Page 57 of Wild Tides
“Is this seat taken?” a deep but recognizable voice asked at my shoulder.
I wanted to blurt no. Things with Vi were new. The last thing I needed was Drew’s interference. But the one thing I’d learned never to expect on a small island was privacy. And since Drew’s tacit approval had set me on my current course, driving me toward my present happiness, I relented.
“It’s yours if you remember your sister is a grown-ass adult and that we’re on a date.”
Vi choked off a giggle next to me. I gripped her fingers, bringing her knuckles to my lips. “Boundaries, baby.”
She giggled again, shoulders shaking as Drew and Anya took the seats next to us at the bar. Her mirth calmed the inner voice that said she could speak up for herself. I wouldn’t let anyone bully my girl. Definitely not her brother. Between us, Vi and I could pinpoint all of his weak spots. And I wasn’t above spilling the beans to Anya if he got out of line. Maybe his future wife would like to know he wet the bed until he was ten.
As if he sensed my impending betrayal, Drew raised his palms. “We come in peace.” He shot out a hand. It took me a moment to realize he meant to mine. As if we hadn’t been friends for decades.
“Congratulations, man.” I narrowed my eyes. “Condolences then?” He shifted around me to tell his sister, “I’m happy for you both, Vi.”
“Thanks, Drew.”
Drew wrapped his arm around Anya. “It wasn’t exactly a gift card for a yoga class, but I like to think I did my part in bringing you together.”
Vi leaned forward on the bar, staring her brother down. “You could be smug, or you could be smart right now, Drew. What are you going to pick?”
Drew held up his hands, palms spread wide. “If smart means I’m shutting up now.” He mimed zipping his lips.
Anya handed him a menu, and he hid behind it, choosing a strategic retreat.
Josie brought out the fancy hot dogs we’d ordered for dinner, and I embraced the heartburn, needing to fuel myself for a night of dancing with Vi. She ate her dog daintily, her bright red lips wrapping around the bun in a move that shouldn’t have turned me on. Not with her brother there. I shifted in my chair, averting my gaze.
Anya and Drew’s order arrived, and we chatted easily through dinner. Making conversation was torture when I’d prefer to go home, lock the door, and show Vi how much I loved her. But I’d promised her romance. A re-do on the proms she missed, and I wouldn’t let my hornier tendencies interfere with making her dreams come true. Even if I were calculating the odds of finding a private closet to make my point. The town had already been privy to enough of our romance. They didn’t need to catch the X-rated portions too.
We stepped out into the chill night air after dinner, the glow from the cocktail bar shrinking behind us. A dark SUV idled half a block down, headlights off, exhaust puffing in faint clouds. The driver’s silhouette sat motionless, too still for a guy waiting on a friend. My instincts twitched, cataloguing details I couldn’t put into words.
Just when I thought about saying something to Vi, the engine rumbled, and the SUV slid away into the dark. I shook it off – it was so brief, I hadn’t caught the license plate. Still, unease prickled at the back of my neck as we headed toward the dance.
The walk to the Brickworks Building only took a few minutes. Usually used to host the indoor portion of the farmer’s market, the building was rustic but beautiful. The planning committee had strung fairy lights along the exposed rafters. A DJ booth took up one corner, and thankfully, unlike high school, they’d set up a real bar.
“Would you like to dance or get a drink first?” I wrapped my arms around Vi from behind as we surveyed the scene.
A few brave couples slow-danced in the center of the floor. Gran sparkled under the low light in head-to-toe pink sequins as Ollie Reyes held her close. Gran’s hands gripped two generous handfuls of his ass while they swayed.
“Drink,” Violet said definitively, shuddering. “I love Gran, but I need a minute before we join them on the dance floor. She’s not above sidling up behind me and reaching around to grabyourass.” She held up a palm. “And before you talk about boundaries again, this is not your first Fenwick rodeo, Murphy. I was born into this nonsense. You chose it voluntarily.”
I lifted her knuckles, brushing them with a quick kiss. “And I’d pick you again every damn day for eternity.”
Her gaze softened, going hazy, and I drew her closer, brushing her lips with mine. I lost time, reveling in her mouth beneath mine. The soft flavor of mint lingered from her drink earlier. Rough fingers grabbed my butt and squeezed.
I jerked back from Violet, eyes wide. She looked love-drunk, blissfully unaware of the assault on my ass. Pride eclipsed my alarm, until I realized that Violet’s hands were still clasped in mine. Which meant my groper could only be one person.
“Hi, Gran,” Vi said wryly. “Do we need to talk about acceptable conduct in public again?”
Gran cackled behind me. “You mean I can touch his butt in private?”
“No,” I bit out, scooting around to protect my ass from the grabby senior. “Gran, I’m practically one of your grandkids. You’ve known me since I had braces. Keep your hands to yourself.”
She raised wrinkled hands, winking ostentatiously at me. “It was a grope of approval.”
I buttoned away the smile that wanted to peep out. “That’s not a thing.”
Gran’s gaze shifted to her granddaughter. “It’s only a thing ifIdo it,” Violet corrected. “I’m the girlfriend. You’re the old lady who should know better.”
“I’m old enough to know better and young enough not to care,” Gran spouted, glancing between us, her mischievous expression softening. “But if you’re claiming Lee, then I’ll keep my hands off in the future. I just wanted to make sure you were protecting your turf.”
