Too Complicated (The Lewis Cousins 2)

Stop it, I warned myself as my gaze trailed back up his body to take in his happy expression as he spoke with Laurel. Reardon is one of the only friends you have in this town, don’t let jealousy ruin it.

Because, honestly, that’s what I was feeling. Jealousy.

Yes, I’d said I needed a friend, and that was completely true, but I couldn’t deny that his Viking good looks, affable demeanor, and closet nerdiness hadn’t totally charmed me. And now, those tattoos…

Seeing him like that, with another woman, made me realize that maybe I was harboring a little crush on my new friend. I kept walking past them, trying to play it off like I’d been going for my towel the entire time, and not like I was trying to avoid the handsome pair.

“So, you’re good for Friday night?” I heard Laurel ask Reardon as I passed, then tried to tune them out when I heard him reply, “It’s a date.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes while I ran my towel over my body, then opened them with a sigh and spread it out on the ground, before laying down and ordering myself to relax and get some sun. I figured another half hour or so, and I’d be clear to make my escape.

“Want company?” a sexy voice, with a, no kidding, Australian accent said, causing me to open my eyes in surprise.

I looked up to see the hot, dirty-blond man Jasmine had introduced as Shane standing over me with a sexy smile, his body glistening. I wasn’t sure if it was oil or sweat, but as I rose up to sitting, I had to admit, I didn’t care either way. The man exuded sex.

Of course, that may have something to do with the accent.

“Of course,” I replied, as any sane woman would, then shifted nervously when he laid out a beach towel and unfolded himself on the ground next to me.

Damn, he smells amazing.

> “So,” Shane began with a charming smile. “I’ve seen you at the bar once or twice, but we’ve never had the chance to talk. How are you enjoying Cherry Springs so far?”

I gave myself a mental pep-talk, urging myself to remain calm and sound self-assured, before responding, “It’s great. Different from what I’m used to, but I’m enjoying the town. How long have you been here, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Shane laid back on his forearms, totally at ease with his long, lean body, rippling with muscles, laid out before me like a buffet.

“I came over three years ago with Gabe, who was one of my mates in school, and fell in love with the place. I’d been thinking about moving to the States for a while, and after that week, I knew that here is where I wanted to land. I officially moved here about a year ago.”

“And you work at Lewis’s Bar and Grill?”

“Yeah, I’ve been finishing up my Master’s and working there full time to get me through. It’s a great place to work. Ms. Annabeth can be a hard-ass, but she’s a firecracker, and has a good heart.”

I thought of Gabe’s mom, Christopher’s grandmother, and the reservations the woman still had about me and said, “I’ve seen the hard-ass part, I’ll have to take your word on the rest.”

Shane grinned, and I had to look away before he saw my eyes bug out of my head.

“She’ll come around,” he said, pulling my attention back. “I’ve seen the way she is with Chris, he’s a great kid by the way, and I know she loves your sister. Just give her a little time to get used to the situation.”

“It is complicated, I’ll give her that,” I admitted with a small smile.

“Definitely the first time I’ve heard anything like it outside of my mum’s favorite soap opera,” Shane replied, his face open and friendly, so his words had no sting to them.

I nodded, embarrassed like I always was when the subject of our weird family dynamic came up.

“Hey,” Shane said, reaching out a hand to rub my arm consolingly. “You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of, it’s just life … You are all happy now, yeah? Focus on that.”

“You’re right,” I said, grateful that he was so understanding of the situation. “Thanks, Shane.”

“Hey, I’m the bartender, right? That’s what I’m here for.” His grin was charming and catchy, so I smiled along with him, and hoped maybe I had another friend in Cherry Springs.

“We should get together sometime, both of us being newbies in this rather incestuous town,” he said, causing me to laugh with surprise at his choice of words. “Grab a drink or coffee.”

“That sounds great,” I admitted, then we both leaned back on our towels and enjoyed the sun.

I ended up staying longer than I’d planned, and after enjoying a burger grilled perfectly by Gabe, I was packing up my bag when Laurel approached.

“We never did get a chance to talk about that job,” she said easily.