Page 7 of Castaway Heat
It had been almost seven years since he’d last seen Ronin and he wasn’t ready to break the streak, especially with no time to prepare mentally or physically. Shiloh gazed down at his swim briefs, paler than should be skin, and less than toned body before he grabbed Eirin’s magazine, opened it, and lifted it to cover his face. Better to not be noticed at all than be judged by the hottest alpha on Earth.
Sage snatched the magazine out of his hands. Shiloh fought to recover it—and lost.
“Oh, no, darling… you’ve had a crush on my cousin for far too long not to take this opportunity.”
He’d long claimed to be over Ronin Drake, but there he was, feeling like a stupid teenager again, on edge and ready to make a total fool of himself.
“Idon’thave a crush on him,” he whispered hotly.
Sage tipped his sunglasses down and looked at Shiloh over the rim. “Sure babe.”
Ronin stopped at the end of the lounger Sage was sitting on. He grinned, but it appeared forced. “How are you, Sage?”
“Wonderful,”Sage murmured happily. “And you?”
“Hot, but otherwise fine.” Ronin narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same,” Sage purred.
Ronin’s nostrils flared and his gaze landed on Shiloh. His body tightened, chin rising. He never took his eyes off Shiloh as he answered Sage. “Dad wants to acquire the cruise line. He asked me to sneak out here and test their level of service.”
“Spying, hmm?” Sage asked. “Work’s no fun, even if masked as a vacation.”
Ronin’s gaze still didn’t move away from Shiloh.
Shiloh swallowed, squirming under that attention. His worried his rapidly beating heart might burst out of his chest like one of those cartoon dogs. He dragged his gaze away from Roninand focused on the pool.Calm down. He’s just a man with flaws like anyone else.
Ifthere were flaws, there were none he could see. A little age had made him even more attractive, which wasn’t good for Shiloh.
“Well, we can’t all be partiers like you, Sage,” Ronin murmured, finally dragging his gaze away and eyeing Sage.
Seconds later, it returned to Shiloh.
“Oh, where are mymanners?”Sage said. “Over there is my friend Eirin Foster. I don’t think you two have met before.”
Ronin nodded at Eirin. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same,” Eirin murmured.
“And you remember Shiloh Anderson, don’t you?” Sage asked Ronin. He chuckled. “But of course you do. He was that skinny little teenager who followed you around all moon-eyed during Thanksgiving and Christmas a few years back.”
Shiloh closed his eyes, mortified.Fuck. Thanks a lot, Sage.
When he reopened his eyes, he glared at Sage. Getting up and leaving the scene of the crime was tempting, but it would only make things worse. It would be better to play it off, like it was nothing. Otherwise, Sage would push that button even harder the next time.
Ronin’s gaze searched his face. “It’s been a while, Shiloh. How are you?”
“Wonderful, thanks,” Shiloh forced out.
“Oh, he’s doing more than wonderful,” Sage interrupted. “He just got his master’s and has been accepted into the graduate program at BBU. In a few years, we’re going to have to call himDoctorAnderson.”
A hint of a smile crossed Ronin’s lips. “Doctor Anderson, hmm? And what is it you’re studying?”
Shiloh cleared his throat, terrified his voice wouldn’t work. “Chemical Oceanography and Marine Biology.”
“Chemical Oceanography?What’s that?” Ronin asked, moving a step closer to Shiloh’s lounger.
He also turned his body so Shiloh was his sole focus.
