Page 27 of Falling for Love

“Same.” Lucas lifts his glass again.

I nod, aware I’m integrating her into my life when I know so little about hers.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Taylor

Smooth sailing so far, both on the yacht and with Jack’s friends and sister. They were welcoming when we met and now we’re hanging out in what’s known as the cockpit, a large area with royal blue padded seating and a table.

The sun is shining overhead and the waters are calm, which keeps me as mellow as the people around me. Jack had mentioned his guy friends know I’m pregnant but their significant others don’t. He’s telling his family this weekend and wants Rainey to find out then. I respect his choice and have no intention of sharing what he’s not ready to reveal.

We order a round of drinks and when the steward hands each of us our glasses, my mouth waters at the virgin pina colada in front of me. Rainey and Kaylee both ordered different frozen margaritas, theirs with alcohol.

Leaning forward, I take a sip. “Mmm.”

“You should try the drinks Mak makes. She’s one of Midnight’s bartenders,” Rainey says to me. “My company won the bid to plan the Miami Thunder anniversary party a couple of months ago, and she made specialty drinks for the event. The attendees loved them.”

I smile at her warmly. “I’ll do that.” Just not when I’m pregnant.

“It’s too bad you weren’t around for that event. My sister really knocked it out of the park,” Jack tells me.

Rainey, a gorgeous brunette with wavy hair around her face, smiles at her brother. “Aww, you like me. You really like me.”

Lucas, with an arm around her shoulders, squeezes her close. “Of course he does. You’re utterly loveable.”

They’re so sweet.

Jack snorts, obviously uncomfortable with the lovey-dovey behavior of his sister and her fiancé. He glances at Rainey. “Yeah, I do love you. And I was damned proud of you, too. The party was a huge success.”

I smile at their sibling dynamic. Holly and I support each other, but their byplay is sweet in its own way. “I’m sorry I missed it,” I say.

Tristan slings an arm around Kaylee’s shoulders. “It was a crazy day. First, Rainey’s stalker showed up and Rainey was able to catch her admission on tape, and then the party was fantastic,” he says.

“You had a stalker?” I ask, shocked.

She waves a hand through the air. “At the time it was scary, but it’s over, thank God.”

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that.”

I’m not happy Rainey had someone after her, but it helps to know I’m not the only one going through something out of their control. It also tells me that Jack isn’t a stranger to his family having serious issues. Maybe I can trust him with mine.

It’s definitely something to think about.

Jack casually copies his friends and slides his arm around my shoulders, pulling me against him. “Rainey didn’t mention that while all this was going on, I was in Charleston, and she was sneaking around with one of my best friends.”

Rainey wrinkles her nose. “Oh, boo-hoo. It’s not like I was with someone you don’t like,” Rainey retorts. “And you got a solid punch in before you gave us your blessing. Which we shouldn’t have needed, by the way.”

I stifle a smile. “Kaylee, how did you and Tristan get together?” I ask.

I’m then regaled with the story of how they ended up sharing a room with one bed at a wedding they both attended. “You all live romance novel lives,” I tell them. In my spare time, I enjoy a good happily ever after. It helps take the sting out of my situation with Chandler.

“Says the woman who met a man who was visiting and is now here getting to know him better.” Kaylee grins, her pointed gaze on Jack, who is now tangling his fingers in my hair. “You never know what’s in store for you,” she says, a smile on her pretty face.

A heated blush rises to my cheeks. I know what I wish for. That Jack and I didn’t have Chandler coming between whatever romance could happen between us.

“I have your lunch,” the steward says, walking in with a tray of food.

He serves us a variety of shellfish and my stomach does a combination of churning at the smell and sinking at the meal a pregnant woman shouldn’t eat. I don’t know how well everything is cooked, and I know better than to try it. Even if it wasn’t turning my stomach.