“Dog snacks?” Rhett snorts. “You deserve a beat down.”
I launch myself over the bar. Miles covers his face. “Not the face. I need the face to charm women.”
“Oh, please. The only woman you want to charm is Hazel and she won’t give you the time of day.”
“Sloane won’t give you the time of day either.”
Wrong. Sloane melted into my arms the second I pressed my lips to hers. Considering her father, it’ll take work to break down her defenses. Good thing she’s living in my house. I have plenty of time to work on tearing down those defenses.
But first, I need to smack my brother upside the head.
Chapter 18
“I can add ‘wrangling drunk Raiders’ to my resume.”
Sloane
Isigh as I plop down on the sofa in Zane’s living room. Boozer jumps up to lay next to me.
Harper sent me home early tonight sinceRumrunnerwasn’t busy. December is a weird month for tourism on Smuggler’s Hideaway. During theMermaid Treasure Hunt,the weekend before Christmas, it’s busy, and at Christmas and New Year’s, it’s extremely busy. But otherwise? Quiet as you’d expect an island outside the Summer vacation months to be.
The house is nice and quiet. Adele is with Zane’s mom since he’s playing poker with his brothers at Eli’s. Knowing the Raider brothers, there’s a good chance I get a call from the police asking me to pick him up.
“It’s you and me tonight, Boozer.” I pet my dog and switch on the television.
After five minutes of scrolling through channels, I realize it’s too quiet in the house. I miss the sound of Adele’s laughs. When she smiles, Zane’s entire face lights up with happiness. Does he realize how attached he is to his baby girl?
The door bangs open and I startle awake. Boozer barks and rushes to the front door.
“Shush, Boozer boy. Don’t wake my baby girl.”
Zane tries to pet the dog but he stumbles to the side and slams into the wall.
“Who put that there?”
I giggle. Someone’s been drinking.
His head whips up and he grins at me. “Sloane. You’re home.”
Hope tries to spark, but I squash it. Home? This isn’t home. This is Zane’s home. Not mine. I want a home, but I won’t steal his. Not when my welcome is contingent on being his nanny. When he doesn’t need me anymore? I swallow. I don’t want to think about it.
“How’s Adele?”
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
His brow wrinkles. “You don’t know?”
He tries to kick off his shoes but stumbles again and ends up on his ass. Boozer licks his face but he shoves my dog away. “Ew. Gross.”
Boozer thinks this is a game and dances around Zane, trying to kiss him while Zane bats him away. Or tries to. His arms are flailing and, if this is a game, Boozer’s winning.
I offer him a hand. “Need help?”
“Why would I?” He glances around. “Huh. I’m on the floor.”
“How much did you have to drink?”
“It’s not my fault,” he grumbles. “My asshole brothers insisted I drink a shot every time I mentioned Adele. Adele’s mine, you know.”
