Sea of Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 4) Contemporary Romance by Melissa Foster Page B

in more than a year.” Danica turned a serious gaze toward Lacy. “Lace, ignore the ultimatum advice; it rarely works. Just enjoy yourself and let things happen naturally. But if you think about things and you realize that sharks are a bigger issue—which given your history, they very well could be—then he deserves to know now rather than later.”
    “Speak of the devil,” Kaylie said with a smile.
    Lacy turned around and spotted Dane and Hugh at the gate of the patio. Her heart rate hastened when Dane’s eyes locked on hers—the memory of their night together translated in his heated stare.
    “Hey, ladies.” Hugh waved as he pulled a chair from a neighboring table and straddled it backward. “How’s the coffee?”
    Dane squeezed Lacy’s shoulder, and she thought her heart might leap from her chest. He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
    “Hi, beautiful,” he whispered. “I missed you over the past hour.”
    Lacy felt her cheeks flush. Now that she knew what was beneath Dane’s white shorts and tan Brave Foundation T-shirt, her fingers itched to touch him. She wrapped her hands around her mug to keep them from acting on their own.
    “You guys sleep okay? I slept like a rock.” Hugh’s light yellow polo shirt stretched tight across his muscular chest. His hair looked as though it had dried in the wind, with thick waves pulled back from his handsome face, in contrast to Dane’s finger-brushed hair, the front of which hung thickly above his eyes. “Savannah, Josh, and I had a few drinks in Savannah’s room, and by the time I fell into bed, I was zonked. You should have joined us,” he said to Danica and Kaylie. “I told Blake and Chaz what we were doing.”
    Danica looked down, and the blush on her cheeks told Lacy what her sister was doing the evening before.
    “Chaz was so tired,” Kaylie explained. “But maybe we can catch up with you guys tonight.”
    “Maybe so,” Hugh said. “I have to be in California Tuesday for a charity race. I can’t drink a lot, but we can go have some fun.” Hugh flagged down a waitress and ordered coffee. “Anyone else want a cup?”
    “No, thanks,” Dane said. “Lace, Treat said we could take out his Talaria. It’s not a sailboat, but she’s a beauty. I thought we’d take a whirl around the bay.” He raised his eyebrows toward the others.
    Lacy struggled to tame her excitement at spending an afternoon with Dane, and in the next moment, she worried he might want to swim in the deep sea. That was definitely out of her comfort zone. She touched her scar. “Sounds great. Will we be swimming?”
    “Not if I can help it,” Dane said with a wink. “Any other takers?”
    Lacy knew how close Dane was to his family, and she wasn’t surprised when he invited the others along, though she was a little disappointed at the idea of not having him all to herself.
    “Savannah and I were going to hang out at the beach this morning. We’ll come along, if you don’t mind,” Hugh said.
    “We’re going into Chatham today with Kaylie and Chaz, but thanks anyway,” Danica said.
    “Sounds great,” Dane said to Hugh. He squeezed Lacy’s shoulder. “Great.” Dane looked at his watch. “Why don’t I go get things ready, and I’ll meet you guys at the dock in half an hour.”
    “I’ll help.” Hugh sucked down his coffee in two quick gulps and jumped from his chair. “Nice to see you guys. We’ll see you this afternoon.”
    Dane kissed Lacy’s cheek, and as she watched him walk away, she felt the heat of her sisters’ stares.
    “Looks like you’re going to a boat party,” Kaylie said.
    Danica leaned in close to Lacy and asked, “Did Dane say he missed you the last hour ? I guess you had company overnight?”
    Lacy felt heat rush up her cheeks again. “Okay, yes, he stayed in my room.” She sighed. “I was gonna tell you guys, but…”
    “Good for you, Lace,” Kaylie said.
    “I’m happy for you,” Danica said. “But you should be honest with him