Chapter 3

Delaney

As soon as Logan’s car disappears down the driveway and out of sight, I stand and head towards the front door.

The summer sun beats down, warming my skin to the touch. The plan was to go check out the pool, but when I came down the stairs, Elijah and Owen were in the kitchen.

Yes, I was a chicken, turned around, and went the other way to avoid them. After the conversationlast night, I don’t know how to act around them just yet.

I’ve hardly processed all this new information. And the fact I dreamed about them again last night wouldn’t make looking them in the eye very easy.

So, with my book in hand, I came out front to hide. The fountain is stunning, and the sound of the water is relaxing.

I managed to get my mind off things for a little while. That was until Logan backed his car out of the garage. When our eyes met, butterflies filled my belly.

His gaze was intense but not harsh. He comes off a little on the harder side, but I don’t think he hates me. At least, I hope he doesn’t.

I’d like to be friends, at the very least. They’re all good guys, and if we’re going to be living together and about to become family, then being able to get along is in everyone’s best interest.

Hey, maybe when school starts, I’ll find another charming man to sweep me off my feet, show me a good time, and get my mind off my three sexy stepbrothers.

“Or maybe I’ll become a nun and stay away from all guys,” I mutter to myself as I head into the house.

The kitchen is empty, so I take my chance to head to the backyard. I still haven’t had time to check it out yet, so I’m in awe as I take it in.

My lips part, eyes widening, as I laugh in disbelief. “Holy shit,” I whisper. When James said he had a pool, this is not what I expected to find.

It’s shaped like a pond with a stone waterfall. A friggin’ waterfall!

Laughing, I toss my book onto one of the chairs, strip down to my bikini, and take off running towards the pool's edge.

I dive in, the cool water feeling amazing against my heated skin. I don’t come up for air until I’m behind the waterfall.

Taking a breath, I wipe my eyes and slick back my hair with a happy laugh. This is so cool. I know I’ll be spending a lot of time out here, that's for sure.

Movement catches my attention, and I look through the falling water to find Owen standing near the pool's edge. He’s got his tattooed muscled arms crossed and a playful smirk on his face.

Then I notice something different. He changed his hair. Damn, he looks good with his head shaved.

“Having fun?” he chuckles.

“Maybe.” I bite my lower lip, even though he can’t see me.

“Mind some company?”

“It’s your house, your pool. Do as you wish,” I call back.

He pauses for a moment, then I watch as he pulls his shirt off, kicks his shoes to the side, and then dives in.

The waterfall makes it hard to keep track of where he is as I search for him.

“Boo.”

I scream, making him burst into laughter as I spin around and slap his shoulder. “You scared the shit out of me.” I place my hand on my pounding heart, my breathing coming in a little ragged.

He runs his hand over his shaved head and smirks. “A little too old to be doing that in pools, aren't we?”

I can’t help but laugh. “Eww. I’d never.”

“Good,” he chuckles. “So, plan on hanging out back here all day?”

“I don’t know. It seems like a nice place to escape the sun.” I shrug, aware that he’s slowly closing the distance between us.

My cooled-down skin suddenly feels hot again.

Why does he have to look at me like that? We’ve agreed to be friends, nothing more. And that's not the look a friend gives another.

I swallow hard, shifting on my feet, liking his nearness a little bit too much.

“I like the new hair,” I tell him, trying to distract myself from how I wish he could close the space between us and kiss me.

“Thanks. I normally let it grow for half the year and shave it at the end of summer. Helps for hockey season. Gets sweaty under the helmet.” He grins.

“Your dad told me you play. I didn’t expect that.”

He cocks a brow. “Why’s that? I don’t look like a jock?”

“Not that. You just fit the surfer boy vibe so well.”

He hums, nodding his head. “I’m still very much a surfer boy. But I’m also a man of many talents.” A slow grin takes over his lips, making my heart pound faster. That damn smile should be illegal.

He’s rightin front of me now. I have to tip my head back to look up at him.

“What are you doing?” I whisper, his eyes dropping to my lips.

When his hands grip my hips, I have to swallow down the small moan. I’m ashamed to admit how much I want him, how much his touch affects me.

“I want to kiss you, Laney,” he murmurs. “I haven’t been able to get our time together out of my head.”

I suck in a small breath. “Same.” I close my eyes to get a hold of my thoughts. “But we agreed to be just friends. You shouldn’t kiss me.”

“What if I said I don’t think I could be just friends with you.” He leans down, ready to kiss me.

I know I should tell him no, push him away, but I don’t move. I don’t speak. The anticipation kills me.

And just as his lips are about to meet mine, James calls out his name, and it’s like a bucket of ice water being tossed over us.

I jump back out of his grip, eyes widening. He curses under his breath. “This isn’t over, Jellyfish,” he vows before ducking under the water and emerging close to the edge of the pool.

My heart races, that damn nickname on my mind, as I watch him pull his toned, tattooed body out of the water and start talking to his dad.

He grabs a towel, giving himself a quick dry before they head into the house. Groaning, I slip under the water and stay there for a moment. God, what was I about to do?

Doing anything with these guys would just be opening Pandora's box. I need to keep my hands and lips to myself.

But why does he have to make it so damn hard? He wants me. I want him. But I also want his brothers.

Nothing good can come from this, Delaney.

***

The next morning, hunger has me dragging myself out of bed. I spent most of yesterday in that pool, and now I’m exhausted from all the exercise and sun.

Part of me wants to just stay in bed until tomorrow when Mom and I go dress shopping, but I’d starve to death and wither away, as she would say. So I get up, get dressed, and head downstairs.

I haven't seen Logan since he took off yesterday. No sign of Elijah after that talk in the kitchen, and thankfully, I haven’t seen Owen since he almost kissed me in the pool.

As I head towards the kitchen, I pray I don’t run into any of them. Silly of me to wish that, seeing how they all live here, but a girl can hope.

When I step into the kitchen, I’m met with a surprise.

A confused smile takes over my face as I see the cutest little baby with black curls sitting in a highchair.

“Who is this cutie pie?” I ask as I move to stand next to my mom, who’s feeding the baby strawberries. Or attempting to because it’s all over his face rather than in his mouth.

Mom looks up at me with a beaming smile. “This is Bentley, isn’t he just a doll.”

“He is.” He honestly is. Mom and I have permanent baby fever. Anytime we see a baby, it’s instant baby talk and cuteness aggression. “Hello, Bentley. Aren’t you just the cutest? Is that good? Looks yummy.” I baby talk to him, and he lets out a high-pitched baby squeal before blowing raspberries, getting his food all over the place.

We laugh because it’s adorable.

“Who’s baby?” I ask Mom, but she’s not the one to answer me.

“He’s mine.”

My brows jump as I spin around to find Logan standing there, eyes guarded, as he stares at me.

“H-he’s yours?” What the hell? He has a baby?

“Yes.” He clears his throat, his gaze leaving me to look at his son.

The way his features softens, a smile taking over his face, does something to my heart.

“Well, look at you.” He laughs as he approaches Bentley. I step out of his way and watch as he crouches down. “I leave to go grab you a change of clothes, and you have breakfast all over the place.”

“I managed to get some in his mouth,” Mom laughs. “But he’s a very independent little man. Wants to try and do it on his own.”

“That's my boy,” Logan chuckles. “Let’s get you all cleaned up and down for your nap.”

I just watch, in part shock and part awe, as he cleans the baby up before taking him out of his high chair.

Logan gives me one last quick glance before heading out of the kitchen.

I stare at where they disappeared from sight for a moment before looking at my mom. “So, Logan has a kid?”

“Yes. He’s such a good dad.” Mom smiles as she cleans up the high chair. “And Bentley is just the best.” She looks at me with wide, excited eyes. “I’m a grandma, isn’t that amazing! And you're an auntie. All the baby cuddles you want.”

So many changes in such a short amount of time. Logan is a dad. That was something I didn’t see coming. But, if I’m real with myself, how much do I know about these guys? I didn’t know anything really, except their names and that they worked for the resort.

Come to think of it, did they even really work there? Okay, Logan was manning the bar, and Owen said he was the surf instructor. Elijah was wearing a resort uniform. But maybe they were helping out?

Not sure what else to say, I grab some toast, head into the backyard, and sit down on one of the chairs. My mind is reeling, lost in thought, with this new information when Logan comes out.

“Hey.” I look up to find him standing there, a baby monitor in his hand.

“Hey.”

“Can we talk?”

“Sure.” I nod.

He takes the chair next to me and puts the monitor on the table.

“So, a baby huh? He’s cute.”

“Thanks.” He leans forward, resting his arms on his knees as he looks over at me. “Sorry, I didn’t mention him before. I’m just very protective when it comes to him.”

“Understandable, he’s your son.”

“It’s not just that.” Logan sighs, looking out towards the pool. “My life, it’s really complicated. His mother and I? We’re not on good terms.”

“Why not? If you don’t mind me asking.”

He leans back in the chair and looks at me. “She’s not a good person. Her family... they're not good people.”

My brows furrow. “Then why did you date her?”

He snorts out a laugh. “Oh, I didn’t date her. I’d never date a girl like her.”

“Then how did you have a baby with her?” You're pushing Delaney. This is personal shit you don’t have any right to ask.

But Logan answers my question. “She would always hang around the parties my brothers and I went to. Her dad is the leader of a gang on the other side of town. She would deal for him, bringing the drugs that all the rich kids loved.” He laughs, shaking his head. “Not me, but a lot of my buddies. I’m not sure why, but she set her sights on me. She was good-looking and would flirt with me. I was nice back to her, but she wasn’t my type. Mostly, I didn't want to go down that road.

“But one night, our football team lost a pretty big game. I was pissed, needed to get my mind off things. I drowned my sorrows in a bottle of tequila. We were at a party that was meant to celebrate our big win. She was there. She offered to take my mind off of it. I was drunk, stupid, and horny.” He scoffs, shaking his head.

“Months later, she tells me she's pregnant, and the baby is mine. Of course, I think she’s full of shit. It was no secret she didn’t just want me for me, she wanted me for my money. When the baby was born, we did a DNA test, and she was right. He was mine.”

“Wow,” I whisper, taking in all this heavy information. A part of me likes the fact he feels comfortable enough to tell me all this.

“Tell me about it. Anyway, as soon as we got those results, we set up a custody agreement. I wanted full custody because the idea of my son growing up in that kind of world didn’t sit right with me. But the judge only agreed to fifty/fifty. I get him one week at a time, then he goes back to his mother for another week, then back to me.”

“You said she’s not a good person. Is she a good mom?”

“I don’t really know.” He shrugs. “There are’s no marks on him; he seems fed and changed every time I get him. He’s a happy little boy. But I can’t help but feel like when I see her with him, it’s all for show. Like someone else is taking care of him when he’s over there. Maybe her mom or a nanny, I don’t know. I just get this feeling that she doesn’t want a kid but wanted to tie herself to me for life. She tried to get us to be a family, to be my girlfriend, and for me to marry her. I turned that down real fast. She might be the mother of my child, but I don’t have feelings for her... well, nothing but hate. I feel bad for hating my son’s mom, but I can’t help the way she treats me.” He sighs again and looks away.

“So, the judge just let some criminal's daughter keep your son? How is that right?”

“There’s a lot about this world you don’t understand, Laney,” Logan says, not looking at me. “We have money, but so do they. It’s not anywhere near what we have, but he also has fear and intimidation on his side. Wouldn’t surprise me if her dad bought off the judge.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I tell him honestly. “Except, I’m sorry you have to deal with that. It must be hard.”

He looks over at me. “You don’t have to say anything. I wanted to tell you all of this because I want you to understand.”

“Understand what?” My brows furrow.

“When I left that night without a goodbye, I didn’t do it because I didn’t want to see you. I got a call from Stacy, telling me I had to take Benny a few days early because she had plans, and if I didn’t, she would find someone else to watch him. I’m not one to turn down extra time with him, and I’d rather be the one to watch him over god knows who she would have gotten. So, I got on the next plane back home.”

“Oh.” It’s my turn to look away, my heart pounding in my chest. “So, you didn’t ghost me because you regretted your time with me?” I ask, my eyes finding his again.

He shakes his head. “I don’t regret a single moment of my time with you, Laney. You were everything I needed in that moment. And if life were different, I’d be trying so hard for more.”

My gut turns as tears sting the back of my eyes. I look away again, willing myself not to cry. This isn’t what I wanted anyway. Nothing serious. A one-night stand was all he was meant to be; all any of them were meant to be.

Then why do I find myself so damn sad that they turned out to be James’ sons. That there can never be something between us again. Maybe a part of me just wants to be loved and wanted. Kyle really fucked me up on that one.

“I like you, Delaney, maybe more than I should because I don’t have time for anything else in my life. With school, football, and a baby, I’m just barely hanging on. I need to be the best me for Benny. He’s my top priority.”

“As he should be.” I give him a sad smile. “I like you too.” I laugh. “But I understand. Maybe in another world, huh?”

“Yeah.” He looks disappointed to say that.

“But friends. I think friends would be perfect because, I’m gonna tell you now, I plan on hogging that little boy any chance you let me.”

Logan laughs, a real one, and god, I think it makes this hurt worse. “I’d like that. Benny deserves all good people in his life.”

“How do you know I’m good people?” I tease.

“I just know,” he replies simply. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to get to know you better.”

“Right back at you, Mr. Football Player.” I grin. “And here I thought you were just some sexy bartender.”

“I’m a jack of all trades, baby.” He winks, making me laugh.

“I look forward to seeing what other talents you have hidden away.”

We stare at each other, this electrically charged energy surging between us. For a long tension-filled moment, I think he’s about to say something, do something. But then there's a sweet little baby cry that comes from the baby monitor, popping our little bubble.

“I better go check on him,” Logan says, hesitating as he stands up.

He gives me a tight-lipped smile before heading back into the house, leaving my mind even more of a mess than before.

First Owen, now Logan. Their words say friends-only, but their actions say the opposite.

It’s a mess, all of it. And the best thing to do is to stay far away from it. But it’s not easy, not at all.

Maybe Elijah will do me a solid and stay away so I don’t have more confusing feelings to deal with.

Normally, I’d talk to my mom about something like this, but I can’t. If I couldn’t talk to Mom, I’d call my best friend. Can’t fucking do that either.

I swear, I better find some good friends here, or I’m going to go crazy dealing with all this on my own.

Hopefully, Rose Briar Hill University is the change I need in my life. Because at this point, I think I’m fucked.