Cade had no idea what was going on with his family. No one was acting like they normally did.
Well, that wasn’t true. Brody was always on the edge of something different from day to day. But Aiden was quiet and Mason talkative. Talk about the world tilting on its axis.
Even Ella was acting odder than normal. But in a way that was normal for Ella, so that didn’t count.
He brushed it all off and got Alex her beer, then started to walk her around the party introducing her to various office staff and managers.
Everyone seemed excited to meet and talk shop with her, but he didn’t want to give up any time with her either. He was starting to get greedy and want a little bit of one-on-one time with her and wasn’t sure how to get it.
He’d taken a risk putting his arm around her waist and when she didn’t flinch or pull back, he decided to keep it there. It was easier to guide her around that way too. That was his story and he was sticking to it.
“Did you bring your swimsuit?” he asked her now. They were on the edge of the pool patio for the moment just looking around.
“I didn’t. I don’t normally put one on in public gatherings. Did you bring yours?” she asked, her eyes assessing him from head to toe.
He wanted to ask why she didn’t like to wear a swimsuit in public but figured it might be too personal of a question for now.
“No. A lot of the employees do. They’ll probably get a volleyball game going soon on the other end of the property and then once they get hot, most will jump in. I’ve outgrown the need to put my suit on and show off.”
He hadn’t meant to say that, but when she laughed, he took it in stride.
“So what are you showing off?” she asked, her eyes going right to his arms. This day was already looking promising.
He wasn’t nearly as built as Brody. No one was. But Mason was the most ripped and he never took his shirt off at parties like this. Even if they were entering the gates of hell, Mason wouldn’t take his shirt off in front of anyone other than family for fear they’d see what good shape he was really in. He liked keeping to himself.
“I may have been known to strut around at times. Someone has to show up the rest of them.”
“You’re something else, aren’t you?” she asked, a soft laugh, almost a sensual one escaping her lips. “I thought you were smooth and charming, but now I think you’re pretty funny too.”
“You think I’m charming?” he asked, grinning and then brushing her hair off her shoulder tenderly. She’d kept it down again, the way he liked it. Soft and flowing around her back, making him long to run his fingers through it. The urge to push the boundaries with her was overriding any common sense at the moment.
“I’m not sure there is a woman on the face of this earth that wouldn’t think you’re charming,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, there are plenty,” he said dryly. “Want to go sit on the edge of the pool and put our feet in the water?” he asked, wiping the sweat from her brow with his thumb. Another caress she allowed him. She almost inched in closer to him that time too, or was that his imagination?
Even Jessica had moved over to put her feet on the stairs trying to cool down with Mason right by her side. He found his brothers were never far from their significant others now.
“Do I look that sloppy that you think I need to cool off?”
“Guess I’m not as charming as you thought?” he said. “No. I just figured if we were by the water, people might leave us alone for a bit and let us just relax and watch what was going on around us.”
“Do you like to people watch too?” she asked, some surprise in her voice.
“Actually I do,” he said. “It’s the best way to get a handle on your surroundings and see how people relate to each other. But I figured you knew that based on how I am about the bands we sign.”
“I just thought that was for work. But yeah, I worked for a few hours and though I showered before I arrived, I think my body is still a little heated up. The cool water will feel good on my feet. I’m on my feet a lot, it seems.”
He wished she hadn’t mentioned taking a shower because now he couldn’t get the image of her naked standing under a spray of water out of his head. But he did look down at her leather thongs and noticed her pretty toes again.
Going with what he’d been allowed so far, he placed his hand on her lower back and ushered her over to the deep end of the pool where they both slipped off their shoes and sat down to dangle their feet in.
“So what were you doing working today?” he asked. “It’s Sunday.”
“Did you work today?” she asked. “I bet at least half of the five of you did.”
“I did a few things at home. I know Ella was in the office because she goes in Sundays to meet with the security company to change up cameras, but my guess is the rest of them didn’t go in today. So you might have lost that bet by one.”
They’d been sitting there for about twenty minutes just chatting and watching what was going on around them when his mother called his name. He turned and saw her coming toward him with a beer in each hand, bringing him and Alex more. That was nice of her.
He reached his hands up to grab the beers before she could hand them over when she suddenly tripped and fell into him, causing him to lose his perch and fall into the pool with Alex reaching out and stopping his mother from falling in with him.
“Oh dear,” his mother said. “That was so clumsy of me. I’m not sure what happened. Alex, thank you, dear, from stopping my fall. Something my son obviously couldn’t manage.”
All four of his siblings had come rushing over during the mishap, his father leading the way asking if his wife was okay, no one bothering to check on him bobbing up and down and running his hand over his wet hair.
“I’m good too, guys,” he said, pulling himself up on the side and sitting down. “I can’t say the same for my phone. Damn.” He pulled it out and set it on the concrete.
“I’ll take it,” Ella said, “and go put it in rice in a minute. You’ll be fine without your phone for twenty-four hours.”
“Damn you, Jolene,” his father said, pulling her in and holding her close. “You’re trying to kill me with your antics.”
His mother slapped his father on the arm. “I tripped over my own two feet. The heat was catching up with me. What kind of an antic was that?”
His siblings were staring at his parents, himself included. He had no idea what was going on. “It was just an accident, Dad,” he said, defending his mother.
“I’ll get you some orthopedic shoes, Mom,” Ella said. “Maybe then you won’t trip.”
What the hell? His mother and Ella were having one of their eyeball showdowns in front of everyone. “Ella Marie, are you calling me old?”
“She’s calling you a klutz,” his father said, “and I’m with her on this.”
Cade stood up when Mason handed him a towel, trying to ignore all the looks in his parents’ direction, and then his while he was soaking wet.
“Thanks,” he said. “Shit, now I’ve got to run home and change. Unless any of you have a change of clothes.” His brothers all shook their heads. Alex was trying to hide her laughter and not doing a good job of it. “What’s so funny?” he asked. “Do you want to cool off too?”
That just caused her to let go and laugh hysterically. “I’m good. I was able to stop your mom from falling in and not get wet myself. Well, except for the water you splashed all over me, but I’ll survive. My phone will too because I left it in the car.”
“Cute,” he said, squinting his eyes.
He made a grab for her to fake send her in, causing her to cling to him. “You’ll go in again if you do.”
“What?” he asked everyone around him when they were just staring. “I wouldn’t do that. I was just kidding.” He sighed. “I guess I’ll be back.”
“Actually,” she said, “when I pulled into the driveway, it looked like you were blocked, unless others want to move their cars to let you out.”
“Great. That is what I get for coming here early. Or I should say thanks, Mom, for asking me to come here and help you set up early. Why couldn’t you ask one of the others?”
“Because they all had girlfriends and wives at home and you’re alone. I’m sure Alex wouldn’t mind giving you a ride to your house, would you, Alex?”
His siblings were all watching him now, most of them smirking.
Alex covered her mouth with her hand, trying to control the giggles now. Great way to impress a woman, falling into the pool. He didn’t even have the excuse of helping his mom since she was the one who did that and rubbed his face in his failings.
“Not a problem. Let’s go now so I can get back and have dinner because whatever Aiden is cooking smells delicious.”
“We’ll hold off for you,” Aiden said. “Since you saved our mom and all.”
“Cute,” Cade said, walking away from them all.