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I turn, feeling ridiculously awkward and very self conscious, to face Zayne. The moment my eyes find him again, I have to mentally force myself not to drool. I haven't seen him since he came home for Thanksgiving with Alec my senior year of high school. Even then he was something to admire but I was just a kid then. Now, words can't even describe the man before me.

He's tall, at least six feet or so. His shoulders are broad and his tight fitted gray t-shirt clings to every perfectly defined muscle across his chest and stomach. When my eyes finally make it to his face, I falter. Oh my god, this man is beyond gorgeous. How do I not remember him being so beautiful? Piercing blue eyes with lashes so thick that the shade is only that much more intense. His dark hair  is short and messy and has what Emma would call 'the just fucked look'. Instantly I am envisioning running my hands through his hair, pulling his body flush with mine and kissing him hard.  I take a shaky inhale and try to gather my barrings. I have not thought about a man in that way since Kyle and the thought is more than a little unsettling.

“Zayne right?” The question sounds stupid but considering it's been five years, it doesn't seem completely ridiculous.

“Good to see you again Grace.” He nods, his smooth voice dripping with seduction. His eyes rake over my nearly naked torso and then back to my face before he quickly turns back to Alec. The action causing my insides to bubble.

“I'll see you up there.” He says, quickly turning and making his way back up the steps, two at a time. I can't help but watch him. The way his back flexes with each step, his massive calve muscles clenching with the movement.

“Why.... Why is Zayne here?” I turn to Alec, hoping my voice doesn't sound too shocked.

“We are in the middle of a huge deal with a major seller over this smart phone app Zayne and I have been working on. Like I said, I barely made it here. Lucky for me, Zayne agreed to tag along so we could work out some of the details before we are set to sell the rights next week.” He says, leaning down to retrieve my bathing suit cover. He hands it to me and I quickly slip it over my head before following him up the stairs.

I trail behind my brother trying to figure out what the hell just happened. I mean, I've seen Zayne before and while yes, I thought he was gods gift even then, he didn't affect me then the way he just did. Or maybe that's because our interaction was limited to one dinner together and I was in such a state of depression over Kyle, I barely saw anything happening in front of me.

I mean sure, I plastered on a smile but honestly, I feel like a large piece of me died the day Kyle.... I can't even finish the thought. Still, to this day I feel like the small remnants of the girl I was fade little by little as time passes.

Maybe that's why I am so beside myself with my reaction to Zayne, with my bodies reaction to him. It's not like me to see people. I mean, really see them. But when I looked into his eyes, I felt like a part of me was staring back at me. It's the strangest thing really and I do my best to push it down as we climb the last remaining steps and join the rest of my family on the patio.

“Alec Morgan. Get over here and give your mother a hug.” My mom demands on a huge grin. Her eyes find me next and she smiles again but I don't get the warm embrace that Alec does. Then again, my mom just saw me less than a week ago and hasn't seen Alec in months.

I am the spitting image of my mother. All except for the blonde hair, which she keeps in a shoulder length bob. While Ian took after mom in that department, me and Alec have our fathers dark, thick hair. Alec wraps her in a quick hug before releasing her and shaking Rob's hand.

Rob is a short, stocky guy. He keeps his brown hair in a buzz cut and always dresses in khakis and polos. While I wouldn't classify him as attractive, he's not ugly. I guess I am just programmed to think that any man that is not my father is not good enough for my mom. They made the perfect couple. Both strikingly beautiful and more importantly, completely in love. But since that love was ripped away, I can't help but feel anything but grateful to Rob. Mom met him about five years after dad had passed. They started out as friends and then eventually started dating. They finally eloped two years ago and I have to admit, I have not seen my mom this happy since my dad was alive.

“Hey Grace.” Rob says, nodding his head in my direction. I return his greeting and then wrap my mom in a quick hug before scanning the area for Emma. “She ran to the market with Ian.” Rob says, realizing who I am looking for.

“Fantastic.” I say, smiling sarcastically. While Emma and Ian are both very fun, flirty people. The last thing I want is for Em to end up hooking up with him or Alec for that matter. She never sticks to the same man for long and I would hate for something, like her hurting one of my brothers or vise versa, to come between our friendship. Besides, she's been part of my life for so long they are practically like her brothers too and it would be just plain wrong for her to cross that line.

“I'm gonna go change. Do you need any help with dinner?” I ask my mom, noticing several ears of corn laying across the picnic table.

“No, no. Me and Rob will take care of dinner.” She says, shooing me away. I smile, knowing full well that she could use my help but doesn't really want it. It's no secret that I am a disaster in the kitchen.

I throw my towel on the back of one of the chairs before heading inside. I peer around the large open floor plan before my eyes find their way to the second floor landing that oversees the first floor. Completely alone.

I let out a loud sigh and proceed to climb the stairs to the second story. I turn and head towards my bedroom but then stop immediately when the door before my room opens and Zayne steps out, nearly walking right into me.

“Oh, sorry.” I say, a little too excitedly. Zayne's eyes meet mine for only a fraction of a second before he breaks contact and steps around me.

“No problem.” He says, walking down the stairs without a backwards glance. I stand there for a moment, watching him walk the length of the first floor. He barely even looked at me. I can't help but feel a little offended.

What is it about this man that has my whole body seizing up? I mean, of course there's the obvious physical attraction. You would have to be blind not to want to mentally undress that man every time he steps into a room, but that's not it.

There's something about him. Something about the way the air changes when he's close. Like a magnetic field pulling me to him. I shake my head, knowing full well that a man like Zayne Evans would not give me the time of day. And since when do I care about a man giving me anything? I have had zero interest in relationships since Kyle and now I'm practically drooling over my brother's best friend. What the hell is wrong with me?

I mentally slap my stupid ass in the face before making my way into my bedroom to change. I have got to get a hold of myself. The last thing I need is to be distracted by a man that probably has had more sex partners then I have had manicures and that's saying something.

I am a twenty-two year old woman. It is perfectly normal to find a man sexually attractive no matter how out of the ordinary it is for me. But what is really throwing me for a loop is that since the moment I looked at him on the dock, all I can think about is having him take me into an empty room somewhere and doing unspeakable things to me. I have got to get a grip here. One week. It's only one week, how hard can it be?

––––––––

T
he first couple of days go by without a hitch. While I still have not recovered from my first encounter with the impossibly sexy Zayne Evans, it's been somewhat easier by his constant absence. Him and Alec have spent a good portion of their time locked away in the first floor study, leaving me plenty of time to distract myself with other things. Other than coming out to eat, I have not seen or spoken to him.

I didn't realize how much that would bother me. For some unknown reason I want him around. For the first time in years, I feel like a normal twenty-two year old. Pining after my older brothers best friend like a love sick school girl. How cliché. It does make me feel better to know that I am not the only one affected by the man.

Emma spent the entire first day after meeting him, talking about how sexy he is and all the things she would like to do to him. While it was entertaining to hear her go on and on, I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. At least Em could have a shot with him if she wanted. Lord knows he hasn't looked my way in the last two days.

In fact, during mealtimes, when he finally makes an appearance, he manages to talk to everyone but me. I try not to be offended. I am, after all, just his best friends baby sister. But that still doesn't dull the sting over his obvious avoidance of me. Hell, he hasn't spoken one word to me since that first afternoon.

Deciding not to dwell on it, I agree to go out on Rob's boat with Ian and Emma. I love being out on the water and the more distance I put between myself and the sex god sleeping in the room next to mine, the better.

After changing into Emma's red bikini, since I still have not made it into town to purchase my own, I throw on a pair of black knit shorts and a white tank and tie my hair in a messy ponytail before heading out to the dock. Emma and Ian are already on board. Ian hands me a beer out of the cooler the moment I step on the boat.

I smile at him and retrieve the beer, thinking way too hard about drinking it before finally allowing myself a taste. While it's bitter and extremely cold, it feels amazing on my throat and I take another long gulp before taking a seat on one of the long benches at the rear of the boat. I have never been a beer drinker before but since my mini melt down over Zayne, I am willing to try anything to dull my senses a bit.

I stretch my legs out along the bench and make myself comfortable. Emma curls up next to me and Ian takes a seat behind the steering wheel. While the boat isn't huge, it's big enough for about ten people, so seeing how there is only three of us, we have plenty of wiggle room.

The boat is very standard. A small chair and steering wheel for the captain sits in the middle. The back is made up of three long benches. One on each side and then one along the back. The front of the boat is long and sleek and while no one can sit there while the boat is in motion, it will make a perfect lay out spot for when we decide to stop and swim later.

“Room for two more?” I hear Alec call over the roar of the engine just before Ian puts the boat into gear.

I peer up over my sunglasses and have a mini heart attack at the sight Alec climbing on the boat, Zayne following behind him. His eyes find mine and I immediately turn away from him. Two can play this game.

“Holy hell. You mean you're actually going to stop working for a few hours?” Ian laughs out bitterly.

“Shut up Ian.” Alec says, pushing his shoulder. “Besides, we finished early and you know how much I love the water.” He says, taking a seat on the bench across from me. Zayne walks over to the back bench and flops down but I do my best to keep my eyes on the water.

“You okay there baby girl?” Alec says, pulling my attention to him. “
No, I'm obsessed with your ridiculously hot friend over there and it pisses me off that he won't even barely look at me.”
I want to say but instead I only nod.

He smiles fondly at me and then slips his sunglasses into place before spreading his arms out to rest across the side of the boat. I look over at Emma who is undressing him with her eyes and give her a swift nudge with my foot.

She looks at me innocently and I can't help but laugh at her. She's so ridiculous. I shake my head at her, indicating there is no chance in hell that she is going to try anything with Alec. She pouts out her bottom lip but then flicks her eyes back to Alec before running her tongue along her lower lip. The action causes me to burst into laughter.

Ian and Alec pay no attention to my outburst but I can feel Zayne's eyes on me. Even though I refuse to look in his direction, I know he's watching me. I can feel his eyes burning holes through my flesh. Deciding to play it cool, I slip my sunglasses back into place and look back out at the water.

We drive in silence for a few minutes before Ian finally kills the engine and turns his attention to Emma. “Alright Em, you're up first.” He says, standing to grab the rope and inner-tube from under our bench.

She smiles wickedly at him before hopping to her feet. “Hell yeah!” She exclaims, quickly discarding her sundress, leaving her standing in her barley there black bikini. I can't help but glance quickly to Zayne to see if he's looking at her but to my relief, he seems completely unphased by the gorgeous half naked girl in front of him.

Ian helps Em into her life vest before tossing the inner-tube and connected rope into the water. “Up you go.” Ian says, hoisting Emma up over his shoulder and walking her to the edge of the boat.

“Ian, don't you dare....” She starts but her protests are drowned out when Ian effortlessly tosses her over the side of the boat and into the water. She resurfaces seconds later laughing and sputtering.

“You asshat!” She yells through her laughter.

“Stop your bitching and get your ass on the tube.” Ian laughs, shooing Emma with his hands.

Once Emma is settled on the inner-tube, Ian starts the boat and slowly accelerates the speed. I turn to face the back of the boat, watching Emma bounce on the waves. I chance a quick peek in Zayne's direction and our eyes lock for a fraction of a second before he looks away but that doesn't stop the butterflies from erupting in the pit of my stomach. What the hell is wrong with me? I turn my attention back to Emma.

“Faster!” She screams but her words are barely audible over the roar of the engine.

“She said faster.” I tell Ian, knowing he can't hear her.

“Damn I love that girl.” He says playfully before increasing the boats speed once more. Emma gets brave and decides to put her hands up like she's riding a roller coaster at the same time that Ian goes in for a sharp turn. The inner-tube flips without warning and Emma disappears into the water.