I know my mouth is hanging open. I know I should shut it. I know I should not be gawking at my good friend just because her body is completely the most perfect-looking female body I’ve ever seen.
She puts her hands on her hips. “Please, take a photo, it’ll last longer.”
I close my mouth and blink. I should apologize for staring. I should stop staring.
She waves a hand in front of my face. “You alive in there, Viking, or have you returned to your ancestral ways. Or maybe your hip injury is impacting your brain’s processing time?”
I clear my throat. “You can’t wear that.”
She absolutely cannot wear the itty-bitty bikini she has on with a freaking see-through cover-up over it. Every man here can see…everything. And what if she leaves the house like that? There’s a community beach two doors down. Anyone could see her if she goes to the beach.
She laughs. “You’re hilarious. Come on,” she says, clearly not taking me seriously. I stalk after her. Grabbing her upper arm, I stop her at the door. My eyes go to where my hand is completely wrapped around her forearm. Her skin feels so smooth, soft, and inviting. I imagine what it would taste like if I licked it. Salty? Sweet? Maybe both?
She glances back up at me. “Dude, are all men disarmed and taken offline if they see boobs?”
I nod. “That’s why you can’t wear this.”
She spins around and looks up at me. “Hutch, I love that you want to protect me. But we’re here with friends. No one is going to hurt me. No one is going to do anything inappropriate. And most of the guys are transfixed by their women. I could walk outside naked, and they probably wouldn’t notice.”
She’s not wrong about that, but I still don’t want them seeing her curves on full display.
Sighing, she grabs my hand. “If you think this is bad, wait till you see Cam’s bikini…if you can even call it that.”
With a laugh, she drags me down the walkway and into the main house, where Fletcher is practically using his body as a human shield to keep everyone from seeing Cam as she puts together some snacks on a tray.
“It’s not that small,” she protests.
“It’s practically nonexistent,” Fletcher seethes.
“Oh my God, you are such a drama queen. It’s fine.” She steps out from beside him, and my eyes bug out of my skull. Fletcher is right. I thought Jocelyn’s bikini was too small. But Cam’s leaves nothing to the imagination.
Then Carly, Roxy, and Piper walk into the kitchen with Ava in tow.
“Jesus Christ, do they not make bikinis that cover body parts?” Fletcher hisses.
Ava sticks her tongue out at him and juts out her hip. “Mommy says I look great.”
Fletcher sighs. “Yours is great, Ava,” he mumbles with a clenched jaw.
“Come on, ladies, let’s leave the Puritans here to the cooking. How about we get in that pool?” Roxy says as she walks past us.
Bray, Gray, Kasen, and I are now all standing and staring out at them.
I suddenly am worried that other people will see any of these ladies.
I feel a hand on my arm. I look down to see Margie standing there. Now, she looks covered up.
“Don’t be Neanderthal weirdos. Those young ladies look great. I wish I had a body like theirs. Come on, Cornelia. The men are apparently sulking and cooking,” she says as she practically dances out onto the deck by the pool.
“Gray! Less gawking, more daiquiri making,” Roxy tells him as she dives gracefully into the water.
“Yeah, Gray, where’s my daiquiri?” Bray teases.
Gray groans and starts rooting around the cabinets, pulling out a blender and alcohol.
“I got this. Let the bar master do his magic,” Al quips as he walks into the room.
Ava squeals in delight as Cam tosses her into the pool. She grabs a pool noodle and starts floating around.
