Page 111 of A Little Taste

“We should surf together every time,” I yell over my shoulder. “We’ll be like those old beach movies where their hair never gets wet.”

A rough wake catches us, and out of nowhere a wave runner flies past us, sending a curve of water and upending the board. Grabbing my nose, I squeal and fall into the ocean. Aiden dives off the other side then swims under to where I’m paddling.

“You okay?” He’s breathless, but I’m nodding as I grab his shoulders. His jaw is tight, and he grabs the board, pushing up to sit on it before helping me climb aboard. “Those assholes are inside the buoys. Someone could get hurt.”

His brow is lowered, and he’s studying the wave runner zipping around several feet from where we’re floating. Shouts from the beach get my attention, and I look over to see Piper and Cass waving. I wave back, giving them a thumbs-up.

Owen and Ryan run past them with Edward bounding along and Pinky doing her best preschool joggle behind them.

“Let’s head back to the shore. It’s almost time to go.”

“I’ll pull you in.” He kisses the top of my shoulder before slipping into the water again, and it’s the sweetest hit of dopamine.

He’s about to pull me in when the wave runner circles around to where we are, slowing this time and floating closer to us.

“Hey, there!” Shading my eyes with my hand, I almost recognize the female voice. “Didn’t mean to throw you just then.”

“No worries,” I call, giving a little wave.

I expect her to leave, but instead she gives the vehicle a bump of gas that scoots her closer to where I’m sitting. “Britt Bailey, is that you? My goodness, it is you! I’ve been wondering where you went. I thought you might have drowned.”

The voice clicks in my memory, and I wrinkle my nose, trying to smile. “Maylynn? What in the world are you doing out here?”

“You’re just never going to believe. Keekee’s cousin Harold owns a popcorn place near this teeny little town. He’s been begging us to come for a visit. It’s where the Stone Cold distillery is located. You probably don’t know anything about bourbon, but it’s very prestigious.”

My lips part, and I’m about to burst her bubble when Aiden surfaces beside me, wrapping a muscled arm over the board. “Everything okay back here?”

“Well, hello.” Lowering her shades, Maylynn’s eyebrows rise. “If the lifeguards are that handsome, maybe we all should try drowning.”

She lets out a shrieky laugh that makes me cringe. “That was my worst fear,” I point out quietly as Aiden’s brow lowers.

“Aiden Stone, this is Maylynn Evers. From Greenville.” I wave my hand back and forth between them.

“I see.” He’s not impressed. “Next time keep that thing outside the buoys. You could kill somebody.”

“Yes, sir, handsome lifeguard.” She laughs more, turning the machine and starting the engine. “We should meet up at the popcorn palace, Britt. I’d love to catch up.”

With that she zips away, and I look down at Aiden, who’s still frowning. “I don’t like her.”

His flat statement of fact hits me just the right way, and I start to laugh. The more confused he looks, the more I laugh until I lean down to kiss his lips. “Pull me in, Mr. Handsome Lifeguard.”

“I’ll do more than that.” His voice turns naughty, and he kisses the top of my thigh, sending heat racing to my core.

“Hold that thought. I have to meet up with the girls tonight, and you’re taking the kids to see a movie in the park.”

“How many times can they watchFinding Nemo?” he growls. “That opening scene is the worst.”

“But the rest is so funny and good, and you have Dorie and all her forgetting. Make a popcorn run during the beginning part.”

He grins up at me, and I lean down to slide my hand along his cheek. My platinum engagement ring sparkles on my finger, and I sit up holding it with my thumb as he pulls me to shore.

He gave it to me last Friday night after dinner on the deck. Owen couldn’t sit still the entire meal, but I thought it was because he wanted to teach Edward to catch a frisbee. He’d been talking about it all week.

Instead, once the dishes were cleared and we’d cleaned up, the two of them disappeared into the house. When they returned, Owen was holding a chocolate cupcake with a sparkler on top for a candle, and Aiden had a sheepish grin on his lips.

“It’s not my birthday.” I sat straighter, taking the gift from Owen.

“No.” He shook his little-boy head, turning serious. “We have something very important to ask you.” My eyes widened, and he continued. “Dad and I had a talk last night, and we decided it would be a good idea for you and Edward to live here with us. He said zebras live in families, and we should be a family, too.”

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