Fighting for Flight by JB Salsbury (easy readers TXT) 📕

to me. And really, what kind of chance do I have with a guy like Jonah Slade?

“Yeah, I just wanted to say . . .” I let go of Blake’s arm and lean back on my lounger. “Go ahead. Jonah’s free to date, er, um, be with whoever he wants.” Gosh, that hurt.

Blake studies me for a second before leaning in. “Jonah’s a lot of things.” He looks around the pool then back at me before sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “But from what I’ve seen tonight, he’s not free—at least, not anymore.”

He struts away, acting completely unaware of the shock-and-awe devastation he left behind. “Raven, a little later we can play Titanic,” he calls over his shoulder. “I’ll yell ice burg and you can go down.”

A laugh rips from my chest, fueled by giddiness from Blake’s admission.

He’s not free . . . not anymore.

Could Blake be right? Is it possible that Jonah could be feeling the same thing I’m feeling?

Eve comes back from the bar and sits at the spot Blake just vacated. “Finally, he’s gone. He’s a sweet piece of eye candy, but the second he opens his mouth . . .” She shakes her head and takes a sip from her water bottle. “Why do you think he’s so funny?” She points her grimace in Blake’s direction.

“I think he’s hilarious.”

I lie back, a face-splitting smile aching my cheeks that has nothing to do with Blake.

Seven

Raven

“My woman can cook,” Owen bellows from the doorway of the kitchen as he brings in a stack of dirty and very empty plates.

Nikki takes the plates from his hands and kisses him lightly on the cheek. “Thank you, baby. Now get out of here before I put you to work.”

These two look like a famous Hollywood couple. Owen has deep mocha skin and short cropped hair. His body is similar to the others: athletic, bulky, and the perfect mix of captivating and terrifying. His rugged masculinity is a contrast to his wife’s caramel-colored skin, soft curves, and long, wavy hair. He gives her a playful swat on the bottom, making her squeak and jump, her light brown eyes sparkling.

She drops the plates in the soapy water. “Thanks for helping me clean up, girl. I’m usually the only other female around that does more than stick my tits out.” She rolls her eyes at the obvious reference to the women Blake brought with him.

“It’s the least I could do. That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. You’re an incredible cook.” I rinse out a huge bowl that once held a delicious fruit salad.

“Thanks. I get a lot of practice hanging around this group.”

That doesn’t surprise me. The guys alone ate enough to feed a small country. I think Jonah grilled an entire cow.

“Nikki, where do you want me to put these?” Eve asks from the doorway, her arms filled with more plates.

Jonah follows behind her, a few bottles of condiments in hand. He walks to the fridge to put them away.

My gaze is soldered to his form, and I nearly slice open my finger with a soapy steak knife. It shouldn’t be legal for him to walk around without a shirt on. Reckless endangerment.

“You girls don’t have to do this. My cleaning lady comes in the morning.”

“Like dealing with your dirty drawers isn’t enough, you’re going to make that poor woman clean up after the five of you? Uh-uh.” Nikki turns Jonah around and shoos him from the room.

“All right, all right, I’ll go.” He wraps Nikki in a one-arm hug.

She leans in with a grin.

His eyes find mine. “But, Nik, don’t work my girl too hard. She needs to take care of those hands. Can’t have tools sliding from her grip because you overworked them.” He hits me with a wink and walks away.

Nikki chuckles. “Damn, girl. He’s sprung.”

Eve snickers in the corner, stacking clean dishes to the side.

I can’t believe he just called me his girl! And something about the way he talked about tools sliding in my hand. Sure, it sounded like simple shop talk, but the way he held my eyes made me feel like he was as if her were talking about using my hands for something entirely different. First Blake and now Nikki. Could they be right? They’ve known Jonah a lot longer than I have. Is it possible that he could be feeling something? For me?

I rushed through the rest of the dishes, anxious to get back to Jonah. The kitchen is spotless in record time.

“Well, girls.” Nikki wipes her hands on a dishtowel before hanging it perfectly on the rack. “I think we’ve just earned ourselves a little hot-tub time.”

Minutes later, I’m submerged in liquid heaven. I lean my head back as the warm bubbles caress my body. Everyone around is either in the water or sitting on the edge, dangling in their legs. Conversation hums around me. Relaxing, I allow my eyes to slide shut, a soft moan drifting from my lips.

“. . . then tell her to swallow.” Blake’s punch line has me giggling despite the fact that I didn’t hear the joke.

Eve’s responding snort drags me from my relaxed state and has me laughing harder.

Feeling eyes on me, I turn my head away from Eve and Blake. My laughter dies instantly.

The carnal stare from Jonah’s eyes has me mesmerized. I’m unable to look away from the smoldering hazel. My blood heats and pounds in my ears. A yearning, deep and delicious, stirs in my belly. The intensity making it hard to breath, my chest rises and falls erratically. He tilts his head as his eyes travel from my face to my breasts and back again. I suck my bottom lip into my mouth, and my mind conjures images of him coming at me from across the warm water. I squirm.

“I’ll be right back,” I mumble to whoever’s listening and excuse myself from the hot tub.

I push up and swing a leg over to jump out.