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He stepped off the edge of the deck.

The water swallowed them. She surfaced sputtering and coughing, wiping water from her face. Across from her, Ronan emerged looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Felicity glared. “You are so dead, Marine.”

“Worth it.”

“Oh, you think so?” She lunged.

The splash she sent directly into his face was deeply satisfying, drawing a laugh from her.

His eyes narrowed. “Now you’re done for.”

“Do your worst.”

A wall of water hit her before she could finish. She shrieked. The battle escalated immediately. By the time it ended, they were both breathless, and grinning like idiots.

Ronan reached her first. His hand settled against her waist beneath the water, drawing her closer. The laughter faded.

The rest of the world seemed to fade with it.

“Love your smile, your laughter,” he murmured. “You.”

The butterflies returned with reinforcements. “Shut up.”

“Make me.”

His mouth met hers before she could come up with a suitably cutting response.

The kiss was brief. Sweet. Dangerously easy.

When he pulled back, she found herself smiling anyway.

Maddening man.

*

It was later, the birthday festivities winding down when Ruth’s daughter marched up to Ronan. “Come swim with us, Uncle Ronan,” she said, pointedly ignoring Felicity.

“I don’t—” he started.

“Go,” Felicity said before he could finish.

He turned to her. “But—”

She prodded his arm. “Join the kids.”

For a moment, he looked as though he might argue. Then he sighed dramatically and allowed Ruth’s daughter to seize his hand. “Fine. But if I drown, it’s on you.”

Michaela shot Felicity a self-satisfied grin and immediately began dragging Ronan toward the water.

Felicity watched them go with mixed feelings. The little brat knew exactly what she was doing. Still, it was hard to begrudge her the victory.

Ronan was a fixture in Davey and Michaela’s lives.

And, if she was honest, seeing them with him filled her with a quiet sort of happiness. They deserved someone dependable.

Someone who stayed.