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He kissed the top of her head, damp from the fog and her tangle with the waves. “Someday you need a pet to go with those kids you’ll be a great mother of.”
When she sent him a speaking glance, he lifted his hand, a gesture of peace. “Shutting up now.”
“One. Baby. Step,” she reminded him.
It was impossible to dodge the worry that it was the only one she’d ever allow him—the one step of staying for the party. That afterward, she’d disappear from his life just as she’d faded from his view on foggy Dragonfly Beach. Perhaps if he shared with her the depths of his alarm when he’d lost her that afternoon she’d take pity on him and promise more…
But no. He was only after an “exploration” as Jojo had aptly put it and so he could be patient with his demands of Lilly. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to cement what she’d agreed to, though. “We’ll detour through the lobby to get your bags and cancel the car,” he said.
“I’m a mess.” Her hand went self-consciously to her hair, and he grabbed it to kiss her knuckles.
“How are you going to un-mess without your things?” he said. “Though I think you look like a beautiful mermaid I just dragged out of the sea.”
When she was dealing with the car rental, he tipped a bellman to take her suitcases up to his suite. Kane strolled up just as he was communicating his room number.
His second cousin looked at him with a glint of humor in his gaze. “Well, well, well.”
“Don’t start,” Alec said, watching the young man trundle Lilly’s items toward the elevator with distinct satisfaction.
“How does it feel losing your mind?” Kane asked. “Is it a slow slide into insanity or does it happen in a single moment, like a brick coming down on your head?”
“One day you’re going to explain this fear you have of women,” Alec said.
“It’s a fear of having to stick with a single one,” Kane retorted, grinning.
“You know, that makes you sound like an asshole.” Alec frowned at the other man. “Seriously.”
Instead of answering, Kane’s gaze had caught on a male figure striding through the lobby, his long legs making quick work of the spacious expanse of tile. “We have a new guest, I understand.”
“That’s Con Montgomery. Brother of Audra.” With a little niggle of concern, he remembered the big man staring at his little sister. And Jojo had been uncharacteristically cowed at the sight of him. Hmm.
“Audra, the jilted bride?”
“Yep.” Alec thought of her pale complexion and drawn features and frowned. “We may need an intervention.”
Kane’s eyes narrowed. “Really?”
“I’ll let you know.” Then Lilly arrived at his side, distracting him. She gave his second cousin a shy smile, but before any words could be exchanged, Jojo came flying across the lobby.
She took hold of Lilly’s arm. “Are you absolutely livid with me?” she asked. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry—”
“Jo,” Alec said, interrupting the waterfall of words. “She’s promised to blame me entirely.”
“As if you would be half so clever—” she started, then laughed. “Whoops. Yes, Alec, you were a very naughty boy.”
“I want to see Buster,” Lilly said suddenly. She looked up at Alec. “I know, I know, but I want to see the dog for myself.”
“I’m not even going to ask what all this is about,” Kane said, then slid his phone from his pocket. “I already handled a hospitality emergency involving motor oil and whipped cream today and my system can’t take another shock.” With that, he whistled himself in the direction of the pool.
Bemused, Alec looked down at Lilly, who appeared mostly dry now but definitely disheveled. “Buster before or after you shed the mermaid and become a human girl again?”
“Buster now,” Lilly said firmly, so he didn’t hesitate to lead her toward his parents’ sumptuous villa in an especially secluded section of the grounds.
Jojo trailed behind. “I’ll call ahead to let them know we’re on our way. Wouldn’t want to interrupt a…canasta game.”
