Page 55 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
“Do you remember Aruba?” she asked softly. “We didn’t do anything but read romance books together on the beach.”
“We also had mind-blowing sex all week, but that’s beside the point.”
“Amazing sex should never be beside the point, but I get what you’re saying. A story for later. Something we can talk about once the sting’s gone. Like when you got us epically lost going to that Fairweather Christmas party, and we had that awful fight.”
“Or the time at that other Fairweather party when you farted and blamed it on poor Cathy from advertising?”
Her mouth dropped open. “You swore, William. Asparagus doesn’t agree with me, and yousworeyou wouldnever bring up that fart again.”
Placing a hand over his heart, he turned solemn. “And I never have. Until now. In this kayak. In the presence of God and all the swamp things listening.”
Silence settled between them again, but it was a comfortable silence as they both watched Emmett continue to shuffle around his yard by himself.
“These people are robbing us of premium sexy time,” she complained. “And this thong? Not exactly comfortable. I can’t wait for you to rip it off.”
Not taking his eyes off Emmett, he brushed a kiss on the top of her head while slipping one hand beneath her shirt to palm a breast. “I’ve already said I’m fucking you in that thing again. So, you’re going to have to get over it.”
“We could do it now.” Half turning, she braced her hands on the kayak's sides. “I’ll be quiet.”
“We’d flip the kayak.”
“We’ll go slow.”
“No, Jamison.”
“Yes, Liam.” Shifting her position before he could stop her, she tried to straddle him. “Just hold still. I’ll do all the work.”
The kayak immediately pitched hard to the side.
Slamming a hand against a tree trunk, he righted them before they were tossed into the water. “Baby, I know you want to rock my world, but maybe don’t do itliterally.”
She snorted. “Incredibly hot men aren’t supposed to be this goofy.”
“Says who?” He turned her back around, adjusting their balance. “One day, I won’t be hot anymore. One day, I’m going to look like my dad. Then my goofiness will be all that’s left, and you’ll be grateful.”
“Don’t sell your dad short. He’s still attract—”
Movement caught her eye, and she fell silent, already knowing Liam had raised the binoculars. Someone was emerging from the back of the shack.
Scrambling for her phone, which had fallen to the bottom of the kayak, Jamison quickly lifted it and started snapping photos in rapid succession. Too worried about getting the shot, it took her a moment to focus on the man chatting casually with Emmett.
“Bruce.”
She nearly dropped the phone when she recognized Bruce. Much taller than Emmett, with a bulky frame and buzzed hair, the man had haunted her nightmares.
“That’s him,” she hissed, the need to flee hitting so insanely fast that she almost tipped the kayak again. “That’s the man who tried to take me. The one who was with Sinclair.”
Liam didn’t lower the binoculars. He just wrapped his arm tight around her, anchoring her trembling body back against his chest. “I’m here. Nothing is going to happen to you, okay? I’m right here. But I need you to breathe. Quietly. Breathe through it.”
“Breathe through it,” she echoed as she continued to take pictures. “Breathe.”
She focused on the screen, watching Emmett and Bruce while they talked before turning to face east. Bruce moved his hand about, pointing at the channel leading directly to Haven House.
“I’m going over there.” Liam dropped the binoculars into her lap. “Call Rowan and tell him to get people here.”
Phone and binoculars forgotten, she flung herself on top of him. “You are absolutely not going.”
“I’m armed.”
