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That was music to Nick’s ears. He took it as a command, refusing to do anything but scan the water.
“This was a great idea. Thank you.” She shot Aiden a smile. He’d perfected the casual look; with a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt, and a pair of aviators. With the ocean breeze in his hair he could be part of a cologne commercial. She wasn’t the only one who noticed, either; there was a group of girls – tourists – in the corner who hadn’t been able to take their eyes off him. Every time he turned, she could hear them giggle.
“I’ve got a few years to make up for. You can expect more trips like this.” He looked down at Nick, who was still rapt, staring at the ocean, before he glanced back at Brooke. “If that’s okay with you.”
“You don’t need to keep asking. He’s your family, too.”
Aiden’s smile grew wider. She liked what she saw.
There was another boy on board, a few years older than Nick. From the looks of it, he was with his father. “Dad, is that a blow hole?” he shouted, clearly excited by what he could see.
“Nope, only a wave.”
Nick frowned, turning his head for a moment. It was t
he first time he’d stopped looking at the ocean. He turned to Aiden and took his hand, folding his small fingers around Aiden’s longer ones. “Uncle Aiden, will you look with me? See if we can spot a whale?”
Aiden’s eyes were soft as he hunkered down next to Nick. “Sure. Let’s see what’s out there.”
Brooke stood back for a moment, watching as the two of them scanned the ocean ahead. Their heads were pressed together, dark hair mingling with dark hair. Aiden had his arm casually slung around Nick’s back as he pointed something out with his free hand, talking softly so only Nick could hear.
Seeing them together was the most delicious torture she’d ever felt. As though everything she really wanted was so close – near enough to almost taste – and yet it was an illusion. She wanted to pick it up and play with it, twist and pull until it became real.
She shook her head, trying to bring herself back to reality. Nick called out, his entire body shaking as he jumped up and down. “I see it, I see it. Look!” She followed his arm, pointing to a blow spout in the distance. The water puffed up, as if by magic, no sign of the majestic animal beneath.
“You got it, little buddy,” the tour guide said, high fiving him. She moved her radio up to her lips. “Captain, we spot humpbacks at ten o’clock.”
* * *
It was late afternoon by the time the boat headed back toward the bay. Nick was laying on the bench seat in the cabin of the boat, exhausted from a combination of excitement and the heat of the sun, not to mention the salty ocean air. Brooke was next to him, with Aiden on her other side. Like Nick, she could feel her body starting to soften and relax.
“He had such a good time,” she told Aiden. “I’m not sure what he liked most, spotting the whales or Griff letting him steer the boat.” Or being with his uncle. She was liking that part, too.
Aiden stretched his arm along the backrest, until it was behind her. Without thinking, she leaned into him, feeling his hard body against hers. She heard his breath catch for a second, before he curled his arm around her, his palm strong against her shoulder.
“I’m glad he enjoyed it. I would have loved to come out and look for whales at his age. We used to do it from the shore all the time.”
“I wish I’d known. I’d have bought you a ticket.”
He chuckled. “You were a kid, too. And by the time I was a teenager, I had my mind on other things.”
She could feel her heart start to speed up. “I guess we all did when we were young. I blame the hormones.”
He was stroking her arm, his finger moving up and down her bare skin. It was making her entire body tingle. Did he realize what he was doing, or was it an absentminded gesture? She couldn’t bear to look up, or move, for fear he would stop. It felt way too good for that.
“I kind of liked the hormones,” Aiden said, his voice low. “They made me brave. Made me do things I would have been too scared to do otherwise. Made me flirt with girls who were out of my league.”
She licked her lips, dry and salty from the sun. “You never told me about them.”
Another chuckle made his body shake. “That’s because you were them.”
“You thought I was out of your league?” she asked, shocked.
“Brooke, you were out of my stratosphere.”
She felt giddy at his words. As though she’d stepped off a rollercoaster and the world was still spinning. His fingers were still tracing lines up and down her arm, leaving a trail of fire behind them. “I always thought you were the one who was too good for me. I was this annoying kid, following you around everywhere. I must have been infuriating.”
“Yeah, but that was before that summer. I came home and you were all grown up. And I didn’t mind you following me around any more. I wanted it, the same way I wanted you.”
