Finding Our Course (Finding our Way 3)

When she stands back, I finally get a good look at her. I have to fight my jaw from dropping. She’s stunning. Looking at her is like looking at Vanessa Williams—beautiful mocha skin, sleek styled hair, striking blue eyes. When she smiles, her entire face lights up. Bryce runs his fingers down my arm lightly, breaking my trance. She stands back, inviting us in, as Tommy yells from somewhere in the house.

“I’m going to help him. Be right back.” She disappears down a hallway and toward the sound of baby laughter.

Bryce leads me to the kitchen and sits down on a stool, situating me between his legs.

“Remember the plan?”

“Yes, but I still don’t understand why we need an exit strategy. These are your friends.”

“We need a strategy because there’s a bed back at the hotel calling our names,” he whispers and kisses along my jawline. “We have weeks of ‘sexual frustration’ to make up for.”

I suck in a breath and try to step back, but his hands trap my hips. “I thought we did that last night and this morning.”

“Weeks, Devon. The image of you in that uniform with your mouth wrapped around my dick has kept me hard.” The heat of his breath on my ear sends a tingle down my spine.

“Bryce, stop,” I mutter breathlessly and squirm. “We—”

“That is HOT!” Nicole’s voice cuts me off.

I turn to see her and Tommy in the kitchen doorway with a baby on her hip. She uses her free hand to fan her face, and I cringe, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Bryce chuckles against my neck. I force myself to step away, and Nicole gives me a small smile, her eyes twinkling.

“This must be TJ?”

“This is him. We’d better act fast. This outfit won’t stay clean for long.”

He understands we are talking about him and starts scrambling to get down. I’ve never taken photos with children, but I know we need to hurry. The patio is already set up for the party, but I spot a perfect area in the backyard with great lighting.

“You guys okay with outdoor shots?” They nod in agreement and follow me.

Other guests start arriving while we’re taking pictures, and TJ loses interest in the minimal amount of posing I could get out of him. Tommy takes him as Nicole and I look through my image viewer at the results.

“Bryce brags about your photography talent to Tommy all the time. Thank you for doing this.” She puts an arm around my shoulders.

“I love it.”

“You want to make a career out of it?”

“I’m going to try my best. There’s still a lot I have to learn.”

“I’ve only been around Bryce a few times, but the way he tells it, you’re the shit. Nate says the same thing.”

Pride surges through me. “Those two are biased.”

She opens her mouth but snaps it shut. Her eyes grow wide, and I follow their path to the patio. TJ is squealing at the lady coming through the back door with a bundle of brightly colored balloons and her arms full.

“That’s our neighbor, Mrs. Knicks. She loves spoiling TJ.”

“Go greet her. I’ll take a few more snapshots of the cake and party. Then you’ll have more for your album.”

She gives me a loud-smacking kiss on the cheek and yells to the crowd, “Bryce, your fiancée is a gem!”

“I know!” he yells back, and heat creeps up my cheeks.

She runs to the house, and I snap shots of the crowd, the cake, the presents, and TJ toddling clumsily toward the bright displays. I try to get a picture of everyone arriving. I freeze when I notice Bryce talking to a woman I don’t recognize. My heart starts to race as she throws her head back laughing and puts her hand against his chest. Another guy joins them, handing her a beer. When she turns and locks eyes with me, my chest tightens. Liza’s glare is full of disgust.

Out of her uniform, Liza looks like a totally different person. Her outfit hugs her curves in all the right ways to highlight her body. The bun is gone, and now, her long dark hair falls in waves down her back. She’s wearing more make-up than yesterday, and her smoky eyes scream “night at a club” not “backyard bar-be-que”.