Fireworks: A Holiday Bad Boy Romance Read online

  "Beautiful chocolate man?" I walked out after her and laughed deep in my chest.

  Serenity wrapped around me due to the beautiful scene before me. The lake was vast, and the dark blue water almost seemed to sparkle right along the surface. The sun sat at the top of the sky, and the tall trees all around us rustled with the force of the wind. I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply, not hearing the response to my question. I didn't care about anything for the moment but finding my center and trying to release the last four years to the past.

  "Hey, you can meditate or do that yoga mess later. I'm hungry." Emily bumped her shoulder against mine, pulling me out of my mini-moment.

  "Always about you." I winked as she gave me a look. She was the most giving person I knew. If any of us were selfish, it was me. I was raised to be and had worked hard to get over it, but it lingered—a lot.

  "Tell me about the boat." Emily opened her door, directing her question at Cindy and Dedra.

  "It's a small speedboat," Dedra started.

  I got in and started the car, almost pulling out as a group of bikers rode just behind us. I slammed on the brakes, let out a yelp and jerked around, causing my friends to do the same.

  "Damn." I shook my head and let the car roll back slowly.

  "Yeah, those bikers are everywhere." Cindy patted my shoulder from the backseat. "Just be careful and we'll be fine. You can actually rent a bike at the lodge if you want. Might be fun one day?"

  "Absolutely." Emily turned in her seat. "And, is the boat nice or a piece of shit they just threw in thinking we wouldn't use it?"

  "It's nice." Dedra responded. "It's not a yacht, but it will comfortably fit all of us, and the thing is like a speeding bullet if you want it to be."

  "Which you do," Cindy added.

  "I like fast cars, fast men, and fast food. What can I say?" Dedra laughed, and we all joined her.

  "Is the grocery store on the other side of town? I didn't see it when we were driving in." I stopped at the stop sign at the end of our street and glanced around, surprised by how many people were already on the lake.

  Cindy leaned up into the front seat as Emily turned back around. "Yeah. Just take a left up here at the main light and it's on your left about a mile down. It's not like the big grocery stores we're used to, but it'll work."

  "What do you guys want for dinner?" I asked and followed her directions, trying hard not to let my eyes wander to the half-dressed guys walking around everywhere.

  It had been three months since I'd been on a date, flirted, anything. After dating Brandon for two years and being cheated on, I was done with guys. Or I thought I was.

  "Let's make something delicious for your first night here." Cindy offered as she sat back next to Dedra. "Maybe pasta and salad?"

  "Yeah, and let's get a bottle or two of wine and some more stuff for Cindy to make her cookies with." Dedra leaned into the front seat and pointed to the left. "It's right there. It's easy to miss."

  "Oh, hell. I would have missed that." I pulled into the center lane and put on my blinker, waiting for a large group of bikini-wearing girls to cross the street. "This place is busy."

  "Oh, yeah. It's the best summer hang out for almost everyone in the state." Emily glanced over at me. "If we can't find some fun here, we need to see a specialist."

  I pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off, chuckling at my best friend. "Do they have people who specialize in having fun?"

  "Watch it." She popped me in the arm before getting out of the car.

  I got out and walked to the back, suddenly feeling overdressed in my jeans and t-shirt. Cindy was still in her beach-dress and Dedra was sporting a pair of tight shorts and a tank top. I was suddenly itching to get into my swimsuit and get out in the sun.

  "We'll grab the cold stuff," Cindy slid her arm into Emily's. "You and D get the wine and bread?"

  "And the pasta," Emily added before the two of them turned and walked off, chattering about something.

  "Are we thinking red wine?" I asked before getting a small shopping cart.

  "I think so. Maybe we'll just get both. You know how Cindy gets about pairing up drinks with food." She rolled her eyes playfully and walked beside me. "So, are you open to finding a cute boy to snuggle up with?"

  "I don't know yet. Are there a lot of single cute boys that you've seen?" I glanced over at her. Everyone knew my story and that I'd been a loner for a few months on purpose.

  "Oh, yeah. We've met quite a few people since getting here. I'm saving myself for that chocolate man that Cindy mentioned." She snorted. "I seriously almost wrecked the damn boat over him."

  "Was he that hot?" I lifted my eyebrow and turned down the liquor aisle.

  "Let's just say that I had to check to make sure my panties hadn't melted off." She shrugged and lifted her hand to grab a bottle too high for me to reach. I wasn't short by most standards, but up next to Dedra's six foot two frame, I felt like a small fry.

  "Wow. Maybe I need to meet this guy." I knelt and picked out a bottle of white wine that looked good. "Dearington Farms. Have you heard of this brand?"

  A masculine voice behind us startled me. "It's local. The farm is just down the road, though I have no clue how they grow grapes. It's hot as hell here." I turned to find a lanky guy with dark brown hair and a warm smile. "I'm Clint. My folks own the big house as you first pull into town. We're having a huge party tomorrow night to welcome all the vacationers. The property off the back of the house is huge. You guys are invited."

  He handed me a slip of paper and smiled before walking off, not really waiting for a response.

  "Cool." I turned back to Dedra and shrugged. "Looks like we're off to a good start. We've been invited to the in-crowd."

  She rolled her eyes and took the paper from me. "Everyone is invited, but it's still a party."

  Chapter 4

  Brody

  "Are we going dancing tonight?" I licked at my fingers as we sat out on the patio, wrapping up lunch. There was nothing better than a sausage fold-over slathered in mustard.

  "I'm down with whatever, but remember tomorrow is that party up at Clint's place." Derek stretched out on a lawn chair beside the table. "There should be a huge crowd, so maybe you'll find one or two untapped women."

  I chuckled and lifted my eyebrow at him. "I'm not looking for a virgin. You know that. I like my women capable and aware of what they want."

  "I just meant untapped by you." He winked at me before letting his head drop back.

  "I've been here three weeks. That means I might have slept with…”

  "Twenty to thirty girls." Daniel gave me a look as he adjusted his glasses.

  "Twenty to thirty?" Clay laughed and stood up. "He's slowing down, then. I was thinking twenty days times two to three girls a day..."

  "Fuck you guys." I picked up my beer and drained it. "You could be cool like me. Just stop being so selective."

  "Are you kidding me?" Clay started to pick up plates. "I've not seen you with a woman who wouldn't be perfect for playboy. None of the girls you're picking up are you just settling. You're an ass for insinuating it."

  "I'm gonna be labeled an ass for something, might as well be this." I finished my beer and burped as I got up. "I'm taking the boat out. Anyone wanna go?"

  "I'm going to sleep. I got a date tonight with that pretty number you scared with your itsy bitsy dick earlier." Derek laughed and pulled his cowboy hat over his face.

  "Keep it up, big boy." I walked to the house, leaving my trash on the table. Clay cleaned like a little old lady. He'd get it for me.

  "I'll go if you promise not to repay me for earlier." Daniel followed me into the house, carrying his plate and a few beer bottles.

  "Why did you mention it again?" Clay asked. "He wouldn't have remembered if you'd have kept your trap shut."

  "You think that, and then we get out there and he dumps my ass on Deker's Island with no way back." Daniel opened the fridge and pulled out a six pack, lifting it up to
me with a smile. "I come with a peace offering?"

  "Yeah, that'll do." I took the beers and looked back at Clay, who was wiping down cabinets. "You coming, bitch?"

  "Nope. Go have fun. I'm with Derek. I'm taking a nap." He yawned loudly and moved past us. "We're on our own for dinner. There's nothing left here to cook."

  "We'll get groceries tomorrow." I walked back to the front, pausing to slip on my sandals. "I promise not to maroon you on the island, Dan. Come on, buddy. I'll teach you a few things about how to make a girl come."

  "Oh, Lord." Clay's comment caused my lip to lift in a smirk. Daniel was our resident virgin, and where I knew he was good with my teasing, I tried not to do it too much. He was good guy—the best.

  "Sounds riveting." Daniel adjusted his glasses and walked out of the house in front of me.

  Derek was snoring softly as we walked by, and I had to force myself not to stop and pour a beer on his chest or something dickish. We were all teenage boys in our heads, and yet the time for growing up was coming far too fast.

  "I wanna drive the boat." Daniel pulled the keys from his pocket and dangled them in front of me as we walked across the street. We paused for a long line of people riding bikes, and I glanced over at him, shrugging.

  "Yeah, sure. I don't care. Let's go out to the island for a little while. It's a beautiful day. I want to get some sun." I pulled my t-shirt over my head and jogged down the dock toward the boat. I needed to find the gym on the property and soon. My six pack was getting less and less visible, and the unfortunate fact was that women almost expected one on a guy like me.

  "And, we're not going out there so you can leave me, right?" He got into the boat behind me and moved to the driver's seat.

  "Dude, I just play an ass on TV." I dropped down on the bench near the back of the boat and stretched out. "You know I'm just teasing you about girls and shit."

  "I know. I'll find one this summer and hopefully take her to bed. I just want it to be the right one, you know?" He looked back at me as I pulled my sunglasses onto my face.

  "I guess. It's all good, though. We're all different. You respect women, and I've had enough of them not respect me to be over the idea of a fairytale ending." I shrugged and crossed my arms over my chest as he pulled out onto the lake.

  "A fairytale ending? Have you really ever considered something like that?" He snorted and hit the gas.

  The wind felt good in my hair, and the steady rocking of the boat left me surrounded with a sense of peace that I honestly couldn't find anywhere else in the world.

  "I used to think I would find a good girl who would take care of me." I moved closer, yelling above the roar of the wind and waves. "I guess I just gave up."

  "And now, you only sleep with them once and that's it? No second chances, no additional glances?"

  "That's right." I let my head drop back as I watched the clouds race across the sky.

  "And, if you found a girl that made you want to have a second date?" He kicked at my shin softly.

  "I don't know." I sat up and turned to watch the island grow larger and larger. "I've not met her yet, and I'm hoping I don't until I'm settled into my career and bored with life."

  "Bored with life?" Daniel slowed the boat a little as we approached the other boats tied up around the island.

  "Yeah." I grabbed the anchor and stood up. "You know...you get a job and start contributing to society. Start dating a little here and there, and after a while, you find yourself in a pattern. A rut. Bored as fuck."

  "That's depressing." He moved over to grab the other anchor. "It doesn't have to work like that, you know?"

  "Very true." I dropped the anchor and moved back, kicking off my sandals and adjusting my bathing suit. "We could all be doctors like you. That sounds riveting."

  "I'm excited about it. Maybe that's why I'm not in a hurry to find a woman." He slathered a thick layer of sunscreen on his arms and legs as I watched him.

  "You'll be married to your career. It's what will turn you on, make you come alive. Not me, though; I'm going to do my job and take my ass home. I want life to be centered on a family, on a woman. The right woman." I stretched, being more open than I had in forever. My friends were excited about their next steps after graduation, but I wasn't in the slightest.

  No matter how much I balked at romance, I wanted it with a desperation that left me in another girl's bed every night. The part that no one seemed to understand was that they used me as much as I used them.

  "You not taking your shirt off?" I chuckled and glanced back at him. "You're not a ginger, dude."

  "I burn easily, and I want to be ready for tomorrow night. I have a strange feeling that my turn is coming." He shrugged and jumped off the side of the boat, landing in the water with a splash.

  "You think Cinderella's coming to the ball?" I stepped up on the edge of the boat and jumped, tucking my legs and doing a cannon ball.

  He splashed me as I came up from the cool water. "Ass. I swear you're a bully with a heart."

  I laughed. "That's exactly what I am. Don't forget my overly huge dick, too. That's an asset we need to stay cognizant of."

  "I'm not responding to that." He disappeared under the water, leaving me to laugh at how fun it was to fuck with him.

  We walked onto the man-made beach front a few minutes later and spread out on a small strip of sand amongst a huge group of people.

  Daniel dropped down beside me and rubbed at his eyes. "I don't have my contacts in, so stay close."

  "You can't see anything?" I glanced over at him as I laid back, enjoying the warm sand beneath me.

  "Nope." He laid back beside me and yawned. "We stayed up too late last night."

  "You're a pussy." I moved my hands to cradle my head. "And, you suck at dominoes."

  "Do you have anything nice to say?" He turned his head toward me as he squinted.

  "You have nice cheekbones?" I laughed as he shook his head.

  "Fuck you, Brody." He turned to look back toward the sky. "I have to admit that I'm a little jealous about how easily women flock to you."

  "It's confidence. Just pretend like you have it and they'll flock to you, too. Girls are weird like that." I shrugged and turned to my left, smiling at the dark-skinned girl who was on her stomach, her eyes all for me. "Isn't that true?" I asked her.

  "Sure is." She smiled and turned to look the other way.

  "So, what if you're not at all confident? I mean, if we're talking about school or intelligence, I got it down, but anything else? Especially if we're talking about confidence in the bedroom. I'm completely at a loss there." Daniel let out a long sigh. "It's fucking terrifying."

  "Yeah, but after you do it once or a hundred times, it gets easier." I turned my attention to him. I couldn't remember having anything but confidence in the bedroom, but then again, I'd started sleeping around right before high school started. It had been far too many years to think back to the beginning of it all.

  "I guess." He sighed again. "I need to just go for it. I'm going to work on it tomorrow night."

  "On your confidence or getting laid?” I sat up and rolled my shoulders before glancing behind me to see if there was a bathroom close.

  "Both?" He covered the top of his eyes as he looked over at me. "What's up?"

  "Looking for a restroom."

  The girl beside me turned over and smiled. "It's at the back of the island. Just walk toward the palm trees.

  "Thanks, pretty girl." I winked at her and got up. "Be right back."

  "I'll be here. Contemplating the purpose of all of this shit." Daniel's voice was filled with concern. I felt for the guy, but I wasn't sure what to say to him. I was simple and straightforward, and he was an intellectual, a brilliant guy who overthought everything. My advice? Find a girl and fuck her until you both have trouble walking. To say that I wouldn't be a big help to him was the understatement of the century.

  I found the restroom a few minutes later and jogged toward it. The line of girls standing
outside of the women's half was astounding, and I felt bad for the ones bouncing on their feet. It had to suck to high heaven to be a woman.

  After washing my hands and checking myself in the mirror, I walked back out and caught the eye of a dark-haired beauty standing beside the line, but not in it.

  "Hi," she spoke softly, lifting her hand and rolling each finger down in a sensual greeting.

  "Hi." I walked toward her and stopped in front of her. "Brody."

  "Dina." She extended her hand.

  "A pretty girl like you got a boyfriend around here?" I took her hand and glanced around before pulling it to my lips and kissing her fingers softly. She was breathtaking, the kind of woman you'd wish would let you take pictures for the lonely nights to come once she was done with you.

  "Nope. Men are too needy to keep one for more than a night." She smiled and pulled her hand from me.

  "I agree. I try hard to be gentle when letting them down, though." I shrugged. "Such sensitive creatures."

  She laughed, and I enjoyed the sound of it. "Are you going to the party tomorrow that Clint's throwing?"

  "I am." I let my eyes run across her, enjoying how very tiny her bathing suit was. "How about you come home with me? I make a mean margarita. You look like you could use a drink or two."

  She glanced around as if thinking things through.

  I jumped back in, hoping to seal the deal. "No pressure for anything more than a walk through town and a drink."

  "Yeah. Okay." She nodded toward the other side of the beach. "Let me grab my shorts and tell my friends where I'm going."

  "I'm over there near the red boat." I pointed before reaching out and touching her hand. "Hurry. I don't like to be kept waiting."

  She bit her lip and turned, surprising me a little as she jogged across the beach. I returned to Daniel and offered him a hand. "Let's go, buddy. I have a date for the afternoon."

  "What?" He glanced around. "Where?"

  "She's coming from the other side of the beach." I walked out toward the water, waiting as she jogged up with a smile on her pretty mouth. "This is Dina. Daniel."