Page 66 of Harmless Scandals

“Ours.”

He smiled and nodded. “Ours. They were there all the time.”

“Dad was gone a lot.”

His father had been a Green Beret, and he'd been deployed.

“Yeah, but they were there. And even if something happened to him, you knew your mother was going to be there for you. I never had that.”

“And now you are a cynical bastard.”

“Yeah, but there's something else. I've had to learn how to go with the flow more than you.”

“You plan every damned minute of the day.”

“No. I do not. I would not have ended up at Serenity's house last week. Completely unplanned. I plan, because it gives me comfort. Still, there is always a part of me that thinks it could all be blown to smithereens at any moment.”

“You're all right with that?”

“No, but I know how to deal with it. Someone's been pulling the rug out from beneath my feet since birth. You, on the other hand, are a whiney ass titty baby, who had been treated like a prince for most of your life.”

Laughter filled his voice, pulling a smile from Mick.

“Okay, yeah, I was a bit of a Mama's boy.”

“I was thinking that maybe we should play tourist today.”

“Sure, what do you have in mind?”

“Maybe some time at the beach. Get some shaved ice.”

“We haven't been to Waikiki in a while.”

“Oh, yeah. Lalani Coffee house for some pancakes, then beach time?”

Mick nodded. “Wanna ask Serenity?”

He nodded. “I think that's an excellent idea.”

Serenity dug her toes into the sand and sighed. It was just after eleven. Her belly was filled with pineapple pancakes and coconut syrup. There was a gentle trade wind keeping her cool, and the sun felt good on her flesh.

Oh, yeah, and she was with the two hottest guys on the beach.

“I can't remember the last time I came down here for a day of just sitting on the beach,” she said.

“What are you usually doing?” Mick asked.

“Taking pics. I rarely miss an opportunity to work.”

“That's a shame. You live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. You need to make sure to enjoy it,” Adam said.

She knew he was right, and she did have some breathing room. With her online sales doing well, along with her possible book deal, she felt secure with her income. Granted, she still had money from her acting days, but she was careful with it.

“You're right. I tend to worry about missing something, but it is pretty near perfect almost three hundred and sixty-five days a year.”

She picked up her sunscreen, but Mick took it out of her hands.

“Let me.”

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