“Yup.”
“You know, I don’t remember seeing you around the Cave before.”
“It’s not really my thing.” I eye Becca like she’s nuts. She giving me the thumbs up and I simply shake my head.
“She your friend?” asks Colton.
“Yeah.”
He turns and finally looks at me. “That’s my twin brother she’s with.”
I look at him again and can’t help laugh. “Seriously, he’s your twin?” The guy he’s pointing to is a three inches shorter and a skinner.
“Yup. We’re fraternal twins and I’m older by about four minutes.”
“I can’t really see him but from here you don’t look much alike.”
He downs the rest of his beer and answers, “Trust me we’re not. I take it she’s from the resort also?”
“Yeah,” I answer, realizing I’ve finished my drink.
“You want another beer?” he asks.
“No, I’m good.”
“You sure? I’ve got some coolers over there.”
“Thanks, but I’m okay.”
A squeal from Becca draws my attention. Colton’s twin has hauled her onto his lap and I’m not sure if she’s happy about it. I stand and I’m about to go over there when Colton says, “I’ll handle it. And I’m getting you another drink.”
Without waiting for my answer he saunters over to Becca and his brother and within seconds he’s hauled his brother off the boulder. Becca quickly makes her way to me.
“Well, that was interesting,” she says.
“Is that Colton’s twin?”
“Yeah. His name is Connor. I met him last week when he and his family came into the restaurant to celebrate their birthday.”
“And just how old are they?”
“Twenty-two. Colton looks a lot older.”
“Honestly, they don’t even look that much alike for brothers. Colton’s a good two inches taller and they have totally different builds.” It had been on the tip of my tongue to tell Becca I thought Connor was skinny as a rat but I’m thinking she might not appreciate my observation.
“Yeah, it’s sort of weird and I think Connor hates it, but he’s nice.”
“Seemed to me you two were getting a little too chummy.”
Becca takes a long drink from the cooler she’s now nursing. “Maybe I want that.”
I push my hair off my face. “Seriously, Becca? We’re not supposed to.”
She turns and gives me a what-the-hell-are-you-talking about look. “Is that like the kettle calling me black, or something? Plus, screw that rule. He’s real cute and his family is loaded. They own the logging mill in town. I heard from Connor that his father’s going to give it to one of them soon and according to Connor he’s the one with the brains.”
Why does money have to rule the heart? “Becca, don’t go for him just for his money. If you like him that’s one thing…”
I stop speaking when Becca jumps up like she hasn’t heard a word I’m saying and it’s only then I see why. The twins are fighting. A real knock-em down fight which of course immediately has the throng of people around us cheering them on. Totally sick.
Becca dashes off and I’m finally left alone. I dig out my cell and see I’ve somehow missed five texts from Blake.
What r u doing?
Did I mention how much I miss you?
Where r u?
Getting worried. Call!
U ok?
I fire off a quick text. I’m fine. Missing u. Can’t call. I’m at the Cave.
I`m so engrossed in my texting I don’t realize the fight’s over until Colton comes back and thrusts a cooler practically in my face. His face is red and he’s going to have a bruise on his right cheek by morning.
“No thanks.”
“Take it.”
“I think the lady said no.”
I whip around on the bench so fast I knock Colton’s drink out of his arm. “Blake.”
Blake doesn’t hesitate. In seconds I’m engulfed in his arms and I cling to the scent of him.
“No hard feelings, man,” says Colton, drawing me back to reality.
“None yet,” says Blake, eyeing Colton with a hard look on his face. It’s a look I’ve never seen him wear before and I feel my stomach dip.
Blake lets go of me and takes a menacing step forward and it’s only then I realize what’s different. It’s the smell of booze rolling off him. Shit, what the fuck happened?
“I’ll leave you two alone,” says Colton and I realize I’ve judged him wrong. He’s one of the good guys and I wonder what the fight was all about with his twin, but my heart’s beating a mile a minute and I’m just so damn happy to have Blake back that I’m almost giddy with relief.