Page 91 of Changing Lanes

The truth is none of us have really dated since I moved in. I’ve yet to see Marc with a guest, overnight or otherwise. He’s about as inviting as a barbed wire fence wrapped around hot coals. He’s actually really thoughtful when you get to know him but I don’t know what kind of girl could skate past his daunting exterior to claim his heart. Hats off to any woman who tries and helmet off to the one who succeeds—she’ll probably need it. He’s…intimidating. In an extremely sexy way. He looks like he fucks with every part of his body including those charcoal eyes. Like those eyes alone could undress a fully clothed woman in seconds if he wanted. Seconds.

Beckett, on the other hand, has entertained a few times but I never stuck around long enough to see how any of them unfolded. I’d rather put my head through another wall.

Then the only times I had visitors, Beckett scared them off before I could even try anything, so I’m not really sure how dating is supposed to work. The thought of bringing a guy home now, or worse, Beckett bringing a girl home, makes my chest tense.

“We all keep to ourselves.” Except when we don’t.

“What would they say if I asked you out?”

I bite out a laugh.

All my life decisions have gone through the men around me like a moat surrounding the locked-up princess. I’d hoped that I’d be passed that point but here we are—same shit, different army of bossy bastards. Can’t the princess make her own decision of who gets to wait at the bottom while she rescues herself?

“They have no say over my choices. Any of them.”

“Okay.” Cruz nods as he watches the fast water. “Then what would you say if I asked you out?”

My first thought is no. I would say no. But is that because I really don’t want to date Cruz or is it because someone else is still on my mind? Someone that was just pressed between my legs only hours ago.

At the end of the day, what does one date matter? Cruz is charming in an inexperienced kind of way and he doesn’t know my brothers, which is a huge plus. Although, him hesitating about my roommates was a major turn-off, among other things like taking food off my plate without asking. And while he is cute, I find him to be lacking. There’s nothing that stands out about him. His build, although he appears to be in good shape, is average. His clothes, stylish but void of any real personality, are average. And his height…his height is so incredibly average. What is he? Only six feet tall?

When did I start thinking of six feet as average?

Beckett appears out of nowhere, handing Cruz a couple of bills that look like hundreds then leans in to tell him something too quiet for my ears to pick up. What the hell?

Cruz nods slowly, looking slightly confused, as he studies the grassy area around his truck that was just covered in water toys and life jackets but is now cleaned up.

Beckett grabs my hand, saying, “Let’s go.”

I stay rooted to my spot, pulling with all my strength.

“Where?”

Over his shoulder, he points to one of the jet skis and says, “I’m hot,” like it’s obvious. His shirt is up and over his head in the next instant allowing me to soak up the well-defined abs I didn’t get to fully worship this morning. Take me to church… “And you looked like you were about to fall asleep.”

He shoots Cruz a nasty glare and I cock my head. So what if I was a little on the bored side? Beckett isn’t always entertaining either.

Lie.

His eyes dare me to argue.

Glancing toward the little girl again, my stomach drops when she’s not where I saw her last and I start forward in a panic, already scanning the water in front of the dock.

“Hey.” Beckett wraps an arm around my waist. “Don’t worry. It’s taken care of.”

I swing my frantic gaze to him. What’s taken care of?

“Look.” He points to the bit of water between the dock and the shore where the strong current is blocked. Marc’s standing there, knee deep in the still water, fastening a life jacket on the little curly haired girl, his flame tattoos covering his forearms on full display as he works quickly to get her properly fitted. Some of the smaller kids are already in the water, floating around in life jackets that they most definitely didn’t have before as they all watch someone in the middle of their little circle demonstrate how to doggy paddle.

I squint.

Not just someone. The woman who was just sitting next to Beckett, chatting him up.

I eye him again and he sighs, explaining as he pulls me along behind him, “Staci and I know each other from high school. She’s one of the only people that didn’t make fun of my…appearance, probably because she resented hers just as much.”

Appearance? What the hell is he talking about? Beckett’s gorgeous on a bad day and I have yet to see one of those. Maybe he means his height? It figures kids would tease him about that. Kids can be such assholes.

And the woman? Is that why she got plastic surgery? To change the way she felt about herself?