Page 56 of Mine to Love

I toss the ball in the air and send it sailing over the net. Logan dives for it and misses, face planting in the sand.

Emerson, Skylar, and Camilla cheer and give me a high five.

“Next time we swap players. Logan and Reese should be on the same team. Her skill balances out his handicap.”

“Ass.” Logan smacks Nick up the back of his head.

“Curtis will be here in a bit, then we’ll be more evenly matched.”

“Don’t feel bad, brother.” Camilla ducks under the net and hugs Logan. “You’re at a disadvantage because you spend so much time behind your computer screen.” She pats his flat stomach.

He’s technically in shape, but he doesn’t have the outdoorsy physique like his brothers. Early morning runs or time in a home gym are most likely his style, even though I heard Holden talk about some of the brother adventures the three of them have been on.

Dirt biking, four wheeling, hiking, downhill skiing, and even bungee jumping, so it isn’t like Logan never leaves his office.

“Losers are on beverage duty,” Emerson teases.

“That’s fair.” Holden scoops her up and tosses her over his shoulder, carrying her up the stairs to the deck.

Nick eyes Skylar and does the same, smacking her butt along the way.

“Don’t even think about it,” Camilla and I say at the same time, laughing at Logan.

“I wouldn’t even think about it.”

His response is one hundred percent true, which saddens me. He’s too serious to toss a woman over his shoulder in a grand gesture of love.

Except... He had pushed me forcefully against the door of my hotel room. And he’d taken me hard, exactly how I like it. It was the thrill of doing something that went against his norm, that was all. Forbidden sex in a posh hotel room with a promise for it to never leave the state of Texas, much less the room.

I manage to stay away from Logan for most of the evening without making it look obvious. I’m impressed with how easy it is. Or maybe it’s because Logan works just as hard to stay away from me.

We treat each other like people who somewhat know each other but not who want to carry on a conversation. We have mutual friends, is all. It makes the night that much easier.

And makes me that much sadder.

***

REESE’S FATHER AND Mariah mention leaving before the fireworks, which makes me go on alert. They all drove in together. Will she leave as well, or will she need a ride home? Being alone with Reese in a car is dangerous. It will be pure torture. Yet I can’t help wanting that moment of torment.

“You can’t leave before the fireworks,” Emerson says, filling up Reese’s wine glass as well as her own.

“It’s okay, Em. I don’t mind.”

“I can give you a ride home later. I haven’t had much to drink.” I’m not one for getting drunk. A few beers with my brothers, a glass of whiskey after a stressful day, but I can’t afford to wake up with a hangover. Not a good condition to be in when running a fortune 500 company, a bank, and a new business.

Reese’s eyes grow wide. “Um...”

I can see her hesitancy.

“That’s all right, man. We got her. Her house isn’t far from ours,” Holden offers, saving me and screwing me over at the same time.

Reese smiles with relief. “You sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. I stopped drinking a few hours ago when I saw how often my beautiful bride kept refilling her glass.”

“I’m glad you’re staying.” My mother hugs Reese. “The temperature dropped quite a bit when the sun set. Did you bring something warmer to wear?”

Reese rubs her hands up and down her arms. “I’m okay. It’s not that cold.”

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