Beneath the Stars (Falling Stars 4)

Peace filled me as the sun climbed higher into the sky and stole in golden streaks through the wall of windows that took up the east side of the house.

The ocean lapped gently at the shore in the distance.

Still, my skin tingled with flashes of heat as I moved around the kitchen, trying to both ignore and savor the rough scrape of his eyes when he’d furtively glance my way.

Stealthy and sly.

Worried and with all his care.

It didn’t matter if he was trying to be sneaky or not.

It still felt like he was looking at me as if I were the only thing he could see. As if he couldn’t look away any more than I could force myself to do.

When the omelets and bacon were ready, everyone filled their plates, and we gathered around the long table set up beneath the windows with a view of the ocean outside.

My brother was the last to join us, the man shooting me a smile when he sat next to Emily, taking Amelia from her so she could eat.

Everyone talked, conversations light.

The kids goofed and laughed and played. Through it all, I tried to pretend like I wasn’t affected.

As if I wasn’t painfully aware that Rhys sat directly across from me.

The table was large, and it might have seemed accidental, as if we really weren’t that close.

But he was there. Invading my space. Stealing my breath.

Watching.

He tried to play it off, his voice loud as he sparred and volleyed good-natured insults with Leif and Richard.

A couple at my brother.

But I could still feel him sneaking peeks.

Aware even though he was distanced.

I jolted when he stretched out a leg and nudged mine with his foot under the table. My eyes darted up to find him staring at me. He let his calf press against mine, the man so huge that he managed to hold me from clear across the massive table.

Sparks flashed.

A sizzle.

You good? he mouthed.

Emotion welled.

So fast.

So overwhelming.

I wanted to ask him the same. To beg him not to let his mind go where I knew it had gone.

Thinking he’d hurt me. That in some way, he’d done me wrong.

Perfect, I mouthed back, only omitting the truth that I wanted more.

That I wanted to experience life in every way because we never knew how long we’d have it.

To cherish every single day.

“Oh my god.”

I startled with the hand that grabbed me by the elbow just as I was making my getaway from the kitchen. Breakfast finished and the dishes cleaned, everyone was dispersing to get ready for the day.

Practice was at ten.

Which meant I had an hour to shower and get ready for work.

Work.

Considering watching Amelia this summer was nothing less than a precious gift, I was having a hard time considering this a job.

Ill-at-ease, I shifted around, already feeling her distress.

Violet’s eyes were wide with speculation…and worry.

“What?” I asked her. I gave her all the nonchalance and innocence I could front.

“Don’t what me. Do you think I didn’t notice whatever just went down back there?” She waved an errant hand behind her.

So, I wasn’t such a great actress.

My brows lifted for the sky. “Breakfast?”

Still, I tried.

Rhys was worth it.

A scowl pulled across her pretty face. “And here I thought we were friends?”

Friends. My mind was instantly back on Rhys. Apparently, my definition of friends was getting skewed.

“Of course, we’re friends.”

“And friends don’t lie to each other.”

I started to argue, and she cut me off, “Or hide things.”

I sighed.

Crap.

“I knew somethin’ was different about you the last few days.” Her voice turned soft, her expression caring.

Violet tipped her head to the side like she was getting a read on me. “Do you have somethin’ goin’ on with Rhys?”

My lips pressed together.

Mine and Violet’s relationship verged somewhere between friendship and her viewing me like a little sister.

I thought right then it was more the latter because there was no missing the concern woven into every line of her expression.

When I didn’t answer, she gave my arm another tug. “Out with it, woman.”

I took a furtive glance around the room.

Mia and Leif were the only ones remaining in the big, open living space, but they were all the way across the room, snuggled up and hugging on each other. I was fairly certain they didn’t even notice anyone else was there.

Rhys had taken all his rugged, irresistible energy upstairs.

“There’s nothing to tell.”

Her brows rose.

“We’re just friends.”

Her brows lifted higher.

I sighed in surrender. “I have no idea what’s going on, okay?”

“It sure felt like somethin’ was going on to me. I could barely breathe through breakfast, all of the air sucked up by the gravity pulling between you two.”

Hope blazed. I couldn’t help it. Because I felt it—felt that pull—the draw—and I wanted it. Needed it, even. And still, I knew if I fully gave into it, it was going to destroy me in the end.