She’d hoped to see him at the beach. Had looked for him the second she’d stepped onto the dock. It had taken her best acting skills to not act like a giddy teenager when she’d ran into Colt on the way out of the pirate-themed bar, hoping that meant Garrett had come to the island, too.
When Garrett had asked her to go swimming, Avery had considered telling him about the freezing cold water. But then she thought better of it, wanting to see his raw reaction when he realized the island’s sultry weather was deceiving.
Of course, Garrett had clearly made plans of his own…coming up behind her the way he had. She could still feel his breath teasing her ear as he’d challenged her to a race into the water.
His lips on hers as his tongue invaded her mouth in the most delectable way.
Looks like you can cross number twenty off your list a lot sooner than you thought.
Avery smiled as she imagined drawing a line through that one. There was no way her sister ever truly expected her to go through with it, but she had. Not only that, the kiss hadn’t even been her idea.
Garrett had been the one to lean up and take her mouth in his. And he would’ve kissed her again if his brother hadn’t shown up.
Yes, it had been a very, very good day. One Avery would remember for the rest of her life.
Thoughts of mind-blowing kisses had her sneaking another quick glance at the man sitting beside her. With his powerful arms stretched out along the back of the metal bench, Garrett had his hat on backward and his face tilted up toward the sun. Though she couldn’t see his eyes, she knew they were closed.
God, he’s beautiful.
“What do you want to do for dinner tonight?” Colt’s voice rose over the boat’s motor.
“I don’t know.” Garrett brushed her bare shoulder with his thumb. “What do you have planned?”
“I’m not sure,” she answered honestly. “Tonight’s the night everyone’s supposed to dress up, but I think I’ll need a nap before I decide whether or not to participate.”
“A nap sounds great.”
Wanna come to my room and take one with me?
Avery swallowed the question down before she did something stupid like blurt it out.
They may have shared one kiss, but that didn’t mean she was about to start acting like a lovesick fool. She may not have a lot of experience with men, but that didn’t mean she was desperate.
“I forgot about the formal dinner being tonight,” Garrett rumbled beside her. “Guess I’ll have to cut my nap short so I can press my shirt and suit.”
Garrett in a suit? That was something shehadto see.
Play it cool, Aves.
Something her mom and sister had always told her.
With a casual, non-committal tone, she said, “Yeah, I should probably steam the dress I brought. In case I decide to go.”
“We could…go together.”
Garrett’s breezy remark left her chest tightening and her heart pounding. “I don’t want to impose.”
He turned to her. “You’re not imposing if I invited you.”
“I know, but you’re here with Colt. Brother bonding trip, remember? Besides, I’ve already monopolized enough of your day.”
“Oh, no.” Colt shifted in his seat. “Don’t use me as an excuse. If you don’t want to have dinner with my brother, just say so.”
“What? No.” Avery’s head shook vehemently. “It’s not that I don’t want to go. I just feel bad getting between you two when this is supposed to be a brother bonding trip.”
“Meh.” Colt waved her off. “We spent yesterday together. And dressing up for some hoity toity meal isn’t really my thing. Plus, we’re snorkeling along the reef and playing with the stingrays tomorrow, so…”
“Stingrays?” Avery’s brows arched high. “I saw that excursion on the website. The people in the pictures were actuallyholdingthem.”