Page 4 of Resting Beach Face
When his eyes were open, they were as bright as the Caribbean under his dark brows, and usually filled with mischief or humor. Though sometimes, lately, there seemed to be darker shadows there, lurking under the surface.
I shook him again. “Cash. Hey. You can’t sleep here.”
He started awake, sitting up so quickly I had to rear back to avoid a knock to the head.
“Wha…” He swiped a hand over his face. “Declan?”
“You can’t sleep out here,” I repeated. “Go back to Annie’s room.”
“Annie?” He looked confused for a moment. “You mean Amy? Er…no. Annie is right.” He groaned. “Shit, I can’t go back there.”
“Why not?”
He smiled sheepishly. “I sort of got kicked out.”
My stomach tightened. I didn’t take Cash for the type of guy to cross the line, but I had to ask. “What happened? You didn’t?—”
“Of course not,” he said, hurt flitting through his gaze. “I would never do that.”
I nodded. “I didn’t think so. Sorry. I had to ask.”
He shook his head. “I just…I wasn’t in the mood.”
I raised an eyebrow. That had to be a first.
Cash read my expression. “I’m not just a walking sex machine. I have feelings too.”
“I’m sure you do.” I hesitated. “I can’t let you sleep out here. The guests…”
He sighed. “Yeah, I didn’t mean to crash. I was just waiting until?—”
He stopped short.
“Until what?”
He hesitated, nibbling his full bottom lip.
“Cash,” I said sternly. “Tell me.”
A breath rushed out of him. “Just until I was sure my dad would be unconscious. We don’t get along.”
“Why haven’t you moved out of there yet?”
Cash was twenty-four or twenty-five. Most people didn’t stay with their families that long, though Swallow Cove had limited housing available—especially affordable housing.
Cash’s face tightened. “I would have, if not for my sister. She needs someone in her corner. My mother works crazy hours, and I contribute to the bills. It’s not like I have a lot of better options other than a camper like Sawyer, anyway.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugged. “I find ways to avoid the house when things get too messy.”
“Ways,” I said slowly. “Ways like…” I gestured toward the stairs. “Like Annie?”
Cash’s eyes clouded over. “I’ll head home. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It’s three in the morning.”
“It’s fine.”
