Chapter Five

Lance

"You know, that makes me feel like a dog," the woman shared as I bent down to remove the surfboard leash I had to put around her ankle at the start of the lesson.

I let out a half laugh and shook my head. "You're not the first person that's said that."

When I was done, I got up and stood next to her. "Well, you did good today. You might just be getting the hang of this, after all."

She ran a hand through her long blonde hair before pulling it to the front and squeezing it out on the sand. "Really?" She laughed. "This is my second lesson and I think I spent more of my time in the water than on the board."

I waved a hand in the air before crossing my arms. "I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. Everyone falls off their board. You have to learn how to balance, that's all."

"Maybe we should go back to the basics," she said, lifting her hand and bringing it to my bicep.

I looked down at where her painted fingers were scratching my skin now and chuckled. I knew where this was going and couldn't help but laugh. "All right, well," I let my words fall off as I waited for her to take her hand off. She did not. "Our lesson is officially over. So we'll have to go back to the surf basics next time."

She pouted and even made her bottom lip quiver. "What a bummer," she exclaimed. "You know," she whispered, eyeing me up and down, before raking her teeth across her bottom lip. "You look just like one of those sexy men from that show, Baywatch ."

I tilted my head. "Flattering," I lied. "But I'll have to take your word for it because I've never seen it."

Her mouth fell open in shock. "You've never watched Baywatch ?"

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. "Not once."

She put a finger in front of my face and urged me to come closer, only I didn't, so she did instead and whispered in my ear, "Why don't we go back to your place and watch it together?" That last word she added more breath to and I actually got annoyed by the sensation it gave me on my ear. I itched my ear before running a hand through my dirty blond hair.

Frustrated by her inability to take a hint, I asked, "Should I have my son join us, too?" I knew I shouldn't have used my son to get out of these things, but in a way it was a reminder that none of these women that eyed me like I was their favorite candy wanted anything more from me than a quick roll in the hay. Not that I minded bringing a woman to ecstasy and then leaving her when the deed was done, but I had to be interested in the woman and desperation was not a turn on for me. This woman reeked of desperation. And she was like all the others that came for lessons with me—flirtatious and seductive.

Sure, most of them were beautiful, but they knew it. They batted their long lashes, pushed out their well-endowed chests, and even swayed their hips for my benefit. But they were clients. And this one was no different than the rest of them. She wanted to use me to live out some fantasy she had of having sex with a surf instructor.

She put a hand on her hip and gasped over my words. "I didn't know you had a son."

How could she know? It wasn't like we talked about our personal lives. I met her three days ago for our first surf lesson. She acted like I was keeping my son a secret from her or something. "Yeah, he's eight and I'm sure he'd love to join us."

"Never mind."

"Never mind?"

She nodded and gave me a lopsided smile. "Maybe some other time. My husband is back at our hotel waiting for me anyway."

"Oh, you're married?"

She gave me a nervous laugh, like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar or something. "I am."

I raised my own ring finger and inquired, "No ring?"

She looked around as though searching for the answer and then smacked her forehead. "What an idiot," she remarked, "I must've left it back at the hotel."

"You take it off frequently?" I leaned in and winked. "Or was that just for my benefit?"

She laughed nervously again and pointed back to the resort, clearly having no intention of answering my question. "I should get going. Don't want to keep you from your next appointment."

I bent down again to pick up the surfboard and bring it back to the rental station when she waved at me and walked away. I didn't have another appointment right now, so it suited me just fine to return the board. It was actually my lunch break, but there was no way I was sharing that tidbit of information with her.

As I was walking, I heard noise coming from a lifeguard vehicle approaching and moved out of their way so they could get wherever they needed to go. Then it suddenly stopped. "Hey, you ready for lunch?"

I looked up and peered over, Hunter's head popping out of the window, a hand swung over the side as he tapped his hand on the outside.

"I'm starved."

I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. "You had the siren on again."

He brushed off my comment and I walked to the back and put my surfboard in before getting in the passenger seat.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked once I was in. "Do you always play by the rules?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Me? Play by the rules? Need I remind you that I have an eight-year-old son? I'm not exactly the poster child for being a rule follower."

He scoffed. "I think that's the only wild thing you've ever done." He added, "Knocking some chick up," by way of explanation. As if I didn't already know what he meant.

I shifted in my seat and tried to change the subject. "So what's with Corey and this place for lunch?" Every time it was his turn to pick where we went, he chose the same place.

Hunter shook his head. "I dunno. I think it has something to do with the leggy blonde that always works at this time." He chuckled. "A turkey club on rye with extra p-p-pickles," he mocked the way Corey stuttered when he ordered whenever that particular woman was around.

I laughed. Corey and I rarely had the same lunch shift, so I hadn't caught on to that, I supposed, but now that Hunter brought it to my attention, I couldn't help but think how ridiculous it was. "He does know he can just ask her out, right?"

"Come on, you want him to string together those many words?" he jested. "Nah, Corey needs lessons on game."

"On the other hand, Ty needs lessons on commitment." He'd seen more action in the past month than I'd had in the past year.

Hunter looked at me. "Do you remember Sydney from the barbecue last week?"

I swayed my head back and forth, trying to remember. Then it clicked. "Yeah, she was the brunette with the short hair cut. Corey said she had doe eyes."

He pointed in my direction and nodded. "That's the one."

"Ty already cut her loose?"

"He slept with her and then left in the middle of the night and sent her a text to tell her it was fun, so I'd say so."

"Nice," I muttered, wondering what the heck was wrong with him.

Hunter stopped the truck when we got to the rental station. I got out to return the surfboard. Hunter leaned his elbow on the open window and tapped on the frame of the door. "Meet you at lunch, I got to grab my wallet from the station."

I nodded. I also needed to get some actual clothes on before I could go anywhere to eat, so I'd stop by the locker room anyway.

As I was walking, I heard a loud voice holler behind me and turned around to see Tyler jogging over. "Hey, wait up!"

"You coming to lunch?" I asked.

Slowing down now that he was keeping pace, he answered, "Of course. Only good part about some of these days. I saw Hunter drive off."

I practically laughed out loud, but refrained. Tyler was never not amusing. "Yeah, he had to get his wallet. I need to change, though, so I'm going to the locker room."

"I'll walk with you," Tyler said casually.

I wondered where our other friend was. "Where's Corey?"

"Probably already got a table for us. You know he likes to get there early to drool over the blonde for longer," he joked.

It was definitely no secret the way Corey pined for this girl.

Tyler shook his head. "I keep telling him he's got to play the game if he wants to get the girl."

"And what game would that be?" I raised a brow, curious what went on in his head.

Tyler rolled his eyes and gave me a you're-an-idiot look. "What I'm trying to say is he makes it too obvious. No girl wants to know you're drooling over her. That's disgusting."

I chuckled. "You have way too much time on your hands."

He cracked his knuckles. "So what if I'm all about having a good time. We can't all be Mr. Grown Up." He shook his whole body as though he caught a chill. "Just the thought of turning into you gives me the creeps."

"Remind me to never let you have a heart-to-heart with Mason." I shook my head and entered the locker room.

"You're just so funny, Lance. Forget being a surf instructor, you're a shoe-in for the circus."

"Screw you."

"You know, with you around, I always miss my son," I pointed out. "Even he's more mature than you." I opened my locker and pulled a shirt over my head.

Tyler brushed me off. "Dude, you need a good lay."

I looked down and tossed a pair of flip flops on the floor to step into. "I'm good, thanks," I said, ready to leave. I sent a quick text off to Stephanie, letting her know where we were going to see if Mason ate yet or wanted me to pick him up.

She sent one back quick enough.

"Hey, Mason wants to join us. I'm going to stop and get him," I told Tyler. "You can go on without me."

He shook his head, though, "No way. I want to see the little man. I'll come with you."

"He'll be at lunch."

"Not the same. Hunter always steals his attention."

"You jealous of Hunter?" I asked, thoroughly amused by this side of him and returned my attention to my phone as another text came through.

He brushed me off. "Shut up. Let's just go."

"Change of plans, Steph's bringing him by."

"Even better," Tyler said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

I shook my head. "She's married."

He shrugged. "I've been with wives before."

"You're incorrigible," I said as we crossed the path to enter the café.

He swung the door open and I was struck by how many people were there. Yeah, I'd say it was definitely lunchtime. Tyler pointed to a table in the back. "Found Corey."

I was stopped midway, though, at the sound of Mason. "Daddy!" he called and came running over.

I bent down and hugged him real tight as he held onto my neck. I would never tire of that, feeling like I was his whole world. I knew soon enough it'd all change. Our dynamic would shift. He'd get older and would be too cool for me. I'd been there myself, so I knew it well, of course. I just wasn't prepared for it to happen yet, so I wanted to hold on to whatever bit of time he was still offering up for me.

Hunter walked in behind us. "Way to block the entrance."

"Sorry," I returned and put Mason down. We moved to the side. "Did you have fun today?"

"You bet," he said waving Steph over.

She followed and smiled as she joined us and Hunter excused himself. "I'll meet you at the table with Ty and Corey. Hey, little man," he added and gave a high five to Mason.

"Can I go with Uncle Hunter?" he asked, jumping around at my feet.

Laughing, I nodded. "Sure, buddy, I'll be over in a second." Then, before he could bolt, I ruffled his hair and added, "Don't forget to thank Stephanie for bringing you here."

Hopping up and down now, he smiled and looked at her with so much affection. "Thanks, Stephanie!" Without another word, he ran over to the table where the guys were sitting.

I watched Tyler pull out a seat from another table when he got there and help get him settled before turning back to Stephanie. "He didn't give you too much trouble, did he?"

She shook her head. "He was no problem at all. He's a perfect angel."

I scoffed. "We both know that's not true."

She laughed. "No, seriously, we had fun. I can come by and pick him up after lunch if you want. I'm going to grab something to eat myself."

"I'd invite you to join us, but I don't know how you feel about having lunch with an eight-year-old, his father, and three Neanderthals," I joked.

She raised an eyebrow and looked over to the table. "I think I'll pass, but thanks. I have to call my mother-in-law anyway about my husband's birthday. She wants to throw a party knowing full well I have one already planned."

I nodded. It wasn't something I could say I understood firsthand, but it sounded bad enough. "Sorry."

She waved her hand and brushed me off. "It's nothing new."

I looked at the growing line and gestured forward. "You should get something before it's too late. I'll leave you to it." I already knew Corey ordered for all of us and it was just sitting there waiting for me, which I'd only give to Mason now that he was here, but still, I wanted to join them. I could see Mason was laughing up a storm and I wondered why.

She winked and stepped into line. "Thanks. I'll see you later today."

"Good luck with your mother-in-law," I said and walked away to join the guys.

When I got to the table there was a stack of cards in the center and each one of them were holding up their hands filled with their own cards. "Anyone got two fours?" Corey asked, looking around the table.

"Go fish," Mason said, chuckling.

"Uh, again?" Corey groaned. "I think one of you has my fours." Then he eyed Tyler. "It's probably you!"

Tyler held up his hands. "Hey, I'm a lot of things, but a cheater isn't one of them."

Hunter coughed and muttered, "Dakota."

"Okay, that was a misunderstanding." Tyler eyed him. "She broke up with me. Nutty b—" He stopped himself before finishing and smiled at Mason.

Hunter responded as though on behalf of Dakota. "No, she said she had to think things over."

"Where'd you get the cards?" I asked, announcing myself finally and decidedly changing the subject in front of Mason.

"I borrowed them. Stephanie said I could."

"All right, but you have to give them back after lunch, buddy," I said, pulling the tray with my usual on it over. "And you have to eat something."

"But Dad," he whined, "I'm winning."

I surveyed the table and his hands. It did appear he was indeed winning.

"That's just because someone's cheating and it's one of those knuckleheads," Corey insisted pointing to Tyler and Hunter.

I laughed. "You're such a sore loser," I said to Corey.

"Whatever," he responded, rolling his eyes.

"Next round deal me in," I said, taking a seat from another table and bringing it over. "I'll show you boys how it's really done, right, Mase?"