Page 37 of Lakesides and Longing

“You’re one of my best friends.”

He squeezed her hand with his arm. “I know. That’s probably why I didn’t tell you. Because you would’ve seen right through me and made me talk about it all.”

“Probably. I suppose I can forgive you. But only if you dish on what’s going on with you and Paige.”

He swallowed. This was the truth of why he didn’t call Anna. She would’ve driven out to see them and would’ve known exactly what was going on. “Nothing.”

“I’m calling B.S.” She grinned.

He jerked his eyes away from Paige’s backside. “Okay, maybe I like her a little.”

“A little? Hmm. We’ll see about that. The rest of us like her a lot, and we’re trying to decide who to set her up with. Seth, Grayson, or David. What do you think? I’m thinking Grayson because David is too serious, and Seth is too immature.”

Blake saw red. The thought of Paige with any one of them made him want to march up to her and claim her as his. He punched a fist into his hand without thinking. He wasn’t sure what to do with his inner caveman. He’d never even knew it existed before now.

He tried to keep his composure, but Anna was already laughing. “I see how it is. What’s stopping you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Man, he was a sucker. She knew just how to get to him. “Lukas.”

“I wouldn’t let him stand in the way of your happiness. He’ll get over it. Lukas has Tess, what’s wrong with you having Paige?”

“If things don’t work out with Paige, then what? It could destroy our friendship.” These guys were his family. He couldn’t risk that.

Anna sighed. “I guess that’s something to think about. But you and Paige ought to at least entertain the idea. I think she really likes you, and you like her.”

“Maybe, but not here. If we do, it will be after we head home, and we’ll keep it on the down-low until we figure out otherwise.” Oh geesh. He really did have it bad. It was her home, not his, but he’d started thinking of it that way.

“That seems reasonable, but you might want to make sure Seth doesn’t make a move first.” She motioned to the side.

Blake jerked his head up. Sure enough, Seth was walking next to Paige. A little close for Blake’s comfort.

Once again, he saw red.

He stepped forward to interfere, but Anna held him back with a nod to Lukas, who was already marching their way.

Blake was too far away to hear anything, but Lukas wiggled his way in between the two of them.

At first Blake was pleased, but then he realized that Lukas would do the same thing to the both of them.

Blake didn’t stand a chance.

CHAPTER27

Paige hadn’t realized how much she missed being part of the living. She was having so much fun with all of Lukas’s friends. Every single one had made her feel welcome. She’d been fairly social before Emery died, but she couldn’t bring herself to go out anymore. This was good for her.

Blake kept his distance, but Paige knew that was because he didn’t want Lukas to suspect anything. And she saw his point. Every time Seth or Grayson tried to talk to her, Lukas was right there, interrupting. He didn’t do it when it was one of the girls or the married men—like Hayden or Jamie. Just the single guys. It was annoying, but she understood why he did it.

She knew he was just being protective. It was something he’d never been before, but after he found out what happened with Emery, he became an overbearing big brother.

A fire roared on the beach in Lukas’s backyard. The kids were all inside asleep under the watchful eye of Estelle, and the dogs were either napping under trees or chasing each other.

Several mosquito lanterns were lit and gave the whole atmosphere a romantic summer night vibe.

Paige sat in a chair by herself and watched Blake—she couldn’t help herself. He stood talking with Adam and Conner. All three men had beers in hand and were laughing.

Jamie and Bethany sat by the fire, their heads together. Earlier today, Jamie had chatted with Paige about art. She pulled out her phone to google him. She found him easily and scrolled through the photographs he’d taken. He was really good. She spotted Bethany in a few of them, but nothing of his kids.

Something knocked her chair, and she jerked her head up. Blake had hauled a chair next to her and collapsed into it.

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