Page 57 of Perfectly Wedded

When I bought the suit, Jaz told me it brought out all my best features. Judging by the way his eyes flare, he agrees.

I clear my throat. “Ready?” I say, pretending I’m confident in this suit, even if standing next to his muscular frame makes me feel soft and curvy.

“Yes,” he says averting his eyes, before they flick to my face. “What I said before stands.”

“What?” I say, putting on a life vest.

“Last night on our picnic, you were comparing yourself to those other girls on the beach.” His eyes hold mine. “They’ve got nothing on you.”

He straddles the Jet Ski as a fiery warmth spreads through me.

“Hop on,” he says, patting the seat.

I climb onto the Jet Ski behind him, but the seat is so small, I’m practically forced to spoon him. He smells incredible, a mix of cinnamon and coffee that makes it hard to focus on anything else.

“Before we go, let’s take a picture. Lean into each other,” Jaz instructs, even though I’m practically on Vale’s back. “Can you at least look like you’re married?”

“What?” I ask, frowning.

“Your hands are so awkward,” she notes.

“Oh, sorry,” I say, realizing I’ve been hiding them. I wrap them around his waist. Since Vale hasn’t put on his life vest yet, my fingers brush over the tight cut of his abs. Without hesitating, he places a hand on my knee. His touch sends energy spiralingthrough me, making me wish I could be this close to him all the time. I love the feel of his body next to mine, how solid he is, like nothing could ever hurt me. I steal a quick look at him, and he flashes me this adorable grin that sets my insides on fire.

“Your sister is going to be doing this all day, isn’t she?” he mutters under his breath.

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“Well,whatever it takes, right?” Vale reminds me, squeezing my knee.

If he keeps touching me like that, I don’t know how I’m going to survive today.

“Race you there?” Brax asks as Jaz climbs on.

Vale slides on his life vest. “Sure, as long as you...” Before he can finish, Brax takes off, a plume of water shooting behind their Jet Ski. “...don’t cheat,” Vale growls in disgust.

We bolt ahead like a rocket, and I have to grip his waist for dear life to keep from falling off.

Vale tails his brother, but Brax is intent to keep the lead, cutting us off and throwing his head back in laughter.

My body tenses, my arms burn. Vale glances over his shoulder, noticing my struggle to hold on, and slows down, keeping a steady pace behind Brax. I can tell he’d love to pull off some daredevil move, but he holds back for my sake, losing the bet.

We reach the snorkeling beach after them, and Brax has the audacity to pump his fist in victory.

“Why were you driving like a grandma?” Brax teases when we cut the engines.

“He did it for me,” I answer, then give Vale a grateful look.

“Next race, I’ll let you go first, but you’ll still lose,” Brax says, then jumps into the water. When he surfaces, he drags his hand through his soaking wet hair. “Water feels fantastic. Who’s snorkeled before?”

“I haven’t,” Jaz says. “And I can’t wait for you to teach me.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, princess,” Brax says, kissing her lips as he lifts her off the Jet Ski like sheweighs nothing.

She slides her body into his arms and their kissing continues in the water, arms and legs wrapped around each other, while we stare at everything but them.

Vale fiddles with something on the Jet Ski as I decide whether to jump ship or wait on Vale’s help.

Compared to them, we look like two middle schoolers at their first dance—awkward and ready to go home.

---