Page 17 of Lowering His Guard

I snort. “Boyfriend? Right.”

Alaia isn’t actually dating Tanner Long, the wide receiver for the Seals. She would never. She’s too serious about her career to get involved with NFL’s favorite bad boy. She needs to have more fun in her life.

Terri frowns. “The situation is going to bite her in the ass.”

I wiggle my eyebrows. “Biting can be fun.”

“It’s not going to be the good kind of biting.”

I pat her arm. “Don’t worry, those twin sisters of hers won’t let anything bad happen to her.”

“What about you? Who’s going to make sure nothing bad happens to you?”

My nose wrinkles. “Why would anything bad happen to me? I’m not the one in an arrangement with an NFL player.”

She raises an eyebrow. “You aren’t?”

I might think Brock is sexy and want to test just how strong those shoulders are – could he brace me above him while he nibbled on me as a snack? But we’re not in an arrangement. The only interaction we have is when he brings his son to surfing class.

“This is your fault,” I say before splashing her. She scurries away.

I drag my paddleboard out of the water and carry it to my bike. I settle it in the side carrier before returning to the lagoon. Spectators are starting to arrive.

I aim for the Wok the Plank booth. I want to make sure my parents are ready for the influx of tourists.

“Miss May!” Jace shouts.

I lift my arm to wave at him but then remember – I’m not wearing a bra. I’m perfectly happy to bebop around topless at a hippie beach but in front of a sixteen-year-old boy and his dad? Maybe not.

Especially since his dad has a tendency to make my nipples harden with a single glance. And guess who’s right behind his son?

I cross my arms over my chest. “Hey, Jace! Hey, Brock!”

Brock’s brow furrows. “Are you cold?” His gaze rakes over me and there go my nipples – hardening despite my telling them to behave.

“Dad,” Jace whines. “It’s ninety degrees out.”

Brock studies me for a moment before digging into his pocket and pulling out his wallet. He removes a twenty-dollar bill. “Go buy us some sodas.”

Jace snatches the money from him. “I’m getting a hot dog!”

The second he’s out of view, Brock grasps my elbow and drags me toward a secluded spot. I try to shake him off.

“What are you doing? Have you lost your mind? Is this the moment you snap and decide to kidnap me? Are you prepared? Do you have masking tape and a black hood?”

He blinks down at me. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m making sure you’re properly prepared for a kidnapping. It’ll be my first. I don’t want it to be lame.”

“You’re… you’d…” He cuts himself off with a shake of his head. “I’m trying to help.”

My brow furrows. “Help? With what? You’re the one who’s the worst prepared kidnapper in history.”

He growls. “I’m not kidnapping you. I’m helping you.”

I scratch my neck. “With what?”

He nods to my chest. “You appear to have forgotten something.”