Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 176012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 880(@200wpm)___ 704(@250wpm)___ 587(@300wpm)
“Good,” Noah tells me. “Because the way he’s looking at you, he’s about ready to kidnap you and take you back to Dubai with him where you two won’t be interrupted.”
I meet my new friend’s eyes, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks as my heart picks up pace. Is Lucas really looking at me?
Noah exhales with a longing look. “I miss that feeling.”
“What feeling?”
He searches for his words. “You can’t think,” he says. “Can’t see reason. Can’t make the responsible decision you know you’re supposed to make because you don’t want to stop feeling her. You can’t.”
“How many times have you felt that?”
He’s lost in thought for a moment, then shrugs. “Not enough.”
“So what do I do next?”
Noah slides off the coolers, walks to the vendor next door, and talks to Brionne Sherwood who’s selling wrap skirts, Hawaiian shirts, and dresses. Bringing me a red-and-white-checkered sundress with spaghetti straps, he hands it to me.
I frown. It’s the same pattern as a picnic blanket I grew up with.
“Trust me,” he says.
I cock my brow. I take the dress off the hanger and start to walk it behind the booth to put into my backpack. I can wear it to Madoc’s party.
But Noah has other ideas. “Put it on now,” he shouts after me.
I stop, hesitating. I don’t want to be bending over or having the wind blowing up my dress.
I look out, seeing Lucas laughing and hanging his arm around Madoc, my eyes drawn to the V disappearing into his shorts. Moms, sisters, wives, college girls—they all circle the pit, watching the guys. Lucas is the only single man I see playing.
I take the dress behind the booth, pull it on, and remove my shorts and T-shirt underneath it. I let my hair down and pull out the lipstick I used on Codi. I dab a little on, already relishing the cooling breeze riding up my thighs.
Coming out from behind the booth, I notice that Noah is gone. But I feel Lucas’s eyes almost immediately.
I don’t look, just enjoying the butterflies in my chest.
Trust me, Noah had said.
About what, I’m not sure. But the day is young. I’m sure I’ll find out.
“Good job, kiddo.”
Madoc yanks me in for a kiss on my head as I try to wipe down the display tables. It’s just after four, and many people are still partying in the park, but it’s almost time to greet those who’ll be moving on to the next celebration at his place. Then, they’ll head to High Street, followed by Camp Blackhawk, and Fallstown. He holds up the last Patriotic Parfait I had, the layers of blueberries, rich cream, and strawberries half eaten.
“These were amazing,” he muses.
He’s not drunk yet, but he’s putting his weight on me, which means he’s very relaxed. Best get him home so Fallon can get some coffee in him before he faces the rest of the night.
I lay a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll bring some to the house in a bit.”
I saved a special batch for the family.
I throw off his heavy arm and finish stacking all the empty trays.
“Some shorts under that dress would be a good idea,” Jax calls out as he passes by. “It’s blowing around a bit.”
Madoc scoops out the rest of his parfait. “It’s why I don’t wear mine on windy days, Quinn.”
I laugh.
Jared comes up with Tate and their kids, everyone in my family about to head out. “Can we help before we go?” he asks me.
But Jax cuts him off. “I thought you were heading to Fallstown to start up there so I can go to Madoc’s party with my wife.”
Jared shoots him a look, and I dip my hands in the water basin, rinsing them off and drying them. “I’m fine,” I reply, gesturing to Codi. “We’re good here. I’ll be along soon. But thank you.”
“I’ll help,” Lucas says suddenly.
I look at him, his neck and chest shiny as he wipes off his face with his shirt.
We could finally be alone.
But just when I’m about to shrug my shoulders oh-so-nonchalantly and say “sure,” Farrow finally shows up.
“We got it,” he blusters.
He tosses Lucas a look as Noah follows, both of them stepping up to the booth.
Lucas’s brow furrows as disappointment hits me. Madoc pats him on the back. “I need you at the house anyway.”
I take my trays and walk away, hearing Madoc warn Farrow behind me. “Don’t touch my sister, or I’ll…annex Weston.”
“You can try.”
My family leaves, and Codi starts carrying things to his truck with Noah.
Lucas yanks on his shirt as he leaves with Madoc and the rest, and as soon as he looks back at me, I look away. He’ll be good and mad by the time I get to Madoc’s. Void of reason or control.
Noah stops at my side. “You know why I did that?”