“It’s a cool evening and that dress doesn’t look warm. Too much exposed skin.”
Her lips pinch together as she looks down at herself.
“Oh. Thanks. And I’m sorry if this isn’t what you had in mind when you invited me,” she says quietly. “Margot thought it would be good, but—”
“What the fuck?” I’m too confused to even think about being polite. “Why are you frazzled about the dress?”
Her eyes are shadowed when she looks up at me.
The sun has set and the soft outdoor lamps are the only light.
Being out here alone feels like a bad idea.
Just not bad enough for me to storm back inside where Cooper Daley and a bunch of heavy responsibilities wait like hungry wolves.
“You said you didn’t like the dress.”
Unable to help myself, I eye the dress again. It’s a journey dyed in red, wrapping around her waist, tight across her wide hips, draping over her breasts and one shoulder.
And that slit—a siren call to skin.
“The dress is fine,” I say gruffly. More than fine. “But that’s not the issue. You need to stay the hell away from Cooper Daley. He might’ve worked with Gramps, but he’s no family friend. I never trusted his ass.”
“Why?”
“Must you know everything?” I snarl.
“Yes.” She folds her arms across her chest, which pushes her breasts up deliciously. “I want to know. Just because I agreed to this insanity doesn’t mean I answer to you. Or that you can keep me in the dark about everything. I’m old enough to handle myself, Ethan.”
“Like hell,” I mutter.
“See, that. That, right there, is the toxic alpha crap that doesn’t jive with me.” She jabs me in the chest, a gesture so unexpected, I freeze. “Keep it up, and I’m done. I’ll give you yourmoney back. Soexplain. Why do you want me to avoid Cooper Daley again?”
“Toxic alpha crap?” I snort. “Is that what they call a man protecting his girl now?”
“What wouldyoucall it? What are you protecting me from?”
“I’d call it common courtesy, and you’re welcome. One more minute alone, and his hand would’ve been on your ass. I’ve seen how he behaves with women before.”
Her mouth opens, but no words come out.
She sucks in a breath that’s too loud in the evening air with the canned laughter floating from the ballroom.
“I was never in any danger. You didn’t need to protect me.” She shakes her head. “Jesus, it’s like we’re kids again.”
“Too defensive.” I jam a frustrated hand through my hair. “And why is that so horrible? Even when I was a complete shit to you, I was looking out for you, Pages. You and Margot both.”
“Yeah, sure.” Her eyes glint with anger and another emotion I can’t identify. “The boy who used to wreck our beach castles wasprotectingme. The guy who almost got medrownedwas just looking out for my health.”
Damn her.
There’s no way to explain the way my heart seized up when I saw her leap off the side of the boat, fully clothed.
That awful moment when she went under by the pier and didn’t surface again.
I never hesitated.
I was in the water before I knew what I was doing—and she was so frantic, so desperate, spitting water with wide eyes.
