Page 13 of This Time Around

The feeling of being “his sister’s friend” intensifies when we arrive at camp and he introduces me to his buddies from work. “Hey guys, this is my little sister’s friend Blake. She works at the bar you guys go to, so I thought it might be nice for you guys to get to know each other.” Opposite of us are two guys and the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.

Her jet black hair is cascading in waves from below a beanie and hits just above her shoulders. She has long black lashes and a natural glow I can imagine is only enhanced by makeup. She catches my eye first because she is staring at Luke the same way I do. I know the look well and every intention behind it. My stomach turns as he leans in and gives her a hug, one lasting a little too long for my comfort.

“Hi,” I clear my throat, when my voice comes out unsteady. “Nice to meet you all.”

“You’re his little sister’s friend?” the woman asks. “So you’re also quite a few years younger right?”

Luke answers before I can even open my mouth, “Yeah, she’s 26.”

“Oh man, I remember 26,” one guy reminisces, bringing his beer to his mouth. “Those were the days when I was too young and dumb to worry about shit.”

They all laugh and my heart sinks slightly as the sound of Luke’s laughter reaches my ears.

“We’re in our early 30s, Ty. It’s not like it’s been that long. You’re still too dumb to worry about shit most days,” the shorter, darker haired guy jokes.

“Sorry, Blake,” Luke apologizes as he places his hand on the small of my back. “Ty got carried away before I could finish introducing you. This is Ty, Keith, and Isabelle.”

Isabelle.

“Isa,” she corrects. “We’re not with patients. I like to be a little less formal in my personal life.” The words flow off her lips in the most sultry manner, and I find myself captivated by her voice, strong and sensual, just like Selma Hayek. This woman exudes nothing but sex appeal from her voice to each curve you can clearly see beneath her sweats and hoodie.

The three of them walk away after a few moments to start a fire in the center of the tents scattered about. There are about 6 other tents, and I can’t help but watch the sway of her hips as she moves. I watch her for a moment as she talks to a tall blond woman by the fire.

“She’s gorgeous… and sexy,” I point out as he unloads the tents and bags from the bed of his truck.

“Yeah,” he confirms, glancing in her direction and then going back to work.

“I think she has a thing for you,” I proclaim.

“Yeah? Why do you think that?” he asks as he lifts the cooler out of the truck.

“She looks at you like a teenage girl with her first crush. Trust me, I know that look well.”

“Aw, you had a crush on me?” he teases as he bumps my shoulder. “Just kidding, I know you did. April made sure she told me every chance she got.”

“Bitch,” I joke with a laugh. “Some friend she is.”

We joke and laugh the entire time we set up our tents, and when I look up, I realize we are a little farther back than the rest of the group.

“Why are we so far away?” I ask.

“I hate when smoke gets in my tent. I like to be away from the fire. Plus, I’m old. If I go to bed before everyone else, I don’t want to hear the noise as much. Do you want me to move yours closer?”

“No. This is great. We can have our own brief escape.” I smile.

“Want a drink?” I ask as I bend into the cooler, and when I peek through the space between my elbow and hip to look in his direction, I see his eyes glued to my ass. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t see me looking, because he isn’t even trying to hide his stare. When he doesn’t answer, I look away, feeling the heat between my legs, and ask one more time, “Want a drink?”

“Umm…” He clears his throat, “Sure.”

Standing, I hand him a beer and make my way inside my tent. “I’m going to change into something a little warmer,” I say.

As I zip the tent closed, a smile erupts across my face.

“I don’t see you like that,” my ass. I chuckle. The sight of Luke’s eyes on me is the hottest thing I have ever experienced.

I change into a pair of black sweats and a matching hoodie, take my hair out of the pony, and run my fingers through it. I hate when cold air brushes my neck. Unable to know how crazy it looks, I decide to grab a baseball hat out of my bag and put it on just in case.

As I emerge from the tent, I hear Luke just a few feet away having a conversation with who I assume is one of his coworkers. I zip my tent and spin around to see Luke’s bright hazel eyes looking right at me over the shoulder of the guy he is talking to. The look in his eyes leaves me dripping. The guy’s back is to me, and because he is a few inches shorter than Luke, we can make uninterrupted eye contact as he gives me a swift, but not too discrete once over. Noticing it as well, the guy turns around to see who has stolen Luke’s attention, and my stomach plummets to the ground.