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“What else is a fake fiancée for?” I quip.
River shakes his head and pulls me in for a long, steamy kiss with lots of tongue. His hands grip my hips. When he finally pulls back, I’m a little bit breathless and my pulse is racing. “You know, we could always celebrate the rest of my birthday in bed…”
“Oh, we’re going to do plenty of that tonight. Don’t you worry. I have something extra special in mind for you. But first…”
He groans. “You’re going to make me do something on my birthday?”
“You’ll want to see what I have planned. Trust me.”
River peers down into my face for a second. Then he tucks a strand of my hair behind my ears as he murmurs to me. “I do trust you, Pearl. I wanted to tell you–”
Whatever River was about to say is ruined by the arrival of a black Jeep with lifted tires and loud punk rock blaring from the speakers. River’s brother Rex is driving, Lucy is riding shotgun, and Brooks is in the backseat.
“Can I give you a lift to the party?” Rex shouts to be heard over the sound of the radio.
River raises his sunglasses and gives me a stern look. “Are they part of the surprise?”
“Rex!” Lucy says. She turns and punches Rex on the upper arm. Then she turns the music down. “Sorry, Pearl. He’s a caveman. He doesn’t realize that he is ruining weeks of work.”
River’s jaw drops. “Weeks of work?”
I wave her concerns away. “I think we should accept the ride, River.”
He stares at me hard for a second, before he lifts me up to give me better access to the backseat. I scramble in, saying a quick hi to Brooks, who salutes me stiffly.
Once River clambers in, he settles me in his lap. Rex takes off and drives straight down to the beach, whipping the Jeep left. River wraps his arms around me and whispers in my ear. “I hate surprises. You are so going to pay for this later.”
I turn my hear and press my lips to his ear. “Wait till you see what I got you. If you’re still mad by the time we’re alone, I promise that you can spank me.”
He grits his teeth. “Don’t get me all revved up while I’m in Rex’s back seat. I’m begging you.”
I laugh and his arms tighten around my waist as we race down the beach. We drive maybe ten minutes before Rex pulls up near the Bennett family home. Sam and Cole are pulling two coolers up to a village of large white beach tents covering long white tables and white chairs. Fifty feet away, someone has the grill fired up under another tent and the tangy scent of cooking meat wafts over to me.
We pile out of the Jeep, and Brooks points over to where Savannah and Sarah are handing out beer and soft drinks out of an oversized cooler.
“Is that… is that Zeke Porter?” he asks, referring to the enormous man hunching his shoulders while accepting a Coke from Sarah.
River straightens, his gaze on Zeke. His muscles seem to have locked up.
“That’s Ben, Riker, and Grady.” Rex swivels his head to look at me. “Did you invite the whole Atlanta Kings roster?”
“No.” I smile at Rex. “Sam actually helped me pick out who to invite. It’s my understanding that there is bad blood between you and a couple of your teammates. So we invited a select few who you get along with.”
I turn to River, expecting excitement. But instead, he looks a little pale.
“Baby.” I touch his hand. “Oh god. Don’t tell me you hate this present?”
He shakes his head, looking at me, his deep blue gaze seeming to impale me. Shock of all shocks, I see a sheen of tears in his eyes. I open my mouth, my heart skipping a beat. “Oh my god. Do you want to leave?” I squeak.
River pulls me close and kisses me so damn hard that his lips nearly bruise mine. His hands grip my shirt, his lips move against mine, I feel the stubbled texture on his tongue.
It’s funny, because for a second, I still can’t tell if he’s upset or mad or happy. I’m knotted up with cluelessness.
The kiss goes on for a second too long before River breaks it. He cups my cheek, looking at me. “You did this for me? Just to make me happy?”
I suck my lower lip into my mouth and nod.
“I love it,” he grates out. “Seriously, Pearl. Just… wow. No one has ever done anything like this for my birthday.”
