Sixes & Sevens (Seven Hearts Book 1) (5 page)

“Shit.” She’d been staring too long. She was caught. Cussing was not her typical behavior, but under the stress of the day she caved to temptation.

January 3, 2016

Tall—around five feet eleven—with bronzed sun-kissed skin and muscular, the blue-eyed one rose from the edge of the pool with a quick stride toward her. His eyes and mouth slightly resembled an actor she’d seen in an ad for
Black Sails
. She believed the character was named Captain Vane. Jaycee tried to encourage her feet to move, but something predatory on his face kept her feet locked in place. Her knees knocked, but she quickly pulled them together. He wasn’t a threat to her person, just her heart. Girls must throw themselves at these two! If she hadn’t been so shy, she’d be finding the same inclination.

“Do I know you?” The blue-eyed stranger stared at her with furrowed brows, and a perplexed look.

“I…Um, I…don’t think so…” Jaycee found herself a bit breathless, and her tongue felt like it had grown three sizes too large to speak.

“Don’t be afraid, pretty girl. I’m harmless.” He flashed pearly white teeth set in a killer full-lipped smile.

Jaycee wanted to reach up, and check her pulse. Somehow she restrained herself. She wasn’t entirely sure her heart hadn’t stopped. Was he an angel? Surely God didn’t make angels look so…so…sinful? As she began to compose herself, the other man approached. It was like seeing your favorite entrée on the table, only to be shown your favorite dessert. Her eyes weren’t sure where to focus. Definitely nowhere below the waist, she thought, but as soon as it crossed her mind that was exactly where her eyes slid. Immediately forcing her eyes back up, she flushed deep red.

“Lee, is it just me, or does she look familiar? All kidding aside, I think I know her.” The blue-eyed one spoke as if she wasn’t there, which didn’t bother her in the least. He could have called her out on her appraising looks, but chose to be a gentleman, and let it slide. The one he called Lee gave her a full look over, but when he reached her face, his eyes widened. Lee was even taller than the first guy, standing at about six foot one. He leaned over and whispered in his companion’s ear. Blue Eyes’s brows rose to his hairline.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Blue Eyes muttered with gusto, but quickly coughed to cover his outburst. “Excuse me, honey, my name is Alec. I must have confused you with someone else.” The two guys exchanged a series of facial expressions that must have constituted a conversation for them. When they turned back to her, they seemed to have come to a decision on something. “Why don’t you hang out here with us? You aren’t wearing a bikini under all that, are you?” Alec stared hard at her hoodie like he could see through it. Jaycee quickly crossed her arms at the thought. Surely he couldn’t. She had such a wild imagination.

“No. No, I wasn’t headed to the pool.” Jaycee’s voice trailed off to a quiet mummer.

“I guess we’re just lucky then! I suppose you don’t want to swim in a hoodie and jeans, but you could roll up your pants, and get your feet wet. Why don’t you get to know us a little, sweetheart?” Alec wasn’t above batting his eyes, and giving her his most charming smile. Jaycee wasn’t good at saying no, but she found she didn’t want to. Oddly enough, she enjoyed their presence despite their overwhelming perfection.

“I—yes—um…yeah…like…I’d…like…that.” She cursed herself three times the fool for her stumbling words. She would scare away the beautiful creatures by being a bumbling mess of a girl.

“Come on, gorgeous.” Alec grabbed her hand, and towed her to the pool. Lee offered her assistance getting settled beside the pool, and eased off her boots. She found herself overwhelmed by their attention. Lee’s eyes were mesmerizing. The look was intense. The color was like a dark river, so much hidden in its depths. His long fingers brushed her ankle as he removed her socks. She declined help with rolling up her pants legs. She didn’t think she could handle his fingertips touching her leg while she wasn’t wearing panties. Blushing, she tucked her chin, and hid her face. Lee clearly wasn’t a chatterbox, but he spoke meaningfully.

Lee climbed back in the water, a flash of green board shorts, careful not to splash as he went. When he settled in front of Jaycee, he spoke, “Don’t hide, Princess. You’re safe with us.” He lowered her feet into the water, and slowly massaged her heel, trying to encourage her to relax. She couldn’t hold back her sigh of appreciation. If she hadn’t been so enchanted, she would have been appalled that she was letting these strangers be so familiar with her.

“Why are you being so nice to me? Why call me Princess?” Jaycee tried to banish the cloud of euphoria that had taken over her brain.

“Someone should. You look like you could use a friend, and it so happens, we like you,” Alec answered for Lee.

“We know how to treat something precious and you’re clearly a flower worth protecting.” Poetic words from Lee’s bowed lips. His voice was sinfully deep and smooth, as opposed to Alec’s lighter graveled tones.

Precious? Flower? Jaycee held back a sigh. After years of rough words and confinement, it was like heaven to be treated as special and sweet. “I’m not sure about a flower…maybe a weed.” She cursed herself again for being so contrary. You don’t insult the angel when he calls you a princess! “Maybe you could just call me by my name?”

“What would that be, sweetie pie?” Alec leaned in as if her next words were the most important he’d ever hear.

“Jaycee, Jaycee Monroe.” Why did she tell them her last name?!? Oh God, she really should have kept that part to herself! She noticed the guys sharing another look. Maybe they knew, about her, and her father! She started to pull her foot away, attempting to stand.

“Jaycee, that’s a lovely name,” Lee said, halting Jaycee’s escape.

“I’ve heard that name before though…Ouch!” Alec rubbed his shin below his blue trunks, clearly Lee had delivered a swift blow. “My mistake! Must have been too many concussions.”

“Concussions?” Jaycee asked, settling back into place.

“He plays hockey,” Lee answered.

“And basketball and lacrosse, not to mention—” Alec was cut off by a raised palm from Lee. Clearly Lee was used to being in charge.

“He plays a lot of sports, as you can tell.” Lee leaned back into the water further wetting his head.

“That’s amazing. I’m not coordinated enough for sports,” she said.

“I’m sure I could teach you, if you want.” Alec reached up, and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Maybe. I’m not sure I’ll have much free time,” she replied.

“Why’s that?” Alec inquired.

“It’s personal.” Kicking her foot through the water, she regretted her answer immediately. She didn’t want to push them away. But no one had ever understood her past before. It would take some time for her to trust them with all her secrets, if they stuck around.

“Well, Prin—” correcting himself mid-word, Alec continued, “Jaycee, we would really like to get to know you better. Shall we play twenty questions?” Nudging her shoulder, he looked hopeful.

“Sure.” Her hesitance was clear, but no one commented.

“I’ll go first; you can ask me anything,” Alec stated.

“Hmm…what year are you?” she asked.

“Well, I’m a bit behind, since I left West Point.” He received a look from Lee at that. “Okay, was told to leave West Point.” He laughed as he continued, “I’m a sophomore now, even though I’m twenty. So I get to ask you a question now.” Deliberating a while, Alec placed his fingers on his chin. “What’s your major?”

“Oh. Well, I suppose I’m undecided still, even though I’m a sophomore too. I have a goal in mind, well, sort of. I just haven’t decided how best to go about it.” Stumbling around the issue, she left them more confused than before she’d answered.

“Care to clarify that a bit?” asked Alec.

“That’s two questions, puck face.” Lee splashed Alec, then turned his attention to Jaycee. “It’s my turn. Where did you go to school before you came here?”

“MCC…I mean Metropolitan Community College in Independence, Missouri. What are your majors?” Jaycee figured since they already knew each other, her questions should count for both of them.

“I’m majoring in exercise science, and Lee’s not enrolled. He teaches self-defense here a couple times a week. He’s an Army Ranger.”

“A Ranger? Wow, that’s impressive. Is that what your tattoo is for?” Jaycee’s eyes lingered on the beret-wearing skull on his forearm.

“Tsk! Tsk! It’s my turn, love—” Alec started.

“Enough Alec, you’ve had your fun. Yes, that’s why I have this tattoo, but it’s not my only one,” Lee confided, after splashing Alec again, careful not to hit Jaycee.

“You have more? I only see…oh.” Jaycee had been trying to peer around his skin, but stopped when she realized the implications of his statement. The other tattoos were currently covered by his shorts. Her cheeks flushed with heat. “Forget I asked.” Her words were followed by great bellows of laughter from Alec, Lee shared a small smile with Jaycee in reassurance.

“Maybe someday I’ll tell you about them.” Smiling fully now, Lee leaned against the pool wall on the opposite side of Jaycee. “So, if you hadn’t intended to come to the pool, where were you headed?”

“Back to my dorm, Muller, I went to the admin building to get registered, but I forgot it’s Sunday. I decided to clean up a bit but…”

“But?” Alec asked.

“I don’t have a student ID yet, so I snuck in. You aren’t going to turn me in, are you?” She asked, biting her lip.

“No. It’s no business of ours. Besides, you’re a student here, regardless of whether they’d printed your name on a piece of plastic or not.” Putting his hand on her knee in reassurance, Lee tried to calm her nerves.

“Do you still want to head back to your dorm?” Alec inquired.

“Well…not exactly. I’m a bit intimidated by my new roommate. She seems nice, just a bit… intense.” Hesitant to speak badly of Sara, but wanting to be honest with the guys, Jaycee felt torn.

“Was she mean to you?” Lee sounded gruff.

“No! Nothing like that. She’s been friendly, she just…well, she kind of took it upon herself to unpack my things. In no particular order. I may have to work on boundaries with her,” Jaycee confessed, dropping her chin to her chest.

“Boundaries? I do understand not wanting boundaries when we’re talking about you. You’re quite beautiful, Jaycee.” Alec lifted Jaycee’s chin. Flattery would get Alec far, but beautiful? She thought that was a stretch. Passably pretty? Maybe. Beautiful? Hardly. That was definitely not Sara’s problem either.

“You don’t believe him?” His left brow arched, as Lee questioned her. At her nod, Lee continued. “I don’t lie, and I don’t put on airs. I’m an Army man, so when I tell you something you can take it as truth. Do you believe me?” Jaycee nodded, and he continued. “Good, because you are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met. Now, if you don’t want to go back to your dorm, would you like to come hang out with us? We were discussing heading back to our place before you came in. We have a place near campus. It was my parent’s house, but now we live there with our friends.”

Jaycee struggled internally. They seemed like good men, but looks could be deceiving. It was hard to trust anyone anymore, let alone two men who could probably bench-press her, and not break a sweat…and yet, she couldn’t deny the temptation ate at her.

“I’ll tell you what, you have a cell phone, don’t you?” At her nod, Alec went on to say, “Get out your cell phone, and type in 9-1-1. If at any time you don’t feel safe, press send.”

Her lip was going to bleed if she kept worrying it, so she took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll trust you. Besides, it’s not like I know Sara—my roommate—either, but I’ll be sleeping next to her each night unarmed.”

“Lucky Sara,” Alec teased, and Jaycee laughed. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. It felt good to joke, to enjoy someone’s company without fear of rejection.

“Lucky me, actually. Everyone here has been so kind,” she said.

“Were people not kind before?” Alec hadn’t wanted to push, but he couldn’t help but ask.

“I’d rather not talk about it. Why don’t you show me your house instead? Oh, how did you get here? You didn’t walk, did you? I don’t think I could take another long walk today.” Worried, Jaycee didn’t want to have to turn them down if she couldn’t get a lift.

“No worries, Princess.” Alec was past trying to restrain himself and nicknames were just part of his personality. He continued, “We have a car. Besides, I’d carry you if you’d let me.”

Blush must be her new skin tone. She just couldn’t stop today. “I’m sure it won’t come to that, but thank you. Can I borrow a towel to dry my feet? I’m afraid I didn’t bring one and I don’t see the campus-supplied ones out here.”

“Sure, gorgeous, here’s mine.” Walking to a chaise piled with bags, Alec pulled out a
Deadpool
towel, and handed it to her. “Don’t mind Wade there, he won’t bite.” Jaycee laughed, but she didn’t quite get the joke. She wasn’t up to date on her comic book characters.

Once dry, the guys headed to the locker room to change. Jaycee sat on the chaise and fussed with her nails. This day hadn’t gone at all as planned. Still, there wasn’t much she could do to further her plans on a Sunday. Maybe tomorrow she could get her check-in done at the admin building, and then start her search for the Wallners’ house. She planned on starting with a phone book lookup for their address. Surely, the old couple wouldn’t have moved though. It seemed to her that older couples tended to stay in the same house they had raised their families in. Not that she knew many old couples, but that’s what they did in books and movies. Surely there was some truth to the idea? Most people had good memories of growing up or raising their children, right?