12 Days Of Forever (4 page)

he realizes that I’m checking him out. Shoot me for staring, but I’m a female who can appreciate the fine art of a good-looking man.

“Hey, uh . . . is Harrison here?”

“He’s out with my mom,” Quinn answers before I can say anything.

“She’s my mom, too,” Elle adds as she comes up behind us.

Quinn rolls his eyes and corrects himself. “Our mom.”

“Oh . . . all right.”

“Wanna come in?” Quinn is asking before I can even get a single syllable formed

in my head.

“Um . . .” Xander looks over his shoulder, and I can’t help but look, too. Does he have someone in his car? I can’t see anyone and when he turns back around, our eyes meet, and I find it hard to look away. When we were in the gym this morning, I tried to ignore what my body was telling me. He’s a professional, and today I was his client. But now my body is screaming at me, telling me to appreciate the man in front of me. I’m staring. I’m taking in his well-defined arms and allowing my eyes to trace the intricate art that makes up his full sleeve. My stomach decides to tie itself into knots; increasing the welcomed anxiety I haven’t felt since the first day I met Oliver. Xander is taller, broader than what I’m used to. His dark hair is kept short but styled. His eyes are as blue as the ocean, and I can see myself staring into them for hours.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts and end up laughing. He looks at me with

his eyebrow raised. I’m such a fool.

“Please come in,” I say, knowing that I’m going to regret this moment for the rest of my life.

Quinn opens the door wider to allow Xander to step in and slams it shut

immediately. The kids run back to the family room and Xander follows. His cologne is strong and overtaking my senses. I try not to let it affect me, but the truth of the matter is, it does. Maybe this is my wake-up call solidifying the fact that my decision to part ways with Oliver was the correct one.

Xander sits at the opposite end of the couch and my evil spawn of a nephew

decides that he wants to sit on the floor.

“Sorry about the movie choice,” I offer, in the lamest attempt at conversation ever.

“It’s fine, I’ve seen this a few times.” And to prove his point he breaks out in his own rendition of Let it Go, which causes the twins to start laughing. I laugh as well and end up busting out what must be the loudest snort in the history of snorts.

I can fade away now and die from embarrassment.

“What was that?” he asks, laughing.

Of course he heard it.

I whip my head, refusing to answer, and in doing so I pinch a nerve in my neck.

“Ouch,” I say as I start rubbing my neck. I woke up with a stiff neck but figured it was from traveling and sleeping an unfamiliar bed.

“Here, let me.” Before I can say anything, Xander has me pulled in front of him,

his fingers expertly kneading the spot I was rubbing.

“Oh God, that feels so good,” I mumble. I’m in heaven, lost under the tenderness

of his touch. This man has magic hands and my mind instantly goes south thinking about the other parts of me he could massage. The way his fingers dig into the right spot without causing too much pain amazes me. He leans in a little closer, his chest pressing to my back. His breath tickles my neck, causing the fine hairs to rise. I squeeze my legs together to fight off the impending ache. I shouldn’t feel like this, but I do. Every part of me is beginning to tingle because this hot-as-sin man is touching me.

“Auntie, we’re going to bed.” My eyes fling open and I stand, moving away from

Xander. Quinn, Peyton and Elle are all smiling at me with their arms full of their blankets.

“I’ll take you.”

“We’re good.” They say as they run off and start stomping up the stairs laughing.

“Little shits,” I mumble, as I walk over to the television. The movie isn’t over, yet they sure were in a hurry to get to bed.

“I should go.” I turn as Xander stands, putting us chest to chest. Our hands are

down by our sides, only centimeters apart. It would take one flick of the wrist, and I could brush my finger along his. If I inhale, my chest will brush against his. I take a chance and look up. He’s staring down at me, his eyes blazing with heat. The attraction is there.

I step away. “Would you like some wine?” I ask, before mentally kicking my own

ass. Wine is the last thing we need right now.

“I’d love some.”

Me too. The whole damn bottle so I can forget this moment. Xander follows me

into the kitchen and sees our mess from earlier. I ignore it. We’ll have one glass, and he’ll leave. That’ll be the end of whatever this is.

I pull out the bottle, and he takes it from me, popping the cork like a pro. I take two glasses out of the cabinet and hand them to him. He pours for both of us, and picks up the wine filled glasses, carrying them over to the table. The very same table that has our half-eaten pizza mess all over it.

“Sorry about the mess. I was going to clean it after the movie, and now after this glass.” I hold up my glass to him before bringing it to my lips.

“I’ll help.”

I shake my head. “You will not. You didn’t make the mess.”

Xander shrugs and takes a sip. “Tell me about yourself, Yvie.”

I look at him, and raise my eyebrow. “Can’t say much has changed from earlier.”

Xander blushes, and I decide right then and there that is one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen a man do. “I want to know about you, not my client who was telling me her ass is too big. And for the record, it’s not.”

“I know, you said that earlier.”

“I meant it.”

I sit up a bit straighter and lean in. I can’t hide my attraction for him even if I wanted to. “I’m four years younger than my brother. I’m here to get to know his family.

I’m a dancer. And I think that’s it. Now tell me about you.”

“I was hired by Liam to care for JD. I quickly became the band’s personal trainer and opened my own gym a few months ago. I’m single, never married and I have no

children or any loose ends.”

The last bit of information makes me pause. Why is he telling me this?

“I’m single, never married and I don’t have children unless you count my nephew

and two nieces.”

He nods. “Well, yes, I think we can both count them. I do spend my fair share of

time with them.”

“I love them. I miss Quinn and really need to get to know Peyton and Elle better.

Getting pictures on my phone doesn’t do them justice. It doesn’t even compare to seeing them.”

“You know, your pictures don’t do you justice.”

The wine must be talking. He wouldn’t be saying this to me if he were sober.

“Katelyn’s description of you didn’t do you justice either.” Yes, definitely the

wine talking. I bring my glass to my lips and notice that it’s full again. I can’t help but take a drink without removing my eyes from him. I close my eyes and shake my head only to open them again to find him looking at me. He doesn’t let go while he holds my gaze.

He studies me for what seems like an eternity. I’m not sure if I like that I’m under this microscope or not, but one thing I like for sure is that he’s interested. I catch myself looking from his eyes to his lips and before I know it I’m leaning in, and he’s leaning in and we’re inches apart.

I pull away and down the rest of my wine. “I need to clean.” I rush to the sink and start filling it with hot water and probably too much soap. I watch as the soapsuds build into a high tower before I shut off the water. Before I can move, Xander is right behind me, his arms on either side of me and goosebumps rise on the back of my neck from his close proximity. I should feel like he’s invading my personal space, but I don’t. I welcome the wispy warmth of his breath blowing softly on my neck, and I’m fighting the urge to lean back onto his broad chest. He picks up a plate and drops it into the water.

Suds fly everywhere and a few land on my face, hitting my nose and lips. I blow them away, but to no avail. I start to laugh and turn around to look at him.

His face is one of happiness. His eyes are sparkling and it makes me wonder what

someone has to do to gain that sort of euphoria in life where the simplest little things make you happy. Harrison has it in his life. I want it in mine.

Xander cups my face. My hands immediately find his wrist, and I hang on for

what I suspect will be the most amazing kiss ever. His head turns slightly and his nose brushes against mine, not once, not twice, but three times. I lick my lips in anticipation.

“I think I got it,” he says, pulling away.

“What?” I squeak out.

“The soap suds on your nose. I got them.”

I’m dumbfounded as he backs out of the kitchen without taking his eyes off of

me.

“See ya later, Yvie,” he says before I’m able to comprehend what the hell just

happened. The front door shuts, bringing me back to reality. He totally just played me for a fool, making me believe that the feeling was mutual and that we were on the verge of the kiss to end all kisses. That jerk got me worked up and ditched out.

Revenge will be mine.

Chapter 6–Xander

Membership has increased at the gym, mostly women from neighboring towns.

For the most part, it’s obvious as to why they joined this gym and not one near their homes. It used to bother me until Liam told me to capitalize on it, saying he said he didn’t care and that it was good for business. Harrison is impartial, and JD likes the attention. In fact, I think he, out of the three of them, gets a total kick out of flirting with the women here. I’ve told him to be kind, that they’re likely to get hurt when he winks at them, but he doesn’t listen. You’d never know he’s happily married with a year-old baby at home.

He’s all talk and no action.

Hell, action is what I wanted last night, and I have a feeling Yvie would’ve been a willing player. But I’m not like that, and I shouldn’t be with her. Even if she weren’t Harrison’s sister, she’s only here for a week or so and the last thing I want is to start a relationship with someone who lives in a different state. Long distance love affairs and a business like mine just don’t mix. If I allowed myself to, I can see being very attached to Yvie. She has some of the qualities that I look for in a woman: she takes care of her body, she’s funny, sexy and can hold my attention fully. She’s a dangerous combination for me right now, and it’s probably best that I keep my distance, keep our budding relationship strictly professional.

I have a feeling that keeping my distance is going to be an issue though. Yvie is going to be at every party and every function I attend in the next few days. I could just stay home. Avoidance has worked in the past. Except, I won’t have a valid excuse when the guys, or even wives, come calling to ask why I’m not there. I’ve been invited, I’ve RSVP’d and it’s not like I have all these offers from people asking me to share the holidays with them.

Staying out of Katelyn’s kitchen is a must though. Memories from last night are

very present and each time I start to think about Yvie, I can see her caged against the counter with soap suds on her nose, her chest rising and falling with every breath she takes as her eyes pierce mine, her pink tongue wetting her lips in anticipation. All I had to do was let my head fall and she would’ve caught me. I could be sitting here blissed out from kissing her. Instead, I’m in the gym sporting a freaking semi and there isn’t jack shit I can do it about it because as far as I’m concerned Yvie James is off limits.

I busy myself behind the computer instead of mingling with the patrons. The

counter provides for great coverage of my issue but does nothing to keep my mind from wandering back to last night. I should’ve told Quinn “no thanks” when he invited me in, and I should’ve left as soon as they went to bed. Oh, and the massage definitely shouldn’t have happened, but I couldn’t resist the pull to touch her. I had to curb my appetite from earlier. Watching her work on her glutes, a section of her body that doesn’t need work, drove me nuts, and I had no reason to touch her.

Last night she gave me every reason in the world, and I started to take advantage.

I didn’t want to stop, but it wasn’t the time or the place to explore my ballerina . . . my what? She can’t be my anything.

“What’s up, mate? You look bloody knackered. Did your willy keep you busy last

night?” I look up to find JD resting on the counter with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Being friends with JD means you can’t take him seriously. At least not all the time because he likes to joke. And by joke, I mean make crude comments at the most

inopportune time. That’s what makes him unique.

“Morning, JD,” I say, without acknowledging the rest of his statement.

“A mate who avoids another mate’s question is a surefire way of telling said mate that he got a little last night.”

“He better not have, unless it was after he left my house.” As soon as Harrison

finishes that sentence, I look away as my body temperature changes. I hate that I blush like a little boy. My mom assured me I’d outgrow it, but it’s gotten worse. It’s a sign of embarrassment and the last thing I need is for Harrison to catch on that I want to see his sister naked. Not even see her naked, but touch her while she’s naked. I’m all sorts of messed up right now.

“Oh, bloody hell you stuck your willy in Yvie?”

With the addition of Liam, six eyes now glare at me. If blushing wasn’t telling

them something, the fact that I’m tongue-tied is. I clear my throat and stand, thinking about old ladies in granny panties batting their eyes at me without their dentures in, anything to get the semi to go away. Today, gym shorts are not my friend.

“Do you guys want to work out or stand around gossiping like girls?” I ask, as I

walk past them.

“I’m more interested in finding out what went on with you and my sister last

night. When we came home, she went straight to bed, but failed to explain why there were soap suds in the sink and random soap stains on the countertop and floor.”