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“It’s like the girl I met in college is back. You have life in you again, not the quiet, angry, meager thing Justin turned you into.”
I squeezed her hand. “I’m still finding myself, but I feel more like me every single day.” I started giggling. “Who would have thought I’d find myself unemployed, divorced, and living in Florida?”
Liz giggled too. “Florida agrees with you.”
“Salt life, baby.” And that just made me laugh harder.
“Hey, how much of the sweet stuff do I pour in?” Mom called from the back patio.
I tilted upright, but Liz darted a glance to Dec’s patio, where he was seated and watching us in the shadows. “I’ll go help your mom make a new batch. You see if that gorgeous man will come visit you.”
She went inside and Dec immediately stood up, stripping off his shirt and splashing water as he stalked in my direction. Thank God for moonlight highlighting each dip and valley of his muscular physique. He sank into the warm water and hooked his arm around my waist. My legs went around his hips and he kept us afloat with his strong arms. His mouth crashed down on mine, his tongue claiming me. The desire was instant, flaring to life and burning hot after being restrained. Not a drop of water could come between us as we held each other tight.
“Fuck, Kenna,” Dec breathed against my lips. Then we were kissing again and I could feel how much he wanted me when he pressed against the tiny strip of material separating us.
“I’ll sneak over,” I panted in between kisses.
“I’ll leave my back slider unlocked if you can get away.”
Dec’s hands gripped my ass, rubbing me against him. We almost went underwater, but it was worth it.
“Yoohoo!” Mom’s voice echoed over the water. “Margaritas are ready!”
We broke apart and Dec ducked his head under the water to cool off. I felt like a teenager again, sneaking away with a boy and getting caught by my mother. Dec surfaced and practically smoldered as he looked at me.
Liz stood next to Mom on the patio, the new pink flamingo floaty I bought around her waist. “Come get your drink! You too, Dec!”
“They’re teaming up against us, you know that, right?”
Dec wiped the water out of his eyes. “Yeah, kinda figured that out. You go ahead. I need a few more minutes in the water before I’m decent.”
Maybe it was seeing all the most important people in my life in one place. Maybe it was the moonlight or the gorgeous man treading water next to me, but I tossed my head back and laughed until my stomach ached.
In this moment, in this crazy place…I was happy.
Chapter Twenty
Dec
Another day passed where I saw very little of Kenna. Her mother and best friend kept her busy, and while I wanted to pout at being ignored, seeing her eyes dancing when one of them did something ridiculous and Kenna pretended to be mad, I kept my mouth shut. I had a whole year with her. I could share her for a week.
She stepped out of her house and waved, shielding her eyes from the morning sun flooding her front porch. Kenna, in her bright green tank top and denim shorts, the tiny straps of a swimsuit underneath showing through, looked nothing like the woman I’d met at the beginning of the summer. Whatever magic had taken hold of her here in Sunshine Key was not something I wanted to disturb.
“Beautiful women, those Ryans,” Pops mused, sitting next to me in my truck as we waited for everyone to arrive.
I turned in my seat to pin him with a stare. “Don’t you think it’s time we talk about what’s happening there?” Pops had been with Mona practically every day since she’d arrived. I’d never seen my father with another woman, in all the years he’d been a widower.
Pops wore an even wilder shirt today, a button-down with tiny pink flamingos sporting sunglasses and flip-flops. The cargo shorts and water shoes in neon green shouted retired Floridian from a mile away. He flipped his sports sunglasses on top of his balding head.
“Yes, son, let’s talk about it. What are your intentions with Kenna?”
My glare had no effect on him. “I meant you and Mona.”
“You tell me about you and Kenna first and I’ll tell you everything you want to know about me and Mona.” His gloating smile was annoying.
I huffed my disgust and got out of the truck. “I’ll get the girls.”
Pops’s laughter trailed me up onto the porch where I placed my hand on Kenna’s waist and leaned in for a quick kiss. My thumb swiped under her shirt and I got a feel of the soft skin below. Her little shiver in response was what I lived for apparently.
