Page 33 of The All-Inclusive

“What?” I demand with a mouth full of pancake. “Why did you bring it up if you’re not planning to blackmail me?”

He answers my question with a question. “Does Sara know?”

I stare at his smug, stupid face, which seems to give him the answer he’s seeking. “That’s what I thought.”

Asshole.“I told her enough of the truth that it hurt her.” God, the look in her eyes as she ran from the table. “Anything more is just unnecessary torture.”

“For you or for her?”

“Why the fuck do you care?”

He crosses his legs at the ankle. “I like Sara.”

“IloveSara.” So much my chest aches. “And I think I know better than you do what she can and can’t handle.”

“You think so, huh?”

I glare. “I know I can’t be what she needs. I did my best to make that clear to her yesterday without completely destroying her.” Why am I telling this dickhead my business? “If she’s determined to toss out her rules on sex before marriage, I’ll give her a safe space to do that.”

“Safe space, huh?” Jarhead darts a glance at my dick. “That what they call it in the Navy?”

“Fuck you.”

He laughs. “You wish.”

God, I want to punch him.

But I owe the motherfucker something, don’t I? “Thanks,” I mutter, shoving a big bite of syrup-soaked pancake in my mouth.

“For breakfast or for keeping my mouth shut?”

“Yes.” That wasn’t what I meant, though. “When I stormed into that room yesterday, you looked ready to protect her. To take care of Sara at all costs.”

His hazel eyes spark with surprise. “You’re right.”

“And it did seem like Sara enjoyed herself.” My cock starts to stir and I shift so it’s masked by my napkin. “Thank you for making it good for her.”

“My pleasure.” He tilts his head, staring at me with bemusement. “You liked what you saw.”

I can’t tell if that was a question. From the look on his face, I get the sense it wasn’t. “Did Sara say something?”

Because yeah, I saw them together on the beach after she ran off. I gave them their space, knowing she needed a shoulder to cry on that didn’t belong to the asshole who’d hurt her. I should’ve felt jealous, I guess.

But it gave me some comfort, knowing Logan could be there for Sara when I couldn’t.

Jarhead, not Logan.

As he stands up, I realize he still hasn’t answered the question. Maybe it’s none of my business. God knows I’m keeping my mouth shut about some of the things that are just between Sara and me. I owe him the same fucking courtesy.

I owe her a helluva lot more.

He’s towering over me, grinning down like a big dopey dog with a secret bone stashed in the yard. Clapping a hand on my shoulder, he lets go and heads for the door. “See you around, Frogman.”

“I sure as hell hope not,” I mutter.

It’s hardly the first lie I’ve told in the last several minutes.

When the door slams shut behind him, I stare at what’s left on the tray. Glancing around, I pick up his bowl of freeze-driedmarshmallows. Grabbing a handful, I pop a big bunch my mouth.

---