“Hey,” she said, stopping in front of him.
He looked up and gave her that smile, white teeth and eyes gleaming in his tanned face, and her insides quivered. “Hey yourself.” He dropped the brochure onto the table and slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.
She went stiff, just briefly, surprised at his familiar contact. But why was she surprised? They’d spent days in bed together doing all kinds of wicked, naked things. A hug wasn’t out of line.
Maybe because she’d been telling herself ever since they parted at the airport the day before that this was going back to strictly business. But he hadn’t gotten that memo.
She slipped out of his embrace. “I parked out front. Come on.” She led the way through the lobby and into the late afternoon sunshine, past big pots with waving palms and bright flowers, over the shiny brick sidewalk toward the parking lot.
In the car, she said, “So? What have you been up to?”
“Had dinner with my friends Matt and Corey last night.”
“The ones who’re getting married, right?”
“Right.”
She bit her lip and cast him a sideways glance as she drove. “How was that?”
“It was…” His voice trailed off and he looked out the side window. “It was fine.” He gave a nod. “Yeah. It was fine.”
“Maybe you don’t need me to go the wedding after all.”
His head whipped around. “Oh hell yeah, I do. I already told them you’re coming.”
“Oh. Okay then.” She had agreed, after all.
“Today I hooked up with Elroy and Brett, and we did some shaping on my boards.”
“Oh.”
“This is the place I can experiment a little. Normally I wouldn’t try something new in a big competition, but here I can.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “Waves aren’t as big here. Plus this is where I learned to surf.”
“It sounds like you’re pretty hands-on when it comes to your boards.”
“Yeah. I took some CAD courses to learn more about designing them. I’m making my board about an inch smaller, a little wider, and about a sixteenth of an inch thicker. Thinner through the tail and nose. I get better flotation, and the lightness lets me throw it around and look all whippy.”
She laughed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But it sounds impressive.”
“I like doing that,” he said. “It’s fun working on the boards. Elroy’s taught me a lot. And then I went to the gym and worked out with Austin.”
“Sounds good.”
“Where do your folks live?”
“Up on Seal Point. Not far.”
“You’re sure they don’t mind me showing up like this?”
“Of course not. My family’s exited to meet you. I have to warn you though, the whole family will be there. Or most of them anyway. My sister Fraya and her husband Kevin and their two boys, James and Jonathan. They’re eight and ten. My brother Anthony and his wife and their new baby, Mimi. I’m not sure if my other brother Errick will be there. He broke up with his girlfriend a while back and is now leading a wild single life again.”
Brooke loved her family, which was a big part of why she’d wanted to return to San Amaro to live after college. She loved San Amaro too, the nearly constant sunshine, the casual seaside feel of the small city, the beautiful beaches, the big pier and how pretty the streets were with their brick sidewalks and ubiquitous baskets and pots of flowers.
“Are your siblings older than you? Younger?”
“They’re all older. Fraya’s next, she’s thirty-one. Errick’s thirty-three, and Anthony’s almost thirty-five.”
“Wow. That’s quite a family.”
She smiled. “Yeah, I know.”
“You’re the baby, huh?”
Her smile vanished. “Yes. And they don’t let me forget it.” She pulled into the driveway.
“Nice place,” he said as they walked from the driveway through a big gate and into a large fenced backyard. They rounded a corner and climbed steps up to the deck overlooking the pool where her nephews were playing.
“Hey, Auntie Brooke!”
She stopped beside the pool and waved at them with a big smile. “Hi guys. Having fun?”
“We love Grandma and Grandpa’s pool!”
Brooke looked over at her brother-in-law Kevin sitting in a chair beside the pool on lifeguard duty. “Hi Kev.” She introduced Dylan to him and the boys.
“Get out of the pool and shake hands, guys,” Kevin ordered them.
“That’s okay,” Dylan protested, holding his hands out as if to push them back. “You’re having fun. Stay in.”
“Are you gonna come in?” James demanded. “You too, Auntie Brooke! Come in and swim with us.”
“I didn’t bring a swimsuit,” Dylan said. “Sorry. Looks like fun.”
“Where are Mom and Fraya?” Brooke asked. “In the kitchen?”
“Yeah. Getting dinner ready.”
“Come on.” Brooke led Dylan into the house through sliding French doors.
“Oh there you are,” Mom said, dropping the big spoon she was holding. She rushed across the kitchen and grabbed Brooke in a tight hold. “Thank God you’re home safe and sound.”
“I’m fine, Mom!” Brooke hugged her mother back then extricated herself. Her mom refused to let go though, still holding her arms and studying her.
“I was so worried about you!” she said. “I kept thinking of that tsunami and how awful that was.”
“It wasn’t a tsunami.”
“Too bad you weren’t stuck there longer,” Fraya said from where she sat at the big center island. At a look from their mother she added, “I just mean Tahiti’s a good place to be stuck. How many of us get sent there on business? Not me, that’s for sure.” Fraya slid off her stool, her gaze fixed on Dylan.
“It was supposed to be a short trip,” Brooke said. She made more introductions.
Fraya grinned and extended a hand to shake Dylan’s. “We’re all big fans of yours. Welcome home to San Amaro for the Pro.” She gave him an up-and-down female look that Brooke knew meant nothing. She’d been happily married to Kevin for nearly twelve years.
“Thanks,” he said with that sexy grin. “It’s good to be back.” And he shot Brooke a fast, amused glance.
“You’re going to win for sure,” Fraya said.
Brooke caught the flicker in Dylan’s eyes that belied his confident smile. “I sure hope so,” he drawled. He turned to Brooke’s mom. “Thanks so much for having me tonight, Mrs. Lowry.”
“Call me Debbie,” she said, also shaking his hand. “And it’s no trouble at all!” She studied him. “You are such a handsome boy.”
Brooke rolled her eyes and suppressed a groan.
“Thanks,” Dylan said, his grin spreading across his tanned face again. He met Brooke’s eyes and a shiver worked down her spine. “Sounds like you were worried about Brooke, but she was fine. We weren’t in any danger where we were at the hotel.”
“That’s good to hear,” Mom said, returning to the stove where she’d been stirring something in a big pot. “But we couldn’t get hold of her, of course, so we had no idea. I tend to worry a bit.”
“A bit!” Fraya and Brooke said at the same time, punctuated with a snort from Fraya. They laughed.
“Fraya, you’re a mother, you know what it’s like to worry about your children. And Brooke, you will too some day.”
Brooke met her sister’s eyes and they shared a small smile. Fraya and Kevin did often argue about how overprotective Fraya was of the boys, but everyone knew where she’d gotten it from, and even she recognized it and tried to loosen up a little.
“Tahiti is so far away,” Mom continued. “How long was the plane ride?”
“Fifteen hours.”
“And that’s all over water. My God.”
Brooke laughed. “True, Mom. To get to an island you have to get across the water somehow.” It was obvious where she got her fear of flying from.
“Surfing’s a dangerous sport,” Mom said. She picked up the big steaming pot and poured it into the colander sitting in the sink. “You must be very brave, Dylan.”
“He knows what he’s doing,” Brooke said.
“Well, I should hope so. Have a seat, kids. Help yourselves to drinks.”
“Beer?” Brooke asked Dylan, heading to the refrigerator.
“Um. Okay.”
She gestured at the stools at the island where Fraya had situated herself again, cutting up tomatoes for something, salad maybe.
Anthony and Jinny arrived, Jinny carrying Mimi in her car seat. Brooke hugged and kissed and made more introductions.
“Cool to meet you,” Anthony said, shaking Dylan’s hand. “I remember watching you surf back when you were probably a teenager. You were great, even then.”
“Thanks.” Dylan cast Brooke a glinty-eyed look. “This visit is good for my ego.”
“Like your ego needs it,” she muttered.
Two dripping wet boys ran into the kitchen, towels wrapped around their shoulders, followed by Kevin. “You’re dripping all over Grandma’s kitchen, guys,” Kevin said.
“That’s okay,” Mom said with a smile. “It’s tile, it’ll mop up. We’re almost ready to eat, boys, so go get changed.”
Anthony opened the fridge. “Mom! No beer?”
“I just gave Dylan the last one,” Brooke said.
“There’s more in the other fridge,” Mom told him. “You can go get it.”
Anthony heaved a long-suffering sigh and left the room. Jinny grinned and lifted Mimi out of her car seat.
“Oh let me have her!” Brooke rushed to Jinny’s side. “Look how much she’s grown!”
“You saw her a week ago,” Jinny said.
“I know, but they grow fast! Don’t you? Don’t you grow fast, you beautiful girl, you?” Brooke took Mimi from her mom. Mimi gazed back at her with big blue eyes and a smile broke out on her round little face. She was so beautiful it made Brooke’s heart squeeze, and she hugged her, breathing in the baby clean scent of her. She turned to Dylan. “This is my niece, Mimi. Isn’t she gorgeous?”
Dylan was staring at her with an odd expression on his face. “Yeah,” he said, shifting his gaze to the baby. “She really is.” He smiled.
“So can you really earn a living as a surfer?” Mom asked.
“Shnippits.” Brooke sighed. She was beginning to regret inviting Dylan for dinner. She should have known her family would say anything that popped into their heads. “Yes, Mom, they can make a lot of money if they’re good.”
“And if we win,” Dylan added.
“Plus all the sponsorship money they get and whatever endorsements they do,” Brooke said. She bounced Mimi in her arms and once again her eyes met Dylan’s with a heated jolt. She lifted her brows and he raised his chin.
Anthony returned with his hands full of beer bottles. “Dylan? How’s your beer? Need another one?”
“No, I’m good. Great beer too, from Laguna Dorada. My friend Matt owns that brewery.”
“Yeah. I know Matt. Good guy.”
“Okay, call your father,” Mom said. “Dinner’s ready.” She carried a big bowl of pasta primavera to the big round kitchen table.
“Dad!” Anthony shouted.
“Anthony,” Mom said, “I could have done that.”
“You said to call him.”
Brooke grinned and took her seat. Her father wandered in from the den, the only one who hadn’t yet met Dylan. One more introduction. Dylan rose to his feet and respectfully shook her father’s hand.
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Lowry,” he said. “You have quite a family here.”
“They get on my nerves,” Dad said, and everyone laughed. “I’m serious.”
While Brooke envied some of Dylan’s travels, she knew she would always want to come home to San Amaro. And to her family, who she loved so much, and who, despite their teasing insults, were always there for each other no matter what.
Dad lifted his eyebrows as he took his usual seat, the only chair at the table with arms. He looked around. “Why isn’t Errick here?” he asked.
“Hot date,” Anthony said.
“Amazing,” Fraya said, lifting salad onto her plate.
“Why is that amazing?” Mom asked. “He’s a nice boy. Girls like him.”
They all laughed again. “Yes, Mom, he is.” Fraya passed the salad bowl to Brooke. “So Brooke, tell us more about Tahiti.”
Tell them about Tahiti. Yeah, right. Dylan’s eyes met Brooke’s and heat slid over him. They were both remembering Tahiti, all right.
“Well, um. It’s really beautiful,” Brooke began. “I mean, I didn’t get to see much because we were stuck in the hotel for a few days.” Her glance collided with his again, and he felt like the air fairly sizzled around them at the heated memories of being stuck together—literally—in that hotel. Their eyes held for a long, smoldering moment.
“But what I did see was gorgeous,” she added.
Dylan rescued her by talking about Tahiti, since he’d been there so many times, and then conversation turned to some of the other places he’d traveled to.
“Are you really a surfer?” James asked, staring at Dylan wide-eyed.
“Yes.”
“Like, that’s your job?”
He grinned. “Yeah. Cool job, huh?”
“I heard about a surfer who got attacked by a shark. Has that ever happened to you?”
Christ. “No,” Dylan said. “Thankfully.”
“I think the shark bit off her arm,” Jonathan added. “Or maybe it was her leg.”
“Or both!” James put in with gruesome delight. “I bet there was a lot of blood
–
”
“Okay, that’s enough of that conversation,” Fraya said. “Dad, what’s new at work? How are those retirement plans coming along?”
“I’m not retiring.”
Dylan watched Brooke and her sibling exchange exasperated glances.
“My parents are both doctors,” Brooke told him. “Mom’s been cutting back for a while now, but Dad refuses to.”
Both doctors. Whoa. “If you love what you do, why quit?” he asked, smiling at Brooke’s dad.
“That’s what I say!” he replied. “What would I do if I retired?” He paused. “Heh. Maybe I should take up surfing.”
Dylan laughed with the others. Although Mr., er, Dr. Lowry looked pretty fit. He probably could surf.
The conversation then turned to other topics: Fraya’s law practice, Mrs. Lowry, er, Dr. Lowry…
Debbie’s
passion for gardening, and Mimi’s teething and diaper rash.
“How come you can talk about poopy diapers at the table and we can’t talk about sharks?” Jonathan demanded.
For a moment there was silence and Dylan waited with amusement for someone to respond. At his home, his parents would have told him to shut his mouth, but Fraya tipped her head to one side and said, “That’s a very good point, Jonathan. We should not be talking about diapers at the dinner table.”