“Mind if I join?”
I jumped, caught off guard.
“We’d love that,” Lake replied, smiling at Jackson, who’d magically materialized beside us. She rolled the ball across to Coral. “Do you know the rules?”
He laughed. “Of course I do. My parents love the beach. I practically grew up playing.”
I relaxed. Perhaps my personal bodyguard wasn’t still right by my side, but I wasn’t alone. Jackson seemed like a good guy and at least Thad hadn’t tried to join us.
Jackson’s eyes met mine, and they twinkled in the sunlight. “I’m happy to help if you need it.”
“Thanks.” I blushed. Was he flirting or just being nice?
Chris served the ball and Jackson returned it. The game continued seamlessly.
Half an hour later, Alec hadn’t returned yet. The breeze picked up, and the temperature dropped a few degrees. We finished the game and decided to pack up. There would be plenty of time to play in nicer weather.
I scanned the area, not wanting to leave without Alec, but I wasn’t sure where he’d gotten to. I didn’t have my phone so I couldn’t send him a message to ask.
The wind whipped briskly across my bare skin and I shivered.
“Here.” Jackson, who’d been helping put the volleyball gear away, offered me his sweater.
I waved dismissively. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I can see your goose bumps from here. I’m not cold. My hairy arms have more insulation than yours. Just take it and give it back to me later.”
I hesitated, but then said, “Thank you.”
It wasn’t a big deal. Accepting his sweater didn’t mean what it would have in high school. He was just being nice.
I took it from him and was about to put it on when Alec appeared from behind one of the palm trees near the path leading deeper into the resort. He marched over, tore the sweater from my grasp and thrust it back into Jackson’s hands.
“Thanks, but I’ve got her covered,” he growled, his eyes flashing. He unwrapped one of his team jerseys from around his waist and gestured for me to hold my arms out so he could put it on me. I did, feeling a little like an exhibit at a zoo. What the hell was going on?
The soft fabric enveloped me and stopped the worst of the chill from the wind. When I poked my head through the head hole and blinked against the sun, I noticed that Jackson was gone.
“What are you doing?” I asked Alec, completely baffled.
He put his hands on my hips and, despite the layer of fabric separating us, it felt painfully intimate. “If you were really my girl, I’d never let you wear another man’s clothing. The only name on your jersey should be mine.”
TWELVE
ALEC
The dying light of the sun painted the sky shades of pink and orange as Tally and I sipped our drinks on lounge chairs near the pool. Quiet music played in the background and it would have been wonderfully peaceful, if not for the rapidly approaching figure of Lake.
I studied her, wondering if we could get out of there before she arrived and avoid whatever it was she wanted to talk about because the briskness of her stride and the determined angle of her chin said that she had some kind of agenda. I’d been enjoying my after dinner soda while Tally indulged in a cocktail. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with an interruption, especially not an unwelcome one.
“Incoming.” I tilted my head toward Lake.
Tally followed the movement and grimaced. She and Lake had seemed to be getting along well enough during our game of beach volleyball earlier, but I supposed being in a group setting was different from having a direct conversation, which obviously wasn’t something she wanted.
“We could run,” I suggested, only half-teasing.
“It will be fine.” It sounded like she was willing herself to believe it. “Lake is a nice person.”
“Just not the most self-aware,” I added and sipped my soda. Both sisters were like that.
