Page 30 of Nights at Seaside
“Good to see you again, Blue.” Sawyer nodded to him as Blue knelt to pet Joey.
“Come on. We’ll introduce you to Grayson, our other brother, and Tony,” Pete said to Sawyer.
Sawyer turned to Sky. “Okay?”
She loved that he thought to check with her instead of barreling off with the men. “Of course, just don’t listen to any of their stories about me. They’re lies, all lies.”
“Would we do that?” Pete said sarcastically.
“Now I’m curious.” Sawyer kissed her cheek, then followed the guys down the beach.
“Look at our men,” Jenna said with a sigh. “Hot, hot, hot.”
“You can say that again,” Sky said. She could watch Sawyer all day long.
“Did you see how Blue almost reached for you?” Jenna laughed, and when Sky didn’t, her tone went serious. “Uh-oh. What happened?”
They walked over the dunes and down to the beach as they talked. “Blue called Duke and had Sawyer checked out.”
“Oh, that.” Jenna waved a dismissive hand. “Of course he did.”
“How can you say that? It feels like a violation of my privacy.”
“Sky, he was with Hunter and Grayson, and you know Gray…He was all hot under the collar about you dating a boxer. He said he wasn’t going to let his sister date Mike Tyson. Hunter told Pete all about it, and Pete told me about it.”
“So itwasn’tall Blue’s doing?” Blue was taking the heat for her brother? Now that sounded more like Blue, trying to keep the peace between siblings.
“From what Pete said, Blue was a little funny about the whole thing, but more because you guys are so close than anything else. But when Grayson said he was going to pay Sawyer a visit, Blue stepped in and offered to call Duke.” She looped one arm into Sky’s and the other into Amy’s as they neared the bonfire.
“I think it’s sweet,” Amy said. “Even Grayson’s whole protective older brother thing.”
“You wouldn’t if you grew up with every guy you ever dated being given the third degree.”
“They only did it because they love you, Sky,” Amy said sweetly.
She glanced at Sawyer, standing with Tony, Blue, and her brothers. Seeing him with the people she loved most made her stomach flutter. He was laughing and looked totally at ease, and when he turned and their eyes met, his smile widened.
“Someone can’t stand to be away from you,” Jenna said.
“I feel the same way. Jenna, it’s so fast.”
“Fast is so much better than slow. Trust me,” Jenna said. “I loved Pete for years before we finally got together. It was torture.”
“Hey, I waited more than a decade for my man,” Amy said, reminding Sky that Amy hadn’t even been with another man after her teenage love affair with Tony. “And it was worth every second.”
They joined the others, and Sawyer reached for Sky and pulled her in close. She loved that he didn’t hesitate to be affectionate in front of her family.
“Are they playing nice or trying to scare you off?” she asked.
“No one could ever scare me off.” Sawyer pressed his lips to hers.
“Hey, sis,” Grayson said.
“I have a bone to pick with you.” She turned to Sawyer as she grabbed Grayson’s arm. “Excuse me for a minute.” She dragged Grayson away from the others.
“I guess you heard about us checking out Sawyer?” Grayson was the youngest of Sky’s brothers, and at two years older than Sky, the closest to her age. He’d always had a chip on his shoulder, and at the moment, Sky didn’t know, or care, why.
“Yes,” she said, folding her arms over her chest and raising her chin to meet his eyes. “And I’m not happy about it.”
