I didn’t want him to feel I had expectations of him beyond this summer. I just needed him to know he was a good, kind, honest man who had let me see men in a different way. We’d agreed to a summer fling, and if that was still all he wanted then I’d live with that. But it wasn’t all I wanted. For the first time ever in my life, I wanted a man. But not any man. I wanted Landon James.
“Skylar?” a familiar, gravelly voice called from behind me.
I turned and came face-to-face with Landon. My smile took over my face. “What are you doing here?”
His eyes skimmed down my dress and back up, and a trail of heat followed his gaze. He slid his hand around my waist and kissed me. “I was about to ask you the same question. I thought you were having dinner with one of your girlfriends?”
“I am. Here.” I pressed my palm against his chest, enjoying the reassuring firmness of his muscles. “What about you? Are you—”
“I’m meeting my brother.”
“May I help you?” the hostess asked.
“Yes.” I didn’t want to be rude, but I wasn’t ready to leave the circle of Landon’s arms. “I’m joining some friends. The table will be under the name of Wolf.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have already arrived. Let me show you both to your seats.”
“Oh no,” I said. “We’re not together.” I glanced up at Landon, who was frowning.
“Actually, I think we are,” Landon replied.
Before I could answer, I spotted Avery waving from across the restaurant, and Landon gestured for me to follow the hostess. I glanced over my shoulder, and Landon was following me.
“Skylar, Landon!” Avery bounced out of her seat and pulled me into a hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Landon getting a hug from Hayden. Were Hayden and Landon brothers?
“Hi,” I said, trying to put all the pieces together. “Nice to see you.” Hayden kissed me on the cheek and pulled out the chair across from Avery.
“So, did you just bump into Landon at the door?” Avery asked.
“You’re brothers? But your last name is James.”
Hayden snorted. “You and your aliases. Do you ever wonder how the rest of us cope with just one name?”
“So how do you know my brother?” Landon asked, his brow furrowed.
“Aliases?” I asked.
“You two are on the same boat together?” Avery said. “This is so great. Skylar was my second stew when I met Hayden.”
“Why did you say your name was James?” I asked, searching through reasons why two brothers would have different surnames. “I would have put two and two together if you’d have said Wolf.”
“Ahhh, that’s the point,” Hayden said. “My little brother doesn’t like anyone putting two and two together when it comes to him.”
I turned to Landon, and the way his eyes didn’t meet mine sent a shiver up my spine. He wasn’t Landon James?
“It’s not like people are using my surname on board a lot. I’d pretty much forgotten I was James on board,” he replied.
“But why would you use a different name in the first place?”
He took a deep breath. “Habit. I’m not good at being open about stuff.”
“Let’s get you some drinks.” Hayden called over the waiter while all I could do was stare at Landon and wait for some kind of explanation.
“I need a whiskey,” Landon said.
“What does Hayden mean about aliases?” I asked, not wanting to let this go. “Are you hiding something?”
Avery nudged Hayden in the ribs.