Sea of Love(5)

“I’m liking the direction of this conversation,” Jade, Rex’s live-in girlfriend, said as she joined them. Her jet-black hair hung almost down to her waist, and the cream-colored dress she wore contrasted sharply with her olive skin. She reached a hand out to Rex and blinked her long eyelashes flirtatiously. “What do you think, Rexy?”

Rex groaned, then leaned down and kissed her. “I think you know I’d do just about anything you want when you look at me like that.” He lifted his chin to Dane. “But maybe you should ask Dane about the lip-locking he was doing out on the terrace. I think he’s got more female influence headed our way.”

Jade put her hand on Rex’s chest and narrowed her eyes. “Don’t embarrass him.”

“No embarrassment here,” Dane said, throwing his shoulders back. “I was with Danica’s sister Lacy.” Lacy. Sweet, delicious Lacy.

“And?” Savannah pushed.

“And it’s none of your business.” Dane kissed Savannah on her cheek and stepped away, knowing he was leaving his siblings with as many unanswered questions as he had reeling around in his head.

Two steps later Treat’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Just tell me that I don’t have to be in damage control mode tomorrow for the family gathering. That’s all I want to know.”

Dane turned a harsh glare at Treat, then softened when he saw the empathy in Treat’s eyes. “Truth?”

“Always,” Treat said.

“I don’t know what this is.” Dane looked across the room at Lacy, and damn if his heart didn’t skip a beat. “All I can tell you is that I’ve thought about her nearly every minute since Nassau, and I plan on getting to know her better this weekend.”

Treat followed Dane’s eyes to the table, where Max and Lacy sat with Danica and Kaylie. A smile spread across his lips. Dane recognized the love in Treat’s eyes that hadn’t been there two years before. That love was wholly meant for, and because of, Max. He was contemplating that look when Treat interrupted his thoughts.

“And Lacy?” Treat finally asked.

Dane shook his head. “She’s receptive. Interested. We’ve been so close, just not physically close.” He looked at his brother and was thrown right back into his teenage years—hoping his older brother, who seemed to hold all the answers to life, would share his knowledge and help him find his way.

“Get to know her,” Treat said quietly as Max approached. “Then you’ll know exactly what she wants and if it’s what you want. Things will become clear.”

“Thanks, bro.” Dane smiled at Max. “Don’t you two have to leave before any of us can?”

“Damn right they do.” Their father’s deep voice boomed between them.

“Are you kicking us out of our own wedding?” Treat asked.

“Hell yes. I’m an old man, and I need my sleep. Now, take that pretty little wife of yours and get to your suite so I can go to bed.” He looked at Dane and patted his cheek. “Let this other son of mine move along with his evening plans.”

Dane shook his head.

Hugh tapped his spoon against his glass. Soon, the whole room was doing the same, and Treat beamed at Max as he swooped her into his arms. He towered a foot above Max. Dane didn’t think he’d ever seen Max look so beautiful, or so in love, as she did at that very moment: staring at Treat with adoration in her eyes, her lips slightly parted, her cheeks flushed. Treat bent down, his lips moving silently. I love you. Then he dipped her in his arms and kissed her until the entire room cheered.

A moment later, they were laughing, holding hands as they ran across the floor toward the exit, Max’s dress trailing behind them.

The second they were out the door, Dane headed toward Lacy.





Chapter Four


LACY GRIPPED THE edge of the chair. Her heart slammed against her chest as she watched Dane walking toward her. This is it. This was the night she’d been fantasizing about. His eyes were trained on her, and with each of his determined steps came a new worry: What if my expectations are too high? What if in person we’re not compatible sexually?

“Lace, look at me, sweetie,” Danica urged as she took her hand. “Now, Lacy, before he gets here.”

Lacy turned her eyes to Danica’s serious face. “You are a beautiful, confident woman. Don’t be so nervous or too eager. You do not have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

Over the last year and a half, she’d come to appreciate Danica’s advice, even if it sometimes bordered on motherly.

“What if I want to do all sorts of things that I’ve never wanted to do before?” Lacy’s voice was a thin, shaky thread. She squeezed Danica’s hand. “Dan, should I be worried about…you know…that ten-inch comment that Treat made in Nassau?” God, did I really ask that?

Danica leaned in close. “All guys exaggerate. Ten is probably more like eight. Besides, we pop out babies; we’re made for big things.” She hugged her tight and whispered, “This is your night. Whatever you want to happen will happen. If you don’t want anything to happen, then it won’t. You’re in control, so enjoy it. Promise me?” Danica pulled back and searched Lacy’s eyes.

Lacy felt a little better. How did I ever get along without you? “I promise.”

Kaylie leaned over Lacy’s shoulder and whispered between them, “Don’t forget, we want all the juicy details tomorrow. Breakfast?”

“Okay.” Lacy realized with a start that she might still be with Dane in the morning. She had no plan. Do I need a plan? “Um, let’s play it by ear. Text me in the morning.”

“I am so going to win my bet on this one,” Kaylie teased. She kissed Lacy’s cheek. “Hi, Dane, we were just leaving.”

“You can stay,” Dane said, pulling out a chair.

“I’m beat, and Chaz has been hanging out by the doors for the last twenty minutes. I think he’s ready to go, too.” She put a hand on Lacy’s shoulder. “G’night, sis.”

“This was such a beautiful wedding,” Danica said as she rose to leave.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Will we see you tomorrow afternoon?” Dane asked with an easy smile.

“Oh yes, we’ll be there, and maybe we’ll see you for breakfast tomorrow, Lacy,” Danica answered before leaving them alone.

Dane leaned in close and whispered, “Did our time apart feel like a lifetime to you, too?”

His breath was warm against her cheek, and when he drew back, there was no mistaking the hunger in his eyes. “More than that,” she said.

“Would you like to take a walk?” Dane reached for Lacy’s hand.

“That would be really nice.” Every nerve in her body pulled tight as they walked out to the terrace and down the steps to the lawn.

The wind swept through the chimes hanging in the trees, creating a faint tinkling against the natural melody of the leaves in the breeze.

The balmy night air carried the scent of salt water and Dane’s cologne: a sweet, manly smell that Lacy knew she’d never forget. Like the first time they’d met, the way the air felt electrically charged when they’d first locked eyes, it was etched in her memory.

The grass gave way to sand beneath their feet, and Lacy stopped to take off her heels. “Do you mind if I leave my heels here?” Lacy leaned down and pulled off one shoe, then reached for the other and lost her balance.

Dane caught her before she landed in the sand. “Whoa.”

She bit her lower lip and smiled. “Thanks. I’m not very graceful.”

He took a step closer to her and ran the knuckle of his index finger down her cheek. “Graceful is boring.”

He stared at her so long and with such yearning that Lacy thought she might stop breathing.

“I should leave my shoes, too.” The way he said it, he might as well have been saying, I want to take your clothes off and ravish you. He sat on the edge of the grass and removed his shoes and socks.

“Aren’t you worried about your tux?” Lacy asked just to keep her mind from thinking of him ravishing her.

“Nah, that’s what dry cleaners are for.” He rolled up his pant legs and reached a hand up to her.

It took a second before Lacy realized he was asking for help to his feet, like they’d been there for each other their whole lives. She took his hand and, with his help, pulled him up, just inches away from her. Her pulse soared. His breath filled the space between them. Kiss me. I should kiss you. I’m so nervous.

Dane licked his lips, and Lacy swallowed hard, bracing herself for a kiss.

“Let’s…go down to the water,” Dane said.

Water? Oh my God. I totally misread you.

Their feet sank into the deep sand as they headed toward the water. Dane’s hand was like a warm glove around hers, but it did nothing to lessen her embarrassment over misreading his intentions. After the kiss on the balcony, she was sure he’d kiss her the next chance he got—and she worried about why he hadn’t.

The sound of the waves crashing became louder, and Lacy was surprised to find that the longer they walked, the more her nerves calmed. When the sand beneath their feet became firm and wet, they followed it along the water’s edge.