While It Lasts (Sea Breeze 3)

Wow.

“Oh,” I replied, feeling Low’s eyes on me. She was watching us closely.

“So, you met everyone last night? Are you terrified now?” Low asked in a chipper tone as I sat down at the table across from her.

“They were nice. Very entertaining.”

Cage laughed, “That’s her way of saying my friends are all a bunch of freaks.”

“That is not true. I really did like them.”

Cage walked over and set a cup of coffee down beside my plate then placed a kiss on my head before going back to fix himself something to eat. The curiosity in Low’s face almost made me laugh. Did she not know this man better than anyone else? Surely she wasn’t shocked by anything he said or did.

“When do y’all have to go back today?” Low asked

I had just taken a bite of my eggs and couldn’t answer her.

“I figure we’ll head out about five or so. I want to get her back before her dad gets home. And I need to check the cows before I get in bed.”

Low turned her curious gaze off me and she shifted it to Cage. I didn’t need to look up to know they were having a silent conversation. I used to have those with Josh. I understood them. My chest ached a little at the thought of never having that again. But it didn’t hurt nearly as bad as it used to. I was getting better. Maybe someday I would actually be able to move on.

Cage cleared his throat and I knew that he was letting Low know that their silent conversation was over. Another signal I’d used with Josh.

“Well, what are y’all planning on doing today?” Low asked

I glanced up from my plate and looked to Cage. I had no idea what all he wanted to do today.

“I thought we’d spend a few hours on the beach and that’s about as far as I’ve gotten with plans,” Cage replied.

“That sounds like fun.” Low started to say more but her phone began ringing. She glanced down at it and frowned.

“Who is it?” Cage asked watching her carefully.

Low sighed and stood up. “It’s my sister,”

Cage scowled. “Want me to get rid of her?”

Low shook her head and headed into the other room before I heard her say. “Hello?”

Cage was watching the door with a strange protective stance. It almost looked like he was ready to snatch the phone out of her hand if her sister said anything to upset her.

“Is her relationship with her sister that bad?” I asked, wanting him to relax. He turned his head towards me and his shoulders eased when our eyes met. “Yeah. Her sister’s a bitch. She’s put Low through hell.”

But Low had obviously had a very loyal Cage to fend off the bullies in her life. “If you need to go check on her, it’s okay.”

He studied me a minute then a pleased smile came over his face. “If she needs me she’ll come get me. I’d rather sit in here with you and enjoy my breakfast.”

Chapter Eighteen

Cage

Eva had dosed off while we lay out under a large beach umbrella and watched the waves. I’d been worried about the parts of her that weren’t completely covered by the shade and I’d woken her up rubbing lotion on her feet.

Both those big blue eyes of hers watched me intently as I went from rubbing lotion on her feet to massaging them. “Mmmm, that’s nice. I hope you aren’t expecting a tip,” she said in a sleepy voice.

“I don’t work for free.”

“I’m afraid to ask what form of payment you accept.”

I could think of a few different things to say but I decided to be careful with my words. Eva had seen and heard enough stuff last night as far as I was concerned. I didn’t want her to think I was being serious.

“Are you getting hungry?” I’d decided to change the subject.

She sat up a little straighter and gave me a shy smile. “Yeah, kinda.”

I picked her foot up from its resting spot on my leg and laid it back down on the chair. “Let’s go eat,” I replied, holding a hand out to pull her up.

“Are we going back inside? Do I need to gather our things up?”

“No, we can leave it all right here. It won’t get touched. I know a guy,” I assured her.

A small frown puckered her lips. I decided what the hell. If she was going to do sexy shit like that with her lips, I was going to react the way I wanted.

I bent my head and pressed my lips firmly against hers before pulling that sweet bottom lip of hers into my mouth. Her hands grabbed me and she made a small surprised gasp. Smiling, I pulled back and winked at her before reaching down to take her hand.

“What was that for?” she asked a little breathlessly.

“You do sexy little frowns and pucker those lips of yours and I’m not gonna be able to ignore that.”

A slow smile spread over her face and she licked her lips. “Oh.”

I led us over toward the Beach Shack, which was a walk up seafood po’boy place. They also had some of the best homemade fries I’d ever eaten.

“Cage, my day just got a whole lot brighter.” Rock’s cousin Jess called out as she strutted toward us in an American flag string bikini. Jess was trouble. I’d made the mistake of messing around with her one night just to get her off Marcus Hardy because she was upsetting Low. Jess did not understand a no-strings attached f**k. Rock and I had come to blows over it. After a few solid punches from each of us we’d both felt better and decided to let it go. It wasn’t like Rock didn’t know Jess was an easy lay.