I opt for a quick shower and afterwards, slip on my bathing suit with a floral sarong and put my hair up in a bun. I’ll deal with the aftermath of that decision when it’s time to get ready for dinner. For now, I’m trying to be quick since everyone’s going to notice how late it is and how I’m just now joining them.
But I can’t focus on that, otherwise I am most definitely going to look guilty.
If what Roxie said is true, everyone thinks the dogs kept me up all night—which is not a lie—so all I need to do is focus on that.
“Don’t offer any other information,” I quietly remind myself as I grab my phone and sunglasses and head out of the room.
I can hear people in the kitchen but have no idea if it’s everyone or just some of them, and that’s where I head.
“Hey! Look who’s finally up!” Vanessa says cheerily. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please!” But I head over to the Keurig—one of the more modern additions to the house—to make it myself. “I hear we’re making sandwiches for lunch. Anything I can do to help?”
“No, but thank you. Zayne ran to the store to grab some salads for us to have on the side,” she tells me.
“You’d think we would have everything we need by now after two huge grocery orders yesterday.”
Roxie, Loren, and Mike are sitting at the kitchen table talking, and Zayne walks over and puts his arm around Vanessa’s waist. “Hey, Liv.”
“Hey! I hear you ran out to get more stuff for our lunch. Thanks!”
“It was purely selfish of me. I’m big on having like…a lunch platter. Big sandwich, several sides, and a drink.”
“We went to New York last month,” Van explains. “Decided to try Katz’s Deli. Holy cow…”
“It was freaking awesome!” Zayne finishes for her. “Plus, that is now my sandwich goal!”
“He’s not kidding,” she adds, before kissing him.
They’re totally adorable and I’m about to comment on it when Sebastian walks into the kitchen. Our gazes instantly meet, and he looks even better today—although I’m not sure how that’s possible.
I finish putting cream and sugar in my coffee when I notice him walking toward me. My heart races, and I try hard not to make that noticeable.
“Good morning,” he says, his voice low and gruff, and it makes me tingle.
“Hey,” I reply softly, but never get to utter another word because suddenly I’m in his arms and being kissed within an inch of my life.
8
ASH
Okay, I probably should have handled things a little differently, but…I took a chance.
And now Olivia is wrapped around me and kissing me back with much more enthusiasm than I ever would have imagined.
The only thing stopping me from taking this whole thing a little deeper is the round of applause echoing around us.
Slowly, I break the kiss and she’s staring back at me, looking a little dazed as she licks her lips, making me want to dive back in for another taste.
However…
“Damn, you two!” Zayne calls out. “Another minute and we were going to haul you both out and dump you in the pool so you could cool off!”
We’re met with a bunch of knowing looks and smirks, but I’m kind of afraid to look at Olivia again. Instead, I mimic Zayne and Vanessa’s pose and put my arm around her waist.
“So, um…sandwiches,” I say, but no one’s fooled. It’s obvious I’m trying to change the subject, but thankfully, they all go with it.
Suddenly everyone’s on their feet and we’re all sort of tripping over each other in our quest to help get everything out on the island so we can make our lunch. When I finally allow myself to look at Olivia, she’s serenely sipping her coffee.
