Further proof that I’m lucky.
Sutton laughs at the look, then stands, brushing her hands off. “I’m going to the water. Anyone else want to come?”
“I’m stuck here for another ten,” Claire says, looking at her watch, and Miles smiles up to her, not even bothering to say he won’t be leaving her side.
“I’ll stay, too. I’m in a good chapter,” Lainey says from under the umbrella, lifting her Kindle. Grant settles in on a chair next to Decker, but Josie and I stand.
“I’ll dip my toes in,” Josie says.
“I’m gonna go wash off the sand,” Graham says, and we walk to the water’s edge. Rowan, Graham, and Sutton all head into the water, but I stay back with Josie, feet sinking into the wet sand.
“You’re not going in?” she asks, and I shake my head.
“No, no. I’ve lived here all my life, so I know it’s still too cold for me,” I say, tipping my head to the water. “August is when it’s warm enough to brave the water. I’m more of a sand girl, anyway.” Josie nods, but we’re both distracted when we watch Rowan get knocked over by an unexpected hard wave. Graham laughs, loud and happy, a free sound that if you’d told me I’d be hearing just a month ago, I’d tell you you’d lost it. But my magical small town has changed him in that short time. Rowan smiles as he wipes the water out of his face, then brushes his hair back before sending a large splash of water at Graham with his hands.
“They’re a lot alike,” Josie says, pulling me from my thoughts. Her gaze is still out at the ocean, watching the two play like kids. “You know, before I added some spice to his life, Rowan was living for work, work, and more work. His only friends were workplace acquaintances,” she says.
“Graham told me that friends are just networking opportunities when he got here.”
I half expect the tall brunette to give me a face like Claire did when I told her that, but instead, her head tips back, a tinkling laugh leaving her.
“Yeah, that sounds about right,” she says, shaking her head. Her lips settle into a soft smile as she watches Rowan, grinning and laughing as Sutton seems to tease both of the men. I wonder if she’s seeing Rowan as he was when they first met, closed off and solely focused on work. “And now?”
“Now?” I ask, not expecting her question.
“He seems to have found some friends here.”
Before I can respond, Graham shouts to the group behind us, beckoning Decker over as Sutton starts splashing both men. “Deck! Help us, Sutton’s ganging up on us!” he yells, and Claire lets out a sparkling laugh.
“It’s already two to one!” Sutton yells. “You guys are just big babies!”
“Two to one isn’t fair odds. Donovan women are built differently, you know that, Sutt,” Claire says.
“Amen to that,” Miles says, part agreement, part resignation. Deck runs down the beach, holding the football they were playing with before.
“I told you I was gettingawayfrom you!” Sutton whines, but there’s a small smile on her lips as he throws the ball to her and she catches it seamlessly. She throws it back, but the wind takes it, sending it off its target and nearly hitting Graham before he catches it, giving Deck shit about missing the catch. Deck lifts his hands in irritation, and Sutton lets out a loud laugh.
“Yeah, he’s got some friends here,” I say with a smile. Deck moves toward a smiling Sutton, who is still laughing, but starts waving her hands in defense.
“I’m sorry!” she says in a laugh. “I’m sorry, don’t do it!” But it's a lost cause. She lets out a shriek as he puts a shoulder into her belly, lifting her over his shoulder before jumping into an oncoming wave. Despite her seeming constant irritation with Decker, it’s more of a flirty kind that always makes me wonder. When they both surface from under the water, she tries to glare at him, but it’s not very successful since a grin wins out.
When Deck hears Josie and me laughing, he turns in our direction. “Which one of you is next?” he asks with a grin. I step back away from the water, but Josie stays there, feet planted in place.
“Put me in that water, and I’ll show you my taser,” she says sweetly, fluttering her lashes at Decker, and his face goes white. “She’s pink and bedazzled and named Betty.”
“Jesus Christ, Troublemaker, can we not here?” Rowan says, with a sigh. “This is my place of work.” Josie lifts a shoulder as if it’s a non-issue.
“Your girlfriend is scary, but it’s kind of hot,” Deck says, looking at Josie, a bit awed.
“You’re telling me,” Rowan says, low.
“Decker has a thing for strong, empowered women. I think he’s secretly into it when they’re mean to him,” Sutton says, and once again, Deck looks at her with heart eyes.
“Only for you.”
“In your dreams, Decker.”
“You would know, you’re in them every night.”
