Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
If they ever considered relocating StreamTrainer’s corporate headquarters, they needed to move right there, inside that rental property. Movement on the beach caught his eye. He hadn’t even heard Chad run down the ramp to the beach. He stood there watching as Chad kicked off his shoes and flung his T-shirt wildly into the air. Chad sprinted toward the ocean. His cargo shorts hit the wet sand about a yard from where the surf edged toward shore.
The moment hit Ducky like a sledgehammer to the heart. Worse than even on the plane ride, sitting next to the man and his magnificent cologne. He’d been certain if wealth had a fragrance, it smelled like Chad Reeves.
Time slowed. Chad’s extraordinary body was all he saw. A frame that perfect could only be made so hard and muscular by years of working out and competing athletically in the world. His flawless ass swung back and forth with each stride he took. The guy had no inhibitions whatsoever. Jeez.
“Come in,” Chad yelled over his shoulder. Ducky got a brief glance of Chad’s smiling face before he dove headfirst into the water. The moment of peace was lost as desire raced throughout every vein in Ducky’s body. Ducky crossed his arms over his chest, and let his head fall back between his shoulders. He stared unseeing at the blue sky. What had he been thinking when inviting Chad to come along?
Chad of all people. A deep disgruntled sigh escaped.
He hadn’t thought this out properly. He was going to be in a state of needy arousal the entire trip. This wasn’t going to be a relaxing vacation. Instead, it would be a torturous lesson in self-control. He rolled his eyes and looked at the ocean in search of his friend. Chad called for him, beckoning him to the water. He had to do better at controlling his desire and ignore this all-consuming physical reaction anytime Chad was around. If not, he’d ruin everything between them.
“Get your ass in here!”
He was shit to do anything more than start down the ramp toward Chad.
“There’s no way we’re going to eat and drink all this,” Ducky said, watching Chad add a variety of tropical fruits to the buggy already overfilled with a solid bottom layer of every kind of beer, wine, and liquor available in the store. The middle layer contained meat. Chicken, beef, pork, and fish. The top had a variety of vegetables and fruits balanced precariously. Chad handpicked every item with care, proclaiming his love of food and apparent love of cooking. Who knew Chad was a master griller in addition to all his other great qualities?
“See? Smell this right here.” Chad extended a melon over the cart toward Ducky’s nose. “I bet it’s perfect. You can smell the sweetness.”
Ducky hid the grin and leaned in. When his brow turned quizzical, only smelling the peel, Chad adjusted the melon. He did in fact smell the ripeness. His brows lifted and he nodded. “Is that why you sniff around all these fruits?”
Chad placed the melon inside the basket and gathered two more as he answered. “Lots of ’em you can judge that way, but not all.”
Chad tossed limes Ducky’s way, laughing as Ducky scrambled to catch the airborne projectiles. He was ashamed to say several hit the floor because he was absolute shit at intercepting any of them.
“Papaya. Cool, here.” A fruit the size of an oblong coconut was tossed at him next. He barely had it in his hands when Chad grabbed the end of the cart, and off they went toward the front of the store. His energy was boundless, always positive, and ready to get things done. Ducky trailed behind him, temporarily distracted by a shelf full of pre-baked cookies. It felt like forever since he tasted a cookie, and at the moment, the macadamia ones called to him.
A whistle caught his attention. Chad tossed a hand in the air, moving the groceries to a belt at checkout. “Those have carbs.”
Carbs. How he loved carbs…
Ducky’s grin was immediate. He grabbed two bags. The macadamia ones and another bag of a different flavor. For good measure, he grabbed a third one and started for Chad.
“Outside of the hamburger bun and french fries we ate, I haven’t had a processed carb in months.” He let the fruit and cookies drop onto the belt and grabbed a box of candy—looked like Skittles—and tossed them on the belt too. Maybe with a little more determination than necessary with the way Chad barked out a laugh.
“Do I need to rethink these meals?” Chad and the cashier stopped what they were doing, both looking blankly at him, waiting for his answer. The humor of the situation didn’t go unnoticed. Ducky decided to add to the snacks. He grabbed two boxes of peanut M&M’s and set them next to about half a dozen snickers that he’d knocked onto the belt with his free hand.