Page 69 of The Love Shack

Laughing even more, Lark leaned into Oliver, hugging his upper arm and batting her eyelashes. “Will you be my hero, too?”

He blinked at that. “Of course.”

That even got Berkley laughing.

Lawson was not amused. “Go play caveman with Lark. If Berkley needs anything, I’ll be her caveman.”

All eyes turned to her, making Berkley grin.

“You’re not insulted?” Oliver asked. “Because I didn’t mean it that way.”

“He’s just an old-fashioned guy,” Lark said, sighing as if she liked it.

Shaking her head, Berkley followed Lark’s lead and leaned into Lawson. “Honestly, it feels amazing to have friends.” She glanced around the table at each of them. “Thank you.”

Dinner on the beach turned out to be a better idea. Lawson was feeling so damned territorial, which was unheard-of from him, that if he got her alone right now, he’d probably end up rushing things. Plus, Berkley was shaken. He saw it whether she admitted it or not. The fresh air, he hoped, would help her to relax.

“The sunset is amazing.”

He’d been so lost in thought, her small hand in his as they walked along, that he hadn’t noticed. “Pretty.”

“I like how the orange sunlight reflects on the water, except closest to shore where it looks deep blue. It’s like a painting.”

He couldn’t talk about the sky when he had other things on his mind. “I don’t want you worrying about Chad.”

“I’m not, or at least, not as much as I had been.”

“What Oliver said...”

“I’m curious about his backstory now. What do you want to bet he’s an older brother or something like that? He seems really protective.”

Unable to bear it, Lawson stopped. He set down the bag of food he carried and turned Berkley to face him. “I’m protective, at least when it comes to you.” Kissing felt like the right move, but even if it hadn’t, he needed to taste her again.

With them out on the beach, even though they weren’t near others on the shoreline, he was careful not to take it too far. Cupping her face in his hands, he fit his mouth gently to hers, slow and easy, and still his heart kicked against his ribs. He wanted her, but what she wanted mattered the most. “If you need anything—”

“What I need, you’re already giving me.” Here, with the setting sun behind her, her blue eyes looked dark, but not in any way distressed. “Not to put you on the spot, but around you I feel like a different person. A better person.”

He kissed her again, because damn it, she’d always been a good person. That business with Durkinson hadn’t changed anything. “Listen to me, Berkley. I remember that girl from years ago.” Sunlight in her colored hair drew his fingers, so he stroked his hand over her head, then cupped the back of her neck. “She was shy and quiet, but good-hearted. Loyal to her ailing mother and a little aging dog. Kind despite the violence all around us. You’re still you, just a little older and more mature, and even more beautiful.”

Her self-conscious smile made him want to hold her close, but instead he picked up the food, careful not to spill their drinks, and took her hand again. As they walked on, he said, “I’m glad you had your mom as long as you did. I think she must have been a really terrific person, for you to be who you are now.”

“We were really close.” After a minute, Berkley asked, “What about your mom? What kind of person was she?”

The kind he didn’t want to talk about.

But that wasn’t fair to Berkley. Multiple times now, she’d opened up to share about her past. Each time he’d known it was difficult for her, yet she’d done it. She’d taken those strides, so how could he do any less? Sure, he’d hinted a few times—all in an effort to get her to talk. He could easily discuss the past in the abstract, as a thing that had happened but was no more. But discussing the day-to-day grind of it... That was what it had been for him. A grind. A struggle to survive. He’d managed in the only way he knew how: by separating himself from it, physically when possible, emotionally all the time.

Overall, it had worked, and at the same time, it had left him feeling completely alone in the world.

While he weighed how much to share, they chose a quiet spot on the beach, away from the waves but with the sunset still in view. He spread out the jacket he’d brought from his truck. “That should protect your dress from the sand.” His jeans would be fine either way.

“Thanks. It’s been so long since I wore a dress, I hadn’t considered that.”

“I’m glad you did.” She looked amazing. His only problem was that he couldn’t stop thinking about getting his hands under the dress. Shoving his fingers through his hair, he looked out at the lake and said gruffly, “You have gorgeous legs.”

Making light of the compliment, she replied, “They’re strong, and they get me where I’m going.”

The second she’d finished arranging herself, kicking her sandals off her small feet and crossing her legs at the ankles, he dropped down beside her. He dug out their drinks and handed one to her with a straw. “These will melt soon.”

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