Page 13 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Jude

“What do you think?” Law asked as he rocked back on his heels. He leaned against his desk as he stared at Jude. Like he was really interested in Jude’s opinion.

Jude was very impressed. The security company that Law had built looked like it ran like a well-oiled machine. This was the second location. Law left his Nevada office to check in remotely, but this new office was his baby. He grinned. “You did good.”

Law preened. “I think so. I currently have four bodyguards and a whole floor of admin and computer experts. I’m going to take this business to a new level.”

“I have no doubt. If anyone could do it, it’s you.” Jude had lunch with Jude in town before following Jude to the tall building that he’d bought to run his new security group from. The reason he’d returned home. Close to Jude.

“I could still use a few men. Men that I can trust,” Law told him.

Jude wasn’t surprised by the words. Expected them, even. Even though he was making changes in his life, Jude wasn’t sure about getting back into that life. Of trying to save people. Not when he still held the guilt of not saving the one person who had meant everything to him.

“You don’t have to decide now,” Law said quickly. “I’m not pressuring you. Just know that there’s no expiration for this offer. There’s a job for you if you ever decide you want it.”

He nodded. Jude appreciated the offer. He would even think about it. Knowing he wasn’t ready now didn’t mean he would never be ready. He needed time to think. Too many changes at once were never a good thing.

And Jude had another problem. His newly found obsession with his neighbor.

It had been a week since he and Liam had chosen to be friends.

Friends. Jude wanted to kick his own ass for that.

He was interested in so much more than friends with Liam.

The more time that Jude felt with Liam, the more he needed to be around him.

Time. He just needed more time.

Thankfully Liam seemed to have the patience of a saint.

Somone knocked on the door a second before it opened. “Mr. O’Dell. You have a meeting in twenty minutes.”

“Thanks, Matty,” Law said. “Will you show Jude out?” He turned toward Jude. “I’ll see you soon?”

“Dinner this week,” Jude agreed. See, this was him trying. He’d been out of the house most of the afternoon and had made plans with Law for later in the week.

They hugged before Law’s assistant Matty walked Jude to the elevator.

Matty was an attractive young man, with dark eyes and a ready smile, but he didn’t interest Jude, even when Matty gave him a flirty wink.

No one interested Jude except for the neighbor that had managed what no one else had.

To pull Jude out of his self-imposed solitude. To make Jude want to be better.

He’d told Liam that he would be out of the house with Law most of the day and wondered what the boy was doing. Writing? Talking to Nicky on the phone? Maybe spending some time on the beach. Reaching his vehicle, Jude pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

Headed back. Need anything from town?

Jude sent the text message. He might or might not get a response. Liam wasn’t that great about checking his messages. The boy hardly kept the phone on him. When Liam did know where the little device was, it was either low on battery or on silent.

Putting the vehicle in drive, Jude headed home. He could turn around or backtrack if Liam did need anything. With no immediate response, Liam probably wasn’t near his cell.

Halfway home Jude hit traffic.

He growled at the bumper-to-bumper cars in front of him. Just what he needed. People. Jude was not a fan.

While at a stop, Jude checked his phone but there was no response from Liam yet.

If the boy was on the beach, he’d better have taken the precautions that Jude had laid out in very specific detail.

While Jude wasn’t claiming to be Liam’s Daddy, like he really wanted to, he did have to remind Liam too often to hydrate and apply sunscreen.

Jude had even given the boy a bottle of the brand of sunscreen he used when Liam had whined about his being greasy and yucky.

Yes, the boy had regressed slightly around Jude a couple of times. No, Jude did not mind. In fact, Jude appreciated that he could lull Liam into feeling safe with him.

Jude had spoken to Law at length about Liam over lunch. Admitted to his feelings. Even asked for advice. Smirking, Law had insisted on meeting Liam and Jude had no defense against it. Not when he’d finally admitted out loud that he wanted Liam as his boy.

The traffic began to move and Jude blew out a sign of relief.

He would be home soon. Back to his sanctuary. Back to his boy.

* * * * *

Liam

Humming, Liam rocked from side to side as he patted down more sand. The castle was huge! The best one that Liam had ever built. Jude would be so proud when he saw it.

He picked up his bottle of water to find it empty. Huh, when did that happen? As a matter of fact, Liam’s stomach kind of hurt. He glanced around to see that the beach wasn’t as crowded as it had been when Liam had come out.

What time was it?

Scrunching up his nose, Liam gasped. That hurt!

Oh no! No, no, no! This was bad. Really bad. Liam scrambled to his feet as he turned in a circle. The sun had been at his back, so Liam hadn’t noticed that it had started to go down. It was late. Very late. Liam hadn’t meant to be outside this long!

Quickly he gathered up his toys, the empty bottle, and rushed toward his house.

Jude was going to be so mad at him!

Panic filled Liam as he reached his gate.

One day. He was supposed to be responsible for himself for one day. Not even a full day but an afternoon where Jude was spending time with his best friend. And he had not done a good job. He dropped his toys on the table before hurrying to the sliding glass door.

Once inside, Liam went straight to his bathroom. Catching a look of himself in the mirror, Liam groaned. Not good. Not good at all!

What did he do?

Liam could probably hide his red arms and chest with the right shirt but what about his face!

Google! He would Google and before Jude got home Liam would have everything figured out.

He headed toward his office where he’d left his laptop when there was tapping from the sliding glass door. Only one person would be out there. Sighing, Liam retraced his steps to answer.

Halfway across the room, Liam could see Jude.

Jude looked very handsome in a pair of dark washed jeans and a tight white T-shirt. He spotted Liam coming and smiled.

Oh! That smile. Liam didn’t think that Jude would ever look at him that way. Of course, the smile wouldn’t last long once Jude really looked at him. Yep, Jude spotted him. Now he was frowning. Frowning was not a good thing. Liam slid open the door.

“Liam,” Jude said sternly.

Liam held his hands up. “Let me explain!”

Jude growled then shouldered past Liam farther into the house.

“Where are you going?” Liam asked as Jude stomped away.

“To start you a cool bath. We need to take the sting out of the burn.”

Oh, Liam had heard that once. He followed behind Jude at a much slower pace.

“I’ll go next door and get the bottle of aloe that I keep in the fridge,” Jude said his voice not as clear with the water in the tub being started. “Grab you some water. You’re probably very dehydrated.”

Liam leaned against the door jamb of the bathroom.

Jude sat on the edge of the tub, testing the water.

“I did drink water,” Liam defended. “And put on sunscreen.”

“Then lost track of time?” Jude guessed.

“I didn’t mean to!” He’d just had so much fun playing.

“I saw your sandcastle,” Jude said as he rose. “Good job. But I knew that it must have taken you all afternoon. I snapped a picture of it before coming over so we can send it to Nicky.”

Now Liam felt even worse. He’d had one job and had failed spectacularly. “I’m sorry.”

Jude stopped in front of him. “I can assure you that this sunburn is punishment enough for you to learn your lesson.”

Liam pushed out his bottom lip. “It’s gonna hurt?”

Gently, Jude cupped Liam’s face. “It’s going to hurt. Then it is going to itch. You also can’t go back outside for several days.”

Liam whined. “But—”

“But nothing,” Jude said. “I gave you very specific instructions that you failed to follow. I’m not trying to be mean.”

“I know,” Liam admitted. It was his fault.

“It just means that I need to keep a closer eye on you,” Jude said. He leaned down to press a gentle kiss on his lips.

Liam gasped.

“And your lips are going to be just as bad as the rest of you, so no more kisses for a while,” Jude said firmly.

Kisses? Were they kissing friends now? Liam must have missed that. He was not upset about this turn of events. Well, he was upset that he wouldn’t be getting any more kisses for a while. “How long is awhile?” he asked. Liam really wanted to know.

“Until you are completely healed,” Jude responded.

“What if my lips heal fast?” Liam questioned. He would apply ChapStick a hundred times a day if it meant more kisses.

“Not until you are completely healed. You can think of it as part of your punishment.”

“But—”“Now get in the tub. I’ll wait for you in the living room. Soak for at least fifteen minutes.”

“Okay.” Liam waited until he was alone in the bathroom.

He closed the door then gave a booty shake.

He danced around the room until he lifted his arms, and they hurt.

Oops! That sucked. He wasn’t doing that again.

He carefully removed his clothes. His skin was tight, starting to hurt, and Liam regretted all his decisions that day.

Well except whatever had happened that meant that Jude might kiss him again.

More kisses. Lots more kisses. Please and thank you.