Fallen Too Far

I took a deep breath of the ocean air as I stepped outside. This was my third night here and I had yet to actually make it down to the water. I’d come home so tired that I hadn’t had the energy to go out there. I went down the steps and put my pajamas in the bathroom before slipping off my tennis shoes.

The sand was still warm from the sun’s heat. I walked across it in the darkness until the water’s edge rushed up to meet me. The cold startled me and I sucked in a breath but let the salt water cover my feet.

My mom’s smile as she told me about the time she’d played in the ocean flashed in my memory and I tilted my head up to heaven and smiled. I was finally here. I was here for both of us.

A sound to the left broke into my thoughts. I turned to look down the beach just as the moonlight broke free of the clouds and Rush was spotlighted in the darkness. Running.

Once again, he was shirtless. The shorts he was wearing hung low on his narrow hips and I was mesmerized by the way his body looked as he ran toward me. I wasn’t sure if I should move or if he was done. His feet slowed and then he came to a stop beside me. The sweat on his chest glistened in the soft light. Oddly enough I wanted to reach out and touch it. Something that a body like his made couldn’t be gross. It was impossible.

"You’re back," he said as he took a few deep breaths.

"I just got off work," I replied, trying hard to keep my eyes on his and not his chest.

"So you got a job?"

"Yes. Yesterday."

"Where at?"

I wasn’t sure how I felt about telling him too much. He wasn’t a friend.  And it was obvious I’d never consider him family. Our parents might be married but he didn’t seem to want to have anything to do with my father or me.

"Kerrington Country Club," I replied.

Rush’s eyebrows shot up and he took a step closer to me. He slipped a hand under my chin and tilted my face up. "You’re wearing mascara," he said, studying me.

"Yes, I am," I pulled my chin out of his grasp. He might be letting me sleep at his house but I didn’t like him touching me. Or maybe I did like him touching me and that was the problem. I didn’t want to like him touching me.

"It makes you look more your age." He stepped back and did a slow appraisal of my clothing.

"You’re the cart girl at the golf course," he said simply looking back up at me.

"How did you know?" I asked.

He waved a hand at me. "The outfit. Tight little white shorts and polo shirts. It’s the uniform."

I was glad for the darkness. I was positive I was blushing.

"You’re making a f**king killing aren’t you?" he asked in an amused tone.

I’d made over five hundred dollars in tips in two days. That wasn’t a killing to him but to me it was.

I shrugged. "You will be relieved to know that I’ll be out of here in less than a month."

He didn’t respond right away. I should probably leave and go get my shower. I started to say something when he took a step closer to me. "I probably should be. Relieved that is. Real f**king relieved. But, I’m not. I’m not relieved, Blaire," he paused and leaned down to whisper in my ear, "why is that?"

I wanted to reach out and grab his arms to keep from crumpling to the ground in a heap of mush. But I refrained.

"Keep your distance from me, Blaire. You don’t want to get too close. Last night." He swallowed loudly. "Last night is haunting me. Knowing you were watching. It drives me crazy. So, stay away. I’m doing my best to stay away from you." He turned and jogged back up to the house as I stood there trying to keep from melting into a puddle on the sand. 

What had he meant by that? How had he known I’d seen them? When I saw the door to the house close behind him I walked back and got my shower. His words were going to keep me up most of the night.

Chapter Six

Staying away from Rush wasn’t exactly easy since we were living under the same roof. Even if he attempted to keep his distance, we were still bumping into each other. He also avoided eye contact with me but that only made me more fascinated with him.

Two days later after our talk on the beach, I stepped into the kitchen after eating my peanut butter sandwich and was greeted by yet another half naked female. Her hair was a mess but even in it’s unbrushed state she was attractive. I hated girls like that.

The girl turned to look at me. Her surprised expression quickly switched to annoyed. She batted both of her brown eyes and then placed a hand on her hip. "Did you just come out of the pantry?"

"Yes. Did you just come out of Rush’s bed?" I replied. It was out of my mouth before I could stop myself.  Rush had already informed me that his sex life was not my business. I needed to shut up.

The girl raised both her perfectly plucked eyebrows and then an amused grin crossed her lips. "No. Not that I wouldn’t get in his bed if he’d let me but don’t tell Grant that." She waved a hand as if to shoo away a fly. "Never mind. He probably already knows."

I was confused. "So, you just got out of Grant’s bed?" I asked realizing that once again this was not my business. But Grant didn’t live here so I was curious.

The girl ran her hand through her messy mop of brown curls and sighed. "Yep. Or at least his old bed."

"His old bed?" I repeated.

Movement in the doorway caught my attention and my eyes locked with Rush’s. He was watching me with a smirk on his lips. Great. He’d heard me prying. I wanted to look away and pretend like I hadn’t just asked the girl if she’d been in his bed. The knowing gleam in his eyes told me it was no use.

"Please don’t let me stop you, Blaire. Continue to give Grant’s guest the third degree. I’m sure he won’t mind," Rush drawled. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe as if he was getting comfortable.