Page 67 of Promise Me Never

Amber’s head falls back as she laughs. “Classic Eli.”

“I couldn’t even use the word dignity in a sentence while I was drunk,” Sam says.

“You couldn’t use it correctly sober, either,” Janey jests.

Everyone at the table watches them banter back and forth, Janey becoming annoyed, and Sam enjoying it more and more. It’s fascinating to watch, but she eventually gets up and starts gathering the dishes. Sam watches her go, and Luke watches him watch her.

Amber and I carry what we can into the kitchen. Since the guys cooked dinner, we’ll do the dishes. Colt said he’d start a fire in the fire pit, and we could do some evening swimming instead of going out. We’ve picked the hike for tomorrow, and it seems like it could be an all-day thing, so we all decided to rest up tonight.

* * *

The guys are all lined up at the edge of the pool as Amber and I walk out onto the patio and drop our towels on the chairs. They all acknowledge us with a lift of their bottles but go back to their conversation. Amber dips a toe in the pool and shakes her head.

“I’m getting in the hot tub.” She walks past me, perfectly confident in her bright pink, barely there bikini. I’d love to possess an ounce of her confidence.

I dip my toe in the pool and immediately see why she chose that. It’s chilly, especially with the breeze in the cool, night air. “Same.”

“Where’s Blue?” Sam asks, swimming over from the infinity edge toward us.

“She said she was tired,” Amber says.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure she went to bed early.”

He looks up at the house; disappointment flickers briefly in his gaze before he flashes one of his usual smiles and goes back to the boys. Amber and I look at each other immediately, both noticing.

“What do you think that’s about?” she asks.

“They have history.”

She nods, putting the pieces together. “That explains the tension in their banter.”

“Exactly.”

I’m surprised that Luke seems pretty oblivious to it. He is always so attuned to me and honestly to everyone around him. Quick to read the room and even faster to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“What’s Colt’s story?” Amber looks up at the back of the house. “How did he end up with a house in one of the most exclusive ski towns in the country?”

“He’s one of the heirs to Carson Oil Enterprises.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen. “Wow. Finding myself alongside another nepo baby wasn’t expected this weekend. He seems pretty normal.”

“So you do,” I tell her with a laugh.

“Well, don’t tell me that Sam is the heir to a gun manufacturer. The trifecta of corporate evil would be too much.”

“Nope, from what I understand he grew up in High Point. Colt did too, for that matter.”

“Maybe that’s why he seems normal.”

“Who seems normal?” Colt asks as he lifts himself over the side of the pool and into the hot tub.

“You. She asked about how you came to be the owner of this place.”

“Yeah?” His eyes darken with uncertainty as he looks back and forth between us. “And?”

“My dad runs a venture capital firm. Biggest in California but still not a household name. Don’t worry about my opinion.” She quickly dismisses any worry he might have had, either about her judging him from being wealthy, or for perhaps targeting him for money.

Luke lifts himself over the wall next, and Colt’s shoulders relax at the opportunity to change the subject. I deliberately don’t look over at Luke, knowing I’d probably start drooling at the sight of his sexy body nearly naked.

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