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“Spoiling him already,” Matthew remarked with a grin as he watched me dote on Blackie.
“I love this baby. I want to take care of him for a weekend,” I replied, my heart melting at the sight of the adorable French Bulldog in my arms.
“I always take him with me. Everyone loves him,” Matthew shared proudly, his affection for Blackie evident in his voice.
“That’s because he’s such a sweet boy,” I cooed, scratching behind Blackie’s ears as he wagged his stumpy tail happily.
Blackie licked my hand affectionately, and I couldn’t help but shower him with kisses on his head.
“I’ve been replaced already?” Oliver’s playful voice interrupted, drawing my attention.
“No one could replace you,” I assured him, smiling warmly at Oliver.
“I hope not,” Oliver replied with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with affection.
“Are you getting up? Snacks are being served on the patio,” Oliver called out, interrupting my lounging on the bed in the master bedroom. The trip to Southampton had been smooth, thankfully devoid of much traffic that might have soured Oliver's mood.
“I’m not sleeping,” I replied, stretching lazily across the king-size bed.
“Maybe I should take this opportunity while everyone is downstairs,” Oliver suggested, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“You have guests,” I reminded him.
“No, we have guests. This is your house too,” he countered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Not yet.”
“As long as you wear any ring of mine on your finger, you own this house too,” he added. “Now get up before I strip you naked and fuck you senseless.”
“Promises, promises,” I teased back, though my heart raced at the thought.
Oliver took a step toward the bed, and I quickly scrambled off it. If he touched me now, we wouldn’t be joining my family for at least an hour.
“Hmm, I’m not sure if your actions are flattering,” Oliver mused.
“We have guests,” I repeated, trying to quell the electricity between us.
He took my hand, and we headed downstairs, both changed into our bathing suits. I wore my black bikini under a pair of pink shorts and a dark blue t-shirt. My family was already seated on the patio, enjoying the sunny weather under the large umbrella while waitstaff served drinks and snacks. I was relieved that Oliver had arranged for a caterer for the weekend—I was looking forward to some relaxation.
“About time,” Finley greeted us.
“We had to change,” I replied with a grin.
“I’ll bet,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes dancing with amusement.
I settled down next to Sadie and helped myself to some guacamole and homemade tortilla chips. Meanwhile, Oliver engaged in a conversation with Matthew about the financial markets, and I rolled my eyes at their typical banter.
“Want to go to the beach?” I asked Sadie, sensing her restlessness.
“Yes. Is it private?” she inquired eagerly.
“Yes, we won’t have to share with anyone,” I assured her, already eager to escape the chatter.
We wiped our mouths and pushed our chairs back in unison. Oliver paused his conversation to shoot me a questioning look.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“The beach,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Wait a few minutes. We can go together,” he said.
