Page 61 of Nights at Seaside
As he stepped onto the deck and reached for her hand, surrounded by the people she loved most, she knew what she had to do. She had to watch him fight.
SAWYER’S HEART HAMMERED against his chest as he and Tony joined the girls on the deck, but it wasn’t their run that had every ounce of his body aflame. It was his sweet summer Sky and the emotions radiating from her smiling eyes.
She laced her fingers with his and said, “I’m glad you found a running mate.”
As he leaned in for a kiss, Amy and Jenna said, “Aww.”
“She’s hard to resist,” he said honestly. “I caught up with Tony across Route 6.”
“It was nice to get to know your new beau, Sky,” Tony said as he rubbed Amy’s belly, then bent to kiss her. “We ran down to the bay and stopped by Kurt and Leanna’s. Leanna’s business has really taken off. She’s hiring more summer help, and she can’t really come back to Seaside until she’s got that under control. They aren’t sure when they’ll be back.”
Sky rose to her feet. “Sawyer, why don’t you sit down and I’ll sit on your lap.”
He did, and stole a kiss while he was at it.
“You guys are so cute,” Amy said, then looked up at Tony. “Was Leanna doing okay?”
“I think she’s working too hard,” Tony answered. “She looked exhausted, and I know she misses you guys. She said she wished she could move Seaside to the bay so she could walk outside and see everyone.”
“That would be amazing, wouldn’t it?” Amy said. “The more Tony and I have thought about it, the more we’re leaning toward buying on the bay. Then we could live there over the colder months and here in the spring and summer.”
Sawyer gathered Sky’s hair over one shoulder and said, “I can see why she misses you. You’re like one big family—without the fighting.”
“You are supercute,” Jenna said. “Really, look at you playing with her hair.”
Sawyer laughed. “She’s supercute. I’m just lusting after her.” He wrapped an arm around Sky’s waist. “I had no idea that you knew Kurt Remington. I’ve read all of his books.”
“You like thrillers?” Sky asked. “I learn something new about you every day.”
“I like lots of books. Thrillers, poetry, even cookbooks. I make a killer soufflé.”
Tony winced. “Dude, you shouldn’t admit that.”
“Looks like someone’s got mail.” Sawyer pointed down the street to the mail truck pulling up in front of Amy and Tony’s cottage.
“Again?” Amy looked up at Tony. “Did you order anything?”
Tony shook his head. “I’ll go see what’s up.”
Everyone except Bella watched the mailman pull a hand truck loaded with pink boxes up the center of the gravel road. Sky couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Tony pointed to Theresa’s house and then joined them on the deck again.
“He must have had seven boxes from Eve’s Adult Playhouse for Theresa with our address,” Tony said with a wrinkled brow. “What’s up with that?”
They all looked at Bella, who held up her hands in surrender. “What?” She pushed to her feet and hurried from the deck toward the quad.
“Wait for us!” Jenna hollered as she and Amy went after her.
“This can’t be good.” Tony went after them.
“Where are they going?” Sawyer asked.
“Every summer Bella pranks Theresa, the property manager. Last summer she changed all the pictures in Theresa’s house to pictures of Bradley Cooper and had one of Caden’s police officer friends pretend that they’d had a complaint about stalking.”
“Are you serious?” Sawyer laughed.
“Yes. Then TheresabroughtBradley Cooper—therealBradley Cooper—to their wedding! It’s really funny, but I’m sure at some point Theresa’s not going to be so cool about it.”
“Do you want to go with them?” Sawyer asked.
