A low growl sounds next to me, and I turn to see Luke standing there in his wetsuit. He’s already started to peel it down. I run over to him and jump into his arms.
“Shoots, you’re so wet,” I say as I get ocean water all over my sweater and jeans.
“Well, you knew I just got out of the water,” he says as he spins me around and gives me a big kiss. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey, handsome. How are the waves?” I ask him.
“Pretty gnarly.” He grins. “It was fun. You know, you’ve got to let me show you how to surf sometime.”
“Yeah, when I’m one hundred percent guaranteed to not encounter any sharks, I will let you take me out to surf.”
“So, that’s never then?”
“Yeah, that’s never.”
“Okay then. Hey, Juniper.” He holds up a hand. “I would give you a hug as well, but I don’t want to get you wet.”
“Thank you because I don’t really want to get all salty wet either.” She grins. “So, we’re all going to play board games this weekend?”
“Yeah. I invited Rafe, Wendy and Carter, Summer and Dayton, Silvie and Cal, and we’re all going to play charades and whatever other board games I can get. I think it’ll be fun. We’re going to grill out steaks and some burgers, and Mia said she’s going to make a potato salad and an apple pie.”
“Mia, you’re cooking?” Juniper looks shocked.
“What? So, I’m a little domesticated now. I do it for my man.”
“Really?” Luke tilts his head to the side. “You’re making potato salad and apple pie for me, even though I don’t really like potato salad and I requested twice-baked potatoes?”
I laugh loudly then. “Hey, you’ll like this potato salad. I promise.”
He kisses me on the tip of the nose. “I like and love everything you make, so I’m sure you’re right.”
“Oh my gosh. Gag me with a knife,” Juniper says, laughing loudly. “Why are you two so sickly-sweet?”
“Maybe because we’re in love.”
“I guess so. Remind me when I fall in love to not act like this,” she says, smiling at me. “That is, if I ever fall in love because it seems like there’s no man on this island who is mature enough to date a woman like me.”
“I think there’s got to be at least one,” I say. “Is there anyone that you fancy or have your eye on?”
“Not at all,” she says, shaking her head quickly. “Not at all. There’s no one.”
“Wow. That was kind of a fast response.” I narrow my eyes. “You mean, there’s no one you’ve ever seen at Cocktails & Chaos that you thought,Wow, he’s cute?”
“Nope, not at all.”
“Really? What about that dude who was talking to us? What was his name? Matt?”
“Who’s Matt?” Luke says, frowning slightly.
I laugh as I see the jealousy in his expression. “He wasn’t interested in me. He was trying to chat up Juniper. I flashed him this absolutely gorgeousdiamond ring that my fiancé put on my finger.” I grin at him. “And he was not interested.”
“I’m not interested in Matt. We were just talking, and he was going on and on about comic books.” Juniper gives me a look. “And you know I am not interested in comic books or men who are interested in comic books.”
“I know”—I laugh—“but maybe give him a shot.”
“Give who a shot?”
I look behind me, and I’m surprised to see Rafe standing there.
