The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

15 - Ray of Sunshine - Dominic POV

It will be a few more days before everyone arrives, so we are told to relax, since apparently after some sort of ceremony soon, we won't have much time to relax. And if we do have time, we are told we will probably be so tired, we will want to sleep.

So after a good night's sleep, it is another day of relaxing, and dinner comes quick enough.

Tonight we are having tacos and burritos, but dinner is interrupted by an older woman and a blond-haired girl walking into the cabin. The girl is introduced to all of us as Ande, and I am floored by her beauty; her soft brown eyes sparkle with mischief and her tanned skin speaks of someone who enjoys the outdoors.

Tanner rushes to introduce himself, and my brain scrambles. Hell, I have just met the girl, why am I worried that Tanner introduced himself first? The girl gives me a puzzled look before the lady takes her upstairs. What kind of expression did I have on my face?

Jonah kicks me under the table and gives me a sly smile when I look at him. I try to not give anything else away. Just meeting the girl isn't enough, I don't even know her to have much of an impression of her.

She comes back down and joins us for dinner. I can't help but notice the sideways glances she is sending my way. She is so cute looking down at her plate and blushing when I catch her. Tanner talks up a storm until he drags Jonah into the conversation.

"Where are you from, Ande?" Jonah asks looking across the table.

"A small town in central Missouri named Marin. Because nothing much is out there,  I was mostly homeschooled. I think my mom preferred it that way, less influence from both girls," she pauses winking at Tanner, "and boys."

Tanner laughs and Ande joins in. The sound is nice to hear.

"Your mom didn't approve of boyfriends?" Tanner asks right before he takes a large bite of his taco.

"Mom didn't approve of anybody." She draws out. Her hands start moving around - like she can capture the amount with hand gestures. "Too much influence. Too much danger. Too many chances. You put most words behind 'Too much' and you have my mom."

"If that's the case, there is no special somebody back home?" Jonah asks while squeezing Carleigh's hand; apparently some sort of signal between the two that promises an explanation later.

Already guessing what he has in mind, I return the favor and kick Jonah. His yelp sends an apology out of my mouth. "Sorry, just getting up to wash my plate and help Mia."

Mia is washing the pots and pans when I get to the sink.

"Don't be so embarrassed, Ängeli . She is a beautiful girl." She winks.

I pause contemplating how to answer.

"Don't strain yourself trying to come up with a response. Just enjoy the time you have before the training begins."

I look out the kitchen window.

"Stop thinking so much. Life isn't always so serious. Now shoo. Go have some fun."

Everyone is sitting around chatting, except for Carleigh who is holding Jonah's hand staring at the TV. Is she even watching it? Does she know it's on a mechanic show?

"Girls can like mechanics," she says, then rolls her eyes. "And guys say girls are clueless. You're developing a bad habit, cousin. You better watch what internal conversations do leak out." She smirks before looking in Ande's direction. Thanks, Jonah.

When Carleigh is tired of watching TV, she goes to her room to do some reading. Ande and Tanner start playing pool, and Jonah and I challenge each other on the video games.

All of a sudden, complaints come from Tanner about something Ande is doing; apparently her skill is better than his. Jonah elbows me and asks if I think I have enough skill to beat a girl. Not one to turn down a challenge, we head over, but Jonah decides to go first.

Jonah doesn't fare any better, going down as quickly as Tanner seemed to. When Jonah asks me if I want to take his place, I happily comply. No one is going to beat me at this game.

After she breaks the balls, she starts missing shots that seem easy enough for her to make, and I start to wonder if she is just letting me win. Saying she needs to go to the bathroom and asking if I could hold on a minute, 'Yeah" leaves my mouth.

As soon as she is out of ear shot, Jonah starts making sly comments, but he doesn't get many in before she returns. She seems different from when she left, and she also doesn't look at me much. Hope swells at the thought that she might be attracted to me. Her problems with her shots miraculously disappear, and she comes back to beat me rather easily.

We tell her what drinks we want when she offers. She goes upstairs, and I excuse myself for my own break. When I get back, they start on me.

"You just let her win because you think she's cute," Jonah says.

"And what gave you that idea? Ande has skills when it comes to playing pool. And I didn't see you two doing any better. Do you think she's cute Tanner, because she beat you multiple times?" I reply, but I don't deny that I think she's cute. Although, I don't think she's cute. To me she's beautiful, and not just her looks—there is a brightness to her that I haven't been able to figure out yet.

Tanner turns red, but I'm not sure if it is embarrassment from being beaten or thinking Ande is cute.

Soon Ande is back downstairs with our drinks. After the conversation that just happened, I am too afraid to actually look at her for fear of everyone seeing how attracted I am to her. She sits down next to Tanner as he flips through the channels. I must have another frown on my face, because Ande just looks at me with a raised eyebrow. Damn she saw me. Double Damn this stupid instant attraction.

When Tanner finds something funny to watch, Jonah goes to check on Carleigh, and I go to take my own small break. When we come back, we both go to sit on the couch. Jonah gives me a shit-eating grin and goes to sit down next to Ande. I make a small noise, but the asshole only shrugs. The other couch is lonely without someone, so I'm the one to keep it company.

A short time later, Tanner gets my attention, and I see Ande has drifted off to sleep. Guessing that he doesn't want to ask Jonah to carry her because of Carleigh, I volunteer to take her up to her room. She must have felt me carrying her up, because she opens her sleepy eyes. She gives me a soft smile, and then she wraps her arms more tightly around my neck and drifts off to sleep again. I can't help but laugh at the little noises she is making while she sleeps. Laying her down on top of the bed, I cover her with a nearby blanket. Looking down one last time at her before exiting the room, hope blooms at the thought that one day this might turn into something more than a simple attraction between the two of us. A ray of sunshine would be nice in the long days to come.

Back downstairs, the teasing starts immediately. Clean sheets are calling my name, and I'm ready to part from these two smart alecs. For the moment, I have a room to myself, that is a blessing. Desire for the new guy to bunk with Tanner grows. I wonder if I talk in my sleep? That thought grows to be an embarrassing idea.

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[A/N]:

Marin, Missouri is a fictitious town outside of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Ängeli - Swiss German for "little angel".