Page 52 of Flirting with Trouble

“Seriously?”

“You know you want to. Now get that fine ass of yours on this swing.”

“Always the charmer.” She sits on it and swings a few inches forward and back as I get comfortable on the one beside her, matching her slow pace. “This is kind of fun. I haven’t been on a swing in years.”

Everything is fun with you. “Does it bring back memories?”

“Not really. We never had these kinds of swings.” Holding one of the chains, she angles herself toward me. Her hair falls over one shoulder, and she drags the bottom of her flat-soled black boot as she swings backward and lifts it so it skims the ground as she swings forward. “Our home base is in Ridgeport, Mass, but we grew up traveling overseas for months at a time for my dad’s job. We lived in remote villages in tents and huts and modest homes that were more like shacks. Our swings were mostly vines or homemade contraptions.”

“Now I have to know what your father does for a living.”

“He and my mom are wildlife biologists, but my mom works as a wildlife photographer. She gave up her job as a biologist after Seth was born to have more time for us, so we could continue traveling with my dad. They weren’t about to slow down just because they had kids.”

“Sounds like they took Olivier’s advice and made a life they didn’t need a vacation from.”

“You know what?” she says with awe. “I think that’s exactly what they did. We traveled all over the world—South America, Asia, Africa—exploring mountains, rainforests, and jungles, learning about nature and other cultures. My grandfather is an archaeologist and paleontologist, and we spent time with him and my grandmother when they were at dig sites, too. That was Flynn’s favorite thing to do.”

“I remember Flynn saying your family traveled a lot when you were kids, but I didn’t realize it was that extensive. That’s amazing. Did you enjoy it?”

“Mostly. It was all I knew, and I enjoyed learning about different cultures and being part of their communities and holiday celebrations, like multifamily feasts we’d all help cook. My family didn’t have normal holidays with decorated trees and lots of gifts. We made each other gifts, and every year my parents would make a treasure map that my brothers and I had to work together to figure out and to find our presents.”

“Treasure maps? That must’ve been fun.”

“It was, and we still do it. When we went to that Bon Jovi concert, we were living in Portugal, and my parents made this elaborate map that included clues that we had to work together to figure out, and the answers led us to the airport. We didn’t have any idea where we were going, and we ended up in Germany at the concert.”

“That’s wild. And they still make treasure maps?”

“Yes. It’s complicated now that we live in different places, but they still make them, and we still have to work together to find our treasures. That’s how we ended up on Silver Island last Christmas.”

“That’s awesome. I’m formally lodging a request for a treasure map.”

She smiles. “Maybe one day you’ll get one.”

“Yes.” I do a fist pump and steal a kiss.

“You’re a nut. What are your family holidays like?”

“Very traditional. We all get together for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and we spend an afternoon decorating my mom’s tree. The island hosts a flotilla every year, and we all help decorate the boats, and there’s a community tree lighting in the park by the monument and the annual holiday dance at the Silver House, but you know what that’s like.”

“I enjoyed that dance.”

“Yeah? Then why didn’t you dance with me?”

“Probably because I thought we’d end up naked on the beach.”

We both laugh.

I push to my feet and hold out my hand. “There’s no chance of you ending up naked on a beach now.”

“You want to dance? Here?” As she looks around, a couple walks by on the path.

“Don’t act like you don’t want to.” I take her hand, drawing her into my arms, and sway to the nonexistent music. “You’re always safe with me.”

“Who are you kidding? That charm of yours is dangerous.”

I waggle my brows and twirl her in the moonlight. As I gather her in my arms again, swaying slowly, I say, “What did you like about the holiday dance?”

“Seeing the community come together. I could feel how close everyone was, and now that I know what you and the others did for Olivier’s family, it makes it even more special.”