Page 30 of A Quick Stop in Paradise

“I’d just spend all day sitting here with my laptop writing… which is probably not exactly investigative journalism.”

“You can come around here anytime you want a writing spot. Mi casa es tu casa, and all that.” She looked back to the horizon, letting out a long breath. “Not to interrupt your awe at the natural world, but… do you want to eat?”

It was a shame, because the food was delicious—she used some kind of honey-soy glaze on the chicken that gave it a delicious complex flavor, but all I could focus on was the scenery. Brooklyn was patient with me, though, smiling warmly at me and speaking once we were a few bites in.

“Are you feeling better from this morning?”

“A lot, actually.” I set down my silverware, leaning against the smooth sanded wood of the table. “Honestly? I’m pissed off that they’d choose him over me at a time like this. But in a way, it’s almost a… relief.”

“A relief?” She raised her eyebrows high.

“Yeah. I mean, I’ve alwaysknownthey would. But I always had to pretend I didn’t know that and play nice with the family. If they push me away, I don’t have to deal with being the one to push them away.”

She smiled sadly. “I’m… glad for that, but it still sounds like…”

“Like it sucks that it’s gone down like this anyway.”

“I just can’t believe people like your aunt are showing up trying to force you to behave how they like after they took his side over yours.”

“Yeah. Me neither. And maybe I’ve just always been gaslighting myself that they’re right and that they have a point, but now that I’m seeing it really just—out there in the open—now I can give myself permission to be pissed off with them. So I’m pissed off with them. And that’s great.”

She laughed, smiling oddly at me. “Ryan… I kind of love how your mind works.”

I smiled lightly, holding up the glass of sparkling water she’d poured me. “Damn, but at least let me get to the end of the topic before you flirt with me.”

“Now, why would I go and do something silly like waiting that long?”

“When I’m so irresistible… I guess you make a good point.”

She grinned. “I’m glad you understand.”

Was sheactuallyinterested? I knew sometimes you’d just flirt for the fun of it, playing around, teasing a little, but you weren’t actually looking to do anything with it, but—Brooklyn really did wear her heart on her sleeve. That way she just breathed authenticity and openness. And there was something in the way those gray eyes fixated on me like I was the only person on the island.

I’djustdumped Shane’s sorry ass last night. But then… it wasn’t like I minded. Her attention was—flatteringwas an understatement. Even if I wouldn’t do anything with it, I was… pretty sure.

I sipped my drink, mostly for something to do, something to cover up the nervous little flush I could feel on my face, and I meant to say something and didn’t really think about what was coming out of my mouth, which was how I ended up saying, “What’s it like?”

“Having the absolute perfect life, working a fun job where people lavish compliments and attention on me and coming back to a house with the best view ever? It’s not terrible, yeah.”

I nudged her leg under the table with a laugh. “I’msohappy you’re happy.”

“What’s what like?”

Oh, god. Now I was too embarrassed to follow up. I was ajournalist.I could do hard conversations. I’d seen all the things it was possible to be squeamish about. I swallowed, my throat dry, and I managed—trying to be casual with it and failing—“Being with a girl.”

She smiled wider. “Are you thinking of going the Allison route, trying to push out of your rut with a casual fling?”

I looked away, face flushing hard. “I was just asking a question. You invited a journalist into your home, Miss Sterling.”

“Touché. When you saybeing with a girl,do you mean dating a girl, or are you talking about sex? You don’t have to be precious about language, I’m not scared of sex.”

I didn’t realize it was possible for me to blush more. I ducked my head, my face prickling hard. “Just, all of it… the, uh, the sex included, I guess.”

“It’s pretty damn nice. Of course, it’s all about the individual. It’s always straight guys when I’m with a man, and they all tend to follow the same script. When it’s a girl? There’s a world of difference between a stone butch top traveling with her friend and rocking your world on the side, a shy girl exploring her sexuality in secret while she’s on vacation with her family, a lesbian couple who invite you to join them…”

I’d almost managed to recover a bit until she went off down that road. I didn’t want to know how red my face was. “You get invited to threesomes a lot…?”

She laughed. “More than you know. I turn it down most of the time… it’s usually straight couples where you can tell the girl has no interest in another woman in her bed but the guy’s pressured her to give it a try. It’s always a cool little surprise when it’s a couple of girls inviting you.”

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