While It Lasts (Sea Breeze #3)(9)

Chapter Four


Cage



I knew enough about country music to know that it was George Strait’s voice singing over the speakers. Becca Lynn’s hand squeezed mine as she walked beside me toward the big ass fire they had going. The moonlight was the only other light out here in the woods. The small area was crowded with unfamiliar faces. A couple of them I wouldn’t mind getting to know a little better. A flirty little brunette flashed me a teasing smile before pressing her nice sized chest against the arm of the guy she was holding onto.

I surveyed the rest of the crowd. I still wasn’t sure I was going to be doing anything with Becca Lynn tonight. I couldn’t make up my mind. I just had a feeling she was going to be the kind you couldn’t get rid of after the one—nighter. There were a few other options out here in the dark. My mind went to Eva and I wondered if she’d be here. This probably wasn’t her scene. I doubted Eva Brooks went to bonfires at night. But damned if the idea of getting her snobby little ass pressed up against a tree didn’t sound real good. She might be a bitch but she was so f*cking sexy it didn’t even matter. I’d have to keep reminding myself that she was off limits. I had too much riding on her daddy liking me to get too attached to the idea of getting her out of her panties.

“Let me go get you that beer,” Becca said, reminding me she was beside me.

“Thanks,” I replied, smiling down at her.

“Here comes Jeremy and Eva. You can talk to them while I’m gone,” she beamed then turned to hurry toward the large coolers full of ice sitting as far away from the fire as possible. Of course, Eva had shown up with the boyfriend that didn’t suit her at all. She needed someone who could show her how to loosen up. Good ‘ole Jeremy wasn’t that guy.

“Hey man, Becca dragged you out here tonight, huh?” Jeremy said in an amused tone as he stopped beside me.

“Yeah. I thought I’d check out the night life around this place,” I replied, shifting my eyes from Jeremy to Eva. She wasn’t looking at me but I could tell she was trying real hard not to. Her stiff posture told me she was very aware that I was watching her. Dammit why’d that make me f*cking happy?

“Thanks for sending out the cold ice rags today. Those sure were nice,” I said, knowing she wouldn’t be able to ignore me now.

She took a deep breath that she tried to hide but I was watching her too closely. Then she turned her eyes my way and it was like a damn kick in the stomach when the light from the fire illuminated her face. I’d been with a lot of gorgeous women but never had I been so affected by their looks before. There was something in her eyes that drew me in. I wanted to make the sadness she tried to hide go away. Eva Brooks was haunted and my protective tendencies were being tugged on.

“You’re welcome,” she replied in a clipped tone.

“I realize that those were probably meant for Jeremy but he shared and it was much appreciated.”

A small frown puckered her brow. “I sent two out there, didn’t I? One for each of you.”

Ah, so she was admitting to thinking about me too. I liked that.

“Really. Well, thank you. I was under the impression you wouldn’t spit on me if I was on fire.”

Jeremy’s amused response was a low chuckle that was beginning to get on my nerves. He did that a lot.

“As long as you do the work that Daddy has for you and you work hard then I will be more than happy to supply you water and cold towels.”

Her responses were all so matter-of -fact. Did she ever get passionate or emotional about anything? It would be a damn shame if she was that cool and controlled during sex. Something in her eyes told me she was holding back. There was something I was missing.

She lifted her hand to tuck a stray lock behind her ear and I saw the twinkle of a small diamond that sat securely on her left hand. I stared at it as understanding slowly began to sink in.

Eva was engaged.

Words left me. The world tilted a little off center. I jerked my gaze off the ring to Jeremy who was watching me closely. Jeremy was her f*cking fiancé?



“Here ya go,” Becca Lynn said as she held out a can of Bud light to me. I took it from her outstretched hand and opened it taking a very long swallow. I had to get my head on straight. I hadn’t been expecting this. Jeremy and Eva dating was crazy enough but engaged? How the hell did that happen?

“Want to go swimming?” Becca asked sweetly. I needed to remember I was here with her. I needed to focus on anything other than that diamond ring on Eva’s hand.

“Sure,” I managed to reply.

“Becca, don’t do that.” Eva’s obvious disapproval surprised me. What the hell was wrong with swimming? Was she against that too?

“Why not?” she chirped as she began pulling her tank top over her head. WHOA.

“Then at least go strip in the shadows and not right here in front of everyone. Especially Jeremy. You’ll make him uncomfortable.”

Strip? Were we going skinny—dipping?

“It ain’t like Jeremy hasn’t seen me naked, Eva.”

What?

“Ugh, just go undress away from us,” Eva replied.

“I wasn’t exactly complaining. Becca Lynn has some nice knockers,” Jeremy piped in.

It came out of nowhere. I suddenly saw red.