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Gillian
SO MUCH FOR suntanning and a little peace and quiet. I forced a smile, swinging my legs in the pool. I hardly paid attention to what this dude was saying. I just made all the sounds as if interested. I wasn’t very good at being rude to seemingly benign boys.
I admired my dad’s new apartment complex, tuning out the college boy. It had a community pool, palm trees clustered in two corners, patio tables, and chaises along one side of the rectangular pool. All I’d wanted to do on this Saturday afternoon was work on my tan and watch Billy play in the water. Seattle didn’t have many days like today in Pasadena. Clear blue skies, a gentle breeze… Couldn’t I just soak up the vitamin D in peace with my younger brother, Billy?
Speaking of Billy, what was taking him so long? He’d run home to grab a juice box and potato chips. When was that? Five minutes ago or ten? Our apartment wasn’t far, only around the corner. If he didn’t return soon, I might freak out.
“So Seattle, huh?”
Seattlecaught my attention. I swung my gaze to the cute jabber-mouth next to me. He was also on the edge of the pool with his legs in the water. I didn’t remember his name. Nor did I really care. There was only one guy I cared about, and I’d see him next weekend at the annual pancake fundraiser hosted by the area fire stations.
My dad was a firefighter. I grew up surrounded by some of the greatest heroes to walk the face of the earth. One of them had owned my heart for the last four years.
“Yeah, Seattle.” I glanced over my shoulder as the iron gate slammed. Relief poured over me.
“I’m back!” Billy hollered, running toward me with a sweet grin on his face. He shoved a juice box at me. “Grape, right?”
“It’s my fave.” I issue him a wink. “Thanks.”
“Yup.” He glared at the college dude. “Why’s he still here?”
“You know I can hear you, right, little buddy?”
Billy scowled. “I’m ten, asshole. Don’t call me little anything.”
“Billy, don’t be rude.” I shook my head, poking the straw into my box. “Sorry.” I grimaced at… What was his name? “He’s not usually like this.”
“That’s because you don’t usually let guys flirt with you.” Billy stomped off and dropped onto the chaise where I’d left our towels.
The college dude smiled. “You don’t usually let guys flirt with you? What makes me special?” His arm went around my back, his hand on my waist.
A breath hung in my lungs as his grubby hand splayed across my stomach.
Jeez… When did being nice mean anything more than being nice? Why did he think it was okay to touch me? Why did women have to be bitches so guys would leave them alone?
All I’d wanted was to enjoy the beautiful SoCal day with my little brother, whom I hadn’t seen since last August before I left for college. Why did this shit always happen to me?
The iron gate slammed, but I ignored it because this dude was leaning toward my face with puckered lips. I put my hand on his chest to push him back. Making a scene in front of Billy was the last thing I wanted to do. He was so impressionable at his young age. Then again, maybe watching me slap this guy across the face would teach him to respect women.
“Take your fucking hands off her, asshole.”
Oh shit. I knew that deep, gravelly, angry voice as well as I knew my own.
“Uncle Fox! What took you so long?” Billy shouted with glee.
The little brat had called him. Grayson Fox lived in this apartment complex too. When my dad sold our house last summer to downsize after I moved to Seattle, he wanted to be near his best friend to help with Billy. When I left, Dad didn’t have a babysitter anymore. He changed his work schedule at the station so he and Grayson would work opposite shifts. That way, one of them would always be available for Billy.
Fox didn’t respond to my brother. Instead, his hands went under my armpits, hoisting me to my feet as if I were weightless. He spun me around. My eyes locked with his amber orbs, glowing like a dangerous inferno was sweeping through him.
My stomach flip-flopped as his hands skated down my sides to my waist. Heat ignited between my thighs, wanton desire building at lightspeed. He’d never touched me this way. Why would he? He was my dad’s best friend and was nineteen years older than me. I’d only dreamed of his hands on my skin, discovering my body in search of the buried treasure between my legs.
Get a grip, Gillian! He’s not interested in you that way.
Grayson’s gaze dropped to my chest. He licked his lips, then flicked his eyes up to mine. Maybe he was attracted to me. If only. “Gillian, what are you doing with this asshole?”
“Hey, man, I was just talking to her.” The college dude huffed as he stood. “Who are you? Her babysitter,UncleFox?”
