Page 22 of Toy Boy

“Are you here on your own?”

I indicate the half-eaten burger and almost-finished gin and tonic next to my own empty plate. “My sister’s just taking a phone call.”

“Oh, okay. I won’t disturb you, then. I just thought I’d come over and say hello.”

“Hello.” I smile back at him, and he laughs, briefly dropping his gaze. “Sit down. Please.”

“You sure? Won’t your sister mind?” he asks, his eyes meeting mine, and I ignore the slight, but not completely unwelcome, jolt in the pit of my stomach.

“Oh, believe me, she’ll be fine about it.”

He sits down in Laney’s seat and I lean forward, steepling my fingers together on the table top. “So, what brings you here? I would’ve thought The Shack was much more your kind of hang-out.”

He frowns slightly. “What makes you think that?”

Okay. I didn’t mean to be presumptuous, I was just voicing my thoughts, you know, given his age and everything... except, I don’t even know his age, do I? “I just saw you heading that way a few minutes ago…” I could bite my tongue off for saying that out loud, it makes me sound like some cougar-type stalker. Doesn’t seem to bother him, though, as his smile widens, and I feel my cheeks flush, for real, this time.

“Have you been watching me?” he asks, almost mirroring the same question I’d asked him a day or so ago, when I’d assumed he’d been watchingme.

“I caught sight of you walking along the beach, which is pretty much in plain sight from up here, so don’t flatter yourself.”

He laughs again, and it’s a deep, full-on, sexy laugh that causes my stomach to repeat that jolt. And he’s about to say something when Laney arrives back at the table, her eyes widening the second she sees Xander in her seat.

“Have we got company?” she asks, and Xander turns around and immediately jumps up.

“I’m sorry…”

“No, sit back down, please. I’ve got to go anyway.” She looks at me. “Client needs me. You going to be okay?”

“Of course. This is Xander, by the way. Beachcastle Bay’s newest resident.”

I think she’s already got that.

Laney smiles at him. “Pleased to meet you, Xander. I’m Laney, Megan’s sister.”

He returns her smile, and I ignore the look Laney throws me as she gathers up her things. For an intelligent woman she can be downright childish at times.

“I’m sorry you can’t stay,” Xander says, leaning forward as Laney grabs her jacket from the back of the chair.

“I’m sorry, too.”

More than he knows, she’ll be livid she has to leave now.

“Maybe another time, huh?” Laney comes over to me and we exchange brief cheek-kisses. “I’ll call you later. Have a good night.”

She leaves me with a knowing grin which I, again, ignore.

“Your sister seems very different to you,” Xander comments, and I frown.

“In what way?”

“She seems a lot more…”

“Careful!” I laugh, so does he, his gaze once more briefly dropping.

“I’m sorry, I mean, I’ve only just met her but…” He looks up, and those ice-blue eyes of his lock on mine. “Is she older or younger than you?”

“Bit personal, asking about women’s ages.”

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