I'm Not Your Husband!

I thought this chapter was interesting. I hope you feel the same. Again, thank you, thank you for the feedback. Muah!

Chapter Eight

Nathan took two big gulps from the plastic cup lodged in his hand. The lemonade was delicious. He had been seated at one of the many cabana tables surrounding Jennifer's butterfly shaped pool since he arrived thirty minutes ago.

"Is he here?" He whispered to Mouth as he walked past carrying a tray of frozen daiquiris and margaritas.

"Who?"

"The guy she's dating, Jennifer's boyfriend." Nathan blew out as if it should be obvious. He was sure he would make his debut soon.

Mouth turned away, flirting with one of Haley's team.

"I don't know if he has arrived yet." He shrugged trying to scurry off.

"Hang out with me, Man." Nathan begged. He was anxious and high strung as he nervously anticipated his competition. Maybe relaxing with his best friend could mellow him out. After all, Haley had ditched him soon after they found an empty table. In the car, this was the same woman that promised not to leave his side.

Stupidly, when she returned with their drinks Nathan probed her about spotting Jennifer boyfriend. What he looked like? Did she see what his boss's beverage of choice was? Haley let out a few harsh expletives that certainly were unladylike along with a lewd gesture before storming off. He wasn't sure she ever be back.

"You know Jennifer always mans the bar at these events because it's her best chance of talking with most of her employees and guest. Besides, she can weed out some of the serious alcoholics." Mouth laughed. "Katie from accounting was supposed to help, but she had a cold……. I'm filling in."

He continued to focus away from Nathan. This time his eyes strayed to a cute Latin beauty sitting at a shaded table across the pool, she was a service rep. She giggled and waved back. He gave his buddy a knowing wink before walking away. Nathan laughed at his cockiness.

If you see Haley will you send her my way?" The raven haired man voiced to his friend.

Left to his on entertainment, Nate took in the view. Most of JL Sports Jacksonville staff and their guest were littered throughout the backyard, down on the beach playing volley ball or poolside. The management team from the Cincinnati office was also including in the Labor Day weekend event and many of the company's business associates. How would he ever find Jennifer's other love interest in this mass of people?

"And I was hoping you would be greased up and shirtless when I got back." Haley pouted handing a bottle of water to replace his now empty cup. It was important to keep hydrated in the humid Florida sun.

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours" Nathan teased trying to sound sarcastic but his heavy voice made his words extremely seductive.

Haley lifted her top a few inches below her breast before putting it back down.

"Nah. I don't want you walking around here with a big woody and no place to put it."

Her "friends" eyes were still transfixed at her flat stomach and the blue star tattoo that had been drawn around her belly button. It was temporary, but sexy as hell never-the-less.

"Try me." He said boldly before he realized the thoughts were expressed aloud.

Haley's eyes danced devilishly and she peeled off her tank top and board shorts to reveal a perfect fitting yellow bikini that wasn't itsy bitsy or polka dot.

Quickly Nathan closed his hanging mouth before he ended up filling it with something that didn't belong to him and he shouldn't be admiring and desiring. He wouldn't stop staring until he heard Ms. James snap her fingers and shout.

"Are you going to take your shirt off or not, Nate?... Sure, you've got a nice body but I can find others that can give me just as good of a show." She warned, folding her arms impatiently.

Jealousy washed over the young man. He wasn't about to let one of these needle dicks from work upstage him. Hell no! He pulled off his wife beater and tossed it in the little blonde's straw bag with the rest of her clothing.

Finishing off his water in four big swallows he threw it into a recycling bin with one hand as Haley led him through the swimming pool with the other. They found a secluded spot by the waterfall.

Lush plants added to the privacy. Haley faced him, tilting her head back and letting her now loose hair fall beneath the falls stream of water. The sun kissed her face, giving it an angelic look. Her full breast jutted out, calling to her partner unbeknownst to her and the rest of her curves created the perfect pose.

"Beautiful!" Nathan sighed in complete awe.

The woman turned her attention to man made water wonder behind her and smiled broadly.

"Yeah. It is."

"Nathan migrated closer, now resting his hands on her narrow hips. She looked on with curiosity.

"I meant you." He surprising heard himself say in his gravely tone.

Haley shivered at his lustful eyes. They created goose bumps down her arms and back and a rarity, Haley James blushed. He didn't even remember doing that when they were kids. Of course, she included a wiggling of the eyebrows that caused a deep chuckle in his throat. Hales always made him smile.

U don't need experience 2 turn me out

U just leave it all up 2 me

I'm gonna show u what it's all about

Now she was singing along to the Prince classic "Kiss" the deejay was playing. She was doing all these outdated 1980's dance moves while treading water, but instead of being amused by her silliness, he was aroused.

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your

Kiss

She was stunned by his smooth moves and completely intoxicated by this confident Nathan who drew the lovely pixie closer. Staring down at her, he smiled as she continued to hum unconsciously to the blaring song.

I want 2 be your fantasy

Maybe u could be mine

U just leave it all up to me

We could have a good time

"I have to kiss you," was his charming drawl before he planted his warm mouth on hers and went in for along erotic kiss.

U don't have 2 be rich 2 be my girl

U don't have 2 be cool 2 rule my world

Ain't no particular sign I'm more compatible with

I just want your extra time and your

Kiss

After several minutes, thoughts raced through his head, warding off his attraction. This was a mistake and for the life of him he couldn't see why he continued to make it over and over again. Haley was just a friend. Slowly he released her lips, the taste of strawberry lip gloss still filling his mouth. With a sympathetic look, he began to speak but Haley placed her hand over his mouth.

"Don't, Nathan." She spoke softly. "It was a nice moment, very nice. You enjoyed it and so did I. Don't ruin it."

Before he could protest she swam away and was heading up the steps at the far end of the pool.

If it was nothing serious, why did he feel so guilty? Why did the toughest girl he knew just look at him with the saddest brown eyes he had ever seen?

On impulse, like everything else he did when it came to Haley, Nathan made the length of the pool. He grabbed one of the fluffy towels stacked on a large table nearby and started drying off during his pursuit of the woman in yellow.

After a pit stop to the men's room, he neared the bar. Ms. James was still no where to be found. But Jen and Mouth were standing behind the bar face-to-face and speaking in hush tones. At a distance, the tension could be felt. Nathan swore Jennifer tried to hold his best friends hand and Mouth ripped it away, but not before he heard.

"If you want it to, it can work, Marvin."

Mouth busied himself finishing some frozen concoction. Jennifer took the mixture and filled several cups. Nathan cleared his throat when he finally made it to the counter. Upon seeing her secret admirer, Jen looked disturbed.

"Hi Nathan, will you please excuse me." She mumbled politely. Did she just have tears in her eyes?

"What the hell was that? I have never seen you and Jennifer argue. You're one of her pet employees, Dude." Nathan questioned, his mind scrambling to decipher what he had interrupted. "Tell me that wasn't about me. You don't need to play matchmaker, man. It's my problem that I can't tell Jennifer my feelings for her. I don't want to cause any friction between the two of you and the boss.

"She isn't my boss anymore." Mouth stated frankly. "I put in my two weeks notice."

"Whaaat!...Why?" Nathan was numb. They had worked together since they graduated college. He wasn't prepared for this.

"It's just time." Marvin shrugged evasively.

"You got a better gig!" Nathan boasted proudly. "You are the king of inventors." He clapped.

"Thanks, but I didn't get some big offer. I think I'm going to branch out on my own for a while. You know, test the waters."

Nathan silently agreed, holding out his fist to bump Marvin's.

"We'll still hang out all the time. I'm there, Man." Nathan promised if you need anything. "I always have your back."

That garnered a manly hug over the counter from the lifelong best friends.

"Here." Attempting to lighten the mood with the contents of the pitcher of tea, he held out the cup and Nathan drank it down greedily before scanning the area.

"Actually I was searching for Hales. Have you seen her?"

"Not for a while…" he cut himself short, narrowing his eyes at Nathan.

"What did you do?" His friend accused.

Nathan wanted to defend himself. However, he opened his mouth to confess his and Haley's secret kisses and hot make out sessions, including the encounter earlier in the pool only to be disrupted by Jen as she led a tall man their way hand-in-hand. He was lanky and blonde and upon further investigation Nathan felt his stomach drop to his feet. Did he always want the same women he wanted? Son-of-a-bitch!

"Hey guys, I want you to meet somebody really important. Marvin Mcfadden and Nathan Scott, this is the Bengal's quarterback and last year's Super Bowl MVP-.

"Lucas Roe." Nathan completed her sentence unceremoniously when the pair landed in front of him.

Luke nodded.

"Lucas, it's always a pleasure seeing you." Mouth added forcefully remembering how the jock had teased and tormented him for years.

Again, cocky Mr. Roe nodded with an innocent smile.

Confused, Jennifer's head volleyed between the trio and she felt uncomfortable.

"Umm, you know each other?"

"We all went to high school together." Lucas charmingly informed. "Although, we never hung out and I graduated a year before them."

"Small world." Jennifer laughed happily, her arm around one of Lucas Roe's large biceps. "Well Lucas is our…."

"Lucas!" Haley appeared disturbing the flow of the conversation for a second time.

Immediately, Nathan's nemesis ejected himself from Jen's embrace. It was done so quickly she staggered. Mouth came out of nowhere to brace her body, letting her rest against him. Lucas tried to closed the distance between him and Haley.

"Haley, why haven't you answered my calls or emails? I meant what I said and I won't let you skip town on me this time. I want, no I need you, Haley."

He held out his hand for her to take, but she took two steps back. Nathan wasn't sure why he was so elated by her actions. His heart was racing a mile a minute.

"Lucas, do we have to get into this here?... Maybe it's best that we don't go out anymore?"

"Anymore!" Nathan roared.

Mouth and Jennifer were getting a kick at the scene unfolding before them.

"Ms. James met Mr. Roe at the Cincinnati office. She helped us sign him to a multi-million dollar endorsement." Jennifer declared only to have Marvin frantically shake his head from side to side.

Haley looked completely annoyed while Nathan and Lucas stood nose-to-nose.

"Don't tell me." Jennifer sighed. "High school"

The foursome nodded in unison. Jennifer reached around the bar and grabbed the first bottle she could find and pour herself a shot of tequila.

"Hales, I need to speak with you in private." Nathan surmised still watching Lucas like a hawk.

The female rolled her eyes. "You talk too much, Nathan." Haley clipped and strolled over to Jennifer. The women read each others thoughts and before another word was exchange Haley was downing two shots of the alcohol.

"I see you still can't handle a woman, Scott." Lucas bashed.

"Why don't you ask my wife?" Nathan threw back. "Right, Haley?"

Haley choked on her third drink. Mouth had a lecherous smile like the cat that ate the canary directed at Lucas and Jen just watched with heavy anticipation. Meanwhile, Lucas scoffed at the remarks.

"You would be so lucky to have Haley, Scott, in your dreams. Let me remind you just in cause you forgot…….You're still a loser." He crudely smarted before turning to Haley. "Ignore Scott's antics. We have more important things to discuss."

Still bikini clad, Ms. James hair was now in its natural wavy form and dry from the sun. She walked right past Lucas locking the fingers of her right hand with Nathan's, leading him away. "You wanted to speak to me, Honey?" She cooed sweetly purely to taunt Lucas.

Spellbound, the man-child let her lead him into the pool house. Several guest littered the large living room area where they were watching one of the biggest college football rivalries in the United States, Florida State versus Miami.

Haley let go of Nathan at the door and continued to the coffee table. She picked up the remote and cut off the television to a crowd of loud groans and angry words direct at her. She let them roll right off her back to upset to worry about what they thought. Her eyes were bubbling brown like hot coffee. Later that week, while gossiping at the water cooler a couple of employees will swear they saw flames shoot from her eyes.

Everybody get out! I don't need any witnesses when I murder Mr. Scott."

The group paused for a moment, debating on the seriousness of the situation. They scampered around like animals during a forest fire with another terrifying stare from Haley. They passed Nathan and ran out the door. Frightened, he got in the back of the line.

"Don't make me come after, Nathan." Haley viciously warned. "Get over here and sit your ass down."

The man obeyed, lounging on the chair to appear calm. That was until Haley turned around with her hand on her hips and fire in her eyes.

"Oh, so I'm your wife now?"