A Stone in the Sea(90)

Parking in the circular driveway, I climbed out and was quick to round the front to help Shea out. I dipped in and stole another kiss, because I saw no point in trying to resist.

I was fucking hooked.

Kallie jumped down from her seat and ran up the walkway ahead of us, flapping her arms and jumping around as she scrambled up the seven steps that led to the double doors.

Butterfly.

Couldn’t help but smile when I glanced down at Shea. I took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

She let her eyes travel over the massive house. “Nice place.”

I shot her a wink. “Think so, huh? Don’t get too excited, I don’t own it.”

With a short laugh, she shook her head. “Don’t ever think I’m going to want you for your money, Baz.”

I brushed my lips to her temple. “Don’t think that. Not for a second.”

That fact was liberating. Everyone wanted a piece of Sebastian Stone. But the surface pieces—the fame and the money and the bullshit that amounted to nothing.

Shea? She wanted all the rest.

But fuck, if I didn’t want to give all of it to her.

Kallie waited impatiently at the door, and when I slid the key in the lock and the door swung open, she flew right in, not a shy bone in the little girl’s body.

All the guys were inside, hanging around the kitchen, appearing antsy and ill at ease. Before I left, I’d hauled their lazy asses out of bed and ordered them to be on their best behavior.

Kallie skidded to a stop when she saw all of them staring back at her.

Okay, so maybe there was a shy bone or two.

And hell, these guys could make a grown man stop dead in his tracks.

Couldn’t imagine what they looked like to a four-year-old little girl.

Releasing Shea’s hand, I moved to set a calming palm on Kallie’s head who was watching the guys with wide, apprehensive eyes. “Hey, Kallie, want to meet some of my friends?”

She glanced up at me like she was asking me for the answer, then turned back to them. “Okay.”

Almost awkwardly, I introduced her to Ash, Lyrik, and Zee, fighting a grin as I introduced her the same way as she’d introduced herself to me all those weeks ago. “Guys, this is Kallie Marie Bentley.”

Ash and Lyrik were giving me looks that shouted, What the hell have you gotten yourself into and oh dude you are most definitely screwed. They were the same damn questions and thoughts that’d been swirling through me for weeks. Didn’t really know the answer except for that I’d gotten myself into something good. Something pure and right.

Of course Zee was always filled with all that care, and he dropped down onto a knee and shook her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you Kallie Marie.”

Little shoulders lifted to her ears, and she swayed, all bashful and timid. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“And Kallie, this is my baby brother, Austin.”

I gestured to Austin who was standing a little stiffly off to the side, eyes darting between Shea, Kallie, and me, a sly smile hinting at the corner of his mouth, but all kinds of questions in his eyes.

Kallie giggled. “He’s not a baby.”

Austin actually laughed. Couldn’t remember the last time he had. “Ah, yeah.” He hooked a thumb toward me. “But this big guy here sure thinks I am.”

“No way…he’s not a baby, Baz. He’s way, way, way big, just like you.”

And I realized I was standing there holding this kid’s hand like it belonged there while Shea hovered off to the side, taking it in.

When I met that penetrating gaze, I stood up straighter, unable to take my eyes off her as I spoke. “Austin, come meet my girl.”

And fuck if everyone’s heads didn’t about explode just for the fact I said it aloud.

Shea moved forward, watching him with quiet curiosity and uncontained affection. “It’s so good to finally meet you,” she said.

“Yeah, it’s really good to meet you, too,” he said, shaking her hand as his gaze slid my direction, like he was assessing if this was what I really wanted, if I’d lost my mind, or if I was just playing around, messing with a girl I shouldn’t be messing with.

But this wasn’t a game.

And if it was, Shea had me beat.

Everyone headed outside and onto the huge wooden deck that backed the house and overlooked the sea. The entire thing was painted white—railings, floor, and steps. There were a handful of loungers facing the water and a couple round tables with big red umbrellas. A built-in barbecue and bar sat at the very end, and right off to the side were five steps leading to a long boardwalk that hovered just over the thick sand dunes and brush that dumped you right onto the beach.

Today, the blue sky seemed to stretch on forever, the day bright and shimmering, just a few streaks of clouds pulled by the breeze giving it form and depth.