Page 114 of Free to Fall

“What’s wrong with that?” he wonders, truly bewildered.

My cousins laugh at him. Grace flings a towel in his direction, which he easily catches. “Come on, Gracie. Like you expected something different?”

“Nope. We know everything about you,” Grace taunts.

“To your detriment,” Kalie adds.

The three of them snicker before I wonder aloud, “What do I get when I kick his ass again?”

Peter brings my hand to his lips in a courtly manner. I wonder if Colby or his illustrious grandfather, a former US senator, taught him. “A perfectly cooked meal crafted by yours truly.”

Kalie snarks, “In other words, same shit, different visit.”

Peter doesn’t try to rein in his amusement at Kalie’s remark. The sound of it causes a trio of women to whip their heads around from where they’re lying ten yards away.

Kalie shouts, “He’s already got a harem today, ladies. Go scout out some other celebrity.”

One of them, a buxom blonde in a barely there string bikini, flicks Kalie off.

“Christ. I missed you three.” Peter’s amusement is evident.

She rolls her eyes. “Like I said on the flight out here, it would be more embarrassing for Pete if we showed up.”

His voice turns fierce. “Never embarrassing, Kay. Family first. You know that.”

Peter speaks no less than the truth. Every time we visit him or when he manages a trip back home amid his hectic filming schedule, it is the same—family becomes the center of his world. He relishes our tribe the same way we do. Certain traditions must be upheld, including—inevitably—Peter challenging me in a knife-off. Every time I remind him, I honed my professional skills on mammals with still-beating hearts. Peter’s competitive edge and his distinct lack of ego with those he loves make the exhibition a riot for all the family.

However, this time, it’s different. The simple pleasure of being with people who would do anything to ensure I don’t backslide after this most recent attack causes tears to slide down my cheeks.

Peter reaches over and brushes them away. “None of this. What happened isn’t worth any more of your tears.”

I sniffle but don’t correct him. No, but the fact I fell in love with a man who would savage me in such a way is, my broken heart counters. Instead of saying the words aloud, I reach up to grab hold of his fingers.

He flips his hand around in my grip, lacing our fingers together. “I have a surprise for you. It should be here soon.”

“Ugh. Tell me you didn’t arrange a party tonight,” I groan. The last thing I want is some Hollywood shindig that will be reported in all the tabloids.

“Of sorts.” Peter’s voice is completely unapologetic.

“And you invited them for dinner? Family dinner?”

“I actually asked if they wanted to stay with us for as long as you’re here.” He relaxes back in his chair after dropping that bomb.

Grace’s head pops up like a prairie dog coming out of its burrow. “Are you dating someone? Is it possible we’re getting a scoop before TMZ?”

Peter’s face whitens beneath his tan. “No, Gracie. Hell, no.”

“No to the scoop or no to the dating?” she challenges. Even Kalie raises her head, interested in what’s unfolding.

“So, if it’s not a woman, would you consider them a friend?” I question. Despite my lack of interest in anything, I’ll help Kalie and Grace. After all, they set aside their lives to resurrect me in the last two weeks. The least I can do is pretend I give a damn.

“You know me, Pete. Bring over all your hot banging-eligible friends.” Kalie fans herself.

“Pretty certain you can’t call a cousin ‘banging-eligible,’ Kalie,” comes a voice from behind us.

Peter relaxes against our lounger as I leap from beside him to race across the sand and jump into my twin’s arms. He rocks me back and forth even as tears I swore to Kalie and Grace I’d stop shedding the second we stepped off the jet in San Diego drip beneath my sunglasses. “What are you doing here?”

He snorts. “Because the East Coast is such a fun place to be right now?”

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