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“No worries, my love. I’m just looking. No intention of touching, I promise.”
I stood, grinning at my friend’s ridiculousness. “Trent, you remember Luna, Monica, and Georgia.”
“Yeah, hi. Good to see you again.”
They waved back. Monica and Georgia were in a state of gob-smacked awe while Luna was much more hesitant to welcome him. She was still holding a bit of a grudge, but as long as she didn’t do or say anything to cause drama, I’d take it. My friend could be unpredictable on the best day.
I continued on with the introductions. “Sam, this is Trent. Trent, this is Monica’s husband, Sam—”
“Killborne,” Trent finished, his expression holding a mild hint of star-struck as he extended his hand. “Thought I recognized you. I’m a huge fan. Denver hasn’t played the same since you and Ethan Prewitt retired.”
Sam inspected Trent with a sweeping once-over before taking his hand and giving it a pump, and from the way the skin around Trent’s eyes and mouth tightened, the big man was squeezing harder than necessary.
Guess Monica had been right about that fragile ego thing.
“Good to meet you, Tim.”
“Trent,” he corrected.
“Uh huh. That’s what I said.”
Okay, so Monica wasdefinitelyright.
I cut in before Sam could challenge Trent to a push-up competition or pissing contest. “And this is Desmond, Georgia’s husband,” I continued, hooking my hand through his arm and pulling him over. Desmond had a nice, calming presence about him that would help keep Sam’s testosterone in check. “He and Georgia own Warren’s General Store.”
He gave Trent a much politer handshake. “Call me Dezzy. Everyone else does.”
“Good to meet you, Dezzy,” Trent said congenially before turning to look at me, lifting the box he’d been carrying under his arm. How the man still managed to look insanely hot while holding a package wrapped in bright pink paper covered in purple balloons was beyond me, but he somehow did it. “Got Renee a little something. Where should I put it?”
“We’re putting all the gifts on the dining room table.”
“Gotcha.” He only managed to take one step toward the open slider when my girl’s voice came screeching through the air.
“Tent! Tent!” She ran up to us as fast as her little legs could carry her. Every bit of skin not covered by her adorable little swimsuit was coated in sand, even her face and hair. “It’s by birfday! I’m fwee yeaws old!”
“I know, that’s why I’m here. Couldn’t miss your party.”
She practically vibrated with glee. “I made ahugesancastle, come see!”
His eyes shifted to me when I reached out to take the present. “You go. I’ll put this with all the others.”
Those damn dimples made a show, and I could have sworn that every woman on my back deck nearly fainted. “Thanks.”
Renee’s tiny fingers latched onto his massive hand, giving it a violent tug and shake. “Come on, Tent! Come on!”
He looked down at her, his face awash with gentleness as he chuckled. “All right, Little Bit. Let’s go see this sandcastle.”
I stood there, clutching the gift he’d bought for my baby in my arms as I watched them walk hand in hand through the backyard and out the gate. I couldn’t let the sight of them together make me soft. Trent and I were just friends, that was what we agreed on. It wouldn’t do any damn good to get all gooey every time he smiled at my daughter.
It wasn’t lost on me that nearly every female head in the vicinity turned to gawk as he walked by, but I was too busy doing the same damn thing to really pay it any mind.
“So that’s him, huh?” Sam asked, pulling me from my reverie. “The dude who’s got everyone in town talking?” I swiveled my head to look up at the big bear of a man, curling my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing at the disgruntled expression on his face. He folded his big, beefy arms over his chest and glowered out toward the water. “He’s not all that.”
I lost my battle and a snort broke through. “All that? I didn’t know we are living in a high school rom-com from the late nineties.”
He turned that scowl on me, but it had no effect since I knew what a big teddy bear he really was.
“I’m just as hot as he is,” he defended. “Maybe hotter.”
