Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

I almost choked on my lime drink. “‘Mine’ as in you own the Dune Scape?”

“Believe me, I wish I didn’t. I inherited it from my grandfather. He recently passed away and left me the place, but no money to run it. Not the best inheritance.” His gaze was fixed on the horizon. He tipped the cup back.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. But Ryan did tell me you have a son. Is he here too?”

He nodded. “He’s the reason I kept the motel. I know the damn place is a money pit. It’s been closed for the past year, and trying to get it back to any kind of working condition is taking all the money I have and some I don’t. I should just give in and sell it. It’s not like my family’s around anymore to argue about it. But I want him know that it means something to work hard. That my grandfather didn’t leave family land to me just to sell it. I want him to have a legacy.”

“Does he have a name?” I smiled. “I don’t really know anything him. I don’t get to talk to Ryan enough.”

He chuckled. “Yeah. Grayson. Grayson Michael.”

I wondered if his little boy had pretty blue eyes like his daddy.

“And his mother?” I was afraid to ask. “You two are married now?”

He huffed. “No. Never were.”

“Oh.” I tried not to sound excited. “Ryan said—”

Cole cut me off. “Let’s agree that your brother sucks at information.”

I laughed. “Ok. I can agree to that.”

“Amber, that’s Grayson’s mom. We dated off and on. Honestly, it was more off. And when I found out she was pregnant I was sitting with my papers in front of me. I didn’t sign them. I knew I couldn’t deploy again. Then my grandfather got sick. So Amber moved to Padre with me and we’ve shared custody of Grayson since them. For the most part it works. But I don’t think it will ever be enough.”

“Oh Cole. I’m sorry. The last two years sound horrible.”

“I shouldn’t be dumping all of this on you. Damn it. Sorry. We’re supposed to be counting falling stars or something, right? I think I promised a sky show.”

He turned toward the ocean. There were a few boats dotting the horizon with blinking green lights.

I hadn’t intended to grab his arm, but I was afraid he would pull away, and I didn’t want that to happen. We were talking. We had somehow broken away from Ryan’s shadow. This was Cole and Kaitlyn.

“I want to know what’s been going on with you.” My hand rested on his forearm. I fought the urge to move it up the length of his bicep. It felt solid and taut.

“If you look right about there—” He pointed overhead. “—you’ll spot at least one shooting star tonight.”

“Maybe I can help you.” I wasn’t falling for his stargazing distraction. It seemed like he needed to open up to someone about the Dunes, and maybe I was that person.

“Really? And what do you think you can do to help me?” He turned to face me. His eyes were dark. I couldn’t read his mood.

I had no idea what I could do, but I had to do something. He was basically family.

“I-I don’t know. But I want to help.”

“You’re here on vacation. You should be having a good time, getting to know Texas, hanging out at the beach. I can handle the Dunes.” His eyes lingered on my lips.

I could feel the energy building in the air between us as the waves lapped our ankles.

His hand grazed the side of my cheek and I stood still like a statue, taking in the roughness of his skin. He stepped closer so that his waist was pressed against me. I liked how my body seemed to align with his just standing here—touching and breathing.

“Can’t you think of a way for me to help?” I tipped forward, wanting to draw an answer from him.

The tips of his fingers trailed from my chin, along the line of my neck, and rested along the edge of my tank top. “I know something you could do.” His voice was husky.

I felt the weight of his hand on my chest and the fire building under my skin where his fingers played with the fabric. Before I knew what in the hell I was doing, I abandoned my red cup in the ocean as his arms encircled my waist and pulled me close until our bodies collided.

My mouth parted for him, anxious to touch his lips and his tongue. He growled as I nipped his bottom lip. I tasted the beer on his tongue and I drank in each kiss, wanting to know more of him this way. My hands ran the length of his back and locked around the firmness of his neck. I stroked his warm skin and twisted my hands in his hair.