Page 22 of Taming Waves

Parker lights candles on the island and dining table, and Anson starts pulling cheese, cold cuts, yogurt, and fruit from the fridge and placing them on paper plates. Sebastian finds crackers and chips in the pantry and slices up the loaf of sourdough sitting on the counter.

“You guys need help?” Avie asks.

“No. You ladies just warm up. We got it,” Sebastian says.

Heather leans over and whispers, “This is kind of nice. I’m used to being the one waiting on others, not the one being waited on.”

“They’re all a bunch of softies,” Avie whispers in return.

I glance over my shoulder and watch the three move around the small kitchen. Parker’s eyes meet mine, and he holds my stare as he laughs at something Anson said.

I was so worried when he jumped on that ATV tonight. My heart was in my stomach the entire drive as the wind jerked him all over the road.

I didn’t like it, and I don’t like the way him watching me right now makes me feel either.

But I don’t look away.

After we eat, Anson tries to talk us into playing strip poker by candlelight.

“My wife is not taking a thread of clothing off for you, asshat,” Sebastian says.

“Hey, who says I’d be the one losing?” Avie asks, clearly offended by her husband’s assumption.

He grins at her. “We all know Anson cheats, baby.”

“For the second time tonight, I do not cheat,” Anson quips.

“Yes, you do,” Parker and Sebastian say in unison.

“Whatever. You guys are just sore losers.”

I let out a yawn, and Avie’s eyes come to me.

“I feel you. It’s been a long, crazy night. I think I’m ready for bed too.”

Parker stands. “Come on. I’ll find you something to wear,” he offers.

I look over at Heather, who has just popped the top off a beer.

“I’m going to hang for a while longer. You go ahead,” she says as she grins mischievously at me.

“O-okay,” I say.

Parker grabs one of the candles on the island, and Sebastian, Avie, and I follow him down the hallway. He points to the door on the left.

“I’m going to apologize in advance for the state of Anson’s bathroom,” he says. “But you should find something clean to sleep in inside the chest of drawers.”

Avie thanks him, and she and Sebastian slip inside and close the door.

His eyes flick to me. “Come on. We’ll get you one of my tees.”

“I’m fine,” I say quickly. Not wanting to sleep while wrapped in one of his shirts.

He turns to face me, his large frame seeming to fill the entire hallway, and I step back until I feel the press of the wall against my backside.

“You’re fine?” he asks, so close that the warmth of his breath tickles my neck.

I swallow hard. “Yeah.”

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