Capture (Seaside Pictures 1)

Dani reached for me just as I reached for her again.

My mouth was back on hers in an instant, clamoring to drink her in, begging for any sort of release she could give.

"Well, well, well." A male voice chuckled in the distance. "I certainly don't kiss my friends like that."

Slowly, I pulled back from Dani and turned to my left, where Zane was standing, holding a box of donuts and a coffee. "Thought Dani might need a break, but I think she's going to like your break more than mine."

"Damn right," I muttered.

"Lip-gloss." Zane pointed to my mouth. "Some pink right on the corner. Other than that, I'd never know you were just mauling Jaymeson's little sister."

I glared.

"In between two trailers." He grinned. "In broad daylight."

"I know what time it is," I spat. "Can't you be charming elsewhere?"

"Of course." Zane nodded. "I'm like the good fairy of charm, just waving my… wand…" He winked at Dani. "… all over the place."

"Keep your wand in your pants, you bastard," I snarled.

"Hey, Dani, is it your birthday yet?" Zane ignored me. "Because, by my calculations, we still have three days."

Dani reached for my hand then squeezed. "Three days sounds right."

"Hmm." Zane didn't move an inch.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the donuts from his hands as well as the coffee. "You can go now."

"Sorry." Zane shrugged, not looking the least bit sorry. "But I've just nominated myself chaperone."

"Good, because I just nominated myself to the task of beating the shit out of you."

"You find them?" Jay rounded the corner. "Thank God, I thought my star actor had drowned or something. You're needed on set. We're going to re-shoot the last scene one more time at a different angle." Jay gave me a pointed look. "As in, right now. Today."

"Run along now, Linc. I've got this." Zane winked.

Cursing under my breath, I pulled Dani in for a chaste kiss on her cheek then whispered, "Leave your window open tonight, Rapunzel. I'm climbing in."

Her cheeks turned pink, but she gave me an affirming nod before I walked off, leaving her yet again in Saint's clutches.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Dani

HE WASN'T COMING.

It's not like he specified a time to shimmy up my drainpipe, but I assumed it would be before midnight. It was already 12:05. With a sigh, I shifted to turn off my lamp when a small stone clattered against my window. Giddy, I jumped out of bed, hurried over to my window, and pulled it open.

There he stood, looking up at my window, face sexy and gleaming in the moonlight. Be still my heart, my pulse, my body… Heck, be still everything. He was so gorgeous it was unfair. "Hey, Romeo." I laughed. "What brings you by my window so late?"

"I was hoping to get lucky." Linc winked.

I started to close my window.

"Joke!" he yelled. "It was a joke!"

I popped my head out and crooked my finger. "Aren't you going to climb up?"

Linc was wearing a hooded black sweatshirt; he pulled the hood over his face and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Actually, I was hoping you'd come down."

"It's midnight!"

"Actually…" He checked his watch. "… it's nearing 12:08, but who's keeping track?"

I was. Embarrassingly enough. "Why do I need to come down there? In the cold?"

"I built a fire."

"You're from LA, so when you say you built a fire, you have to understand that I assume you hired someone to dig you a hole, throw firewood in it, and light a match."

"I'm a guy. Playing with matches is basically right up there with discovering your hand can make the shape of a gun."

He had a point there.

"So?" He held open his arms. "Don't leave me hanging. Plus, I have a surprise."

"Really?"

"You'll never know unless you come down."

I chewed my lower lip. Jaymeson would kill me if I was caught out with Lincoln, especially since he'd warned me that very night to keep my distance, and when I asked why, he'd said, "Because I said so, that's why."

It was literally like my father had possessed Jaymeson's body. He even used the dad voice and stomped off like it was my fault he was getting gray hair or something.

"Fine," I called back. "Give me a few minutes."

I threw on a pair of skinny jeans and a sweatshirt, pulled my hair back into a ponytail, and hid the blonde locks under a Yankees cap. I'd discovered how to sneak out the day I moved in; it wasn't hard. Each level had a balcony with stairs, so all I had to do was make it to the balcony, about a two-foot jump, and I was already running down the stairs and into Lincoln's arms.

"Ooof!" He let out a curse as I tackle-hugged him. "Wasn't expecting you to pack such a punch."

"Stronger than I look."

He paused, cupping my face with his hands. "Yes, you really are."

"So…" I cleared my throat so I wouldn't focus on the tender way he was looking at me, or the way my heart did cartwheels in my chest. "… where's my surprise?"

"Follow me." He gripped my hand and led me down to the rocky cliffs that lined the beach. We carefully found the main trail as the sound from the ocean grew louder with each step.