e her heart. We didn’t want her future ruined too.
“Peyton called the other day to talk to Liam. I tell ya he lights up like a Christmas tree when he hears her voice.”
“What did she want?” I ask Josie. Not that it’s any of my business, but I worry about her the most.
“To tell him that she was given some assignment or something. He kept telling her how proud he was of her.”
“On Sunday, she’s walking the sidelines for the Bears. Her teacher asked her if she would like to write up the recap of the story as part of her project,” I tell them.
“You know before long, Peyton is going to be on television and we’ll all sit around screaming that we know her,” Jenna says, who in her own right has a daughter who’s making a name for herself.
“And Ben?” Josie waggles her eyebrows and laughs. I shake my head. Benjamin is Elle’s best friend, but that’s it.
“Nothing. Elle brought him home last weekend. I looked for a sign, but there was nothing. I honestly think they’re just friends.”
“That’s too bad. Ben’s cute,” Jenna adds. That he is with his baby-blue eyes and dark hair, but interested in him, my daughter is not.
I wipe away a few errant tears that have fallen and smile at my friends. I pull them both into a hug and hold them there briefly before letting them go. Josie, with her Liam-autographed swimsuit, goes back to her chaise and brings her umbrella drink to her lips, with Jenna doing the same.
“Hello, ladies.” A man stands at the end of our cabana. Water drips down his chiseled body, disappearing into the waistband of his swim shorts. There isn’t a drop of ink on his skin and I find myself wondering what Harrison would look like without his many tattoos. It’s an image that I can’t even imagine. My hand brushes against the flowers on my hip. It’s my only tattoo. I’ve thought about getting more, but don’t know what I’d get and honestly feel rather old.
“Hi, are you our waiter?” Josie asks. I have a feeling she knows that he’s not. Jenna and I stifle a laugh.
“No, ma’am, but I’d like to buy you lovely ladies a few drinks,” he says, rubbing his hand over his chest. Inside, I cringe, wondering if this is what my daughters go through when men try to pick them up. I can’t even fathom Quinn acts like this.
“I think we’re okay,” Jenna says, shaking her drink in the air before taking a sip.
“Look, my buddies and I have a cabana over there.” He points over his shoulder. “Why don’t you ladies join us for a good time?”
As if on cue, we all raise our left hand and wiggle our fingers. Even though Harrison and I aren’t officially married, we are common law, and even if we weren’t, there isn’t a man alive that could take me away from him.
Our lothario puts his hands up. “My apologies,” he says. “Please tell your husbands they’re very lucky.”
As soon as he’s out of earshot, I say, “Damn, that felt good.”
“I can’t wait to tell Jimmy that some guy hit on me,” Jenna says, laughing.
“Yeah, I think I’ll keep that one to myself,” Josie adds.
“You know Liam will find out. If Jenna tells Jimmy, he’ll blab like a little girl and tell Liam and Harrison.”
Josie and I give Jenna a pointed look. She throws her hands up in the air and laughs. “Fine, I won’t tell the Brit.”
7
Jenna
The masseuse works the knots in my back like a magician. Her hands are soft, yet firm, but it’s her fingers that are really doing the best job. Each push or jab into my skin gives me instant relief and dare I say it, satisfaction. I want to moan but I’m afraid I might frighten her. The last thing I want to do is make her feel uncomfortable, even though I’m the one naked and lubed up.
Thinking of myself like that has me in a fit of giggles. Jimmy would be all over this right now. Being a bass player, his fingers are nimble and can work some magic when my neck is sore, but this lady… well, I want to take her home with me.
“What has you laughing over there?” Josie mumbles. I turn my head and look at her. She has her eyes closed and seems to be as blissed out as I am.
“I was just thinking that Jimmy would jump at the opportunity to be a masseur.”
“Just for you,” Josie says. “Jimmy is smitten with you and Eden. I can’t imagine him looking at another woman.”
“I agree,” Katelyn says.