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  Not to mention she’s freaking beautiful. For a long time I’d felt a little bit like an ugly duckling around her. But she always told me I would catch up.

  I ran toward her and got swept up in a bear hug. Her long brown hair brushed my cheek. I inhaled the warm, comforting smell of her.

  Vanilla and jasmine. Always.

  “Welcome home baby girl!”

  My mother leaned back and looked at me. She raised an eyebrow and smiled at me. Her smile was sardonic as she took in the ‘new me.’

  “Not such a baby anymore though.”

  I laughed. We hadn’t seen each other since Christmas and I’d changed a lot since then. I’d gotten used to my new curves, and learned how to dress them. A lot of that was Lucy’s doing.

  My mother’s hazel eyes crinkled.

  “Come on Nev, let’s get you settled. Are you excited to be home?”

  I was, but mostly for reasons I could not and would not be telling anyone, especially not my mother. The tingle of excitement I felt had nothing to do with finding a summer job, or even seeing my best friend Frannie. It has everything to do with one extremely handsome college senior.

  I immediately started arguing with myself, my internal monologue full of sensible, soul crushing honesty.

  Stop it.

  He could have a girlfriend!

  There is no way Clay is ever going to want to date you.

  You aren’t that hot!

  I knew I was being silly. I didn’t even really want to date Clay anyway. I was curious though… about what it would be like to kiss him.

  He looked like he knew what he was doing.

  I climbed into my mom’s old car and put on my seat belt. Everything about this felt so familiar, but so weird. I was different. Even my mom had sensed it right away.

  This summer was going to be special I could just tell.

  I just wasn’t sure yet how special. Or why.

  Chapter Four

  Clay

  Not one for slacking I started my first full day home with a match with the club pro Matt. It cost extra to play with him but I didn’t care. He was an amazing player and gave as good as he got. And for some reason, he considered me a friend.

  Probably because most of the people who hired him were bored housewives hoping to get into his pants.

  I’d noticed the cougar crowd dropping me hints the past few years as well. And now that I was 21… well maybe I’d take one of them up on it. At least I could be sure an older woman would know what she was doing.

  I was dripping with sweat by the time we were done. I wasn’t a big fan of showering at the club so I left. Matt waved me off and begged me to book him as much as possible this summer. I promised I would.

  What the fuck else was I supposed to do?

  Except, well, fuck.

  As much as possible.

  As many girls as possible.

  Speaking of which maybe I’d text Jen later. I knew she was waiting on me. I did enjoy working out horizontally, especially with a sexy female like Jen. She liked to sport fuck as much as I did.

  I was turning down our driveway in my convertible when I hit the breaks.

  Hard.

  A girl was biking toward me. From the general direction of the house. Long dark blond hair blew behind. Big high tits filled out her t-shirt admirably. She had a teeny tiny waist and long tanned legs. She rode closer and I tried to get a look at her face.

  Pretty, that much was obvious, with big beautiful eyes. I could see her puffy lips from twenty feet away. Cute little nose too.

  The girl looked like a God damned swimsuit model.

  No. Wait. What.

  My brain went utterly blank as I realized something.

  It was Mouse. Mouse was the swim suit model. I was staring at Mouse with lust.

  Hot, unrelenting lust.

  I jolted to action as she pulled up by my car.

  “Nev?”

  She stopped her bike, those impossibly long legs straddling the seat. Her jean shorts were short, almost up to the top of her perfect thighs. I swallowed, realizing my mouth was a little bit dry.

  But my dick was throbbing.

  She smiled at me, cool as a cucumber. Where was the worshipful little Mouse I knew and loved?

  “Hey Clay.”

  She’d grown up obviously. And she’d grown up right.

  Still, I knew how to charm the pants off a girl, no matter how hot she was. And I wanted to. I knew it instantly. I wanted to fuck Mouse, of all people.

  Really, really bad.

  I smiled, letting my eyes wander over that ridiculously perfect little body.

  “Where you going?”

  She tossed her head, sending a cascade of wavy blond hair over her shoulder. It was very sexy, but not deliberate or coy. She was unconsciously seductive. It was hypnotizing.

  “Job hunting.”

  I smirked.

  “In that outfit?”

  She looked down at herself and back at me.

  I pulled my sunglasses down and switched gears.

  “I think you’ve outgrown those shorts little Mouse.”

  Then I drove away. Slowly. Very slowly.

  Just so I could check out her ass in the rear view window. Good lord, the girl was fine. She’d stop traffic anywhere. No matter what she was wearing.

  I went into the house to change, all thoughts of texting Jen forgotten.

  Nevada

  Well, that was interesting.

  Clay had definitely noticed that I’d grown up. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that though. It was gratifying to see the dumbfounded look on his face, that was true. But I’d felt something else. Something that scared me.

  Anticipation.

  Hot, insistent anticipation.

  Like I knew on some level that something was going to happen.

  No no no.

  Bad Nevada! BAD!

  He is no good for you.

  I mean, I knew he was probably very, very good but for the sake of the argument that I am having with myself- he was very, very bad.

  Bad for my peace of mind.

  Bad for my plans.

  Bad for my self respect.

  Because any self-respecting girl would make him work for it after everything that had happened over the years. Make him work hard. Or never ever give into his charm, his smiles, his invitations.

  And there had been an unspoken invitation in his eyes.

  There was no doubt of that.

  I had a feeling suddenly I’d have a very difficult time avoiding Clayton “Bedroom Eyes” Westfield this summer. Avoiding or ignoring. Basically I knew it would be impossible.

  I sighed and pedaled faster. The bottoms of my ancient Keds had basically zero tread left so I couldn’t go as fast as I might have liked to. I wanted to go fast enough to outrun my thoughts.

  My dirty, naughty little thoughts.

  But for the moment, they weren’t going anywhere.

  It was about ten miles to town. It didn’t take too long to bike there. Which was a good thing since I was without ‘alternative transportation.’

  Yes, I was the only 18 (almost 19) year-old for a hundred miles without a car. Most 16 year-olds around here had their own cars. And not just cars either- hybrid luxury SUV’s.

  So be it.

  I didn’t have to be like everybody else now did I?

  I parked my beat up old bike and locked it with a basic bike lock. It was ridiculous I know to think that someone, anyone in this rich town would steal my million year old bike but I didn’t care. I liked it and so I locked it up.

  Besides, it’s not like I could afford a new one.

  I walked up and down the small rectangle of streets that constituted our town. I walked for an hour looking for help wanted ads. Finally I went into the stores and cafes, one after the other. No one was hiring, not even the coffee shop.

  Scratch that.

  No one was hiring me.

  I pedaled back toward the estate, trying to figure
out what I was going to do. The day camp I’d worked for in the past didn’t pay enough to cover school expenses. Plus, now I was legal so more jobs should be open to me. Technically speaking, I could work anywhere. Of course around here that meant one thing: fine dining. There were five star restaurants everywhere. Hell, even the food trucks in Sonoma had Zagat ratings.

  Very fancy, expensive ‘dining experiences.’

  Of which I had zero experience. Eating, let alone serving.

  I’d look online I decided. Maybe somebody would be willing to give me a start. Not that the food service industry was my dream job but… at my age with my experience it was definitely the best I could get.

  It might even pay me enough to save some money. I wanted to move off campus after Sophmore year. Neither Mr. Westfield or my mom were likely to pay for that. And part of my work study arrangement included a cut rate on the dorms.

  It was up to me. But I knew I could do it. With just a little bit of luck and hard work, I could do it.

  I leaned in and pedaled faster.

  Chapter Five

  Clay

  My eyes were closed but I knew instantly she was there. Watching me as I lay out by the pool in the midday sun. I smirked, feeling her eyes on my skin.

  Nevada.

  I knew it. I knew she couldn’t stay away forever.

  I stretched, flexing my muscles. Hoping she liked what she saw. How could she not? I didn’t have a spare inch of fat on me. Still, who knew what was going through that pretty head of hers these days?

  I’d been home almost a week and the girl was clearly avoiding me. Most summers I’d see her out by the pool, walking around or talking to the horses.

  Yes, she talked to horses. Ever since she was a kid. It was one of her more endearing qualities.

  I opened my eyes a crack and frowned.

  It wasn’t Nev who was staring at me.

  It was Jen.

  Shit, I’d never texted her.

  Whoops.

  “Hey Jen.”

  She raised an eyebrow at me. She looked pissed. That was the last thing I wanted to deal with. I decided to make nice instead of being the dick I was capable of being with girls.

  “Been busy?”

  I sat up and pushed my hair back.

  “Uh yeah, just catching up with the guys.”

  “Right.”

  She stood up. I realized I had to stop her if I ever hoped to be friends again. Even though I was experiencing a startling lack of attraction to her.

  Like, no heat. Zero. Zilch.

  “Hey- wait. Don’t go yet. Have some iced tea.”

  There was a pitcher on a table under an umbrella. I’d actually been thinking about adding some bourbon to it. It was never too early to start drinking after all.

  Especially on vacation.

  She gave me the side eye, considering. Then she nodded. I got up and poured us each a cup. I knew someone would come around and refill it within ten minutes anyway.

  Someone always did.

  “How was school?”

  Jen was pre-med. She loved regaling me with gross stories of anatomy class. But today she only shrugged. She was distracted, looking at something.

  A slim blond girl was walking up the path.

  She had a bikini top and denim cut off’s on.

  She looked phenomenal.

  Nevada had finally chosen to show up.

  Now of all times.

  Perfect.

  Still, I was really fucking glad to see her. My big brain and my little brain. Fuck, especially my little brain.

  Which wasn’t so fucking little for the record.

  She rounded the bend and stopped short. Clearly she thought I had left when I got up to get the ice tea. It kind of hurt my feelings that she was avoiding me. And this was pretty much proof that she was.

  “Oh sorry, I didn’t know there was anyone here.”

  She turned to leave but I stopped her.

  “Nev, you can use the pool whenever you want. You know that.”

  She gave me a look that clearly said ‘I’d rather not.’ But then she shrugged.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to interrupt you guys.”

  She looked at Jen with a supreme lack of surprise. Disdain too- just a little but it was definitely there. But she was 100% not surprised that there was a hot girl hanging here with me.

  Why should she be surprised? It was a common occurrence. At least, it used to be.

  I frowned.

  “Nevada this is Jen. Jen, Nevada.”

  Nev smiled and nodded.

  “Hi Jen.”

  Jen was staring at Nevada with a cold look.

  “I know who she is.”

  Jen turned around and grabbed her bag from the lounge chair.

  “See you around Clay.”

  Nevada’s mouth dropped open a bit as she watched Jen walk away. But my eyes were on Nev. God was she a sight for sore eyes.

  Her bikini top was nothing overly revealing, but fuck if she didn’t fill it out like a Victoria’s Secret model. Her tummy was flat and tan. I could almost reach out and rub my palm over it…

  But I didn’t. I had some self-control after all. Less than usual with this girl though.

  She cleared her throat and I lifted my eyes to hers. She’d caught me staring. I smiled at her, unconcerned. She was going to have to get used to that.

  “Earth to Clay, come in Clay.”

  “Do you want some iced tea?”

  She shook her head quickly, pulling the grungy looking beach towel off her shoulders,

  “No, I’m good thanks.”

  I watched her walk over to one of the lounge chairs. Not the one next to mine as I’d hoped. No, she’d chosen one as far from mine as she could get. She spread out her old beach towel and sat down on it.

  “You know, we have towels here. Big white fluffy ones.”

  She gave me a look and kicked off her tennis shoes. I watched hungrily as she started unbuttoning her jean shorts. I knew she felt funny about using any of the services provided by the staff. Her mom was one of them and she didn’t want to make extra work for them. I knew her reasons but it still annoyed me.

  She started shimming her shorts over her gorgeous hips. My mouth went dry as her ass and thighs came into view. Mother nature had been very, very kind to Nevada.

  Excessively kind.

  It almost wasn’t fair.

  I jumped into the pool abruptly, trying to distract my dick. Which had gotten hard almost instantaneously the moment she’d started undressing.

  Fuck, that was fast.

  I swam a few laps and then over to the edge of the pool near her lounge chair where she was reading a beat up old paperback. I hooked my arms over the edge and grinned up at her legs. Her long, surprisingly tan legs.

  That’s right. She went to UCLA. Sunny all year round. Even more so than Sonoma.

  “My eyes are up here Clay.”

  I laughed. I loved that she wasn’t intimidated by me. Never had been. Lots of girls were, even the rich and beautiful ones.

  “I know where they are.”

  She rolled her eyes at me. And went back to her book. So I went back to perusing her amazing, perfect, delicious looking body.

  She kept ignoring me. It wasn’t just a show either. She was genuinely trying to read her book.

  So I did what any reasonable guy would do.

  I splashed her.

  “Hey!”

  I grinned and ducked under the water. When I came up she was saying something.

  “What?”

  She glared at me.

  “Nothing.”

  “So did you get a job? In your little short shorts?”

  She scowled.

  “No. But I think I found something. I might start helping out around here if it doesn’t pan out.”

  My stomach sank. I did not want her to be a servant here. Still, it would make her at my beck and call… that could be fun. But she would be out of reach then. There was an
unspoken rule about messing around with the help.

  As it was, she was kind of in a gray zone. Not that it was going to stop me from getting what I wanted. Nothing ever did.

  “Where?”

  “Where what?”

  “Where did you find a job?”

  She sighed, looking embarrassed.

  “The club.”

  “Wait, my club?”

  She nodded sheepishly.

  “It was the only place that would take me without experience.”

  It was absurd, the shot of lust that went through me at her words. I wanted to be the one to give her experience. Even though I knew that’s not what she meant.

  “I’m sure you’ll get it. Do you want me to put in a good word?”

  She looked alarmed.

  “No, absolutely do not do that.”

  “What’s wrong Nevada? Don’t want to owe me any favors?”

  She frowned and started to gather up her things.

  “Come on, don’t be like that. Come in the water. You know you want to. It’s hot as hell out here.”

  She gave me a look and sighed, setting her things back down.

  “You would know.”

  I laughed. She’d basically just called me the devil. I probably deserved it though hardly anyone would ever say something like that to me. The girl had sass to spare. I leaned against the back of the pool and watched her gracefully dive in.

  I’ll admit it.

  I was hoping her top would come off.

  No such luck.

  She did a few laps. I was surprised at how good her strokes looked. She looked like an excellent swimmer. Actually, as far as I could tell, she did everything well.

  It was kind of funny that I’d never noticed that before.

  “Did you swim at school?”

  “Sometimes.”

  She was treading water in the deep end. She smiled at me and dove under the water. She came up again in the shallow end.

  “Party much?”

  “Not really. My mom would kill me if I didn’t keep up my grades.”

  Good. For some reason I liked hearing that. Even though I usually hated goodie two shoes. Not that that’s what she was exactly…

  “Got a boyfriend?”

  Now she rolled her eyes at me.