Page 152 of Resting Beach Face
He managed to make it sound so ridiculously dirty that I laughed even as my stomach flip-flopped at the implication.
I leaned in, meeting his eyes with a pointed look. “Not if I ask first.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “I was just kidding…”
“I’m not,” I said. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever met, so damn sweet and supportive and?—”
“Don’t forget impossibly sexy.”
“So sexy.” I paused. “And a great cuddler.”
“The highest of compliments from you.”
He was teasing me, but he wasn’t wrong. It was the highest compliment that Cash accepted my love in whatever way it expressed itself.
I dropped my voice, letting it purr in the quiet space between us, knowing it’d drive him crazy.
“I’m never letting you go. You’re mine.”
Cash pounced on me, kissing me far too aggressively for a public setting. Three coasters flew across the table, nailing us in the shoulders.
“Trying to get engaged here!” Brooks said.
Cash turned to them with a cheeky grin. “Sorry, man. You’re not the only sappy fuckers here.”
Poppy shook her head. “God, you’re all ridiculous.” She sent a smile Jasmine’s way. As an aro-ace, Poppy wasn’tin lovewith Jas, but she did love her and rely on her like her other half, so inway, she’d found her happy ending too. Then she surprised us by saying, “I call dibs as Skylar’s best woman!”
“Only if I get to be Brooks’s best man,” Sawyer said.
“What? But I’m his cousin!” Fisher protested.
“Exactly, he’s stuck with you, but hechoseme.”
They immediately began arguing. Brooks and Skylar exchanged a wide-eyed look. “Uh, I think I’ll get another round of beer,” Brooks said. “Apparently, our wedding is going to have alotof best men?—”
“And women,” Poppy put in.
Skylar smiled at her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Don’t worry, Fish,” Cash called. “You can be my best man when I tie the knot with Declan.”
All the friends’ heads instantly swiveled toward us.
“Are you…” Hudson asked.
I shook my head. “This is Brooks and Skylar’s night. We wouldn’t get engaged right now. But someday…yeah.” I turned to Cash. “If he’ll take me.”
“I’ll take you tonight, baby,” he said with a saucy wink.
The friends all groaned. Brooks went to order a round of beers. Poppy leaned across the table to start planning colors and flowers and all sorts of wedding details that made my head spin. The rest shouted over each other, talking and laughing—sometimes insulting—one another.
I never thought I’d be so happy in a loud, noisy group like this. But Cash’s hand was on my thigh, my anchor, grounding me and making me realize I was one of them now.
Part of Swallow Cove and all its wacky characters.
At home. At peace.
And in love.
