Chapter 8

Anthony

It’s difficult to keep the grimace off my face as I gnaw through the steak Jon murdered on the grill. Even with great strides to chew it enough to swallow, I’ve only made it through four bites. It’s going to be a long-ass afternoon.

“Good?” Jon asks as he saws into the slab of meat on his own plate.

“Perfect,” I lie.

Dave, well aware of Jon’s lack of grilling skills, is still in the hot tub and in no hurry to grab some food. Joking about everything but lunch, his comedy act at least gives me a chance to laugh and take a break from chewing.

The sound of the glass door opening draws my attention. Andi comes sauntering out in a black bikini carrying a bag of chips.

“You started without us?” Her eyes narrow at Jon as he grins at her around a bite of food.

“I figured you guys weren’t joining us,” he says after swallowing. “We waited nearly an hour.”

“You know Jon doesn’t like cold meat,” Cooper adds. “Where’s the potato salad?”

She bends a little too dramatically across the table from Jon to place the chips on the table. “Joey’s bringing it.”

My entire body tingles in anticipation at her words, conflicted because messing with my new friend’s brother isn’t an option.

Looking never hurt anyone.

Not waiting long, Joey appears on the other side of the glass, a bowl in each hand and a towel wrapped dangerously low on his narrow hips.

Jon jumps up to open the door for him before I have the chance. It’s a blessing in disguise because the sight of Joey wearing nothing but a towel makes my mouth water enough to finish his brother’s burned steak. Jon’s eagerness has prevented my embarrassment and the possibility of getting tossed out on my ass. Even though I know he’s off limits, my cock didn’t get the memo. It’s all too aware of his muscles bunching as he moves and is looking to get noticed.

“I saved you the best piece,” Jon whispers just loud enough so I can hear.

Tilting my head, I’m confused. I thought they said Andi gets first pick.

He does his best to look pleased, but the hint of a grimace on his face is apparent. Clearly, he’s eaten the steak before.

“Thanks, bro.” He hands him one of the bowls and sets the other on the table. “Oh, hey, Tony. Didn’t know you would be here.”

Tony? If he were anyone else…

I smirk knowing he saw me through the glass door almost an hour ago, but I can play along if that’s what he wants.

“Good to see you again, Joey.”

Andi laughs as she sits in the empty chair beside Jon as if there’s some sort of inside joke I’m not privileged to. I can’t tell if he really is ignoring her, or if this is some game they play with each other. It’s almost like she doesn’t exist to him half of the time. He doesn’t respond to the brush of her arm on his or the suggestive questions she asks, and there’s not so much as a side eye when she purposefully adjusts the black fabric covering her breasts.

I look away immediately. I can’t get caught looking at Andi or Joey. If warnings in neon lights were a thing, I’m certain they would have caution cones and flashing lights keeping everyone away from them. Even with Jon’s current cold shoulder routine, I remember exactly how he reacted when I thought he wanted me to help him with Andi last weekend. If the music wasn’t so loud in the bar, I’m pretty damn sure I would’ve heard him growl when I made a move to assist her.

I keep my eyes on Cooper as he scoops out more potato salad and baked beans from the bowls Joey brought out than he’ll ever be able to eat. Cooper is safe, as are Dave and Jon. Looking at the raven-haired man with light blue eyes and the creamiest skin in the world isn’t even an option. The reflection of the sun on his glossy, black hair and the milky skin of his abs just above his towel are a little too much. Not to mention there isn’t one single hair on his chest impeding my view of all of that skin. And, my mouth is watering again.

“You’re not going to eat?” Jon asks when Joey makes no move to pull out a chair.

“Not really hungry,” he says as he walks toward the cooler. “Need a beer?”

“I’ll take one,” Dave grunts from the hot tub.

Fuck. My. Life. Is all I can think when he bends at the waist near the cooler. Easily, seventy-five percent of his muscular thighs are exposed, and one hundred percent of my cock is hard.

Concentration on my steak has never been more important as he passes out beers to everyone.

“I think I’ll get in the Jacuzzi first.”

Chew. Chew. Chew. Swallow and repeat.

It isn’t until I hear Dave whistle and then laugh that I force my eyes up from my plate.

I cough.

I choke.

I nearly die when Joey shrugs out of the towel and nearly all of his body is exposed to the hot July sun. I’d expect a speedo in Brazil, maybe in some parts of the Caribbean. Texas? Never in a million years.

“Stop, Dave,” Jon hisses before turning his attention back to his blessedly near-naked brother. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

He shrugs.

Jesus, the way his abs bounce with the motion. I’m so fucked.

“Ridiculous,” Jon chuckles.

“All the important parts are covered,” he argues as his eyes find mine, and his hand reaches down to make for certain his cock is hidden.

Entranced, I can’t look away from the stunning blue of his eyes. I subconsciously pat myself on the back for not looking lower, a struggle strong enough to make my face begin to hurt.

“You’re nearly naked,” Jon mumbles.

“Good thing I’ll be sitting in the hot tub then.”

“I have a seat right over here for you, Joey.” Jon’s attention turns to his ignorant friend in the hot tub.

“If you make one more reference to ass fucking my brother,” Jon warns.

“That Jacuzzi drains into the sewer, asshole, which means when I beat you to death, the evidence will wash away.” Joey laughs, the sound washing over me. “Besides, I don’t mess with straight guys. You know that.”

Dave chuckles at the same time Joey winks at me. The motion breaks his hold on me as he closes the distance to the hot tub.

“I was hoping I could sit on Tony’s lap.”

Fucking hell. Is this guy a sadist? Does he want to see me pummeled by his overprotective brother?

When my eyes find Jon’s, I expect anger and rage on his face, but find a smirk instead.

I don’t know what’s worse, the ass kicking or the fact he doesn’t see me as a threat to his brother. I guess neither is worse considering I don’t want any of these people to know about the night in the conference room.

So, I smile at him. Nothing to see here buddy. Just a dude drinking a beer and choking on dry-ass steak.

Taking a page out of Jon’s book, I look down at my plate. Even pretending to ignore him, Joey still has every ounce of my attention.

“Andi? You going to join me?” Joey’s teasing tone draws a smile from his friend’s face. “Or are you going to hound my brother while your boob sweat begins to run down your stomach?”

“I want to sit on your lap,” Andi coos to Jon as she stands. “Or your face.”

Jon’s head shakes, but I don’t miss the rueful grin on his face or the way he eyes her ass as she slips past him and climbs into the hot tub alongside her friend.

“Humidititties,” Dave interjects.

“Huh?” I make the mistake of turning my attention to the idiot in the hot tub.

My eyes never make it to his.

“You’ll soon find out that Dave answers things with bits and pieces of memes and tries to pass them off as being witty himself,” Joey explains.

“This water is so fucking cold,” Andi complains. “I could cut glass with my nipples.”

Cooper laughs at her silliness as I begrudgingly pull my eyes away from Joey’s. Jon remains quiet, but he grips his knife and fork tighter.

“Really?” Dave asks, intrigued.

“Your steak is getting cold, Dave.” I watch Jon as he watches his friend, refusing to look in the direction of the hot tub myself. Every time I do, I’m entranced by Joey in the water.

“Not really hungry for steak,” Dave replies.

Thankful Jon’s attention is off of me, I keep my eyes lowered on my now cold food.

“The baked beans are incredible,” Cooper says pointing at the bowl with his fork. “I don’t know what Joey does to make them taste so good, but you don’t want to miss out.”

I nod and reach for the spoon to scoop some on my plate.

“He opens a damn can and heats them in the microwave,” Andi says.

“Gourmet cooking,” I tell Cooper with a grin.

“The potato salad is okay also, but he puts onions in it,” Cooper adds as he shoves a forkful into his mouth.

“The deli at the grocery store makes the potato salad,” Andi corrects.

“They know I don’t cook,” Joey adds. “Tony, do you cook?”

This Tony shit is going to drive me nuts.

I nod but keep my eyes on the beans spreading across my plate. I’m actually a pretty damn good cook, but I don’t spend much time experimenting with food. My diet is actually pretty bland these days.

“Will you cook for me?” Joey all but purrs. “I bet you have the best meat in town.”

I cough again.

I choke again.

Only this time I don’t have the excuse of having anything in my mouth.

Jon chuckles.

Cooper full out laughs.

My eyes dart to the sliding glass door at the back of the house as I wonder how fast of an escape I can make.