Into the Tide (Cottonwood Cove #1)(88)

I turned down the path toward the cove and had to stop walking for a minute because I was laughing so hard.

Finn



Why can’t you look over your right shoulder?





Georgia



I have a permanent kink in my neck. I think it’s genetic.





Cage



I think you’re being lazy. Who the hell doesn’t look over their right shoulder? You scraped all the paint off my new car. That was expensive to fix, Georgie! This is the shit I’m talking about.





Georgia



It was an accident. Humans make them sometimes, or didn’t your alien leaders teach you that?





Brinkley



You could just do one extra Botox appointment for a hamster, or put a nice set of hair extensions on a sloth, and that would totally cover the expense for the paint job. #lifeofasmalltownanimaldoctor





Georgia



Yeess. Good idea. I’m here for that, Dr. Judgment.





Cage



I’m with a woman, and I’m putting my phone away because you’re all aggravating me.





Finn



Is she real or a blow-up woman?





Finn



Before you insult me, you had it coming for calling us fools.





Georgia



He actually called you a loose-lipped bastard. Gotta go. Dikota wants to watch a silent film, so I’m putting my phone away.





Fucking Dikwich was on my last nerve. I didn’t know what she was doing with that dude. I pushed a shrub out of the way, and when I came around the corner, the water just a few feet away, Lila James stood there wearing a white sundress.

“You wanted to come back to where it all started, huh?”

She slipped both of the skinny straps off of her shoulders, and her dress pooled at her feet. She wore nothing beneath it.

My mouth watered at the sight of her.

Standing there stark naked, looking like the goddess she was.

“I still think about that night all the time, Bear.” She chuckled. “But this time, I intend to do what I wanted to do that first time.”

I moved toward her, almost predatory, and reached behind my neck for the collar of my tee, tearing it off as I closed the distance between us.

I couldn’t get to her quick enough.





twenty-six





Lila





“So, you literally checked everything off the list, and you still have a little over a week to go,” Del said, as we sat at a table in the back of Cup of Cove while Sloane and Rina went up to the counter to grab our drinks and pastries. I’d transitioned most of the responsibility I’d had at the restaurants to a few of the new staff members, as I was leaving in a week. So, I popped in and out all day, just because I loved being there. But I was getting in some quality time with my girls today.

“Yes.” All but the one thing I’d added to the list. But you can’t win them all. I’d thought about telling him how I felt that night when I’d waited for him down by the cove. I’d worked up the nerve to do it, to tell him that I loved him, but he’d seemed so off. He’d fired off relentless questions about the new job. If I was excited to lead the new team. How honored I must be by all that responsibility. How I’d be taking corporate America by storm.

The truth was, I wasn’t that excited. But admitting that I loved being home and playing house with a man who hadn’t even admitted to anyone that we were together—it felt a little pathetic and lame.

“And your dad is doing so amazing. Working for Roddy, and he’s got another week under his belt. You must be so proud.” She smiled and reached for my hand.

“I am.”

Hugh had even left a standing offer for Roddy to come to Reynolds’ and eat anytime on him. Roddy usually came once a week, and they’d grown to be good friends.

Del studied me for a long moment. “You still haven’t told him?”

“No. He’s been asking so much about the new job. Almost like he can’t wait for me to leave, you know? I read this article in a magazine when I was getting my hair done yesterday about how women tend to romanticize the man that they have their first sexual experience with. Did you know that?” I whispered, looking around to make sure no one was listening. “I think that’s probably what I’m doing, while he’s ready to go back to his old ways and ship me off to Chicago. And we all know my brother can’t wait for me to leave.”

“Your brother is such an asshole sometimes.” She shook her head. “I love having you here. And maybe you’re misreading Hugh.”

I widened my eyes when I saw the girls behind her, and she’d just said Hugh’s name.

“Misreading Hugh about what?” Sloane asked.

Del cleared her throat. “I said I’m misreading you.”

“Me or Rina?”

“Both.”

It took everything I had not to burst into laughter at the turn in conversation. My phone vibrated on the table, and I glanced down to see Joseph Schneider’s name light up across my screen. I pushed to my feet and told them I needed to step outside.