Page 133 of Resting Beach Face
Almost too good. I wondered if I should send Skylar a thank-you card. I doubted he’d hire Mrs. Hicks if she wasn’t qualified, but the fact she was Cash’s mom certainly hadn’t hurt her chances, either. Skylar looked out for his friends.
And Cash seemed more relaxed than I’d seen him since he’d walked away from his parents.
Darlene returned with our drinks, and we chatted about our workdays, passing the time companionably enough.
“I’m anxious to see the greenhouse come together,” I said. “Gray has had too many boat tours to do much more than frame it out.”
“It’s their busy season.”
I nodded. “I know. I’m not complaining. Gray has been amazing. I’m so grateful.”
Cash gave me a mock glare. “Don’t appreciate himtoomuch. You’ve already got a boyfriend.”
“A very wise boyfriend who got me some qualified help.”
“That’s right. I should get all the credit for Gray’s work.”
I raised an eyebrow as I raised my beer for a drink.
Cash smirked. “What? Too much?”
“Just a little.”
Cash’s eyes widened. “Oh shit, look who it is.”
I turned toward the door, expecting to see Cash’s gaggle of friends crashing our dinner. Always a risk when at The Rusty Hook, where they hung out often. But I was okay with that because the goal tonight was to make Cash happy. If that meant hanging out with friends, that was just fine.
But it wasn’t any of the usual crowd we’d seen at the cookout.
Danny and Abe had just stepped inside together, looking like the coziest, most mismatched couple ever.
Danny leaned in close, his head barely reaching Abe’s shoulder. Abe had one giant hand pressed against Danny’s back, guiding him through the doorway.
Danny’s gaze landed on us, and he grinned and waved, heading in our direction.
“Do you mind if they join us?” Cash asked. “I can tell him we want to be alone.”
“No, it’s fine,” I said. “After all, you still owe him a date.”
Cash swatted my arm with a snort. “That was just a scheme to get Abe.”
“So you say,” I muttered, though I couldn’t entirely hide my smile.
Cash rolled his eyes. “Abe is looking at Danny like he’s the best thing since freshly baked bread. I don’t think you need to worry.”
“Oh, I’m not worried,” I said. “If I worried about every guy interested in you, I’d probably stroke out.”
Cash’s eyes widened as he laughed. “What?”
I nodded toward the side of the room, where a young guy—clearly a tourist judging by his brand-new Swallow Cove T-shirt—was checking out my boyfriend.
Cash winced. “I was hoping you didn’t notice that.”
So, Cash hadseenhim watching. I shouldn’t be surprised. He’d worked pubs like this for hookups for years.
Cash half stood, leaning over the table. He cupped my face and leaned in, so close I could see the striations of color in his blue eyes, little flecks of green encircling dark pupils. Pupils that were dilating.
“I only want you,” he said, right before he kissed the hell out of me in front of the whole pub.
