Page 36 of The Summer Dare
Raven, Sloane, and I have a rare afternoon off and we’ve agreed to spend it together. We’re grabbing a pizza and watching chick-flicks all night. As the twins watch the movie, my focus has been on Ryan as he works on the side of the house. When a pillow flies into my lap, I look at Raven and ask, “What the heck was that for?”
Raven looks at Sloane then back at me. “I don’t know. Why do you think I threw the pillow at her?”
“Uh, maybe because you called her name three times and she completely ignored you?”
Raven and Sloane are identical twins, but they are complete opposites when you look at them now. Raven’s dressed in black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, whereas Sloane looks like she just stepped off a runway—in full makeup and dressed in her black pencil skirt and white blouse from work.
They’re both absolutely gorgeous. But at the moment they’re both staring daggers at me and it’s obvious I’m about to be ganged up on. Their matching hazel eyes are laser focused on me, and if I’m not careful, shit will go sideways in a nanosecond.
Knowing they’d see right through a complete lie, I go with a half-truth as I shrug it off, “I guess I was just zoning out.”
“And this doesn’t have anything to do with the hot builder outside?”
Just then Jared walks by and again I deflect. “Uh… that guy’s practically old enough to be our dad. There’s no way I’m interested in him.”
At least that part is true.
“Yeah.” Sloane rolls her eyes at Raven and I swear they’re doing their freaky twin communication. “That’s not who we’re talking about…”
“Neither of you know what you’re talking about,” I grumble. “Go back to watching the show.”
I probably should know what we’re watching, but that would mean my focus is off Ryan—so it doesn’t happen. As the girls silently exchange more thoughts with one another, I force myself to pay attention to the television. Of course, Ryan chooses this exact time to walk by the window and I might aswell be that dog in the movieUP, completely distracted by squirrels.
When the movie ends, the twins head upstairs to finish unpacking, so I use this opportunity to temporarily flee. “I’m gonna check the mail!” I holler up the stairs, then dart outside, hoping I haven’t missed him. Thankfully, Ryan’s still sitting in his truck, talking on his phone—like he does most nights.
When he spots me approaching, he ditches his phone and steps outside to greet me. With each of their rooms facing the sides of the house, I feel fairly confident approaching Ryan and letting him wrap me into a hug.
“I’ve missed you,” he says when he releases me.
“Same,” I agree on a sigh.
“I know you’re hanging with your sisters tonight, but how about dinner at my place tomorrow after work?”
The thought of uninterrupted time with Ryan sounds magnificent.
Then, I remember why I can’t and I feel as if I’ve just been given a lead balloon.
Groaning, I quickly explain, “As soon as I get off, we’re driving to Dad’s in Tacoma. Lizzy’s graduation is Thursday, and my mom flew into town so we won’t be back until Friday evening.”
“Do you have a few minutes right now? You keep lookin’ over your shoulder as if you expect someone to be watching you.”
That’s because they probably are.I internally groan.
We walk along the house and across the paved path of the promenade. As if he senses my need for privacy once we’re outof sight of the house he reaches for my hand and pulls me closer to him and loops an arm around my waist. “Everything okay?”
Being in his arms feels better than I would’ve imagined. I’m not sure how someone I barely know can have this sort of impact on me. But it just feels… right.
When I don’t say anything, he stops and turns to face me. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
Sheepishly, I shrug. “Would you believe, I just got lost in the moment with you holding me?”
“Ha… you have no idea,” he says before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine.
This isn’t a kiss that gets carried away, or full of all-consuming passion. No, it’s light and tender with a promise of more.
When he breaks our kiss, he leans his forehead against mine and asks with a grin, “We good?”
“Better than good,” I whisper, running my thumb along his jaw.
