Page 24 of Wish You Were Mine
“Are you still warm enough to stay out here?” Owen asked from the other side of me, his deep voice close to my ear.
And man, his voice was sexy. Deep. Smooth. Exuding a quiet confidence that I was finding I really liked.
Much better than the loud, macho chauvinism I was used to from Josh and his friends.
“I’m not sure…” I said, chewing on my lip as I debated whether staying next to a man I was undeniably attracted to was too selfish when I could be helping out my friend by distracting her brother.
“Maybe just a few more ‘Never Have I Evers’?” he suggested, arching a dark eyebrow.
And when he looked at me with those dark-brown eyes that seemed to look right into my soul, I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
“I’ll stay out for a few more,” I said, my heart racing as his lips curved into a smile, the kind that sent a flutter of anticipation straight to my stomach.
What was I anticipating? I wasn’t sure.
But...I wouldn’t mindsomethinghappening out here. Maybe something like the fantasy I’d entertained while watching him wipe down the bar last week.
I tried to be subtle as I checked him out, sneaking glances at the tattoo on his arm I’d only partially seen before, hoping no one would notice all the lingering glances I’d been giving him during the game.
And what I’d assumed was a simple bicep tattoo turned out to be so much more—two eagles, inked in bold, sweeping strokes, locked in a wild, intricate dance near a solar eclipse. The wings of the birds stretched across the sculpted curve of his shoulder and disappeared just beneath his collarbone, like they were protecting something sacred—or fighting to reach it. Feathers scattered like shrapnel, as if they'd been through hell but kept going anyway.
It was fierce. And beautiful. And I had a feeling that with all that depth, it also had to be meaningful to him.
Like maybe it wasn’t just a piece of art but a piece of him, or possibly a tribute to something he’d lost or was still chasing.
And yeah...it was hot.
His well-defined muscles didn’t hurt his overall appeal, either.
“Okay…” Ky said, biting his bottom lip. His gaze flickered toward the kitchen window behind him, checking on his friends inside. “I guess?—”
“If you need to go back in, that’s fine,” Miles said. “We know we’re not your only friends here…even if we are the coolest ones.”
“You sure?” Ky asked, glancing between us. “I feel bad…”
“It’s fine,” Bash said, waving Ky’s anxiety away. “We’ll be good.” He glanced at Nora and me, and as if thinking Ky thought he needed to stay here for Nora’s and my emotional support, Bash added, “We’re all buds now, right?”
“You two good with these hooligans?” Ky asked, looking at Nora and me.
“Hey,” Alessi said, not liking being lumped into the “hooligans” category.
Ky chuckled. “I wasn’t talking about you, Alessi.”
“Good,” she said.
Then Nora shrugged and said, “Yeah, we’re good, Ky. You don’t need to worry about Lucy and me. We’re big girls.”
“Okay.” He nodded. Seemingly appeased, he pulled himself out of the water and climbed out, saying, “If you guys can put the cover on before you head inside, that would be amazing.”
“Will do,” Owen told him. I was glad the guys were planning on doing it because I had to put the hot tub cover back on one time in the winter before, and I’d be okay never having to do that again. Bolting inside once I was out of the water was way better than shivering like crazy in the freezing temperature.
Speaking of the cold weather, I was actually surprised at how comfortable it was out here. It was probably close to ten degrees tonight, but with the hot water covering everything from my neck down, and the steam rising to warm my face and ears, it actually wasn’t so bad.
Plus, these jets were also working wonders for my sore muscles. Coach Chambers had given us a killer workout this morning as her end-of-the-year gift to us, and by the time Nora and I had arrived at the beach house, I’d already been feeling it.
“Okay, it looks like we only have about five minutes until New Year’s now,” Bash said, checking his watch. “Should we keep playing our game, or just hang out?”
“I think it would be fun to keep playing,” Miles said. Then glancing over at Alessi, he added, “I mean, when else will I get the chance to find out about more of my stepsister’s secrets?”
