Page 94 of What Started In Deception

She nodded. “That will be fine.”

“I’m working out with Will and James at six thirty, but I think you and I should have a few one-on-one sessions while we focus on your form and balance.”

She nodded again. “That sounds smart. How does eight o’clock work for you?”

“It works just fine.” His gaze wandered over to Lydia again.

“I’ve been watching you watch my granddaughter talk to Asher for most of the evening. He’s a fine young man, but I like you better for Aaron’s Lidybug. Stop being so polite and go interrupt. Take your girlfriend for a walk on the beach.”

He set his beer down, recognizing that Marietta wasn’t making a suggestion. “Yes, ma’am. Can I help you get back to the party?”

“No, you can make Lydia smile. Her face lights up when you’re around.”

He couldn’t deny that he loved Marietta’s observation. “I’ll see what I can do,” he said as he stood, eagerly heading her way in a pair of blue linen shorts and a white short-sleeve button-up.

He’d been waiting for a moment just like this all evening, wanting to check in and make sure that things were still okay after their dicey conversation in the gym. They’d gone to the grocery store together, and things had been mostly fine, but they hadn’t spoken a lot since the chaos of her family’s arrival.

He could smell her floral and vanilla scent as he moved closer to her chair. Bending down, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders as he nuzzled her neck. “Hey, you.”

She grinned, settling her hands on his arms. “Hey.”

He ignored Asher’s hard look from hostile brown eyes as he wrapped her up tighter, nuzzling her again because he could. “Do you want to take a walk with me?”

She nodded as she let her palms slide along his skin. “I do.” She looked at Asher. “I’m going to take a walk with Ty.”

Asher nodded, smiling at her. “Have fun.”

“Thanks.”

Ty held out his hand to her, looking at Asher again when Lydia stood in her pretty, thigh-length summer dress and automatically intertwined her fingers with his, fully aware that he and Will’s best friend were locked in a pissing match. “Ready?” he said, tossing her a wink and smiling at her as she smiled at him.

“I am.”

He let her hand go, wrapping his arm around her waist as she wrapped hers around him, pulling her closer as they walked away, making sure that Asher knew that he could fuck off. Their relationship might have been a complete work of fiction, but he was the man who would be waking up next to Lydia for the rest of the summer.

He glanced Marietta’s way as she sent him a subtle nod and winked, then focused on Lydia again as they took the steps to the beach, both of them removing their shoes on the last stair.

She sighed as they moved through the warm sand with their arms wrapped around each other again, making their way closer to the water. “It’s so pretty out tonight.”

“I think it’s safe to say that every night is pretty here.”

She chuckled. “You’ve got me there.” Sighing again, she rested her head against his shoulder. “I’m sorry about tonight—that we didn’t get to sit next to each other at dinner.”

He shrugged. “It was fine. I had a chance to talk to your aunt, who’s a hell of a lady. I really like your family, Lyd.” And he absolutely did. Thus far, he’d found all the Monroes to be warm and far more relaxed and fun than their more formal behavior that was often observed in the press.

She smiled. “I’m glad you do.”

He nodded. “Everly’s decided that she can talk to me now. We bonded while she maneuvered her grandpa.”

She threw her head back with her laugh—the big, bold sound that he loved so much.

He chuckled. “She’s crafty and cute as hell.”

She grinned as their eyes met. “Yes, she is.” She rested her head against him again.

“So, what does Everly’s future look like? Because she seems pretty capable to me.”

Lydia nodded. “She was lucky to be born without any of the heart issues that are fairly common in babies with Down Syndrome. Everly has Mosaic Down Syndrome versus Trisomy 21.”