being kind enough to let me stay in their house for a month; I’m a guest here. And she’s friends with Anna, for Chrissake!”
Sean fixed him with a shrewd look, then ticked off his responses on long fingers. “Number one, so you’ve only been here a few days. So? You’re only goin’ to be here for four weeks in all. If you like her, you don’t have time to waste, son.” His brows arched to punctuate that. “Number two, aye, they let ya stay here, but you’re paying your share. And Anna’s your sister, so you’re a bit more than a mere ‘guest’. Which brings me to number three, that Toni’s friends with Anna.” Sean snorted in protest. “Ya think Anna would stand in the way of you gettin’ some action with a friend of hers? Knowing our free-spirited sister, she’d likely be cheering you on for gettin’ some. Sorry, Gav, but all your excuses are just that—excuses.”
“Jaysus, ya got it all figured out, don’t ya,” Gavin grumbled good-naturedly.
Again, Sean looked across the partygoers to Toni, watched her for a few seconds, then looked back to his brother. “You’re just scared,” he said quietly, so only Gavin could hear. “Siobhan ran you over, and you haven’t gotten back up yet.”
Gavin met Sean’s eyes, but said nothing.
Sean shook his head. “She did a real number on your head, that bitch. But… well… it’s a bit crass, but sometimes the best way to get over someone is to get under someone, know what I mean?”
Gavin’s jaw tightened. “Bloody hell. I’m not going to use Toni like that,” he said firmly. “She’s better than that.”
“Ah.” Sean stared at his brother, a grin curling the corners of his mouth. “There’s nothing wrong with a short summer fling, ya know. Doesn’t make you any less a gentleman, or her a lady, if that’s what you’re worried about, Prince Proper. But some fun like that might not be a bad thing for you. Get ya back in the game.” He shrugged, and sang under his breath, “Summer lovin’, had me a bla-aaast… summer lovin’, happened so fa-aaast…”
“Shut it, ya bellend!” Gavin laughed, giving Sean a punch in the arm. “Let’s go find you somethin’ to eat.” But as the song over the sound system changed, he couldn’t help but look over to where Toni was dancing with her friends, sexy and free and full of spark. She was laughing, caught in the moment, her hips swaying sensually to the beat and making his whole body tight with need. Sweet Jesus, he wanted her.
He wondered what she’d do or say if he made a play for her. Was there a chance she might be open to a little summer fling? He knew she liked him fine; they got along splendidly. But as for something more… he had no idea.
He sighed. Maybe, if he could pull his bruised self-esteem up from the gutters, and be the man he was before Siobhan steamrolled him, he’d be bold enough to find out. Lord knew he hadn’t been able to get Toni out of his head from the moment he’d met her.
Chapter Six
‡
L ater that night, when the sky was dark and fireworks shot brightly overhead, everyone oohed and ahhed as they watched the show. The town of Long Beach had hired barges to shoot them from out in the ocean, so many could see them, but not have debris raining down on them while they did. Someone had put on an old Led Zeppelin album, and the music was a welcome accompaniment to the light show in the sky. Halfway through, the slower, dreamier song Ten Years Gone came on, and Gavin smiled as he sank back further into his plastic deck chair. He’d always loved this tune; it was one of his favorites by them. To watch incredible fireworks overhead, out at sea, on a beach in New York while listening to this song made him deeply happy, content to his soul. Life was good.
He glanced to his left where Sean and Cassandra sat together, her curled on his lap, his arms around her waist. They were so connected, so in love… it was heartening to think that existed. Then he glanced
Enrico Pea
Jennifer Blake
Amelia Whitmore
Joyce Lavene, Jim Lavene
Donna Milner
Stephen King
G.A. McKevett
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Sadie Hart
Dwan Abrams