I exhale a laugh. “Just messing with you, Janeen. I will have a lemon.”
Another moment, and a smile cracks her face. She points a chubby finger at me. “You’re a stinker.”
I notice she has a gold tooth. “You’re a gangster.”
That makes her laugh more, and she shakes her head as she walks away. “I’ll get this right out for you.”
When I look at Daisy, she’s glaring at me.
“What?”
Leaning forward, she whispers. “You were flirting with her!”
“What’s wrong? Jealous? Of Janeen?” To quote someone we all know, as if.
“You took a big chance doing that. She could have been offended.” Her whisper turns to a hiss. “She could’ve spit in our food.”
“Relax. Everyone likes a little flirt from a cute guy, especially waitresses. They deal with assholes all day. Besides, they’re handling our food. It’s smart to be kind.”
Janeen is back with a large tray she puts on a stand. “Here you go, sugar. Fresh from the stove.”
I’m feeling better already as she slides pale-green plastic plates in front of each of us. They’re like hospital plates, but they smell delicious. My stomach growls.
Janeen hesitates. “Can I get y’all anything else?”
I smile and add a little wink this time. “Looks like this’ll do it.”
“Here’s the check, but take your time.” She rips the ticket off her pad and places it face down beside my coffee. “Let me know if you need a refill or anything.”
“Will do. Thanks, Janeen.”
“You’re welcome, honey.” Another smile, and she saunters down the aisle.
Daisy’s eyes are wide, and she stares after Janeen a half-second before shaking her head and looking at me. I only chuckle, taking a big bite of collards.
“Good stuff.”
Daisy takes a big bite of the sweet potato soufflé and sits back in the booth. “Holy cow, that’s good. How did you find this place?”
“Football road trip. Coach took us all here on the way home. Best southern cooking I’ve ever had.”
“I think I have to agree with you. Just don’t tell my aunt.”
We pig out for a while before I have to come up for air. Daisy does the same, putting her fork down and holding her midsection. “I think I ate too fast. I might explode.”
Warmth fills my chest as I study her. Damn, this girl. “Let’s go to the beach.”
“What?” She sits forward, but excitement is on her face.
“We’re two minutes away. Come on. It’s Sunday. It’s supposed to get up to eighty today. Let’s spend the day soaking up some rays.”
Her nose wrinkles adorably, and she starts to laugh. “I love that idea. I love the beach!”
I dig in my pocket for cash and throw a wad on the table before catching her hand and jogging with her out the door.
Seven
Daisy
“I can’t believe I’m playing hooky like this. I’ve got a whole bedroom to finish.”
Scout’s behind the wheel of my Bronco, and the canvas top is off so his hair is blowing around his face. Mine is too, but he looks like a model for Playgirl.
“You know what they say.” His fist tightens on the steering wheel and that muscle on the back of his arm flexes. “All work and no play…”
“Turns you into a psycho killer?”
He starts to laugh, full lips parting over straight white teeth, deep dimple. What am I doing? This is playing with matches, and if I’m not careful, I’m going to get burned beyond recognition.
Instead of driving all the way to Oceanside Beach, he cuts over through Oceanside Village and drives out to an undeveloped, private beach I’ve never seen before.
“Looks like we’ve got the place to ourselves.” He puts it in park and takes out the keys, jumping over the side and jogging around to hold my door. “Come on.”
“How do you know about this place?”
I climb out, taking the hand he offers and following him through the sparse trees.
“I used to ride my bike all over the place around here. It was boring being in Fireside all the time.”
He can say that again. I didn’t grow up there, but Fireside is about the smallest town I’ve seen… Next to Oceanside Village, I guess. But at least they have the beach. Fireside’s just hoping to catch some of their spillover.
“It’s beautiful!” The trees part, and my breath catches.
A clear beach with white sand spreads out in front of us. It’s empty and sheltered from the more developed strip of land farther north of us.
“It’s calm.” He strips off his tee, and my stomach tingles at the sight of his lined torso. “I think it’s warm enough to swim.”
“I don’t have a suit.” Looking down, I’m in paint-stained sweats and a different old tee.
“What’s under that?”
His eyes are on me, curious with a hint of mischief. We’re in that place again—the one we always seem to end up in now—until one of us runs away.
First time it was me.
Second time it was him.
Third time…
My skin is hot as I pull the neck of my shirt out. “Black sports bra.”
“How is that different from a bathing suit?” He takes a few steps backwards, still watching me, like he’s taunting me. “Take it off, Daisy Sales.”
“What are you wearing under those?” I nod at his jeans.
“Nothing.”
His eyebrow arches, and it’s difficult to inhale all the way. “Should I close my eyes?”
“Only if you want to.”
My eyes close, and I face the trees as he chuckles. Water splashes, and I hear the sounds of swimming, surfacing, then he calls to me. “You’re safe now.”
Without a doubt, I am not safe.
Turning around, I blink cautiously to see he’s in the water. But the way he’s standing there, hair wet, two lines of muscle disappearing below the surface as waves lap at his waist, might be even more devastating than seeing him fully naked.
I’m not sure I can take all of him out here in the bright sunlight.
“You know, I still can’t get over that guy saying you were bad at sex.” He pushes to the side, swimming around in the
