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“We bought steaks for dinner. And a vegan burger for me. I thought we could use the grill.”

“Sounds good.” My hand drifts down her back, the mix of sun-warmed skin and lotion making it too easy to keep going. When I reach the hem of her shorts, I hook my fingers under the denim. Just enough to make her suck in a breath. Just enough to remind her who she’s standing in front of. She still doesn’t move away.

“Oh, and we went to the bookstore. I found some new romance books to read, and Bennett bought some crime novels.”

I let out a huff of a laugh. Figures.

“And I bought you a book, too,” she tells me. Her smile shifts, softer now, like she’s been saving this part for last.

“You did?” My throat suddenly feels thick. “What is it?”

“I’ll go grab it for you. Just a sec,” she says, pulling away like she’s as reluctant as I am to let her go. “I put it on your nightstand, in case you wanted to read it before bed.”

As she disappears upstairs, Bennett starts shaking the margaritas and says, “She’s great, isn’t she?”

I take a long moment, my eyes still locked on where Eden was last, then I look at him.

“Yes,” I say finally, my voice low – or as low as it can get when I have to practically shout over Taylor. “That’s why I married her.”

“Well you’re a lucky man.” He grins, completely unfazed, like we’re talking about the weather instead of reminding him who Eden belongs to.

I pick up the tie I took off and start winding it through my fingers again, just to do something other than want to punch his face. The kid hasn’t done anything, I know that. It’s just my foul mood that’s poisoning everything here.

I set my tie on the counter and lean one elbow beside the cutting board. “I spoke to your uncle today.”

That gets his attention. The shaker stills in his hands.

“He’s expecting you to pull your weight here. Which means tomorrow, you’re coming to the resort with me.”

“Oh, okay, sure. Great. That’s great.”

Christ, he’s so enthusiastic. It’s like trying to stay annoyed with a happy golden retriever. My jaw eases a little, the fight draining out of me. Maybe keeping him close won’t be the worst thing in the world. Apart from the larceny, the flirting with my wife, and the terrible Taylor Swift impression, he seems like a good kid.

Before I can say more, Eden’s back, holding a small paper bag from the bookstore. She pulls out a hardcover wrapped in tissue.

“You don’t have to read it,” she says, handing it over. “And if you hate it, Sadie says you can swap it for something else.”

I tear off the paper, and I blink when I see the title.Walt Disney: An American Original.

For a moment, I forget Bennett’s still here. Forget the music. Forget the mess. All I can think about is the kid I used to be, the one who believed magic kingdoms were real and that love was something that could be given to him easily. Before he learned better.

“I remembered you saying you loved going to Disneyland as a kid,” Eden says quickly. “It’s probably stupid or you’ve already read it…”

“No,” I say gruffly, “it’s perfect.”

I turn so she can’t see my face. I have no idea why my chest feels so tight. Or why my throat feels like it’s being scraped by a thousand knives.

I clear my throat and force my voice back neutral. “Thanks.”

Before she can look too closely at my face, I tuck the book under my arm. “I’ve got a couple of things to finish up before work tomorrow, so I’ll be in my office.”

Her smile wavers, just a little, but she nods. “Okay. We’ll bring you a margarita when they’re ready.”

I nod, forcing a brief smile onto my lips, then walk down the hallway, needing space. Needing air.

Needing to get my thoughts straight before I do something stupid. Like tell her how I can’t get her out of my damn head.

nineteen