Page 49 of Changing Tides

I sigh.

“Exactly,” she says with a laugh as Minnow drops the damp tee in between us, does a few circles, and then snuggles in on top of it. “Even the puppy thinks he’s delicious,” she says as she reaches down and scratches his ear.

I groan. “I really need to stop,” I mutter as I throw my head back down to the towel and cover my face with my forearm.

“You know, I caught him in the garden, having a tea party with Leia the other day. It was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.”

“What? When?” I ask.

“When you were lunching with the turtle lady. One minute, she was playing by herself, and the next, I heard her chatting away with someone, so I peered through the window, and there he was, wearing a pair of wings and sipping from a tiny little cup.”

“That’s …”

“Iknow. All that preciousness from the man who gave you the best night of your life,” she muses.

“That’s a bit of a stretch,” I mumble.

“Okay, but it was definitely in your top two,” she states.

“I’ll give you that,” I agree.

“You know, I think I might take Anson for a spin.”

“What?” I gasp as my head snaps to her.

She rolls over onto her stomach and lays her head on her folded arms, facing me. “He’s cute, right?”

“I guess so, but what about the guys you’ve been dating from the app?” I ask.

“Dating is a bit of a stretch. I’m not marrying anyone. I just figure if you can have a hot island hookup, so can I.”

“No one is hooking up,” I stress.

She grins. “Not yet,” she muses.

“Not ever,” I insist.

“I give you another week before you cave,” she quips.

“Cave to what exactly?”

“His charm. You’ve piqued his interest, but he’s being cautious. As soon as he decides to dial it up a notch, you’re a goner,” she says.

“Are you saying I have no willpower?”

She smirks. “You have the willpower of steel. You’ve had exactly two lovers your entire life. Which is mind-blowing. What I’m saying is, that man is sex on a stick, and you’re already hot for him. So, why not indulge? Again.”

“You’re incorrigible,” I accuse.

“Guilty as charged. I plan toencouragethe hell out of you.”

I just shake my head as I close my eyes.

Poor Anson has no idea what’s coming for him.

Sebastian

As I kneel by the water’s edge, I watch the sunlight dance on the rippling surface, casting a golden hue over the tranquil ocean. Leia is standing beside me, her wide eyes full of wonder. It’s a privilege to teach the art of fishing to such an eager pupil.

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