Page 23 of Dirty Dancer

Was that the last time we’d come up here? Doc had an excellent idea, definitely time to change that. The sun was gradually descending in the distance, when it was down, the lighthouse would raise it’s own glow and the restaurant overlooked the rocky shore below as well as the turbulent waters from the channel.

Across that channel on its own rocky outcropping was the lighthouse. We’d actually made it out there once with a paddle boat. Insane didn’t begin to cover it, but we’d all been what? Fifteen?

Maybe sixteen at the most.

It was the same year we’d also taken those jobs at the resort. No risk was too big to take and no dare too insane to try. The more I thought about those days, the more I considered that I should probably cut Theo a break.

The lot wasn’t full, which was fine. It wasn’t even five yet so barely even happy hour. I was fine with a quiet beer, some food, and excellent view. I slid into a spot right next to Doc’s and climbed out.

He led the way up the steps to the front of the building. It was a combination of coastal New England charm and Victorian aesthetics, but that was just the facade. The interior was almost cozy despite the upscale nature of the place.

Doc pulled the door open and waved me inside. I didn’t even make it three feet before a shout of “surprise” went up and there were so many familiar faces from Milo and Lainey to Jasper and Theo—so much for their run—to Freddie, Vaughn, Rome, and Liam. Where was…

Before I even finished forming the question she was skipping across the open space and I caught her as she threw herself at me.

“Happy Birthday, Kel!”

CHAPTER 10

EMERSYN

The party had lasted well into the night, the pure surprise on Kellan’s face when he arrived at the restaurant had been worth all the secrecy that involved us returning to town in time for the surprise party. Mickey had waited until we said we were there before he went to get Kellan.

“Hey,” Kellan said, his voice low and husky with sleep as he snaked an arm around my middle and pulled me back to him.

It had been late when we got back to the Clubhouse and we’d celebrated until I was yawning so hard I couldn’t see straight. Then Kellan scooped me up and said, birthday privilege and off we went to his room. Curling up with him wrapped around me had been—divine. I’d missed them so much.

“Where are you going?” He nuzzled a kiss to my throat as he tugged me back into him.

“I need to pee,” I told him, a yawn smothering my laughter even as he snuggled me closer.

“It can wait.” The sleepy notes in his voice were endearing, even more, the hint of plaintiveness.

“I wish it could,” I whispered, stroking his forearm. “I will come right back, I promise.”

Another butterfly light kiss to my throat and a huffing complaint. “Hmm…” Then he lifted his head and seemed to be squinting toward his door. “Right, I locked it. Okay. Off you go, pee and come right back.”

He delivered the last line with a swat to my ass and I couldn’t help the giggles that escaped as I rolled off the bed. Kellan was always so in control, so calm, and direct. The demanding petulance was refreshingly sweet.

I hurried into the bathroom, peed, then washed my hands and face before I brushed my teeth real quick. Then grabbed a glass of water to take back out with me. Kellan lay on his back, one arm behind his head like a pillow. The drape of the sheet did nothing to hide his morning wood.

He was shirtless, but I was also wearing one of his shirts and I hadn’t bothered with panties when we got back in here last night. As it was, I enjoyed the way he studied me through half-lowered lids.

“You’re too far away, Sparrow,” he said in a voice still rough from sleep and maybe from laughter. The night before had been amazing. Liam arranged for us to have the whole restaurant to ourselves.

Lainey and Milo had been there. Ezra and Adam showed up a little later, and the only one who hadn’t made it was Bodhi, but Lainey said he was with his brother. Andrea had tagged along and that had made Theo happy. They’d been thick as thieves all night until Andrea had to leave.

“I’ve missed you,” I told him, abandoning the bathroom door to cross to the bed with the glass in hand. I walked up onto the bed on my knees and made my way up to him.

He dropped a hand to my hip as I straddled his hips before I took another drink of the glass of water before I offered it to him. He pushed up and took it before downing a long drink. Then the glass went to the nightstand and his gaze came back to me.

“I missed you too,” he said, tracing his fingers down my cheek. “Seeing you in Prague was almost too much and not enough.”

It had been wonderful to see him there, despite the reasons that had taken us there. “Agreed,” I said, sighing as I leaned my cheek into his hand. “I wanted to spend more time with you… with all of you. There was so much going on and then we were leaving and there was Theo…”

Theo added so much more of a new wrinkle to everything.

“Have I said thank you about him yet?” I covered his hand on my cheek as I gazed into his blue eyes. Even in the dim lighting, it felt like his eyes glowed. Then again, I’d memorized everything about him over the past few years. Everything about all of them.

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