I took the beer from Brody and turned to face him. "I hear from Emily that you're the grill master."
"Among other things, yeah." He winked and moved past me toward the kitchen. "I brought some brats because the guys wanted them. Whatcha got in mind for dinner?"
The serenity of his persona washed over me, and I realized how much I enjoyed confident people. His cockiness was a bit annoying at times, but mainly because it reminded me too much of my own.
He opened the fridge and leaned over, his navy shorts pulling tight on the perfect swell of his ass. My body warmed, my cheeks flushing and stomach contracting.
He might be a player, but he was the perfect guy for the job. I'd yet to see anyone better looking in Lake Havasu.
"Are you checking out my butt?" He glanced over his shoulder and lifted his eyebrow.
"Nope. I was seeing if
we had mustard." I leaned across his back and plucked it from the door. "Good to know. I enjoy eating my weenies with mustard."
He chuckled and moved back. "Seems like a useful bit of information."
"Oh Lord," Clay mumbled and walked into the kitchen. He stopped beside me and smiled at me. "How are you, Cora? We missed you at breakfast yesterday. Emily is quite the cook."
"Where's Dedra?" Derek walked into the kitchen and pulled his cowboy hat from his head. "And Cindy?"
"I'm here!" Cindy walked in and smiled at everyone before turning her attention to me. "Did you get everything done?"
"Yep." I moved away from the fridge, trying hard not to notice how good Brody's cologne smelled. I turned to Derek as Daniel moved up beside him. "Dedra ran into town. You guys keep an eye out for her to make sure she doesn't need help.”
"What's she got?" Daniel asked.
"Drinks for tonight." I glanced over at Clay as Emily moved up beside him and wrapped her arms around his middle. Longing rolled through me. It had been far too long since I'd let someone hold me. "I hear you're quite the cook. How come you never cook for us?"
Emily chuckled, and I couldn't help but feel the weight of Brody's stare on me. I ignored it, though every part of me wanted to turn and give him my attention. Gorgeous wouldn't do him justice, not in the slightest, but looks weren't everything.
"Because I cook for you." Cindy bumped me with her hip, catching me off guard. I took a few steps forward to catch my balance and had to reach up to press my hands against Brody's chest before crashing into him.
The look on his face was far different from anything I'd seen Friday night. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm good." I pulled my hands down and turned toward the front door, grateful to hear the slam of a car door. "There's Dedra. Let's help her out."
I started to follow the guys out, but was stopped by someone tugging me backward. Brody.
"Hey, I'm sorry about Friday." He shrugged. "I'm not sure how to be anything other than the alpha asshole of this group."
"You are who you are." I shrugged and turned away from him, ignoring the soft sigh I heard leave him.
It would be far too easy to sink into him and let him make me feel like a princess for the night, but the sun would soon rise. He was the kind of asshole that would sneak out before the morning came and wouldn't look back. With a whole summer with him beside me thanks to Emily and Clay starting something, it wasn't happening. I'd come to Lake Havasu to have fun, nothing else. Brody would prove to be just that, but only for a night.
Everyone had the liquor in their arms, plus a few bags of extra goodies that Dedra picked up, too, by the time I got out there. I held the door for Brody, but didn't find him behind me.
"It's busy in town. I think everyone is getting excited for the Fourth of July coming up soon. The firework stands are packed with people and explosives." Dedra blew a hair out of her face as I reached for the bags in her hands.
"Are we doing fireworks?" Emily asked, moving up beside me as I turned and walked back into the house.
I started to respond, but realized she was talking to Clay.
"We can do anything you want to do." He smiled down at her as I passed by.
"Are you promising the girl the world?" Brody gave a crooked smile as he opened the door for all of us.
I moved in without giving him a glance and walked to the kitchen to find Derek and Cindy laughing about something. The smile on her pretty face caused one to lift on my own. I wanted her happy, but wasn't so sure this band of guys were the ones to make that happen. Derek seemed nice, but anyone willing to put up with a guy like Brody meant they, too, objectified women—or maybe I was once again overthinking it.