Page 69 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

The sun glistens off Oakley’s wavy brown hair as she lunges for the book again. I dodge her, laughing and holding it just out of her reach. Her eyes flash with determination, her green gaze locked on the object of her desire.

“Gray, come on,” she pleads, feigning annoyance. “Give it back!”

“Make me!” I challenge her, my heart racing with excitement. A mischievous grin spreads across Oakley’s lips, and she bolts after me, her laughter ringing through the air.

“Fine! You asked for it!” she shouts, and we’re off, sprinting down the beach like two kids playing tag. The sand sticks to our damp skin, but neither of us care. We’re both too caught up in the thrill of the chase, the wind whipping through our hair as we dart along the shoreline.

“Having trouble catching up?” I call over my shoulder, teasing her as I maintain a steady lead. She huffs loudly, narrowing her eyes at me.

“Keep talking, Archer,” she warns, her spicy sass fueling her determination. “I’ll have that book in no time.”

“Promise?” I taunt, pushing myself to go faster. I can hear her panting behind me, but she refuses to give up. It’s oneof the things I admire most about Oakley—her unwavering persistence.

I can’t help but feel a thrill run through me as Oakley finally catches up. She’s panting and glaring at me, but there’s laughter dancing in her bright green eyes. It’s a sight that steals my breath away.

“Gotcha!” she exclaims, reaching out to snatch the book from my grasp. But instead of letting her take it, I pull her close, our bodies flush against each other. The warmth of her skin is electric, sending shivers down my spine.

“Gray!” she gasps, her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath. I can feel her heartbeat quickening, matching my own. “Give it back!”

“Alright, alright,” I concede with a grin, tossing the book onto the sand beside us. Her gaze follows its path, a hint of concern flickering across her face. “Come on, let’s go for a swim.”

Oakley hesitates, biting her lip as she glances toward the water. “I don’t know, Gray. What if people are watching?”

“Who cares?” I ask, brushing a stray strand of her wavy brown hair behind her ear. “Let them watch. You’re too beautiful not to be admired, Oakley.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere,” she retorts, though a blush creeps across her cheeks. “Fine, but only because I need to cool off after chasing you.”

“Hey, Oakley,” Reid says, slipping an arm around her waist and sandwiching her between us.

“Reid!” she exclaims, feigning annoyance, though I can tell she’s secretly pleased by his playful gesture. Her green eyes flash witha mixture of amusement and uncertainty as she glances between us. “You two are ganging up on me now?”

“Absolutely,” I reply with a wink, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You know we’d never let anything happen to you, right?”

“Besides,” Reid adds, his voice laced with charm, “if anyone is going to be watched, it’ll be us. We’re irresistible, after all.”

“Speak for yourself, playboy,” Oakley teases, but I can see her resolve weakening. She looks out at the ocean, biting her lip as she considers our words.

A mischievous gleam sparkles in Oakley’s eyes as she suddenly breaks free from our grip. “You know what?” she asks, her voice filled with determination. “I challenge you both to a race. Whoever makes it to the water first wins.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I tease, my heart pounding with excitement at the prospect of this playful competition.

“Absolutely,” she retorts, her green eyes daring us to underestimate her. “In fact, I’ll give you guys a head start.”

“Confident, aren’t we?” Reid smirks, his gaze locked on Oakley with admiration.

“Damn right,” she replies, taking a few steps back and crouching into a runner’s stance. “Three, two, one…go!”

Oakley darts toward the water like a gazelle, her long legs carrying her quickly across the sand. I exchange a glance with Reid and we take off after her, our laughter mingling with the sound of crashing waves.

37

OAKLEY

Ismile as Gray and Reid splash each other playfully, their laughter filling the air like a melodious song. It feels good to let loose with them, letting the salty ocean wash away all our troubles, even if just for a moment.

“Hey, watch it!” I squeal as cold droplets hit my face, courtesy of Reid’s playful attack. My heart swells with joy as I splash him back, feeling like a kid again. Even though the mess we’ve found ourselves in makes adulthood feel impossible to escape, today we’re free.

“Oakley, you asked for it!” Gray grins, joining forces with Reid as they proceed to drench me thoroughly. As we all laugh uncontrollably, I notice Theo standing at the edge of the water, watching us with a bemused expression.

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