Innocent Next Door (Military Men Book 1) (8 page)

“It’s too bad Dare was called into work,” Natasha complained.

“It doesn’t matter. The problems were unexpected. You saw his disappointment.”

“But he’s your boyfriend. Aren’t you angry? I bet he didn’t need to take my brothers and father with him too.”

Summer idly surveyed the stream of people sauntering past their spot. “Dare and I are friends. We’re not serious.” Part of her was sorry she was alone and stuck with Dare’s sister. There were some seriously good-looking bodies parading on this beach. Her gaze swept from the high-tide mark and back to the gently swishing waves surging and retreating. She adjusted her bikini top as her eyes came to a halt on the group of three men not far down the beach. Now that was some serious eye candy. Three bronzed bodies that came complete with the requisite muscles.

“You can’t be just friends,” Natasha said. “Dare’s never brought a girl here before. Have you slept together?”

Summer’s head jerked in shock. “Natasha.”

“Sorry. I guess that was a bit personal.”

Summer hid her amusement. Natasha didn’t sound the slightest bit sorry. “Yes, it was. But here’s your answer. We’ve known each other for two weeks, and at twenty-two, I’m way too young to get serious about a man.” Her gaze swung back to the group of three men. They’d stood and were wandering toward the water.

One wore a knee brace.

Summer bolted upright and grabbed for her flapping bikini top.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”
That had better not be Nikolai
. She tied the strings of her bikini in place and stood. After wrapping her sarong about her body like a suit of protective armor, she brushed the sand and shell fragments off her feet and thrust them into sandals. “I think that’s someone from work. I’ll just go and say hello.”

“Where?” Natasha fastened her bikini top.

Summer pointed at the three men. “Down there at the waterline.”

“They’re going swimming. There’s no point wearing your sarong and sandals.”

Summer grimaced and stooped to remove her sandals. So, they’d all get an eyeful of her oversized curves. “Thanks.”

As she strode off, the man in the knee brace dived into the water. It was Nikolai. She’d recognize that butt anywhere.

“I’m coming too,” Natasha declared from behind her.

Summer stiffened at the predatory interest in Natasha’s voice. She didn’t want anyone ogling Nikolai up close. “What will your brother say if he hears I’ve been introducing you to older men?”

Natasha fell into step. “If Dare had his way, I’d leave the house wearing a yashmak.”

The sheer feeling in Natasha’s words ruffled Summer’s conscience. Her brothers were the same—heavy-handed with intimidation when it came to boyfriends. Sympathy rose in her. “Dare’s an overprotective brother?”

“Oh, yes. Let me live a little, even if it’s through you. And besides, you’re what—two years older than me.”

“Come on then. I’ll introduce you, but don’t tell Dare. If you do, I’ll deny everything.”

“Let’s go in case Dare arrives back unexpectedly.”

By the time they reached the water’s edge, the three men were shoulder-deep in the sea.

“Looks as if we’re going to get wet,” Summer said.

“Are you a good swimmer?”

Summer glanced at the three men. They were out of her depth now and cutting through the water in champion style. But she had expected nothing less from SAS members. “Not that good. How about taking a quick dip, and we’ll nab them when they tire of swimming.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Summer waded in and gasped. “
Eek
! It’s colder than I thought.”

Natasha scooped up a handful of water and flicked it at her. “Don’t be a baby.”

“Take that!” Summer retaliated with gusto then fled.

Natasha swam strongly after her and seconds later, it was a full-on water fight. Summer laughed so hard she sank. A hand snaked around her waist, dragging her to the surface.

“Is this a private fight, ladies, or can anyone join?”

Louie and Jake stood nearby, which meant the arm around her waist belonged to Nikolai. Her pulse did a rapid cha-cha. She turned in his embrace, her bare legs brushing his strong thighs and immediately flames sprang to life, licking her with lust. She sucked in a hasty breath as she stared at him, recalling their kiss. The way his gaze drifted down to her lips told her he remembered too.

“Are you Summer’s friends?” Natasha asked.

The curiosity in Natasha’s voice made her spring away from Nikolai. She tried to stand and went under before he hauled her to the surface. She came up spluttering. “Ah.” Heat grew in her cheeks and she rushed into speech. “This is Louie and Jake.” She pointed to the two grinning men then gestured at the man holding her against his chest. “This is my neighbor, Nikolai.”

“
Hmm
,” Natasha said.

She packed a lot of meaning into that soft sound. The heat in Summer’s cheeks soared to a new high, and she couldn’t meet Natasha’s gaze. “I think I’ll go in now. I’m a bit cold.”

Natasha tossed her head. “I’m going to swim out farther.” She smiled at Jake and gave Louie the same treatment—a flash of white teeth and fluttering eyelashes. “Care for a race, boys?” Then she dived through a wave and raced off without waiting for an answer.

Louie and Jake took off with whoops and white water, leaving her and Nikolai alone.

Summer stared after them while every atom in her body sizzled, aware of his arm under her breasts, holding her afloat in the water. “You’re meant to baby-sit me, not act as a guard dog.”

“I’m the one who needs a keeper,” Nikolai growled right next to her ear.

His breath feathered across her cheek, and she shivered, wanting nothing more than to turn in his arms, draw his head down and kiss him.

“Summer, don’t.”

“I’m not doing anything.” His intense gaze made her stomach soar and swoop—the emotional person’s version of an out-of-control roller coaster ride.

A wave rocked their bodies together. Her breasts flirted with his bare chest and she caught her breath at the lightning bolt of sensation. She glanced up and met the answering fire in Nikolai’s eyes. Then, as she watched, his gaze iced over.

“We can’t do this. You don’t know me. The things I’ve done.”

As he spoke, he loosened his grip on her arms and pushed her away.

“You don’t know me, either. And you can’t make decisions for me. Why won’t anyone let me make my own mistakes?”

Much to her disgust, the end of her sentence came out on a wobble. Confrontation. She hated it, which was why she was running from the problem with her family. Deep down, she knew this truth. Sooner or later, her parents and brothers would learn she needed to live life on her own terms. Without babysitters. Her mother would cry. Already, she felt the lash of guilt before uttering a word of her point of view.

“I promised Henry.”

“Yeah, I know.” Summer started for the shore and the splashing behind indicated he was getting out too. She waded through the water as if a stingray chased on her heels. She loved her parents and her brothers and knew they loved her, but they had to let her go. She just wished she could take her own advice and push away Nikolai.

Once she reached the sand, she paused. The strange thing though, was the way she consistently stuck up for herself with Nikolai. It felt good. Right. Maybe it was the enforced break from her family. “Will you walk with me along the beach?”

Caution chased surprise over his face. “All right.” He fell into step.

“Do you have proof about Dare’s family yet?”

“No, it’s still rumor.”

“Then please back off and stop following me. Dare’s taken me to three different restaurants and today to the beach to meet his family. I haven’t seen drugs or anything remotely illegal.” Summer exhaled. “You realize that by playing the heavy-handed parent you’re making me choose sides.”

“I’ve noticed you’re stubborn.”

An inelegant snort escaped her. “Not usually. It’s a new thing since I arrived in Auckland. Usually I let everyone ride roughshod over me.”

On reaching the wooden wharf, they turned and returned to their starting point.

“So we’re agreed,” she said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. “You’ll trust me to look after myself without interfering? I promise to let you know if I have a problem. You’ll go back to the original plan of watching from afar—getting a visual?” Her quick darting glance at him intercepted a fierce frown.

“I don’t think that’s—”

“You can’t watch me twenty-four hours a day,” she snapped. “You have to sleep sometime.”

Chapter Seven

Nikolai stared at Summer, taking in the stubborn jut of her chin, the flash in her blue eyes. Without thinking, he reached out to sweep a lock of damp blue hair off her cheek. Silky-smooth skin slid beneath his fingers, tempting him to explore. His gaze slid down, past her neck. Lingered.

He exhaled slowly, almost choking on the truth. He wanted her—in every possible way. He admitted it, despite fighting with every fiber of his being. Pity he couldn’t introduce Summer to Laura, his ex. That would light a fire under her—all he’d see was dust once Laura listed his many faults as a husband, as a man. She’d never speak to him again.

“So, we’re agreed?” she said, her voice low, strained.

Nikolai searched her countenance, saw the same physical awareness burning in her open gaze and groaned. Hell, who ever said life was fair?

“Look, if Henry were here, he’d tell you to give Martin the shove. I think you’re playing with trouble, but I’ll back off as long as you promise not to investigate Martin on your own. If you go out with him, make sure it’s in a public place. Please, promise me that.”

He kept the lie slick, as smooth as her soft skin, told it in an even tone and looked her in the eye the whole time. When she nodded, he felt like a pile of dog turd. Eventually, she’d discover his lie and would never look at him in the same way again.

The idea should’ve made him happy.

Summer stood on tiptoe and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “Thanks.”

“Hey, Summer!” Natasha bounced up and down as she hailed them. Nikolai noticed his friends’ sly amusement as they stood at the girl’s side.

“Mum confirmed Dare’s not coming back. Feel like going to the movies? Nikolai, you’ll come with us? Jake and Louie said they’d like to go.”

Nikolai waited for Summer to decide.

“Sure,” she said. “Nikolai?”

“Sounds good, as long as we don’t have to go to some weepy chick-flick.”

* * * * *

After the movie, Nikolai gave her a ride home. In the dark, intimate confines of his car, she took the coward’s route and pretended to sleep. It wasn’t that the evening hadn’t gone well. It had. No, she was in full-out panic because during the movie, she’d discovered—admitted—she’d fallen for the man.

She huffed silently. Talk about a bolt from the heavens.

A clone of her brothers—a bossy take-charge male who liked to tell her what to do. And true to type, Nikolai had tried to veto her friendship with Dare, making him out to be second cousin to an axe murderer. Her fortitude strengthened as she recalled the past. She needed to use two hands to count the number of boyfriends her brothers had sent fleeing for cover.

The question was—what did she do now?

So far, independence meant fun, and she wasn’t remotely tempted to give it up for something that might or might not be permanent. Maybe if she ignored the attraction and searched for another male—one who’d let her express her opinions and listen instead of reducing every word to clipped orders, someone other than Dare.

“Summer, are you awake?”

“Huh?”

“We’re home.”

She opened her eyes and straightened. So they were. Deep in thought she hadn’t noted their progress. “Thanks for the ride home.”

“I’ll walk you to the door.”

Despite her instinct to decline, she sucked in a deep breath and let it ease free.
Pick your fights
. “Thanks.”

She scrambled from the car with her straw basket and rummaged for her house keys. They were right at the bottom, of course. Feeling the weight of his stare, she fumbled, and the keys dropped to the ground with a metallic rattle.

“Let me.” He retrieved them and shoved the right key in the lock. “Hell, Summer. You didn’t lock the door.”

“Yes, I did. Don’t you remember? You were spying.”

“Stay there. Don’t move.” Then he slid through the open door into the darkness.

She ignored the order and followed cautiously.

“Don’t you ever listen to what I say?” he demanded, materializing from the dark shadows on her right.

“When you ask instead of ordering, I might consider.”

“There wasn’t time to pretty it up.”

“But—”

“Quiet.” Nikolai shoved her behind him.

Summer heard a noise too. She snapped her mouth shut, freezing like the marble statue of Peter Pan in Uncle Henry’s garden. The tenseness left him, and he dragged her close enough to whisper in her ear.

“Sounds as if they’ve gone out the window. You can come with me, but for God’s sake, if I tell you to run, make sure you do. Can you do that?”

Astonishment made her blink, but she didn’t let it show in her voice. “Yes. I understand.” Her heart thudded as adrenaline morphed to higher levels, pressing against her instinct to run and hide.

“Come on then.” Nikolai edged through the darkness, moving with stealth and confidence.

She attempted to emulate him, but even though she was familiar with the surroundings, the lack of light threw off her judgment of distances. Not Nikolai. He never faltered.

In her uncle’s den, he stopped abruptly. “They’ve gone. Turn on the light.”

She flicked the switch and winced at the bright glare. The cords of the wooden Venetian blinds rattled against the sill, disturbed by the stiff southerly blowing in from the estuary. On closer observation, she noticed the muddy footprint on the sill.

She sighed. “Should I phone the police or check to see if anything is missing first?”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about missing items.”

The strange note in his voice made her jerk to attention. “Why not?”