Not a snake, then.
They know Idon’tknow.
Thank God the alarm on my phone goes off.
“Luna.” I’m already on my feet, tightening my sarong around my waist. “Salon. Appointment. Let’s go.”
She blinks. “Oh! Right.” Gathering her bag and drink, she hops up and starts to follow me, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t forget—teppanyaki dinner tonight, everyone! And karaoke after!”
But then Luna suddenly stops short. “Hold on.”
She spins back toward Noah and throws her arms around his neck, kissing him goodbye. Because they won’t see each other, oh dear God, for about two hours.
And after, she looks at me.
I follow her gaze to Beckett, who’s lounging in my chair, his now, apparently, sunglasses low on his nose, sending me a look that feels like a dare.
I could ignore it. Pretend there isn’t an unspoken expectation. But then Luna’s expression softens, a little crease between her brows. Concern.
For me.
So I do what I need to do.
I walk back and lean down.
Where do my hands even go?
I settle for safe. One hand on his shoulder, quick and polite, like a wife who hasn’t spent the past year unraveling.
But the second my lips touch his, I unravel in a different way.
His mouth is warm. Oh, so comfortable. Familiar. Mine.
And when his hand slides up the back of my neck—fingers threading through my hair, holding me there—I feel it all.
The spark. The ache. The reminder.
He tastes like mint gum and a hint of rum.
He tastes likemy Bex.
And I know, logically, it’s just a few seconds, but when I pull away, my pulse is doing cartwheels. And this feeling, that I want to kiss him again, it’s so right, but also, so very very wrong.
“Salon,” I manage to say, grabbing Luna’s wrist like it’s a lifeline. “We’re gonna be late.”
THE GUYS
BECKETT
Istay on deck after Ashley and Luna duck out for hair appointments, letting the sun burn through the last of my hangover.
That kiss… yeah. I wasn’t prepared for that. For how natural it felt. For how quick my heart went straight to my throat.
She didn’t pull away.
Didn’t stiffen.
Didn’t act like she was forcing it for Luna’s benefit.
