“Like mint chip ice cream?” she asked.
“Better.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
As she treaded azure blue waters, Steph splashed Jake. He stood on the edge of the boat in his swim shorts, the early evening sun glinting off his light-brown hair.
“C’mon. I don’t bite,” she said, then swam closer and pretended to grab his ankles, as if she were going to topple him into the ocean. The idea appealed to her. He seemed the type who might enjoy a good water toppling.
“I don’t mind biting.”
“You’re not afraid of the water, are you?” she asked, egging him on.
“You crack me up, funny girl. Now prepare to be dunked.”
“No way will you catch me,” she said, pushing off the shell of the boat with her feet and skimming along the shallow water. They were early for the boat party. Intentionally. They’d arrived in the hopes of catching Penny before she was swept into the crowd. The boat, which belonged to Devon, was moored at the end of the dock.
Jake jackknifed into the water, stirring up small waves and sand below her. Then he chased her. She darted and weaved as fast as she could, but soon enough he stretched one long arm and hooked her ankle. Underwater, she laughed. She popped her head up, and so did he.
“Say it.”
“Say what?” she said, splashing water at him.
“Say I caught the mermaid,” he said with a smirk that made her grab his waist and attempt to tickle him underwater. He was impervious, though, and instead he clasped his hands over hers and tugged her in close. “Don’t drive me wild in the water,” he said, low and growly, like a command.
“I’ll do my best, but you’re the one who caught the mermaid,” she whispered, loving the way his fingers gripped her waist, and his voice was just for her.
“I did catch her. I want her all to myself,” he said, and she was sure they were talking in more than mere innuendo. That the undercurrent to this conversation echoed back to last night in his car, to the lifeguard stand, to the parking garage, to the kiss at Happy Turtle, and all the way back to the first night at the Pink Pelican. Dangerous though this was, she wanted the man. He’d felt like an opponent, or even a frenemy, most of the time, but something had shifted after last night. That talk on the beach had brought them closer. They’d both let down their guards, which was scary as hell. He was still after Eli, and she should probably swim away from him.
But she didn’t do that. Her heart was bending toward him.
“I like when you have me,” she whispered, the water making her daring, giving her some kind of liquid courage.
They swam for a few more minutes and then climbed back up on the boat. “I can see why you love it here,” he said, handing her a towel. “This place suits you. It’s beautiful, and peaceful, but also adventurous . . . like you.” And her heart raced from the sweet compliment.
OK, she was definitely going to say something. Go out on that limb. Suggest the island tryst, when her name sounded like a trumpet, reverberating through the air.
“Steph!”
She spun around, and excitement whipped through her as she clambered out of the boat and onto the dock. A woman with bright pink hair and tattooed arms rode a mint-green beach cruiser along the wooden dock in her direction. A golden retriever frolicked by her side. The ultimate island girl and her dog had resurfaced.
Steph ran down the dock and Penny stopped pedaling, letting the bike fall to the dock. Penny raced the rest of the way to Steph, then hugged her with every fiber of her being.
“You’re all I thought about under the stars,” Penny said brightly, the dog bounding up by her side.
Steph laughed. “Girl, we need to do something about the fact that you’re thinking about me while camping.”
“I know, but I couldn’t wait to see you. I made s’mores in honor of you. With my main man, Chase.”
Steph wiggled an eyebrow. “I see no one has replaced the golden retriever.”
“And no one ever will. Speaking of main men, what have we got here?” she asked, tipping her forehead behind Steph. Penny’s gaze landed briefly on Jake, who walked toward them.
“That’s my friend Jake,” Steph said, pointing at him with her thumb, trying to keep it casual. “Met him snorkeling.”
As Jake arrived next to them, Penny eyed him up and down. “Hello there. You’re mighty handsome,” Penny declared.
“And your hair is a lovely shade of pink,” Jake said with a smile.
Jealousy flared in Steph. Out of nowhere. “What are you up to these days?” Steph asked, changing the subject. “I heard you worked for Eli and helped with his club, but Marie said you’re using that green thumb of yours now at a flower shop.”
“I did a little bit for Sapphire, but I helped out at the gallery, too. That place was crazy busy when I was there.”
“They’re expanding it now,” Steph said nonchalantly.
“Probably because they need room for all their precious gems.”
“What?” Steph’s head bounced and boinged like a cartoon character. On coiled springs. Eyes popping out of their sockets.
Penny waved a hand in the air and emitted a pshaw. Like this was no big deal. Like they were talking about the weather. “He was always moving diamonds in and out of that gallery. Said he didn’t want to leave them at home.” She adopted Eli’s over-the-top tone. “The gallery is the safest spot for them.”