You Were Mine (Rosemary Beach #9)(15)

“God, isn’t it, though? I swear, when he does that kind of stuff, I want to attack him. Complete turn-on.”

I laughed, and it was a real laugh. It felt good. I missed laughing. I didn’t do it often. Nate gave me my weekly laugh. He always made me forget with his little-boy charm.

“What’s so funny over here?” Blaire asked, taking the seat on the other side of me.

“Daddy Grant is a turn-on for Harlow,” I said with a chuckle, glancing over at her.

Blaire smiled as she looked over at Grant, who now had his head tucked close to Lila Kate as he continued to rock back and forth with her. “He’s so stinking cute. I swear. I can’t imagine Rush with a baby girl. But seeing Grant with Lila Kate makes me want one.”

“Another baby so soon?” Harlow asked Blaire.

Blaire smiled and shrugged. “Maybe not yet. Nate still needs to be the baby a while longer. Besides, he’s a handful. The walking thing was hard, but the running thing is even more difficult. I can’t catch him when he gets loose.”

I needed this. I sat as my friends discussed their children and told stories about their daily lives as moms, making me laugh. I loved them and their families. For almost two years, I had missed so much, closing myself off from emotion. I was tired of that. Maybe the protective numbness leaving was a good thing.

Tripp

Eight years ago

Bethy had become an addiction. Although I knew I couldn’t have her, I couldn’t stay away from her. Seeing her face light up when she saw me was also pretty damn amazing. After she rode on the back of my bike that weekend all the way to New Orleans and back, I came up with reasons to see her every day. Jace kept asking me to hang out with him and the guys, but I couldn’t bring myself not to see Bethy. The idea that she’d end up at another party and I wouldn’t be there to protect her was also keeping me from giving her much space.

She didn’t seem to mind. Hell, she looked at me like I was the only person she wanted to see. That felt pretty damn good. I was aware that she had a crush on me. It was too obvious to miss. It was becoming increasingly hard not to touch her. I really wanted to touch her. But right now, I’d settle for a kiss.

I sat outside her trailer on my bike, waiting for her. She didn’t want me coming to the door, and although I didn’t like it, I honored her wishes and waited on my bike. We were going to Destin tonight for a summer jam concert I’d gotten tickets to. Several bands would be there that she and I both liked.

The door to her beat-to-hell trailer opened up, and she came running out wearing a short little sundress that showcased her hot body. I was a goner. I swear, I was ready to break. Keeping my hands off her in that outfit was going to be impossible. Guys were gonna stare at her tonight, and I’d be damned if I let them think she was available.

She stopped and looked up at me as she got to the bike. “I was going to wear shorts because of the bike, but I have my bikini on under here, and I figured it would be OK to wear this.” She seemed nervous. We’d spent so much time together over the past two weeks I wasn’t sure how she could still be so uncertain around me.

“I like the dress,” I assured her, holding out my hand to help her climb on back. Then I handed her the helmet I kept just for her.

“You have to be home at a certain time?” I asked, already knowing the answer was probably a no. Her father wasn’t home much. Only when she was at her aunt Darla’s did she have a curfew.

“Nope. Dad won’t be home tonight,” she replied, slipping her arms around my waist and pressing her chest against my back. That never got old. Feeling her tits up against me was part of the addiction I’d developed.

“Good. You’re mine for the night,” I replied before starting the bike and pulling out onto the road. I glanced down to see her naked legs locked around mine, and I had to take a deep breath. That was nice. Too damn nice.

I would speed up at times just to hear her squeal and squeeze me tighter. Thinking about giving her up at the end of the summer was bothering me. Who would be here to take care of her? She was so sweet and innocent. I couldn’t stand the idea of someone hurting her or taking advantage of her. And if I was honest with myself, I hated the idea of anyone else touching her. I had no claim on her, but it felt like she was mine.

When she looked up at me with those adoring eyes, all was right with the world. She belonged to me then. I knew it by the way the stars in her eyes only appeared for me. I had watched her with other guys while she worked, and no one got the same adoring gaze I got. That was just for me.

Once we got to the beach where the concert was being held, I found us a spot and laid out the blanket I had brought. I figured we would be standing most of the night to see over the heads of everyone when the bands started playing, but right now, we had more than an hour before the show got started. People were sprawled all over the place on their own blankets and chairs, drinking and partying.

Bethy sank down beside me but left some space between us. I didn’t like it, but she always gave me space. As if she were afraid I’d push her away if she got any closer. She was being smart. I just couldn’t be smart any longer.

I reached over and hooked my hand around her waist and pulled her up against me until her leg was touching mine and her side was pressed up against me. She made a surprised sound but didn’t try to move away. But then I knew she wouldn’t.