Somewhere With You (Windswept Bay Book 2) (9 page)

At the unmistakable sound of her brother Jake’s voice, Shar broke apart from Gage and found Jake grinning at her. She tried to look as if she were in control. She was not.

“Hey,” she managed. Jake was a dive instructor and owned a diving shop in town. Feeling as if she might break out in hives, Shar met his curious gaze head on. “What are you doing here?”

His eyes crinkled at the edges with the want to smile. “I’m obviously not doing what you’re doing.”

To her relief, Gage introduced himself and shot her a wink. “You must be one of Shar’s many brothers.”

“Jake. I’m thinking I should be asking for your credentials and stuff because you know it’s not every day that I find a man all snuggled up to my little sister.”

Shar cut him with a glare. “Excuse me, I can kiss whomever I want, wherever I want.”

Jake chuckled. “Obviously. I’m just startled finding you in a public place, all smoked up with a guy.”

She glowered at him. “Cut it out, Jake.” She turned to Gage to find him clearly enjoying the teasing that was going on. “Hey, you started this. My brother, one of the five, but maybe the nosiest of them all, wouldn’t be gaping at me like that if you hadn’t been kissing me.”

“I don’t care who sees me kiss you,” Gage said.

Jake interjected, “You are in a public place. I’m not nosey, just observant.”

She ignored Jake and also ignored Gage’s statement, although she had to admit that she liked that he didn’t care who saw them kissing. “Jake owns a dive shop and I guess most of his business stays under water, so he has no one to talk to until he comes and puts his nose into my business. What are you doing here anyway?” she asked.

“I had an errand to run.”

She saw mischief written all over his face. “What kind of errand?”

“Nothing in particular. Just checking on the wedding plans.”

“Uh-huh. No funny business,” she warned. “You and your brothers better not be planning anything that will embarrass Grant or Cali. Or hurt the reputation of the resort. This is important.”

He held up his hands. “I cannot believe that you would even think that I—that we—would do something to harm the wedding.”

She didn’t believe him. “You’re up to something. Do not think I don’t recognize that twinkle in your eye. Heaven knows I was the recipient of the mischief behind that look many times growing up. I will personally hurt you if you goof this wedding up.”

“Relax.” He turned serious. “I would not mess this up for anything. I’m just having a good time yanking your chain.” He grinned broadly.

And she saw Gage grin too.

“That being said, I’m still curious about why you’re standing on the little white bridge all hugged up and kissing Gage.”

“Go away,” she demanded, struggling not to smile at the irritating brother who’d once tied her pigtails together while she slept.

“I’m going.” He held out his hand to Gage. “Glad to meet you, man. Good to know someone can shake my tough sister up a bit with a little romance.”

“Go,” she ordered before Gage could say anything.

“Later, man,” Jake said. “I better go now so I can live to dive another day.”

Shar did not blush but she did get hot and she felt fumes heating up her cheeks.
Jake just went into the file with Meeks the plumber.
When she got the nerve to look at Gage, he was leaning against the bridge railing, arms crossed and smiling.

“He was just teasing you. No harm done.”

“Easy for you to say. Now you know that having a big family does come with its drawbacks.”

“I think you’re just embarrassed and that’s my fault. I’m sorry. And so you’re the tough sister?”

She sighed, closed her eyes and counted to three as she fought to let the moment go.
Why had Jake’s teasing gotten to her the way it had?
“I’m blunt. People take that as tough.”

“You’re also a kind-hearted softie.”

That made her smile. “Well, don’t tell anyone or it might ruin my tough gal reputation.”

He pretended to seal his lips. “Done. Let’s go see those murals.”

She started to walk off the bridge; he fell into step beside her and slipped his hand into hers. The simple, easy gesture caused butterflies to flutter in her chest. And Shar realized that she very much liked the feeling.

The pool and the mural came into view just a few steps from the bridge. “There it is.” Shar halted and let him take in the full effect of the water scene in front of them.

“The main focus is sea turtles.” He knew this had to mean a lot to Shar and the way she beamed as she looked at it told him he was right.

“McDreamboat did this to help bring attention to the sea turtles. And I love him dearly for it.”

“It’s fantastic.”

“Takes your breath away, it looks so real.”

“Definitely,” he murmured, studying every aspect of it. Then he looked at her.
She
took his breath away. “There’s a lot to take in on the giant wall.”

“I know. And there are things hidden, like a small crab peeking out from behind a shell and things like that. We have a game card that kids—or adults, for that matter—can get at the towel cabana and the kids can mark off each listed hidden surprise as they find it. Everyone is loving it. That was Cali’s idea because she knew that Grant liked to hide things in his paintings, so she made it into a game.”

It was a brilliant idea, he thought. “I can’t get over it. So Grant painted this and Jax helped?”

“Yes. Grant painted the majority of it, but Jax painted some of the plant life and the dolphin and other small creatures while McDreamboat, Grant”—she laughed—“focused on the focal points like the turtles. They did the same thing on the outside wall too. So do you know Jax?”

“I met him. I broke down on the side of the road the first morning I was heading into Windswept Bay. I have to admit that I’ve never had any reason to change a flat tire. I have a driver in the city and when I travel, I usually have drivers. Needless to say, I was in a predicament when Jax pulled in behind my car and took one look at me and knew I had no clue. He’s a nice guy. I met his girlfriend Blair in the lobby.”

“They’re in love. And Jax is a good guy. I’m glad he stopped to help you.”

“Believe me, I needed it.”

“Oh, I bet you would have figured it out one way or the other.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

She laughed again. “You’re welcome. Stay out of Manhattan high-rises for a while and you’ll be a regular person in no time.”

“At the moment, I’m not even thinking about them.” And he wasn’t. He was thinking about getting her back in his arms and stealing another kiss. He shouldn’t have kissed her earlier but he found himself acting on impulse when he was with her. And he wasn’t going to feel bad about it because he’d do it again in a heartbeat.

“Let’s head to the beach so you can see the masterpiece, the crowning jewel of the resort.” She grinned. “It really is gorgeous. We are very lucky to have it. McDreamboat, and I do hope you know I call him that fondly, outdid himself on the exterior mural.”

“So why do you call him McDreamboat?”

She chuckled. “Because he’s got that Patrick Dempsey look going…you do know about Dr. McDreamy from the TV series
Grey’s Anatomy
?”

“Yes. I’d have to have been in a complete bubble if I didn’t know about the show. I overheard the office secretaries talking about him and the show every Friday morning around the water coolers.”

“Thought so. And don’t feel left out, because you have the Paul Newman look going.”

He laughed. “So you watch a lot of television?”

“Movies mostly. I love a great movie.
Cool Hand Luke
and basically any movie Paul Newman was in is a favorite. And I will admit that I, like most females across the country, tuned in at least a few times to get their McDreamy fix.”

He shot her a skeptical look. “Paul Newman.”

“You know—you have that square chin and those amazing baby-blue eyes.”

He grinned. “So my eyes are amazing?”

“Are you fishing for more of a compliment? You know good and well you’ve got amazing eyes, among other extraordinary features.”

“I’m not concerned about what I do or don’t have or what anyone else other than you thinks about my looks. But if you like something about me then I’m glad. I’ll take whatever advantage I can get.”

He reached for her and she slipped out of his grasp, laughing as she moved out ahead of him on the sandy path. “Oh no you don’t. I’m not walking around a corner and having one of my other brothers pay me a surprise visit.”

He grinned. “I don’t mind.”

“Well, I do.”

He was laughing when she spun and looked up. He did the same and was instantly in awe. “Wow.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much what everyone says. It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?”

Gage studied the painting for a while. There was so much about it. Dolphins were the focal point here and a colorful coral reef. It was four stories high, facing the ocean.

“That’s going to be a spectacular backdrop for the wedding. Didn’t you say it was on the beach?”

“Yes, there.” She pointed to an area. Behind it in the background was a cliff area with a lighthouse on it; to the side was the ocean and then to the other side was the mural. And then behind them was the expansive beach and the line of resorts dotting the coastline. “Every aspect will be photo ready now.”

“If I show up, will you dance with me?”

She turned to him and the ocean breeze had her dark hair dancing softly about her face. “Only if you behave.”

“Now, where’s the fun in that?”

“I’m serious, Gage. I need you to know I’m not an island fling. But I don’t have my sights set on wedding bands either. So that puts this thing that’s going on between us in a hard spot. You should know that.”

He stepped toward her. “I’d never think you were a fling of any sort. I’m just asking if I show up, are you going to dance with me?”

She stared up at him with challenge in her eyes and after a moment, she nodded.

His pulse hummed as he wrapped one arm around her and drew her against him. “This is not a fling,” he said, his voice rough, and then he kissed her again. Every ounce of him ached with the need to be closer to her. She moved in his arms. Her heart thundered against his as she gave in to the kiss; when her arms slowly came around him, the tension in him eased. He hadn’t come here planning on this but he couldn’t help himself. After far too short a moment, he made himself break the kiss and buried his face in her hair. The scent of sea breeze and some sweet scent filled his senses. “When I’m holding you, I feel like I’ve never felt before.”

“Gage.”

“Don’t let that scare you off, Shar. I’m just telling you that’s how I feel.”

He leaned back and cupped her face, staring into her wide eyes. “Don’t overthink this.” He kissed the tip of her nose and then let her go. “Okay?”

“Okay,” she said at last. “But I’m warning you like I warned my brothers: no acting up at the wedding. And that goes for the kissing thing too.”

He grinned. “You know you enjoy the kissing as much as I do. I’ll see you at the wedding.”

Chapter Eleven

“You look beautiful, Shar. I knew that color was going to bring out your eyes.”

Shar heaved in a deep breath as she glanced at Cali and then stared down at the fairy-tale dress she wore. It was a soft sea-green sheath beneath an overlaying, swirling, flowing dress in a translucent sea-green. The skirt danced just above her knees and shimmered in the light with each move she made. The first time she’d tried it on at the bridal shop she’d thought it was gorgeous but now, her thoughts had taken on an altogether different tone. She wondered whether Gage would think she was beautiful in it.

She had not been able to get him and his tantalizing kisses off her mind during the last two days since she’d been in his arms on the beach.

“I think,” she said slowly, “that is, other than your wedding dress, this is the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. And it’s a bridesmaid dress. I was afraid as you and the rest of the family began to marry that I’d be like the woman in that movie
Twenty-Seven Dresses
and have a closet full of really ugly bridesmaid dresses.”

Jillian chuckled from where she was pulling on her dress. “I had the same thought. With as big as our family is, and if our brothers’ future fiancées ask us to be in their weddings, that the closet full of ugly dresses could be me.”

“I would not put my sisters in ugly dresses.” Cali looked indignant at the very thought.

Shar turned to give Jillian an are-you-kidding-me stare. “You’ll all get married before me. I’m not even thinking I’m going to get married. I’m having too much fun being my own boss and doing what I love.”

Cali turned to stare at herself in the mirror and ran a hand over her gorgeous dress. “Oh, you may change your mind when the man of your dreams walks into your life.”

The dreamy tone of her voice rang an alarm bell inside Shar as Gage filled her thoughts. Since he’d come out of the surf toward her that first morning, her life had been in a tailspin. She couldn’t deny it to herself…she wouldn’t admit it to anyone else but it was true. Suddenly in her mind’s eye, she saw him walking toward her, in black tuxedo pants and a crisp white shirt opened at the neck. And she was in a gorgeous wedding dress, holding a bouquet. She almost gasped the image was so real. So perfect.