Page 27 of Maldives & Mistletoe

“You couldn’t even help me, huh?”

She shrugged, and went back to her romance novel. “Don’t act like you don’t enjoy that kid, and his tricks, Theo. We both know you do.”

It took him all of one second to reply, “Yeah, I really do.”

“I know.”

Without warning, Theo slipped into the hammock with her. It rocked dangerously, threatening to send both of them crashing to the floor as he resituated them both so that Eve was tucked into his side, and one of his feet dangled to the floor so that he could swing them back and forth. She barely kept in her shout of surprise, scared of falling, but somehow managed to keep quiet. If only because she didn’t want to wake up the boys where they slept behind curtains that did nothing to keep out noise.

“Be careful,” she whispered.

Theo chuckled deeply. “We’re fine.”

And they were.

His arm snaked around her, and pulled her closer as she opened up her e-reader again, and went back to the story of a virginal heroine who had just ran into her crush—who also happened to be her brother’s best friend. God, she loved that trope.

But it was a lot harder to focus on her book when Theo was this close. Not that she minded, really. His fingers drifted over the bare skin of her arm as his lips grazed her hairline.

“We’re definitely coming back here, right?” she asked.

“First chance we can, babe.”

Eve smiled. “Good.”

Maybe next time, they would come alone. Or maybe everyone would come again. Who knew? Eve didn’t really care as long as Theo was there with her. He made everything so much better.

“You know, I have all those gifts for the kids to wrap when we get back to the hut,” Eve said, grinning up at her husband.

Theo rolled his eyes. “I suppose I could help you with that.”

“Yay!”

“Like you didn’t plan that this whole time.”

Eve shrugged, not even ashamed of her trickery. “You wrap presents far nicer than I do, anyway.”

“That is true.”

“Your ego is huge.”

“No lie there, either,” he murmured.

“Good thing I love you.”

“Yes, that is the good thing.”

“So, it’s a deal, then,” she said.

“What is?”

“You’ll wrap all the presents for me when we get back?”

“Hey, that is not—”

“Too late,” she crowed. “You agreed.”

Theo’s fingers went from drifting over her skin to tickling her for all he was worth. Her muffled giggles quieted when he turned her over so that she was resting on his chest, and pressed his lips against hers.

Giving her a wink, he murmured against her lips, “Fine, I’ll wrap all your presents for you.”

“I knew you would.”

“But I expect something in return.”

His voice dipped sinfully.

Eve wet her lips, replying, “I guess we’ll see what I can do for you.”

Anything, really.

She’d do anything for him.