“Can’t complain.” He nods, and I watch as he looks over at Juniper. I notice his eyes widening for a few seconds as he takes in her sexydress and her long, silky hair. “Hi, Juniper.” This time, his voice is deep, throaty, gruff.
There is definitely something there. I’ll have to ask Mia what was going on there.
“Hey,” she says, her voice oddly tight. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
“I couldn’t miss the hottest party in town. Especially when our families go back so many years. And who knows?” he says, turning back to me. “Maybe there’s going to be a future engagement between you and my little sister.”
His eyes narrow as he stares at me, and I just smile congenially back at him. Rafe looks almost menacing, standing there in his white shirt and dark jeans.
“Rafe, really?” Mia glares at him. “This is not the time or the place to?—”
“To what? To question the man who has been secretly dating my sister for a year and hasn’t thought to tell anyone in the family or ask if it’s okay?”
“He does not have to ask if it’s okay, Rafe. How antiquated are you?”
“I’m your big brother. I’ve got to make sure that you’re not dating a loser. That’s my sole role.” He looks at me. “Have you even thought this through properly? I would hate for your friendship to be ruined because you all of a sudden figured out the other was good-looking.”
“I think they are old enough to make their own decisions,” Juniper says, rising to Mia’s defense, her brown eyes flashing at him.
“You may think that, but I know my sister. I know she doesn’t always think things through, and she’s been so desperate for?—”
“Rafe!” She punches him in the shoulder.
“Sorry, but it has to be said. Sometimes, just because we’re attracted to someone doesn’t mean that a relationship is the right way to go.” He crosses his arms and then looks back at Juniper again before his eyes widen at seeing a grinning Wendy, who’s just been observing the entire conversation. “Oh, hey there, Wendy. Please forgive me for being rude. I didn’t even see you there.”
“No worries. How are you?”
“Good. I actually saw your guest at the front, drinking some beers with Dayton.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She looks surprised and pleased at the same time, and I notice she’s now patting her lips. Interesting.
“What’s his name? Carter?”
“Yes, I didn’t know he’d come.”
“Yeah, he looked like he felt slightly uncomfortable, but I guess he knows a couple of people here.” Rafe shrugs and glares at Mia as she stands closer to me.
“Yeah, I should go and look for him, I guess. Thanks for letting me know.” Wendy grabs her bag and looks around.
“No worries. I’m sure he’ll be grateful for the company because Dayton was looking for Summer and asking where she was.”
He looks at Mia. “What’s the deal with them?” He lowers his voice as he nods over at Summer.
“What do you mean?”
“Are they together or what? Every time I see him, he’s looking for Summer or asking about Summer or arguing with Summer, and I swear he has a thing for her.”
“I mean, we’ve always thought he had a thing for her since high school, right?” Juniper says softly.
“Yeah.” Mia nods. “But Summer has never really seemed that interested, though I have kind of noticed that she’s been a little bit more flirtatious with him recently.”
“I’ve kinda seen him checking her out at yoga as well,” Wendy adds. “I’ll see you guys later. Let me see if I can find Carter and, uh, figure out if he needs help finding anything.”
She walks off with a wave, and Rafe just starts laughing.
“Next thing you know, everyone in Coconut Beach is going to be falling in love,” he says, shaking his head and raising an eyebrow at me.
