Book 1 Chapter 1

“Amalia, 20 minutes until I need to start dinner.” My best friend, Jordan, called from the beach house. A warm ocean breeze blew my strawberry blonde hair off my shoulders as I looked out over the ocean. We had come out here a few days ago as a getaway for the both of us. The last month for us, and especially me, had been very difficult. Memorial Day weekend proved to be an eventful weekend in which many things changed for me, and not in the positive way I had hoped for the start of the summer.  

As I sat out on the dock overlooking the ocean, I had contemplated everything that had transpired that weekend. The Friday before Memorial Day, I had discovered that a colleague of mine had taken 100% of the credit for a new product idea that I had developed. It wasn’t the first time that I had my ideas stolen at that company, but when someone who I believed to be a friend did it, I made the decision to leave that job and find a new one. I gave my two weeks’ notice on the spot.  I was proud of my work at the company but could not stay someplace like that.

But that wasn’t even the worst part of that weekend. My boyfriend, Dylan, and I had discussed going to his parent’s lake house in Michigan that weekend. We had not finalized plans, but I knew that he would be there, as he had gone over Memorial Day Weekend, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day Weekend each of the three years we had been together. Wanting to surprise him, I made my way from Chicago to Holland, Michigan to the lake house.

I snuck into the house, hoping to surprise Dylan. But the surprise was on me.  I found him in bed with a long-legged, bleach blonde, fake boobed bimbo. I had stood in shock at the bedroom door, watching them going at it for a least a minute before a cry left my lips and I turned and ran out of the house. Dylan initially apologized and over the next two weeks attempted to convince me that it had never happened before. However, when I walked in on him with yet a different woman, I left. But, not before Dylan decided to inform me of all that was wrong with me and why he had been sleeping with other women. He claimed that my strawberry blonde locks weren’t a color that a man liked. He told me that my breasts, while large, weren’t perky enough. My ass was too full.  I wasn’t thin enough.

Those statements had made me question myself and my looks. I was never very thin. I wavered between a size eight and a size 12 depending on the time of the month, water retention, and if I had a few too many cupcakes. But I was athletic and I enjoyed working out. I ran daily and would swim whenever I could. I also enjoyed martial arts and was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. But when a man says those types of things about you and tried to claim that all of those reasons were why he stopped having sex with you six months ago, it chinks away that the armor that had been put up to protect the ego.

Thankfully, in the middle of all of that stupid mess with Dylan, I had secured a new job as lead research scientist for a pharmaceutical company. It was both a promotion and pay increase. Plus, it was closer to my apartment, which meant a better commute in Chicago traffic. I made the decision to start the new job after the July 4^th holiday to give myself two weeks to regroup. Jordan and I came here a few days ago and had three days left. I planned on spending the rest of my days sunbathing and getting drunk with Jordan. Tonight, Jordan and I were having a cookout and had invited over the neighbors. They were expected to arrive shortly. Jordan had stumbled upon the neighbors when she went to town to get supplies for the cookout. Apparently, they were two brothers, Jake and Jonathan, who Jordan described as “breathtakingly beautiful”. When I asked for more details, all that she told me was that they both had beautiful blue eyes and that one had dark brown hair and the other had blonde hair. Not much of a description, but that was more than I would often get from Jordan. She was typically straight and to the point, pointing out what she thought were the best features in a person. That typically involved eyes, hair, and ass. I was surprised she didn’t mention that in her description.

So, when Jordan had told me that she invited them to dinner, I thought, “Why the hell not?”. I was on vacation in a private beach house in Myrtle Beach. Anyone I met here I would never see again. Why not at least enjoy the time that I was here? At least, that was what I was trying to tell myself. Dylan’s words had really taken a hit to my ego. Despite being on the beach for three days, I had yet to actually wear my bikini. It was ridiculous that his words had hurt me so much, but despite trying hard to get over them, I had struggled. Maybe tonight was a chance to do that. And besides, Jordan would kill me if I sulked the entire time two “hot” guys were at the beach house. She would never let me live it down.

I stood up and walked back to the house. The sun was just starting to set, but the temperature was still warm. The breeze off the ocean blew my hair as I made my way back up the pier and to the house.

“What do you need help with?” I asked as I entered the house. I had cut up fruit for the fruit salad and made coleslaw before I went out to the pier. Jordan had initially planned on just grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, but had come home with ribs and chicken instead when she met the guys at the store.

She looked flustered. “Can you prep the corn on the cob? I need to get that on the grill”

I laughed as she flittered around the kitchen. “Sure, I can do that. Do you need any help with the rest of this?” I asked, motioning to the other food she had on the counter.

She sighed. “I should have just stuck with the easy stuff. But, no, I got it. If I don’t get it on the grill soon it will be late when we eat. I hope they are patient.” Jordan huffed and pulled her hair up in to a high ponytail. She had very long blonde hair, the color blonde that looked bleached but actually wasn’t.  She had the figure that I would have killed for in my younger years. Despite having such a negative response from my asshole of an ex-boyfriend about my looks, I was mostly happy with myself. 

I finished preparing the corn on the cob and headed out to the grill. Thankfully, Jordan had already started it. I put the corn on. Just as I closed the lid, my eyes caught a glimpse of one of the best-looking men I have seen in my entire life. And the other one walking up with him wasn’t bad looking either. Wearing a tank top that showed off all of his biceps, I found myself staring a little bit too much. His brown hair was cut short on the sides and was a bit longer on top, a natural wave to it that gave him a carefree type of look. I realized I had been staring when one of them cleared their throat, pulling me out of my school girl gaze. Wow. What a great first impression.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. I am Jonathan. This is my brother, Jake. Jordan invited us over.” While Jonathan was definitely good looking, it was Jake who had caught my eye as the brothers had walked up.

“Nice to meet both of you, I am Amalia” I replied, hoping to pull myself together and not continue to look ridiculous. “Jordan is inside getting the meat ready to put on the grill.” I motioned toward the back door.

“I will go see if she needs any help,” Jonathan responded as he walked into the house, leaving Jake and I outside.

I stood at the grill, fiddling with the corn. Small talk was never a strength of mine. I was what I always described as an extroverted introvert. I enjoyed interacting with those around me only after the anxiety of meeting a new person had passed. I had tried repeatedly to overcome it, and while I had gotten better at the small talk part of it, It still didn’t come naturally to me. I had to try to do it.

“So, Jake, Jordan invited you guys over?” I asked, hoping that this would help to open up a dialogue. Besides the fact that I was not good at small talk, Jake was, well, beautiful. Muscles, tall, and now that he was standing close to me, a gorgeous shade of steel grey for his eyes.

“Yeah, my brother met her at the grocery store, and she invited us over.” He paused and looked into the house. I turned and looked in as well. The flirt game going on in the house was high. Jordan was laughing and had her hand on Jonathan’s arm. Jake laughed. “I figured when I got here, I was going to be odd man out. It wouldn’t be the first time that I was invited someplace with Jonathan and ended up spending the night by myself.”

I found it hard to believe that Jake would ever be the odd man out. I could only imagine that he could have most any woman he wanted. If given the choice to between Jake and Jonathan, based just on looks, I would pick Jake.

“Well, hopefully you have a good time today,” I stated, smiling up at him. He was at least 6’3”, making it feel like he towered over me, as I had to look up at him with how close he was standing to me. I glanced back in to the house again. “Jordan, get that food out here. I do want to eat today!” I yelled in the house. Jordan glared at me but picked up the food and came outside.

Jordan waved me away as she approached the grill, Jonathan following close behind her. Jonathan waggled his eyebrows at Jake has he walked up behind Jordan, placing his hand on her back. I tried my best to not roll my eyes, but I couldn’t help myself.

“I am going to get a drink. Would you like anything, Jake?” I opened the door to go into the kitchen.

“Sure, I will come with you.” Jake joined me in the kitchen. He walked close to me as he entered the house and I could smell his cologne, which had hints of sandalwood and citrus. The combination was sexy and rugged and just inhaling the scent sent shivers throughout my body.

I opened the fridge and took a moment to try to compose myself. The physical attraction I felt toward Jake was stronger than I had ever felt, even for my ex, Dylan. It was a strange sensation for me. I have never been so physically attracted to someone after just meeting them.

“Do you have a preference?” I asked after finally feeling as if I had calmed myself enough.

“What are you going to have?” He asked, moving to stand behind me as continued to look into the refrigerator. He placed his hand on my back and I found my breath catching. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn I felt tingles where he touched me.

I cleared my throat. “Wine. I picked up this bottle of wine when we first got here. It was recommended by someone at the grocery store.” I pulled the bottle out and moved to grab glasses. “Would you like some?”

“I would love some.” Jake sat at one of the stools along the kitchen island while I poured two glasses. He took the glass and took a drink. ““So, Amalia, are you from this area?”

I shook my head as I took a sip of the wine. “No, we are from Chicago. I was born and raised in the suburbs, but I live in the city now. How about you?”

Giggles erupted from the outside and I looked up to see Jordan and Jonathan standing in front of the grill, Jonathan’s arm around Jordan. I smiled and turned my attention back to Jake.

“I live in New York. My father owns a company with offices in New York, Chicago, and Dallas. My brother and I both work out of the New York office, but I often visit Chicago for work purposes. Probably at least once a month, but sometimes more.” He replied, pouring us both some more wine.  “What type of work do you do?” He asked, looking back up at me. God, his eyes were gorgeous.

Not wanting to bore him, since most people didn’t understand what a pharmaceutical scientist did, I gave my typical response, “Medical and drug research. There are several key medical centers in Chicago. I have done research at several, especially through my graduate work, but I am mostly focused on drug therapies. I am actually starting a new position when we get back from vacation.” I paused and took a sip. “How about you?”

He smiled as he spoke. “Ironically, my family’s company is in the pharmaceutical field. Mostly medical supplies, equipment, even specializing in joint replacement, although we actually have a division that focuses on drug research. What com…” Jake was going to ask more but was cut off as Jordan came back in the house.

“Amalia, can you hand me the spatula and tongs? They are in the drawer behind you.” Jordan walked up to the counter, holding her hand out for me to hand her the items. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and I knew from the look on her face that she had been paying more attention to Jonathan than the food. She took the items and quickly went back outside.

“I have a feeling that if we don’t go back out there, we probably won’t have much to eat tonight. And, I don’t know about you, but I am starving.” Jake stood as he spoke, moving to the back door. He opened it for me and followed me outside.