Page 76 of The Sexy Ex's Brother
She kicks water toward me, still grinning. "You’re ridiculous."
I close the space between us and wrap my arms around her waist. "And you’re mine. That’s the problem. I see you looking like this and suddenly I want to build a wall around this whole place."
"Possessive much?"
"Not really," I say, and then tap my finger lightly against the ring on her hand. "You’re off the market now. It’s not possessive. It’s just good inventory control."
She snorts. "Did you just compare me to a limited-edition asset?"
"A priceless one," I say, grinning. "No refunds. No exchanges. All sales final."
She rolls her eyes so hard I think they might get stuck, but she’s laughing, and I’ll take that as a win.
"Only when you're half-naked in sunlight," I add, leaning in like I’m telling her a secret.
She rolls her eyes again, but there’s a flush in her cheeks that’s not from the sun. I press a kiss to her shoulder, then her neck, and feel her melt into me.
"You ever think about how close we came to never getting this?" she asks, eyes closed.
"Every damn day."
She opens her eyes. "Me too."
I kiss her forehead and pull her in, arms around her waist. She hooks her legs around me under the water, and suddenly the world narrows to this: her lips, her body, her breath mixing with mine.
We dry off on the beach, lying side by side on a towel, our fingers linked. I pull out my phone and start snapping a few photos, mostly of the ocean, but also of her. Ivy lounging in the sun, head tilted back, eyes closed, the edge of a grin on her lips. She cracks one eye open and catches me.
I stand up from the towel and brush the sand off my chest, grabbing my camera and walking a few feet back to frame her against the water. Ivy’s stretched out on her stomach, hair damp and wild, the curve of her back catching the sunlight just right. I crouch low to get the angle, sunlight, sea, and the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen all in one frame.
She lifts her head and squints at me, one brow arched. "Are you photographing me like I’m your vacation trophy?"
"Absolutely," I say, not even pretending to be ashamed. "Need evidence in case anyone back home thinks I made you up."
She tosses a handful of sand in my direction. "Remind me to revoke your camera privileges."
Just then, a couple strolls by, hand in hand. The guy gives Ivy a second glance, subtle, but not subtle enough for me.
I nudge her. "You see? Men are staring."
She glances at the man, then back at me, amused. "Jack, there’s barely anyone here. That guy was like sixty and with his wife."
"Doesn’t matter. He’s still a man.”
She leans in, kisses the corner of my mouth, and murmurs, "Only one man I care about looking at me."
My throat tightens a little at that. I slide my hand around her hip and pull her closer. "Good answer."
She rests her head on my chest, and I keep my arm around her, staring at the ocean like it might hold still just for us.
She turns to me, chin propped on her hand. "What do you want this to look like when we go home?"
"Exactly like this," I say without hesitation. "Maybe fewer palm trees. But you. Me. No walls left to tear down."
She smiles, soft and quiet. "You’re sure?"
"I’ve never been more sure of anything."
***
