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“Melanie isn’t going to like this.”
He shot an irritated look at Jason. “Melanie doesn’t own me.”
“You’re crazy. She’s going to shoot you down.”
Travis wasn’t so sure. His brother Wyatt had bragged about having sex with Shelli the summer before, and he was younger than her. Obviously, she didn’t give a crap about that stuff. Travis puffed up his bare chest and started across the sand. He was feeling lucky, and he darted a knowing smile at his pals, turning away with a grin when they all hooted and hollered.
He stopped in front of Shelli, a killer smile in place as his shadow fell across her. She lifted her head. Pulled down her sunglasses and looked him up and down.
“Travis, isn’t it?”
“Yep.” Cool. She knew who he was.
“You’re Wyatt’s little brother.”
Feeling cocky, he grinned wider. “I’m not so little.”
Shelli slowly rose, resting back on her elbows. “No,” she said, licking her lips. “I guess you’re not.”
His mind was working fast, thinking of the next thing he should say, when a flash of blue caught his eye. He looked over Shelli’s head, and his world kind of tilted.
Long tanned legs. Jean cutoffs. Crisp white T-shirt and hair that reached down to the nicest butt he’d ever seen. He stared at the girl, willing her to turn around and look his way, but all he caught was a glimpse as she chatted animatedly with the young kids in matching blue shirts. Camp Byron kids.
Something inside him shifted, and he rubbed the back of his neck as his heat-infused skin began to sweat. The girl bent close to listen to what one of the little kids was saying, and Travis couldn’t take his eyes off her. She turned slightly, and he caught her profile. It hit him then. Like a punch to the gut.
Ruby Montgomery. When the hell had she changed from a scrawny kid to the knockout in front of him? He was sure he’d taken classes with her freshman year. Hadn’t he?
Shelli kicked sand up at him and frowned. “Hello? I’m still here.”
But Travis was already moving away, unable to process how his body could move without him actually telling it to. He halted a few feet from Ruby, unsure what to do. What the hell was he going to say to her anyway? How’s life? Everyone knew her old man was a screwup. A boozer and the biggest pot supplier in the county.
Travis was about to make a hasty exit when she abruptly turned, the smile on her face fading away as quick as the tide. Her blue eyes widened, and she pulled on her T-shirt.
“What are you staring at?” Her chin jutted up.
“You,” he said slowly. He wanted to smile and do something to smash open that wariness in her eyes. But he was pretty much frozen in place, staring at a goddess who made his young body react in a way that wasn’t exactly appropriate. His mind was going places it shouldn’t be, and he was damn glad his bathing suit was still wet and cold, and baggy, because at the moment, he needed some extra room down there.
“Why are you looking at me?” Her chin shot up another inch, and she let go of her T-shirt. The wariness in her eyes was replaced with something else. Fire. It touched something in him, and his heart took off like rocket. Never had a girl made him feel like this. Just from looking at each other.
He kind of liked it. A lot.
A slow grin spread across his face. It widened when he noticed her cheeks flush a deep red.
“There’s a bonfire on Pottahawk island tonight.”
“So?” She shrugged, but her eyes didn’t leave his.
?
?Come with me.”
She opened her mouth, but it was a few seconds before she actually spoke. “Why would I do that? We haven’t spoken since sixth grade.”
“Sorry, but you’re wrong about that.”
“I am not,” she retorted quickly.
“I made you laugh at middle school graduation. You were pissed at Ryder for something, and I made you laugh.”
