Page 5 of Love is Grand

“I’m just trying to live my life, not get in my head, you know? Be there for Weez and manage some self-care.”

Rylan squeezed my hand. “I got you. I was alone for a long time and liked it. Eventually, you’ll find peace.”

I nodded, trying not to blurt out that I’d already had one night of really hot sex with her boyfriend’s brother.

“What can I get you to drink?” Rylan’s question knocked me out of my naughty reverie. Rolling her eyes, she added, “Adam has Ben behind the bar. Offered him gobs of money.”

“Well, that way you can have fun, Ry. You deserve a night off. I know for a fact you can’t stay out of the bar area when you’re at the hotel.”

Tugging on my arm, she guided me toward the party. “Teddi should keep her mouth shut.”

We walked through the foyer with Rylan’s arm linked with mine until we got to the great room at the back of the house.

Like most people who lived and worked on the island, I knew the house used to be a pricey rental for expensive bachelor parties and family vacations. Adam bought it when planning to make his grand gesture and change his whole life for Rylan.

Now they both lived there, going back and forth to the United States for Adam’s work and seeing his family. Except, his family was here now. Standing next to Adam was his brother, Cal, who was a little shorter, his skin lighter than Adam’s olive.

Cal was no less attractive, though. With his own fair hair trimmed and wearing a gray polo, he stood with a drink in hand while talking with Adam. All I knew was the brothers were born as triplets but had lost their sister to tragedy.

“Hey, Shell, come on, let’s get you a drink,” Rylan said, oblivious to my foggy state.

Now standing in front of the bar area at the back end of the house, alongside the expansive windows, open to let the salt air flow in and out, I was only aware of Cal to the right of the bar.

“Hi, Ben,” I said to Rylan’s friend and coworker from the Grand Escape resort. He also loved Island Coffee and popped in regularly. We might have our secrets here on the island, but we all knew one another.

“Hey, Shell, you look great.”

As Ben greeted me, the tiny hairs on the nape of my neck stood at attention. I sensed Cal’s gaze land on me, and my body heated to what felt like two hundred degrees.

With my cheeks burning, I cleared my throat, attempting to play it cool. “Thanks, Ben. What are you mixing up?”

I knew Rylan, and there was no way she didn’t come up with the menu herself—including the cocktails—to be sure the concoctions and combinations were perfect.

“Mojitos,” he said, seemingly not noticing the man staring at me from the side of us.

I allowed myself a millisecond to glance at Cal before quickly turning back toward the bar. He’d been standing there, not even pretending to look at his brother, who was talking. Cal’s eyes were fully focused on me. I knew they’d be the color of rich caramel, warm and melty, beckoning me to dive in and get stuck.

“Here you go.” Ben slid a drink in front of me, and I wanted to chug it.

Instead, I took a sip, allowing the fresh lime-infused liquid to cool my throat, waiting for it to reach my belly and quench the fire raging there.

“Oh, I have to go check on the food.” Rylan slipped away, the stacked bracelets on her arm tinkling as she hurried toward the kitchen.

Now that we were alone, Ben leaned over the bar and lowered his voice. “You doing okay?”

Like I said, everyone was mad at Ricky.

I nodded. “Yeah, it’s nice to be out,” I lied. The truth was, I wanted to run back home and put on my jammies.

“That’s good. Hey, if you ever want to hang—” Ben didn’t get the chance to finish because a deep voice interrupted.

“Shell.” Cal said my name as if he owned it, his tone oozing with control and a hint of step the hell back directed toward Ben.

This was crazy. Cal and I had had one awkward moment outside a jewelry store and a few days of adventuring on the island. Of course, there was the one night. The best night of my life.

I had to bite back a smile that Cal had no idea that Ben was gay.

“How are you?” Cal’s hand came to rest on top of mine, his palm burning through my hand on top of the bar. If Ben noticed the sexual tension, he didn’t let on. He was busy helping a few guys line up shots.

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