Page 2 of Sandcastles & Sunburns (DKAG Summer Shorts #6)

Liam

“No, it’s fine,” Liam assured his best friend for the fifth time in the last twenty minutes.

“But what do you mean he hates you?” Nicky pressed.

Liam sighed. “Just what I told you. I say good morning, and he grunts at me before stomping to his gate. That’s it.”

“But—”

“I don’t care,” Liam lied. He’d never been good with someone not liking him. Liam was a people pleaser by nature. He just couldn’t figure out how he would have already made his neighbor mad.

“You do care!” Nicky argued. He knew Liam well. “And the guy should be happy that you’re his new neighbor. You’re quiet, kind, and hot.”

Liam snorted. Walking to the sliding glass door, he stopped next to the cat condo. He ran his hand down Hades’s back. The tree condo was in the perfect spot. Right in the sunniest part of the room. “I’m sure that he doesn’t care if I’m hot or not.”

“Eye candy!” Nicky declared.

Liam had been enjoying having his own eye candy.

His neighbor might be an asshole, but he was built.

Attractive. Strong arms that must come from the long distance he swam every single morning.

Tattoos that covered his shoulders and down both arms. Black hair with gray along the sides and gorgeous green eyes that appeared sad.

Fucking hot! Liam had some ideas on what he could get up to with his sexy neighbor.

Maybe that was the problem. Liam didn’t think that his neighbor had spotted him watching as the other man swam every morning but maybe Liam hadn’t been as covert as he’d thought.

“Anyway…” Liam really needed to change the subject.

“You’re still coming over this weekend, right? ”

They’d met for dinner on Liam’s second night in town, but Liam really wanted to have a weekend playdate with his bestie.

Liam had been tired from unpacking and moving furniture around and Nicky had been desperate for a break from work.

The late-night dinner had been exactly the pick-me-up that Liam had needed.

He’d tried to be friendly with his neighbor that morning and every morning since he’d moved in, but his neighbor was just not interested in interacting with Liam.

“Yes!” Nicky hissed. “I am going to get this project finished if it kills me.”

“Great. I can’t wait. And you can help me finish getting the playroom set up.” Liam hadn’t been in a little mood since he’d moved in. He had a plan for the playroom. It just depressed Liam that he was setting up his special space all by himself.

“Yes!” Nicky exclaimed. “It’s going to be epic!”

Liam laughed. It would totally be better with his bestie. He didn’t need a Daddy. Liam was okay on his own. He told himself that at least several times a day.

“What are your plans for today?’ Nicky asked.

“I’m going to get my furniture unpacked for the back deck. Maybe spend some time in the ocean.”

“You are totally going to become a beach bum,” Nicky teased.

“I wrote three chapters last night!” Liam defended.

“I’m so proud!” Nicky told him. “My best friend the bestselling author.”

It was hard not to smile. Nicky had been his biggest supporter from the beginning.

It helped that both he and Nicky identified as littles and loved reading romance novels with that dynamic.

Nicky read as much as Liam, if not more.

Nicky had been the one that had pushed Liam into sending his first book to a publishing company.

“I better let you go so you can get to work,” Liam said. Plus, it was time to get outside so he could be grunted at by his neighbor.

“Fine,” Nicky whined. “I can’t wait for the weekend.”

“Me either,” Liam agreed. He walked out of his bedroom, heading toward the kitchen where his coffee machine should have already begun brewing his first mug of coffee. The automatic machines were awesome.

“I’ll call you tonight to see how your day was,” Nicky told him.

“Sounds good.” Liam was so lucky to have Nicky in his life. “Love you.”

“Love you!” Nicky parroted.

Liam disconnected the call as he reached the coffee pot.

He grabbed his full mug and added a cube of sugar before stirring it in.

Peering out of the window above the sink, Liam sighed loudly.

His handsome neighbor was already swimming in the ocean.

Every morning Liam could stand there as he slurped down his first mug of coffee with the best view.

The man had long arms that cut through the water as he powered forward. His back was muscular and cut, showing off amazing definition. Not that Liam was surprised, since the man did spend every morning swimming longer and farther than Liam could even imagine. He must really love swimming.

Already his mind was coming up with a name, story, and background for his stranger.

Liam often made up little stories about people he encountered.

Or just when he was people watching. His new place was the perfect location for the people watching.

And no one had caught his attention, quite like Liam’s new neighbor.

As his neighbor started the long swim back toward the shore, Liam stepped out onto his covered back deck.

The furniture that had delivered still sat with the plastic wrap surrounding it. That was his mission for the day but not until he had his morning interaction with mister grumpy neighbor.

Liam walked past the furniture toward his back gate.

He opened the gate and in only a few steps warm sand was under his bare feet.

He sipped his morning coffee, enjoying the view in front of him.

Maybe Liam shouldn’t be so blatant in watching his neighbor.

Not that Liam was to be blamed. He was human and his neighbor was just so yummy!

He’d drained his mug by the time his neighbor had reached the shore and his towel.

He had abs!

His neighbor was so sexy. Liam really wished that the man would just talk to him.

* * * * *

Jude

He was there again. Every morning for a week his neighbor would watch him while drinking out of a giant mug.

That was too much coffee. Hopefully, his neighbor didn’t have more than that one mug.

Not that it was any of Jude’s business. No.

His neighbor’s coffee habit did not have any impact on Jude.

None. Jude was really trying to keep his distance, but it was getting harder when his neighbor would smile in that cute way of his and call out a good morning.

Jude braced himself as he approached the neighbor.

“Morning!” His neighbor lifted the mug in his direction. The smile firmly in place and those blue eyes shining.

Jude stopped. “Why?”

His neighbor brought the mug down. The smile faltered briefly before returning, missing some of the brightness. “What?”

“Every morning you stand here and greet me. Why?”

“Why not? It seems like the neighborly thing to do.”

Jude grunted.

That made the smile on the other man’s face widen. “I’m Liam. Your new neighbor. I bought this house.”

“I’m aware,” Jude replied flatly.

“Now this is where you tell me your name,” Liam told him.

Jude rolled his eyes. “Jude.”

“Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Jude,” Liam said. “And now you say the same back.”

“What if it’s not nice to meet you?” Jude asked.

Liam grinned. “Tell me that it’s nice to meet me anyway. That’s what neighbors do.”

“My last neighbors rented out this house and I didn’t have to talk to anyone else,” Jude told him. “I like that kind of neighbor.”

“Well too bad,” Liam replied. That damn smile back at full force. “I love it here and won’t be going anywhere.”

“Just my luck,” Jude replied.

Liam shook his head. “You have no idea how lucky you are. I’m quiet and mind my own business. You could have worse neighbors than me.”

Jude lifted a brow. Minded his own business? Then why was Jude forced to talk to him?

“I work from home, so if you need anything just knock on the door. Or holler. Whatever,” Liam offered.

“I won’t need anything,” Jude assured him.

“Sure,” Liam replied. “Have it your way.”

Jude went to walk around his neighbor but caught the scent of coconut and vanilla. Even without meaning to, he breathed in that aroma. He wasn’t sure if it was deodorant, cologne, or what but Jude approved. Fuck him! This man was totally fucking with Jude’s head.

“You okay, neighbor?” Liam asked.

“Fine,” he bit out. He stomped forward, not giving himself the chance to turn around and find some other reason to continue talking to his new neighbor. He kept walking until he could storm inside his house and slam the door behind him.

Jude wanted to open and slam it again but that would be childish. Instead, he headed into the kitchen for a glass of water. Maybe two. He shouldn’t be reacting this way. Not because of some guy that he didn’t know.

Filling a tall glass with ice and water, Jude downed every drop then refilled it. He took a deep breath before looking down at his cock. He was half hard. That hadn’t happened in a very long time.

He didn’t go looking for hookups or someone to take to bed. If Jude wanted to get off, his right hand did the job for him. And he always, always, thought about Sam when he stroked his dick.

It felt like betrayal.

Cold fury filled him.

How dare his neighbor make Jude feel like he was betraying his partner. Sam had been everything that Jude could ever want in a partner. Sam was perfect. From his messy brown hair to his chocolate eyes that would melt when Jude called him a good boy.

They had met when Sam had been assigned to Jude’s team.

The first time that Sam had walked, really, ran into the meeting room, Jude had nearly swallowed his tongue. Instead of the neatly pressed young solider Jude had expected, he’d got Sam. Messy, always running late, forgetful Sam. Jude had taken one look at Sam and known that boy had needed a keeper.

Jude had mentally volunteered for the job right then and there.

Sam had taken to their lifestyle like a duck to water.

He thrived under Jude’s thumb. Following Jude’s orders. Jude had become his Daddy and Sam had been his boy.

Turning his head, Jude spotted the last picture of him and Sam that had been taken.

It had been right there on the beach.

Sam had just come in from surfing and he was grinning as Jude looked down at him with his love clearly captured in the still moment.

That had been a good day.

One of the last times that Jude could remember laughing.

His phone rang, startling him.

Jude sighed.

The name Lawrence O’Dell flashed over his screen.

For the first time in ten years Jude nearly picked up the call. If anyone would understand Jude’s plight, it would be the man that went through everything with him. The cell stopped ringing before there was a beep indicting that he had a voice mail.

Jude picked up the phone and opened the text messages. His fingers shook as he typed out the two words he always sent.

I’m fine

It was an even bigger lie than usual.