Page 45 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

“When I asked you if what was happening was normal, I didn’t mean what you thought I meant. I was speaking of what’s going on between us.” She sighs. “It’s hard to describe?and maybe it’s too soon to tell you. But what I feel when I’m with you, I’ve never felt with anyone else.” Her voice is so quiet it seems to drift away. “I just wanted you to know that. It’s one of the reasons I was so scared when you touched me.”

I don’t respond, keeping my jaw closed tight. Mostly because I feel exactly the same way, and because it scares the hell out of me, too.

Chapter Thirteen

Trinity

Callahan kisses me again. It’s so sweet. No,he’sso sweet. And even though I want to know what he’s thinking, I don’t ask, choosing instead to melt into this kiss.

The door swings open and good ol’ Sean walks through—like I’m not making out half-naked with Callahan.

“Oh,shit,” he says.

Callahan clutches me to him, trying to shield me, as he covers my back with that small throw.

“Sean. What are you doing here?’ I ask, fumbling with the blanket and trying to gather it around me.

“I found these,” he says, tossing me my clothes. “I wasn’t sure what happened to you and ran back here to call for help.” He smirks. “But looks to me you have all the help you need.”

“I told him to call from my place,” Callahan admits. He rubs his jaw, pausing when Sean makes no effort to leave. “Sean, now that you know Trin’s safe, how about you head back to the bar?”

Sean laughs like the thought hadn’t even occurred to him. “Sure. I can do that.” He starts to leave, but then adds, “By the way. Nice rack, Trin. They ain’t so tiny, after all.”

“Get out of here, Sean!” I yell. By then he’s already out in the back, but that doesn’t mean I still can’t hear him crack up.

Callahan’s light touch lures my attention back to him. “Is it wrong that I’m glad he hadn’t seen these until now?” he asks, passing his hands over my breasts.

I watch the way his fingertips trace along my small curves. “It’s not like that with him, or Mason, or Hale. We’ve been friends forever and nothing more.”

“I wasn’t sure,” he says. “I know you’re a tight bunch.”

“We are, and I’d do anything for them. But they’re my brothers, and I’m the little sister they’ve always watched out for.”

I enjoy the quiet between us and the way Callahan continues to play before he finally drops his hands away. “I have to head back. I left Mason covering my side of the bar.”

My eyebrows lift to the ceiling. “You left Mason in charge? That boy can’t do more than pour beer.”

He laughs. “Yeah, he mentioned that.”

I start to rise, both of us laughing when we realize we’re a little stuck. “I’d better get cleaned up.”

“Me, too,” I agree.

Callahan appears with a new shirt and a pair of jeans moments later, stopping when he sees me dressed. “Thank Christ. I was worried you were going back out in your underwear.”

I glance at our linked hands as he leads me out. “Now, why would I go and do a thing like that?”

We step onto the sand and follow the path out to the beach. “You’re acting like I didn’t catch you skinny-dipping,” he tells me, that testiness returning to his tone.

“I wasn’t skinny dipping. It was dark, and my panties and bra are black. Anyone who saw me probably mistook it for a bikini.”

“No, they didn’t,” he mutters. “What you were wearing isn’t anything close to what decent folk wear swimming.”

“You calling me indecent?”

“Yup,” he answers.

The couple I passed on my walk stroll by. I was alone then. I’m not now and it feels amazing. “So you’re saying I shouldn’t wear things like lacy panties and bras in front of you?”

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