Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 228(@250wpm)___ 190(@300wpm)
“Can we, Mom please?” Layla asked, bringing her palms together and begging with her gesture and voice.
Dani looked at Hadley with pleading eyes. “I never get to do something that fun at home. Can I go? Please?”
Hadley was at a loss because she knew nothing about safety at night in East Hampton, and the girls were staying with Serenity and Michael. The decision should be theirs. Hadley glanced at Zach, silently asking him what to say.
Zach folded his strong, muscled arms across his chest. “I think it would be fun if we all went,” he said, those sexy lips she’d missed all day turning up in a grin.
The girls groaned, obviously upset the adults would ruin their fun.
Michael glanced at the teens. “Don’t get all bent out of shape. We won’t hang out with you, we’ll just be in the area. Where we can keep an eye out.” He raised an eyebrow, his stern expression letting them know the grownups would attend or the girls wouldn’t go either.
“Fine,” Layla said. “But don’t embarrass me!”
“Ouch!” Michael playfully placed a hand over his heart.
Serenity laughed. “Let’s get dinner, everyone. Do you two want to join us?” she looked to Zach, then Hadley.
He shook his head. “No, thanks. We have plans.”
“We do?” she asked. Nothing had been mentioned earlier.
Zach slid his hand into hers, his palm warm as his fingers curled around hand. “Maddox,” he called out, raising his voice so the manager would hear.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Did you ask Cal to handle things when you leave early?”
Hadley knew he wanted to be home with Joe until his test day. She glanced over in time to see Maddox give Zach a thumbs up.
“Great. We’re out of here.” They said goodbye to the Dares and their sisters, and Hadley let Zach lead her to his surprise.
* * *
Zach left Remy taking a call in his office and stopped by the kitchen to make sure everything was running smoothly. With the concert tonight, the bar would be packed with takeout pickups. But nobody’s meal would come close to what he had planned.
He joined his family and once they’d agreed to be at the festival later, he grasped Hadley’s hand and led her to his car. Before he opened her door, his gaze lingered on her. Though he’d seen Hadley this morning, now he took his time, slowly taking her in. She was so pretty in an understated way.
He doubted she was even aware of how hot she looked in a pink, yellow and white, floral mini dress. The ruffled V-neck collar exposed a delicate hint of cleavage and the flirty hem fluttered mid-thigh. Her tanned legs enticed him and he wanted to feel those long limbs wrapped around his waist as he thrusted deep.
But that would happen later. Right now, he had other plans.
He pulled open the car door. “Hop in,” he said.
“Where are we going?” she asked, as she lifted herself into the SUV.
He grinned. “Patience, grasshopper.”
She rolled her eyes. “You always did like The Karate Kid.”
“And some things don’t change.” Like how he felt about her. He strode around the vehicle and settled into the driver’s seat, turning on the motor.
“Give me a hint?” He glanced over.
She’d pursed her lips, and it was either kiss her senseless or appease her curiosity. If he put his lips on hers, they’d never leave. “We’re going to eat in a secluded spot where we can hear the band, and after we have some alone time, we’ll go help my parents with the girls.”
“Like a picnic?” she asked, hopefully.
He nodded. “Just like it.” On a grander scale.
“I’d love that!” Happiness flickered in her eyes, her dark lashes fringing the light blue orbs. “And thank you. I’m sure the last thing you want to do is hang around with crowds of people but…”
“You want to keep an eye on Dani. I get it.” Though he was certain his parents could handle things without them, he knew Hadley would feel better if she could watch her sister.
“Smart man.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek, his skin tingling where she’d touched. “And I appreciate it.”
He put the car in drive and he headed out, returning to his house. Once they were out of the car, he grasped her hand again and led her through his locked gate. They strode around the grounds and into the back, passing the pool and continuing down to the water.
By the time they walked down the stairs to the dock and beach, her mouth was open as she watched the waves come in, the sun still high in the blue, cloud-dusted sky.
“You have this view every day of the summer?” she asked in awe, her voice breathless. “It’s gorgeous.”
He turned, catching her profile. No, she was gorgeous. “Believe me, I know how fortunate I am.” And he wasn’t talking about the horizon.