I want to kiss the smug look off her forbidden mouth. Hell, I want to march her up to her room and do a whole lot more besides.
‘Like dis, Uncle G!’
My gaze slides to Lottie as she lets go of my hand and starts pumping her arms, wriggling her lower body, and I— I amnotabout to doanyof that.
Taylor erupts. ‘Oh yes, exactly like that.’
I shake my head.
‘But Lottie says?—’
‘And I’d like to keep my dignity intact. Thanks all the same.’
She laughs but I’m already scanning the entire beach, looking for an excuse to escape. A rogue wave, a gull in distress, even Theo and Sadie being swept out to sea by a rip current. Fair trade, if you ask me. They’re the reason I’m in this mess.
‘You chicken?’ Taylor murmurs up at me, mouth leaning close, her scent wrapping around me – citrus, salt, temptation – and I almost forget where I am. What the line is.Almost.
She steps back before I can breathe in a lungful, her body moving to the tune as though she can’t help it. So effortless, so sinfully easy, I wonder if she’s even aware she’s doing it.
I drag my gaze from her body to her eyes.
‘A chicken is what I’ll look like if I do what Lottie just did,’ I tell her.
‘I’m no chicken, Uncle G.’ Lottie prances up and down at my feet, capturing my attention. ‘Disis a chicken.’
She launches into a perfect rendition of the Chicken Dance – wings, beaks, bum wiggle – and somehow eventhatsuits the beat better than the robotic side-shuffle I’ve slipped into.
But then the song changes – because of course it does – slowing into some blasted ballad. If I could glare daggers at the guitarist without crushing Lottie’s joy, I would.
‘Think that’s my cue to?—’
I’m cut off by Lottie’s tiny hands slipping around mine, her beaming face turned up to me as she sways to the music. I look to Tay –shoot me now– but she ain’t laughing any more. She ain’t teasing. She’s just… watching.
And whatever’s swimming in her eyes as they drop to where my hands are tangled with Lottie’s, it has me in a chokehold.
I can’t look at her looking like that.
And I can’t pull away from Lottie like this.
But Ialsocan’t leave Taylor standing there, alone, when everyone else is paired off.
Before I can think better of it, I lift Lottie onto my hip and reach for Tay.
‘Get here, Stone,’ I bark, trying to sound annoyed when really, the only person I’m angry at is myself.
For not having any of this under control.
Not the situation.
Not the feeling.
And definitely not her.
But when have I ever had my feelings under control where Taylor’s concerned?
Never. And ain’t that the real truth.
Taylor
