The Vincent Boys 01 - The Vincent Boys

feel awkward by my crazy behavior. He leaned back on the sofa with his eyes on the movie after wiping his hands on the paper towel. I sat my plate down on a stack of Garden and Gun magazines my dad kept on the coffee table.
    “I left you two more pieces. You can’t be full.”
    I glanced over at him. “You mean you didn’t stop eating because you were full?”
    He shook his head. “No, I was being considerate. I’m never full.”
    I leaned back on the sofa. “Eat all you want, I’m done.”
    He didn’t lean forward to grab another slice like I expected him to. Instead his attention stayed on me.
    “Why did you invite me here tonight, Ash?”
    My face flushed. Why had I asked him to come? Answering that question wasn’t easy. Since he’d walked in the door I’d been acting ridiculous. I never seemed to be at a loss of things to say with Sawyer. Beau rattled me. Now, he was being bored to death by the preacher’s daughter while he could be with his sexy hot girlfriend doing all those things I knew nothing about. I was depriving him of an exciting evening. The idea that he’d come tonight to entertain me for his cousin’s sake made me feel awful. He’d been doing me a charity and I couldn’t even make it interesting for him. Well, at least I’d fed him.
    “I’m sorry. I guess, I just didn’t want to be alone, but I’m okay. You can go. I know this is dull compared to your normal activities.” I managed a weak smile.
    His frown deepened as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, but he didn’t take his eyes off me.
    “Being with you isn’t dull. You just seem uncomfortable. If you want me to leave I will. I have a feeling you’re rethinking the having-me-over thing.”
    I sighed and let out a small laugh.
    “No. I want you to stay. I’ve just never had any guy over here but Sawyer and even then my parents were here. I’m nervous. It’s not that I don’t want you here.”
    “Why do I make you nervous?” he asked, watching me.
    “I don’t know,” I answered truthfully.
    “Hmm. You’re wrong, by the way,” he replied, grinning.
    “What?”
    “You’ve had other guys here. I used to come here often. Your room still looks the same.”
    I smiled. He was right. I just needed to remember this was the same boy who used to lay on my bed with me and watch movies.
    He closed the space between us and relaxed as he stretched his arm along the back of the sofa. “I don’t bite, Ash. It’s just me. Promise. Come here and see.”
    I studied the crook of his arm, and the idea of snuggling up against him was extremely tempting. But I didn’t think he had that in mind. So instead, I leaned back on the couch, careful not to touch him.
    His hand didn’t come around me and pull me closer. It remained on the back of the couch and I hated that I was disappointed.
    “Relax and watch the movie,” he said in a soft voice I’d never heard him use before. It made me feel warm and safe.
    Beau’s arm eventually slid down to settle on my shoulders. Absently he started tracing small circles on my upper arm. It was almost as if little jolts of electricity were zinging through my body. I hoped he couldn’t tell my breathing was getting erratic. I closed my eyes and fantasized about how it would feel to run my hands under his T-shirt and touch the soft skin that covered his hard chest. I glanced up at him through my lashes and his attention was completely focused on the movie. He had no idea he was driving me crazy.
    I slowly moved closer to him until my head was nestled in the crook of his arm. The smell of Irish Spring soap and the outdoors filled my senses. Sawyer always smelled like cologne. I liked soap. I turned my head just enough so I could smell him better. His arm gently tightened around me. He didn’t mean anything by it but it felt so very good. I turned my body toward his side and closed my eyes. My imagination took over and I wondered what it would feel like if he didn’t have this bothersome shirt covering up his chest.
    “Ash.” Beau’s voice entered my fantasy.
    “Hmm . . .” I managed to respond as my hand touched his abs.
    “What’re you doing?” His voice didn’t sound right. There was a panicked tone to it that snapped me out of my dream and into reality. I gasped when I realized my leg was hiked up on Beau’s thigh. The hem of my sundress was barely covering my panties. To make matters worse my hand was under his black shirt and his skin felt so warm and