“Please tell me you have sunblock on,” a deep voice washed over me and I leaned toward it. The clean masculine scent was yummy. I needed to get closer.

Opening my eyes, I blinked at the bright sun and covered my eyes to see Rush sitting down beside me. His eyes were studying me. Any warmth or humor in his voice I might have imagined was missing.

“You are wearing sunblock, aren’t you?”

I managed to nod and then pulled myself up to a sitting position.

“Good. I’d hate to see that smooth creamy skin turn pink.”

              He thought my skin was smooth and creamy. It sounded like a compliment but I wasn’t sure saying thank you was appropriate.

              “I, uh, put some on before I came out here.”

              He continued to stare at me. I fought the urge to reach for my shirt and slip it on over my bikini. I didn’t have the kind of body on the girls I’d seen him with. I didn’t like feeling as if he were comparing me.

              “You not working today?” he finally asked.

              I shook my head. “It’s my day off.”

              “How’s the job going?”

              He was being nice, kind of. At least he wasn’t avoiding me. As silly as it seemed, I wanted his attention. There was this draw I had to him that I couldn’t explain. The more he kept his distance the more I wanted to get closer. He tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow like he was waiting on me to say something.

              Oh wait. He’d asked me a question. Dang those silver eyes of his. It was hard to concentrate. “Uh, what?” I asked feeling my face heat up.

              He chuckled, “How is the job going?” he asked slowly.

              I had to stop making an idiot out of myself around him. I straightened my shoulders, “It’s going good. I like it.”

              Rush smirked and glanced out over the water, “I bet you do.”

              I paused and thought about that comment then asked, “What is that supposed to mean?”

              Rush let his gaze trail down my body then back up. I was regretting not putting my tank top back on. “You know what you look like, Blaire. Not to mention that damn sweet smile of yours. The male golfers are paying you well.”

              He was right about the tips. He was also making me breathe funny looking at me like that. I wanted him to like what he saw but then I was also terrified of the outcome. What if he did change his mind about keeping his distance? Could I keep up?

              We sat in silence for awhile as he stared straight ahead. I could tell he was thinking about something. His jaw was clenched tight and there was a frown line creasing his forehead. I thought back to what all I’d said. I couldn’t think of anything that would upset him.

              “How long ago did your mom pass away?” he asked turning his gaze back to me.

              I didn’t want to talk about my mom. Not to him. But ignoring his question was rude. “Thirty-six days ago.”

              His jaw worked as if he was angry about something and his frown line got deeper. “Did your dad know she was sick?”

              Another question I didn’t want to answer. “Yes. He knew. I also called him the day she passed away. He didn’t answer. I left a message.” The fact he never returned my call hurt too bad to admit.

              “Do you hate him?” Rush asked.

              I wanted to hate him. He had only caused pain in my life since the day my sister had died. But it was hard. He was the only family I had. “Sometimes,” I replied honestly.

              Rush nodded and reached over and hooked his pinky through mine. He didn’t say anything but at that moment he didn’t have to. That one small connection said enough. Maybe I didn’t know Rush well but he was getting under my skin.

              “I’m having a party tonight. It’s Nan, my sister’s birthday. I always give her a party. It may not be your scene but you’re invited to attend if you want to.”

              His sister? He had a sister? I thought he was an only child. Wasn’t Nan the girl who had been so rude the night I’d arrived?

              “You have a sister?”

              Rush shrugged, “Yeah.”

              Why had Grant said he was an only child? I waited for him to explain but he didn’t elaborate. So I decided to ask.

              “Grant said you were an only child.”

              Rush tensed. Then shook his head as he finger left mine and turned to look out at the water. “Grant really has no business telling you my business. No matter how damn bad he wants in your panties.” Rush stood up and didn’t look back at me as he turned and headed back to the house.

              Something about Nan was off limits. I had no idea what it was but it was definitely off limits. I shouldn’t have been so nosy. I stood up and headed out to the water. It was hot and I needed something to get my mind off Rush. Every time I let my guard down a little around him he reminded me why I needed to keep it firmly in place. The guy was strange. Sexy, gorgeous and delicious but strange.

              I sat on my bed listening to the laughter and music in the house. I’d changed my mind about attending this party all day. The last time I had decided to go I’d put on the only nice dress I still owned. It was a red dress that hugged my chest and hips then hung in a short baby doll cut around my mid-thigh. I’d bought this dress when Cain had invited me to Senior Prom. Then he’d been nominated for prom king and Grace Anne Henry had been nominated prom queen. She’d wanted to go to the prom with him and he’d called and asked me if it would be okay if he went with her instead. Everyone had said they would win and he thought it would be cool if they were there together. I’d agreed with him and hung my dress back in my closet. That night I’d rented two movies and made brownies. Mom and I had watched romantic comedies and eaten brownies until we were stuffed. It was one of the last times I remember her not being so sick from chemo that she could actually eat treats like brownies.

              Tonight I had pulled the dress out of my bag. It wasn’t expensive by these people’s standards. It was actually pretty simple. The red material was soft chiffon. I glanced down at my mom’s silver heels that I’d kept. They had been the ones she’d worn the day of her wedding. I had always loved them. She never wore them again but they were kept in a box wrapped up tightly.

              I risked a big chance of going out there and being humiliated. I didn’t fit in with them. I’d never fit in at my high school either. My life was just one big awkward moment. I needed to learn to fit in. To walk away from the awkward girl who was left out in high school because she had bigger issues.

              Standing up, I ran my hands over my dress to get out any wrinkles from sitting there thinking over the wisdom of joining the party. I would walk out there. Maybe get a drink and see if anyone spoke to me. If it was a complete disaster, I could always run back in here, put on my pajamas and curl up in bed. This was a good small step for me.

              Opening the pantry door, I stepped into the kitchen very grateful that no one was in there. Walking out of the pantry would be slightly hard to explain. I could hear Grant’s voice laughing loudly and talking to someone in the living room. He would talk to me. I could ease into this with Grant. Taking a deep breath, I walked out of the kitchen and down the hall into the foyer. White roses and silver ribbons were everywhere. It reminded me of a wedding instead of a birthday party. The front door opened startling me. I stopped and watched as familiar dark smoky eyes met mine. My face felt warm as Woods’ eyes took a long slow appraisal of me.

              “Blaire,” he said when his eyes finally made their way back to my face. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any sexier. I was wrong.”