Page 12 of Hot Water

“I am never visiting your family’s house, Sinclair Midnight,” I hiss. “Ever.”

“So, let me get this straight. You’ll dive into the ocean to rescue someone without a second thought, but you’re afraid of ghosts?”

“Yes,” I say primly. “Everyone with any sense is afraid of ghosts, Sinclair.”

He throws his head back, laughing loudly. “Fuck, you’re adorable.”

“No, you’re just crazy. You’ve spent far too much time in your Halloween town and your haunted mansion. Your sense of reality is seriously skewed.” I take a big bite of my chicken, effectively ending the conversation… only to choke when a man who looks far too much like Sinclair comes striding across the outdoor restaurant toward us.

Sinclair reaches across the table, grabbing my glass. “Take a drink, mermaid,” he croons. “You’re okay. You’re breathing.”

I cough and splutter. “B-brother,” I finally gasp. But by that point, there’s no point. His brother is already standing beside the table, smirking at us.

“I thought that was you,” he says, staring at his brother.

“Sullivan,” Sinclair says with a heavy sigh.

Sullivan glances at me. “You’re the one who saved him today.”

I nod, wiping my eyes. “You’re the one who was sleeping on the beach. Would you like to join us?”

Sinclair scowls.

I kick him under the table.

“Ow!” he mutters.

“Oops.” I bat my lashes at him. “My foot slipped.”

“I like her,” Sullivan mutters to his brother, not buying my crap.

I beam at him.

“I actually have something to do, so I can’t,” he says.

“Are you sure? I bet you have all kinds of embarrassing things you can tell me about your brother that I can use against him later,” I say, trying to sweeten the deal. He and his brother came here together. I feel bad for dragging Sinclair away and hogging him all to myself.

“No, he doesn’t. There are no embarrassing stories,” Sinclair says, eyes narrowed on his brother. “What do you have to do?”

“Oh, I have all kinds of stories, sweetheart.” Sullivan grins, his eyes lighting up. “And that’s not your business, fucker. It’s mine.” He looks back at me. “Raincheck on the humiliation?”

“Definitely.”

“There will be no humiliation,” Sinclair growls, glaring at Sullivan, who just laughs evilly and waggles his brows.

“Toodles, fucker.”

“Where are you going?”

“My business, not yours!” He flips Sinclair off discreetly and then waves at me. “Seriously, Sin, don’t fuck it up. I like her!” he calls before disappearing into the crowd.

Sinclair stares after him, clearly flustered, which makes me laugh. Sullivan is definitely the youngest brother, and Sinclair is obviously the oldest. They remind me of me and my sisters. I antagonize Coraline, my oldest sister, in the same way.

“You’re going to give me nine kinds of hell, aren’t you, mermaid?” Sinclair asks, slowly turning to look at me, his blue eyes dark and heated.

“Yep,” I say happily, leaning back in my chair to smirk at him. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to pick up strangers on vacation, Sinclair? You never know what you’re going to get.”

He stares at me levelly for a long moment and then shakes his head. “Are you done eating, Amelia?”

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