Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(30)

“And I see our dear baby brother did a wonderful job of deflecting the conversation. Just admit you want her. Own it, dick licker.” Finn smirked.

“Never going to happen. I, unlike you two, am a man in control of both my emotions and my dick. Sorry you have to sit through this tonight, Pops,” I said, winking at my dad.

“You know I love some good Reynolds brother banter.” He smirked. “But I’m just going to say this, and we’ll drop it.”

“Ahhhh… I love when Pops gives his words of wisdom.” Finn clapped his hands together.

“Let’s hear it, old wise one.” Cage chuckled.

“Watch yourself, buddy. I’m not that old.” My father turned his attention to me. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”

I grunted. “That’s your advice? You’ve been watching too many sappy movies with Mom.”

“That was a little cheesy, dude. Even for you,” Finn said as he shook his head.

“Hey, it may be cheesy, but it’s true. I wasn’t looking for anything when I met your mom. She was way too good for me, and I knew it, but look at us. Five kids later, and we’ve built this great life together. You know why?” He raised a brow and took his time looking at each of us.

“Because the heart wants what the fucking heart wants,” I said, and the table erupted in laughter.

“Take it or leave it, boys. I don’t worry about this one,” he said, slapping me on the back. “He’s got a good head on his shoulders, and like I’ve always said, you know when you know.”

“Wow. This is really riveting advice, Pops. The heart wants what the heart wants, and you know when you know,” Cage said after we paid the check and all pushed to our feet. “It’s a good thing Mom’s the therapist.”

“You losing it, old man?” Finn teased.

More laughter erupted as we made our way outside.

“Hey, I’m a simple man, but I speak the truth. Always trust this.” My father clasped a hand over his heart. “It’s gotten me everything that matters in my life.”

“You’re a wise man,” I said, pulling my dad in for a hug because he happened to be one of my favorite people on the planet. I went to him every time I needed guidance, and he’d never failed me.

We all said our goodbyes, and I knew they were just razzing me. But I also knew I needed to be careful where Lila was concerned.

I liked hanging out with her all the time, but it concerned me that I thought about her when we weren’t together.

I knew better, yet I struggled with doing the right thing when it came to her.

I pulled in the garage, and when I stepped inside the house, the door to the casita flew open. “You’re finally home?” she gasped.

I raised a brow because she looked angry. “I am. Am I not supposed to be?”

“No. Of course not. I just—I was waiting for you.” She shrugged and then waved me toward her room. I followed her inside as she slipped on her flip-flops. “I’m going to Cottonwood Cove to skinny dip. Are you coming with me?”

Ain’t that the million-dollar question.

“Did something happen with Kline?” My hands fisted at my sides. She was off, and Lila wasn’t a hothead, so something had obviously happened.

“Kline’s fine, but he’s not worth my time anymore. It’s time to focus on the list.”

I cleared my throat. I didn’t completely trust myself around her.

She was wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a white tank top. Definitely not what she’d left Reynolds’ in when she’d gone to meet Kline for dinner. Her long, dark hair was pulled up in a ponytail, and she quickly stalked past me, heading for the door.

“You seem a little upset. Why don’t we talk about it here? There’s no rush to check things off the list. The water will still be there tomorrow.”

She whipped around. “I’m tired of waiting until tomorrow. My whole life has been about tomorrow. I’m doing this right now, with or without you.”

I groaned and followed her out the door. I sure as shit wasn’t going to let her go down to the cove and strip naked alone.

At least, that was what I was telling myself.

We walked in silence for about half a block, side by side.

“You going to tell me what happened?”

She came to a stop and shook her head. “That’s the thing. Nothing happened, per se. It’s the same old shit, different day, Bear. It’s my brother and his irrational behavior. It’s the way everyone gossips about my father. And tonight, we were at the restaurant, and that damn Mrs. Compton was running her mouth.”

She turned around and started storming toward the water again. Her ponytail swayed from side to side down her back. Her long, lean legs moved briskly, and her perfect ass was impossible to look away from. There was a path at the end of my street that led through the trees and down to the water. She maneuvered around the branches in the dark like she knew this place well, so I assumed she must be running over here in the mornings.

“What did she say? She’s always been an asshole, just like her daughter.”

She stopped again, my chest slamming into hers as she’d caught me off guard when she’d halted. The light from the moon peeked down through the tall evergreens and shone down on her pretty face. “She made a comment, and it pissed me off. Because it’s what everyone thinks about me, you know?”