Page 58 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

The corners of her soft pink lips lift a little. “I was trying to tell you that I really like you,” she admits. “And I wanted to show you by dressing up.”

She doesn’t think I see her. Or notice that she’s made an effort. Maybe it’s because she’s not used to the attention she deserves.

When she walked in, the locals and tourists were blown away by Becca, like always. But everyone saw Trin as pretty and sweet when she intended to be more, at least for me.

Tonight, she wants to be more than that cute young woman everyone gravitates to dance and laugh with. She wants to be seen as more than everyone’s pal. But to me, she’s already that, and more.

She smiles a little and glances down. “I wish I knew what you were thinking,” she says.

“Come here, and I’ll tell you,” I say, my voice gruff.

Her lips separate ever so slightly. She’s surprised and maybe a little nervous about what I have to say. Regardless, she leans forward when I do, meeting me halfway. My hand cups the back of her neck and my deep voice lowers to whisper in her ear. “Your hair’s shiny and you smell good. I like the skirt. But the way you look right now makes me want to rip it off you and yank your panties down with my teeth.”

I smash my lips against hers, slipping my tongue in briefly to play. Before I finish pulling away, I peg her with a look and grin that lets her know I intend to make good on my promise tonight.

Chapter Seventeen

Trinity

If I was wearing socks, Callahan would have knocked them right off with that kiss. But his words? Sweet baby Jesus in the manger playing with a rattle, considering how his tongue just made friends with mine, my mouth feels awfully dry.

He holds my stare and releases me slowly, but maybe it’s not slow enough. I slip off the stool and crash to the floor the moment he lets go. I hop up in the time it takes him to leap over the bar. Let’s just say there have been more graceful moments in my life.

He clasps my elbow to steady me. “You all right?”

“Oh yes, fine. Totally fine,” I say, slapping at my skirt like my butt doesn’t feel like it’s been spanked with a two by four.

He tilts his head and smirks. Yeah. He knows what he’s doing to me. I only wish I could do the same to him back.

“Callahan, think you could leave your girl and do your job?” Lindsey barks.

“I gotta go,” he says quietly, reaching down to play with my hair.

“All right,” I tell him, wishing I didn’t have to stop looking at those pretty eyes.

The strands of my hair slip through his fingers as he walks away, passing Lindsey without bothering to acknowledge her. It’s a sweet gesture meant to assure me, but I have to say, I’m really starting to dislike that girl.

For the most part, I’ve done my best to ignore her, the other waitresses? and every other woman who struts in here seeking Callahan’s attention. And considering how many there’s been, I think I’ve done all right. Yet for all I think Lindsey is trashy, I can’t deny that she’s pretty?beautiful even. Aside from Becca, she’s probably the most stunning person here.

I can’t say I don’t see her as competition because I do. She wants Callahan, and even though he doesn’t seem to want her, he didn’t want me either. At least not at first.

Becca hurries to my side when she catches me heading toward our table. “What happened?” she whispers. “You were supposed to go for sensual and smooth. Not Bridget Jones meets Aquaman, or whatever the fuck works here.”

I grin, keeping my voice to a murmur. “He told me he wants to pull my panties off with his teeth.”

This time Becca’s the one stumbling. She laughs as I right her and throws her arm around me. “Trin. Holy shit!”

“Iknow. Why do think I fell off the stool?”

“Okay. You’re forgiven.” She leads me away from our group and to the end of the deck. Almost in perfect sync, we lean our arms on the banister and pretend to look at the beach. “So you’re going home with him, right?”

“I want to,” I admit.

She tilts her head. “So what’s wrong? You scared?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“Why? It’s not your first time,” she reminds me. “And you were so willing last night.”

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