AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey,” he said. “Why can’t I do both? And let me open up that door for you!”
“Ha!” She shook her head with amusement. “What? You mean by reaching around me and knocking me back so you can get to my handle first?”
His brow went up at her and their gazes caught. Her quickened breaths gave away that she knew exactly what had almost happened between them. Her soft lips pressing together challenged him to do it again, but this time he’d do it right.
“Wait right there.”
Her forehead creased. He shot out the door and rushed around the hood in his board shorts and his hoody cut off at the sleeves. He’d worn rags for painting and swimming… and as he reached her door, he groaned when he noticed, once again, how good Angel looked. He belatedly realized that he should’ve warned her that she might get dirty.
Maybe he could’ve benefited from telling his momma a few things about his plans with Angel.
With her door already open, Porter held out his hand to her. “It’s a far way down,” he warned.
“That’s your fault. You jacked up the wheels.”
Once again, that was Nash’s doing, but Porter took full responsibility, especially since it gave him the opportunity to be a gentleman and help her down.
Angel looked like she might try to navigate the height on her own, but luckily her sandals slipped on the threshold. She snatched at his proffered hand with a cry. Unfortunately for her, he wasn’t through being helpful. Porter took her by the waist and brought her close to his chest, exactly how he’d wanted to do the last time they were together, before he set her gently down to the ground.
He took his time releasing her.
Her eyes melted his like a flame to a candle. “Thank you,” Angel said. She inched away.
That was it?
The look she had given him promised way more. She was drawn to him, but something drove a wedge between them. He was sure that it was something that Nash had done, but he couldn’t correct that problem until heshowedAngel exactly who he was.
Porter took her hand on the excuse that the pathway was rocky. “C’mon,” he said. “There’s someone that I want you to meet.”
Her fingers were surprisingly compliant in his as he brought her up the hill to Grey and Sky’s honeymoon fortress. Wooden wind chimes whistled on the front patio, along with the bubbling chatter chirping from a fountain. Since the front desk wasn’t yet open for business, he knocked on the door.
Sky opened it. Her honey-colored hair was a thick cloud around her shoulders and olive toned face, made even darker by spending her time outside fixing up the resort with her husband. Sky’s brown eyes looked black as she studied them from the darkened room, though when they rested on Angel, and most especially on Porter’s hand over hers, she burst into a smile. “Porter! Grey said you were coming, but to be honest, I totally thought that you’d blow us off.”
“Wait… does that mean you didn’t make us that pie then?” Porter asked.
Her face reddened. “Grey promised you a pie? He said nothing to me. He’d better be making it himself!”
Grey appeared at the doorway, his arm going around Sky. His eagle-eyed gaze went from Porter to Angel, who began to unwind her fingers from his, like she’d just remembered how it must look. “You’re bringing an army, huh?” Grey asked. “What happened to Cole?”
“He slept in. Maybe he’ll come by.”But probably not.Their father had just gotten back from his trip to Charleston and he was set on going on a hay run.
“I’m a great painter,” Angel was quick to reassure them, “so you’d better get on that pie you promised. We’re going to earn it.” She winked.
“Be careful what you ask for,” Sky said. “The last time Grey tried to take over the kitchen, he couldn’t stop at the one pie and made a full dozen. I think he’s used to feeding squadrons of men at a time. He was a Navy SEAL. He doesn’t do anything halfway.”
“Oh, I could eat a dozen pies about right now,” Angel admitted.
Sky laughed. “I know the feeling. Come on in. I’ve got some bacon and eggs I can put on the grill.”
“No!” Porter cried out, laughing at Sky’s startled expression. He wanted to get this over with while it was still cool outside, then they could take a dip in the springs. “Angel and I ate on our way over. We’ll take a big lunch instead.”
“Hmm.” Sky’s eyes went to Angel. “You good with that?”
“Only if you throw in that bacon. That sounds amazing.”
Sky beamed, seeming to enjoy the witty request. She led them inside to gather all the work supplies. “Let me know if you get tired of painting, Angel. I’ve got plenty of snacks inside. We can make lunch while the guys finish things off.”
Clearly, Sky had taken an immediate liking to Angel, but it wasn’t as if Angel was some fragile flower that would wither away from a little outdoor adventure; besides Porter wanted her to himself. “Oh no, you don’t, Sky. Quit trying to steal Angel away from me. I just got her.”
