Page 79 of Forever Wild
It’s a struggle to multitask, listening to Tyler on the phone andshooting a glare at Brian, while simultaneously admiring Everly in that damn bikini.
“Well, that would explain why she’s been MIA.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s obviously found a new guy and is too busy to text me back,” he says.
“I don’t think she’s into him.”
When Everly finally steps away from Brian, he finally leaves. Good thing. I’d hate to fire him again. Ev glances over at me hesitantly, like she thinks I’m on some important call and wants to give me space, when really, I’m sweating bullets while talking with her brother.
“Ty.” I mouth to her.
Her brows lift but she heads my way.
“It all adds up,” Tyler says. “Her coming over to your house to use the pool and conveniently bumping into him. Plus, not having time for her brother.”
I do not like that summary at all, even if I know it’s not accurate.
“Will you keep an eye on her for me?” he asks.
I open my mouth but the only sound that comes out is a strained, hesitant, “Umm…”
“I know you two have had your differences, but I really hate not being there to check in on her.”
She’s standing close enough now that I can smell her sunscreen mixed with my body wash. I like that she smells like me.
“Ev doesn’t need or want me to keep an eye on her,” I say to him, grinning at her.
She rolls her eyes.
I pull the phone away from my ear and hold it out to her in invitation. She shakes her head adamantly. Interesting. They’ve alwaysbeen tight, but I guess he isn’t making up that she’s been avoiding him.
I place the phone back to my ear in time to hear him say, “What’s she doing? Can I talk to her?”
“She’s about to get into the pool and I’m about to work out. I’ll let her know you called though.” A small white lie. I do need to finish working out and she’ll most likely get in the pool at some point.
“Thank you.” The relief in his tone makes my guilt double. “She hasn’t seemed like herself lately. She doesn’t even sound that excited about her internship.”
I think back to the night at the club when she and her friends talked about the internship. She was more reserved than her friends, but that could be for a lot of reasons.
“She’s probably just nervous,” I say as Everly rests one hand on my arm. Goosebumps dot my skin as she circles behind me, dragging her nails up my bicep to my shoulder. She stops behind me and presses her tits against my back. Her hand comes around my front and those claws trace the muscles of my stomach, dropping lower and lower.
“Ev?” Tyler asks, tone filled with disbelief. “Doesn’t sound like her.”
It takes a minute for me to remember what the hell we’re even talking about, but when I do, I have to agree with him. He’s right. It’s hard to picture Everly being that nervous about anything. She’s fearless and headstrong. And holy shit, topless.
I cough and then clear my throat as she steps back in front of me and drops her bikini top to the ground. She has a devilish glint in her eyes that makes my dick perk right up. We spent the past two days cuddled up together with our clothes on. Me, cuddling. A novelty for sure. It was fun, but damn, she’s sexy. I missed my temptress.
“You don’t think this guy, your trainer, is the reason she’s actingweird, do you? Maybe she doesn’t want to leave him.”
“No,” I say, voice hard as I shake my head at Everly.
“Are you sure?” Tyler asks.
Fuck. I can barely listen to him as her palm rests on my chest. Her fingers glide down over my stomach and then into my shorts. I clench my teeth as she wraps her fingers around me.
“Sure about what?” I manage to ask him.
