Four Real

“Want a water?” The guys drink a lot of soda, but they all know from experience that I usually only have water.

“Sure. That would be good.”

Cade, Logan, and Knox are all walking toward us, and there’s a flutter in my belly at the sight of Cade’s bare chest, water droplets clinging to his muscles and shimmering on his golden skin.

Look away, look away, I scold myself.

My eyes slide over to the nearest distraction – Logan’s bare chest, and damn if it doesn’t look just as good as Cade’s. But that’s okay. I can objectively admire Logan’s body because I don’t have a crush on him. I can notice that he’s attractive; there doesn’t need to be anything else to it.

While I’m giving myself permission to look, I decide to glance at Knox as well, and Ryder, while I’m at it. All four brothers have similar coloring – brown hair and brown eyes. Knox and Logan have beards, while their younger brothers are usually clean-shaven. Knox usually wears glasses, but not when he’s at the pool.

In addition to playing various sports and working out, all four of the men put in a lot of hours doing physical labor at the golf course, and it shows. Their bodies are strong, and they all have the healthy glow that comes from spending time outdoors.

As Ryder hands me a bottle of water that’s dripping with melted ice from the cooler, I catch him glancing downward to my chest before he meets my eyes. This suit was a bad idea.

3

Recipe for disaster

“We got cupcakes,” Cade announces, lifting a box from the table behind him. He opens the lid to reveal a dozen brightly decorated, oversized treats. “They’re from that good bakery on your island.”

“Oh, yum. Then Maddy or her mom made these.”

“You know the shop owners?” Ryder asks.

“Maddy Lewis is my sister’s best friend. Lacy is obsessed with their apple fritters.” The men have never met my sister, but I’ve talked about her enough that they know her by name.

“We’ll have to try those sometime,” Cade says. “Anyway, happy birthday, Bianca!”

His brothers join in a chorus of birthday wishes, and Cade brings the box closer to me. “Want to have one now?”

“Sure. Thank you.” I extract a pink-topped cupcake and look around at the men. “Thank you, and thanks for inviting me over to celebrate.”

They all offer smiles and polite responses before quickly claiming their own cupcakes. I take a seat at the outdoor dining table and am joined by Cade, Logan, and Ryder. Knox stands nearby, and all of us are silent for a moment as we enjoy the sweet frosting and moist cake.

My gaze wanders around again, not sure where to land with so much bare skin surrounding me. My attention is drawn to the muscles on Knox’s legs, which are so well defined that I have a strange urge to reach out and trace them with my finger.

Next to me, Ryder licks his lips, collecting a stray spot of frosting. His tongue slides across his upper lip, and I feel like I’ve been hollowed out inside.

With some force, I drop my head and focus on the cupcake in front of me. What is wrong with me today? I’ve spent countless hours with these four men, and aside from stealing a few glances at Cade, I’ve never ogled the others, much less had an urge to touch them.

We’ve been in the pool and on the beach together before, so I’ve seen them in swim trunks and I’ve never lusted after them. They’re my buddies, my friends – they may as well be my brothers.

Maybe it’s the skimpy suit I’m wearing and concern over my exposed body that’s got me somehow focused on their bare skin. Or maybe my disappointment at turning 24 and not having a boyfriend – or any physical experience at all – is still on my mind and I’m projecting my thoughts and desires onto these men.

Whatever the reason, I need to snap out of it right now.

“Want another one, Bianca?” Logan asks as he slides the box toward him.

“No, thanks, but you go ahead.”

“Oh, I am,” he laughs.

Cade and Ryder reach in for their second helpings, while I keep my head down and try not to look at anything except the remaining bit of my cupcake.

“Do you have plans tonight?” Cade asks me.

Several months ago, this question might have sparked hope, but I know he’s just making polite conversation. “Olivia and I are going out.” None of them have met Olivia either, but they know she’s my best friend.

“Planning to party hard?” Knox asks with a grin.

“Yeah, you know me,” I scoff. “Wild and crazy.” I crumple my cupcake wrapper and add it to the pile the guys have formed.

“Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do,” Ryder says.

Logan barks out a laugh and stands, playfully messing up his younger brother’s hair before stepping away. “That leaves her a lot of leeway.”