Her Burning Desire, Loving a Single Dad

This could be exactly what I need! I thought to myself as the ocean came into view. I was still struggling with the decision that landed me here. I felt like I was being sent away for the summer to a boot camp for misbehaving children, when in reality, I had been sent on a six month get away to a beach house in Smalltown, USA for some much need r'n'r in hopes that I might actually stand a chance at banging out my next best seller or two. "That's where you'll be staying for the next six months?" Jena, my best friend, pointed to the white building in front of us. "According to what the GPS is saying." I smiled. "Are you going to actually spend time on the beach or are you going to hide away behind a computer screen?" "I'll be on the beach but hiding all the same. You know me." "I do and I wish I knew that you wouldn't waste this." She sighed. "But you're not here on an actual vacation, you're here for work and I have to remind myself that every time I feel jealous." Jena poked my thigh. "Yeah, and thanks for that. You know you could have just let me go to my cabin, right?." I laughed and shook her head. "Yeah, but then I wouldn't have the excuse of coming and checking on you to use for sunbathing on the beach." I guess that's the perk of Jena working for my publishing company. "Besides, someone has to get you out from behind that screen and into the sun." "I'll stay hidden, thanks." "Dylan-" "Don't Jena, seriously." I shook my head. I knew that the age old argument was coming. She was going to build me up while I tore myself down with my insecurities. I wish I wasn't like this, I wish I didn't see myself the way I did. But there is only so much a girl can take especially when she's been bullied about her weight her entire life. "You are a gorgeous ,27 year old, insanely smart, incredibly talented and successful woman. f**k, what other people think. No one knows you here. Let loose, be you." "Easy for you to say?" I shot her a side glare. Jena Mason was what most would describe as the American sweetheart type, Candice King vibes if you will. She stood at five foot three inches, long blonde wavy hair, and the most electric green eyes. She was every that I knew I wasn't. Jena was the head turner where I swore people stared with a disgusted looks on their faces. I was Jena's oppisite. I had long dark hair that fell past my shoulders and framed my face with waves and curls. My dark blue eyes were so dark at time that the white parts were blue at times. I was quite a bit thicker in build and stood at a whooping five foot ten. My mom always jokes that I was built like a linebacker and the jokes have never stopped. "It sucks I only have you for two weeks, J." I shot her a sad smile. "I know but you'll find your inspiration and you'll never known I'm gone." "Promise?" I held up her pinky to Jena. "Promise." Jena smiled and wrapped her pinky around mine. We both quickly leaned in and kissed our hands. I pulled into the driveway and put the Black Jeep Wrangler that my publication company provided. Instantly, I knew our minds were officially blown. We were met by white steps that led to a large brown door with matching giant windows, the light tan porch wrapped around the house towards the back. "What the f**k am I going to do with all of this space?" I laughed exiting the vehicle. "I don't know." Jena said smiling. "This is breath taking." "That's an understatement." We grabbed our bags and walked up the steps, but as I reached for the door an older woman, mid-fifties, open the door and smiled. "Welcome Miss Jones. We've been expecting you." "We?" I asked. "Yes, your house staff. I'm Mildred, your maid. And Weston, your personal chef. There will also be a pool boy and a landscaper that you will see roaming around the property periodically." "Oh, I don't need a staff. I'll be fine on my own." I said quickl. "Miss Jones-" "Dylan, please." I shook my head. "Just Dylan." "Dylan," Mildred smiled. "We come with the house." She said simply. "Alright then." I took a deep breath and looked at Jena. "If you'll follow me I'll show you to your rooms." Mildred offered to take my duffle bag and backpack. "This is insane!" I laughed, beginning to looked around and take it all in. The walls were an off-white and covered with paintings and photos of local artists. Plants and flowers were placed through-out the rooms to add color and a homey like feel. The black leather couches matched the medium darkness of the hardwood floor. The second floor held three bedrooms and the master suite. "Miss Jo- Dylan," Mildred smiled. "this is your room." She pushed through the solid dark French doors, revealing a giant king size bed. The room was splashed with greens, purples and grays, the dark hardwood floors ran throughout the whole house. "Miss, if you'll follow me." Jena turned and followed Mildred to the other end of the hall. I was in complete awe, there was a matching set of French doors that lead out to a balcony with two big lounge chairs. "This is going to be incredible." I said outload. "This place is nuts!" Jena smiled plopping on my bed. "Wanna explore?" "Is that even a question?" We made our way back to the front door, but were stopped short as Jena flung the door open. "Oh, hi. You must be the new tenants." I couldn't help but stare, I was in aw of the men standing before us in all their gorgeously sun kissed muscle glory. "Owen, Brier. This is my buddy Liam Jenkins." "Jena Mason." She smiled and shook both of their hands. "This is Dylan Jones. She'll be your neighbor for the next six months." "Does Miss Jones not speak?" "Sorry." I shook my head and blinked rapidly to clear my hea. "Dylan, it's just Dylan." "Owen." He said again and reached out to shake my hand. "Heading out or unpacking?" "Heading out." I said quickly remembering what we were doing and started to walk past them. I was feeling awkward and nervous all the sudden, which had everything to with how insanely attractive these two were and the fact that I was really unsure about myself and hated the way I felt in my own skin. And the way Owen was looking at me, didn't help matters much. "Want a tour guide?" Liam asked, his eyes glued to Jena. "It's not an adventure if there's no risk of getting lost." I said and quickly hopped in the driver's seat. "Thanks, though." I shot them a small, sweet smile, and put the Jeep in gear "Oh, my. I might have to extend my vacation." Jena said through a smile, watching them as I drove around the gravel circle in the driveway. "Which one would you take?" I already knew the answer. "Liam, of course." She mocked like she was offended. "Besides, Owen was definitely checking you out." "Sure, he was." I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Why is it that you don't think guys would like you?" "Because I'm a size sixteen, Jena, not a size two." I waved my hand over Jena. She pounced on me, verbally, before I had a chance to degrade myself anymore. "You are not fat, Dylan! You worked hard to lose the weight, and you bust your ass every day to keep it off. You built a ton of nicely toned muscles! I would kill to have your ass and your figure! I still can't believe that you let those asshole frat guys ruin you." "Are you pouting?" I chuckled. "Jena, they didn't ruin me. The asshole jocks and prissy popular kids, who peaked in middle school and high school, ruined me. The ones who called me a Moby the Beached Whale or hippo, every time I showed up to the lake of the pool parties that their parents forced them to invite the whole class to. The very same kids who put 'wide load' post-it's on my back, those kids are the ones who ruined me and my self-esteem. Those douchebag frat guys only solidified my self-loathing and reason for being self-conscious and insecure, when they posted pictures of me in what they called the pig-pen. And society doesn't help much either. "I bet you a bottle of patron that Owen was checking you out." Jena said after a few quiet moments, changing the subject. "How are you going to do that?" I shot her a dubious look. "I can be very persuasive and I do have two weeks here." I found myself thinking about the beautiful man that I had only seen for all of two seconds. Owen was tall, about six foot three maybe taller, his incredibly muscular body was nicely on display, thanks to his grey tank top and khaki colored cargo shorts. There was a black and white ball cap covering his dark brown hair and from what I could tell, flex of green in his brown eyes. I couldn't help but sigh. He was perfect, everything I could have possibly looked for in the looks department, but I knew how this would go. I'd make the greatest friend, but that's all I would ever be. "Dyl, are you even listening to me?" "Sorry, what'd you say?" "Maybe we can invite them over for drinks on the back deck tonight. Put that built in fire pit to use?" "I don't know Jena." I shook my head. Did I want another glimpse of that man? yes. Did I honestly believe that he was checking me out? No. Why would someone want to check me out when Jena is right there? That was a question that I had asked myself one too many times over the years. It's not that I didn't think I was pretty. I knew I wasn't ugly, but I was always over looked and even heard a few guys while out at the bars make comments like, well, someone has to take the fat one if the blond is into one of us, just take one for the team this time and I'll take the D.U.F.F. next. Guys forget that alcohol and loud music doesn’t mean that people can't hear you from five feet away. We drove around for a few hours just exploring the streets of the smalltown. Occasionally, we would hop out of the car and walk a little bit just to see what there was. We took a few mental notes for places to check out while Jenna was here with me. "I wonder what our cook is making for dinner." Jena laughed. "I hope it's not something meant for cool weather because it's mid-May and I'm already dying from the heat and how muggy it is." I laughed. "I told you to dress for South weather not Vermont weather, silly girl." She shook her head. "Well, would you look at that." Jena smiled at the sight of the two men in their front yard throwing a football. "Awesome, more to add to the Jena Mason fan club." I teased. "Stop it." She snapped. "I really hate it when you do that to yourself." "I'm not doing anything, J." "You're counting yourself out before the fun has even begun." She winked.