Page 26 of Lowering His Guard

“Nuh-uh. You were the one who was cheating.”

She widens her eyes – the picture of innocence. But those brown eyes are twinkling. “What did I do?”

“You screamed Watch out for Sammy as I overtook you.”

She shrugs. “You should always watch out for Sammy.”

Sammy is apparently a seal that hangs around on the island. According to May, he was injured when he was young. When he recovered, he ended up on Smuggler’s Hideaway and refused to swim away. I’ll believe it when I see it.

“What do you want?” I ask Jace. The winner gets to decide what we do this afternoon.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go get some food.”

My stomach growls in response. I’m always hungry. It’s a side effect of working out as much as I do.

May’s eyes widen as she stares at my stomach. “Did your stomach just growl? Or are you hiding an alien in there?”

“Dad’s always hungry.”

“Phew.” May drags the back of her hand across her forehead. “I am not prepared for an alien situation. I’m not afraid to admit I’d run away and leave you to deal with it.”

“Run away?” I cock an eyebrow. “You think you’re faster than me?”

“I know I am.” She lifts her foot. “These feet were made for running.”

“You’re wearing flip-flops. No one can run in flip-flops.”

She shrugs. “The great thing about flip-flops? You can flip them off.”

“And run barefoot? Are you crazy?”

She grins. “Why, thank you, Brock. I didn’t know you liked me.”

I growl. I like her way more than I should. I should stay away from her. The same way I’ve stayed away from all the women who chased me after Serenity left. But I can’t stay away. Why not? Why does this woman fascinate me? Why can’t I keep my eyes off of her?

May throws her arm around Jace’s shoulders. “We should probably go eat before your dad scares away the fellow go-karters with his growling.”

Jace chuckles. “Did you notice the way the track attendant paled when Dad glared at him?”

She sighs. “Poor guy was merely helping him strap into the kart.”

I grunt. “Didn’t need any help.”

“You could have said as much instead of growling at him. I thought he was going to piss his pants.”

Jace’s nose wrinkles. “Gross.”

“Maybe you should carry around diapers when you’re with your dad and he’s scaring the piss out of everyone.”

“Don’t need diapers,” I grumble.

“I didn’t say you did,” May says. “But the poor people you come into contact with?” She frowns as she shakes her head.

“You’re not scared of me.” She doesn’t run from my scowls the way most women do.

“I don’t scare easy. You survive wiping out in the Pacific with no one around for miles and you realize you can survive anything.”

Jace’s eyes widen. “You wiped out in the Pacific when you were alone?”