I look over at the door. Scarlett’s just entered the lounge with Carmen, and her sundress is still slightly dampfrom her hair, clinging in places that are not helping my ability to focus on Tony’s conversation. She glances over and our eyes meet before she looks away with a soft smile.
“Yes.” My gaze tracks Scarlett across the room. “It most definitely did something to my brain.”
He follows the direction of my gaze, then looks back at me with a knowing grin. “Is that so? Things are going well with Scarlett, I take it.”
“Yeah,” I mumble, because I don’t know how to explain that “well” doesn’t even cover it. Whatever happened in that hot tub, it’s burning me alive.
I need to think about something else.
“I’m hungry,” I announce, crossing toward the small table of appetizers.
Anything else to keep from replaying how her bare skin felt under my hands, how she tasted when I kissed her lips?—
Focus, Marco.
I grab a cracker from the spread and scoop up some dip without watching what I’m doing. With my gaze fixed on Scarlett, I take one after another, and pretty soon I’ve eaten an entire sleeve. My attention is completely focused on her, watching the way she tucks a damp strand of hair behind her ear.
After years of stealing glances, it’s intoxicating to be able to watch her openly and unapologetically now.
Carmen strides over, a playful smirk on her lips. “So, you look happy. Does it have to do with the fact that I rearranged the schedule for your hot-tub time to coincide with your girlfriend’s?”
She grabs a carrot stick with a devious smile.
“Maybe,” I admit nonchalantly, but my sister knows me well enough by now to see I’m grateful.
“It’s about time, honestly.” She takes a bite of her carrot. “I didn’t think anybody would be able to break down your walls.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t have any walls.”
She lets out a laugh. “That’s hilarious. Ever since you returnedfrom the Marines, you’ve been as closed off as a clamshell. You don’t let anyone into your head. And definitely not into your feelings, unless we pry it out of you.” She nods toward Scarlett. “She’s the only one you open up around. I can’t believe how much I’ve seen you smile this week.”
“I smile other times too,” I say, aware even as I’m saying it that I can’t actually think of an example.
She crosses her arms. “Name one time.”
“Like right now.” I give my sister what I hope is a convincing grin.
She covers her laugh with her hand. “Oh my gosh, you look constipated.”
“That was supposed to be a smile,” I grumble.
She bites back her grin. “I guess I need Scarlett around to get an actual smile out of you. But it’s been a nice change. I’ve been worried about you. Living alone, working yourself into the ground, turning down every invitation we’ve extended for the last two years. The whole family has noticed the way she affects you.” She points her carrot at me. “And they’re ecstatic.”
Except Taylor.I don’t say it out loud, though I want to.
“Just don’t let the Marco women scare her away,” I say, only half joking as I watch Scarlett chatting with Jaz.
“Oh, I already told Mom she’s in serious trouble if she mentions your wedding again,” my sister says, dusting off her hands like her work here is done. “And…you’re welcome.” She gives me a little bow before heading off to Tony’s side.
I turn back to the appetizers, reaching for another cracker when it registers that something isn’t right. My chest is tight, my throat feels itchy, and it’s hard to take a full breath, like my lungs are clamping down, even though there’s no reason they should be.
That’s when I notice the dip I just basically inhaled.
Oh no.
I grab a spa attendant who is refilling the cracker tray. “What’s in this?” I say, pointing atthe dip.
She looks from me to the dip. “Oh, that’s our signature crab-and-artichoke dip.”