my seat.

  It became louder as everyone began to chat. I took my seat and leaned in to ask Jasmine, so that only she could hear, “And, what’s your talent?”

  “You mean other than the twin thing?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

  “Mmmmhmmm.”

  Jazzy bit her lower lip and looked around the table, before her heavy-lidded gaze captured mine once more and she crooked her finger, indicating I should come closer.

  I leaned in and turned my head, so that my ear was inches away from her lips.

  What she whispered had my eyebrows rising and my dick hardening. I leaned back and looked at her.

&
nbsp; “You ready to get out of here?” I asked, and when she nodded, I stood up and yelled, “Welp, g’night!”

  “Uh-oh…”

  “They’re gonna go at it again.”

  “Gross.”

  That last was from Dillon, but I didn’t pay attention to any of them. I took my wife’s hand in mine and led her the fuck out of there.

  Jasmine

  We ran back to the cabin, holding hands and laughing like two teenagers on Spring Break.

  I was feeling good from the margaritas and watching Shane perform. Seriously, there was something about watching a talented man sing and play the guitar that made him ten times hotter, and Shane was already pure fire.

  We stumbled inside and I did a little twirl in the center of the room.

  I felt fantastic.

  It was amazing how a relationship that started out so complicated, with business deals, lies, and subterfuge, currently seemed like the easiest thing in the world.

  Shane was good.

  I was good.

  We were both getting what we wanted, plus, sex.

  I stopped spinning. Well, my feet stopped turning me, but my head was still spinning and I tried to focus on Shane.

  “Whoa, how many margaritas did you have?” Shane asked, his hands reaching out to keep me steady.

  I shrugged.

  “Zoey kept refilling them.”

  “Hmmm, what do you say we get you ready for bed and tuck in for a snuggle?” he suggested, tucking my hair behind my ear.

  “A snuggle?” I asked with a frown. “I thought we were coming back to do that thing I told you about.”

  “I think we should save that bit for later.”

  I felt myself begin to pout.

  “What about the dirty Australian words?” I asked. I’d really been looking forward to hearing him speak Aussie to me.

  “How ‘bout this … We get ready for bed, climb under the covers, and I can give you a crash course while we settle in.”

  “Okay,” I agreed happily.

  I totally planned to change his mind once we were in bed doing the dirty talk.

  I picked up his T-shirt off the chair and hurried into the bathroom. While I got ready for bed, I hummed Better Together, one of the Jack Johnson songs Shane had sung.

  When I walked out wearing only his T-shirt, Shane looked up from turning down the bed and groaned.

  “You’re going to kill me.”

  I laughed and clapped my hands, then turned so he could see my bare ass peeking out from beneath the cotton.

  His eyes darkened, but rather than grab me and claim me against the wall like I’d hoped, he patted the bed and said, “C’mon, in we go.”

  I stuck my tongue out at him and crawled into bed.

  “There, happy?” I asked sullenly once I had the covers drawn up to my chin.

  “You bet,” Shane said, his voice sounding anything but.

  Turning on my side, I propped my head up on my hand so I could look at him.

  Damn, he’s pretty.

  He shifted so he was facing me and I leaned in so I could get a better look at his eyes.

  “Wow, there are so many shades of blue in there,” I marveled.

  His chuckle vibrated through me and I sighed. I was just about to close down and lay my head on the pillow when I remembered the lesson.

  “Hey, you’re supposed to tell me the words.”

  “Well, you know what a pash is,” he said, his cocky grin reminding me of when Serena had asked him to explain it at the bar.

  “I didn’t like you flirting with her,” I grumbled, even though it was in the past.

  “I know,” Shane said, his thumb rubbing gently against my chin. “You sure tried to hide it though.”

  “So … yes, I remember, a pash is a kiss.”

  “Not just any kiss. One that’s slow, long, passionate…”

  “Hmm, I think you should show me.”

  I bit my lip, worried he’d tell me to lay down and go to sleep again, but instead his thumb moved up to pull my lip from my teeth and he replaced it with his mouth.

  Boy-o-boy, he wasn’t kidding. Shane took his time, teasing me playfully before deepening the kiss and making me feel it all the way to my toes.

  “Yum, show me more,” I pleaded when he broke the kiss.

  Shane shook his head and grinned. “Relentless,” he said.

  “Yup.”

  “O-kay.” He grasped my hand and placed it over his cock.

  Yes!

  “I’ve cracked a fat.”

  I giggled.

  I stopped laughing when his hand slid up my thigh and we were both reminded that I wasn’t wearing any underwear.

  He cupped me and said, “Your map of tassie.”

  “My what?” I breathed, finding it hard to concentrate on his words when he was touching me.

  “Because it’s shape like Tasmania,” he explained, moving lower to brush lightly across my ass. “Clacker.”

  Shane’s fingers trailed back up.

  “Gash or pink bits.”

  His thumb found my clit and started to play.

  “A wristie is a hand job, and a gobbie, a blowjob,” he said softly, still working his magic. My hips started to move in a circular motion and my breathing turned shallow. “To shag or root means to have sex.”

  I laid back and closed my eyes, so close I could almost reach it.

  “That’s right,” Shane murmured. “You’re glorious, love.”

  I found the peak, cried out his name, and with a smile on my lips, promptly passed out.

  Shane

  Being at Gabe’s camp had been one of the best vacations I’d ever had and I hated that it was almost over.

  But, before we all headed home and left Gabe here for most of the summer, we were about to embark on Family Sports Day, and I was stoked. With a ropes course, zip line, repel, obstacle course, and game of footy, plus a barbecue to welcome all the counselors, it was sure to be a fantastic day.

  We were all at the fields, decked out in our workout gear and stretching our bodies to get them ready.

  The Lewises were a competitive lot, but so were Jed and I, so we were all laughing … taking the piss. Basically, talking mad shit.

  “I just want to remind everyone that I am the reigning champion, and let you know that I plan on keeping the title,” Reardon said as he stretched his arms.

  “Zoey’s not participating this year, so I’m coming for ya,” Gabe replied. He was bent at the waist, wearing only running shorts and shoes. Dude had been retired from the NFL for years now, but he was still built like a brick shithouse.

  It was a little intimidating, but there’s no way I’d let him know that.

  “I’m gonna have to bet on beginner’s luck on this one, lads,” I chimed in.

  “And, while you guys are off measuring your cocks, Rena and I will waste no time smokin’ all y’all,” Jasmine said cheekily as she rubbed sunblock all over her fair skin.

  I shot her a grin and she rolled her eyes.

  Fuck, but she was awesome. I loved how she could hold her own and be tough as hell, plus be funny, sexy, and often times vulnerable when we were alone.

  The only thing this week with Jazzy had done was prove to me that she was definitely the woman for me.

  “Uh, Jazzy, you and Rena haven’t won once in all the years we’ve been coming here,” Reardon taunted.

  “Stuff it, Ass, your reign ends today,” Jazzy snarled.

  Dillon chuckled but kept silent while he dipped into a deep lunge. I was thinking he’d be the one I needed to watch out for … silent but deadly.

  There were spotters on hand at each course and a medical team on standby just in case anything happened. The kids would do this course every week at the end of camp and then a new round of kids would come in. Gabe took the safety of everyone very seriously, and took every precaution.

  Some of the counselors had already arrived, and the rest would come throughout the day, but for now, it wa
s just us about to start the competition.

  As the only two who had never done the course, Jed and I were at a disadvantage, but I was confident in our physical strength and abilities, and knew not only would we finish, but we’d be close to the top.

  “Good luck, mate,” I told Jed, slapping him on the ass.

  “You, too, brother,” Jed replied with an easy grin.

  “You boys are gonna need it,” Serena drawled.

  Jed grabbed her and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around while she squealed.

  “Save some of that fire for tonight,” I heard him say and let out a laugh.

  “Take your places everyone,” Jeremy, one of the counselors I’d met earlier, called.

  We all lined up and, when he gave the signal, we were off.

  The ropes course was first, and after our initial sprint there, Gabe, Jed, Reardon, and I were neck and neck, with Dillon, Jazzy, and Serena close behind. Being new mothers, Chloe and Zoey had opted to stay back and prep for tonight’s barbecue.

  I was harnessed and up the tree quickly. I crossed the rope and rounded the tree to see the Gabe shooting down the zipline.

  I let out a whoop as I zipped through the trees and hustled as I repelled down the wall on the other side.

  Reardon was behind me now, and Gabe and Jed were a few feet ahead.

  I kicked the lead out and gained on them, which only made them run faster. Next up was the obstacle course. The three of us dropped in unison and began low crawling. When I popped up on the other side, I turned back and grinned as Jasmine reached the course.

  “Good work, babe,” I called back, then took off to the swinging rope, hot on Jed’s heels. I landed on the other side of the pool and ran through the tires, meeting Jed at the ladder of logs and pulling myself over and under.

  “Fuck,” Jed said as he lost his grip.

  I didn’t pause, just took off at a sprint toward the wall. Once there, I grabbed the rope and started pulling as I walked my way up.

  “Gonna have to be faster than that, Dundee,” Gabe’s voice said from too close behind me.

  “Bugger off, old man,” I replied, because seriously, a fuckin’ Crocodile Dundee reference? What year was this?