Sea Breeze 03 While It Lasts (23 page)

             
“Well
,
what are y’all planning on doing today?” Low asked

             
I glanced up from my plate and looked to Cage. I had no idea what all he wanted to do today.

             
“I thought we’d spend a few hours on the beach and that’s about as far as I’ve gotten with plans,” Cage replied.

             
“That sounds like fun.” Low started to say more but her phone began ringing. She glanced down at it and frowned.

             
“Who is it?” Cage asked watching her carefully.

             
Low sighed and stood up. “It’s my sister,”

             
Cage scowled. “Want me to get rid of her?”

             
Low shook her head and headed into the other room before I heard her say. “Hello?”

             
Cage was watching the door with a strange protective stance. It almost looked like he was ready to snatch the phone out of her hand if her sister said anything to upset her.
             

             
“Is her relationship with her sister that bad?” I asked
,
wanting him to relax. He turned his head
toward
s
me and his shoulders eased when o
ur eyes met
. “Yeah. Her sister’
s a bitch. She’s put Low through hell.”

             
But Low had obviously had a very loyal Cage to fend off the bullies in her life. “If you need to go check on her
,
it’s okay.”

             
He studied me a minute then a pleased smile came over his face. “If she needs me she’ll come get me. I’d rather sit in here with you and enjoy my breakfast.”

Cage

             
E
va had dosed off while we lay
out under a large beach umbrella and watched the waves
.
I’d been worried about the parts of her that weren’t completely covered by the shade and I’d woken her up rubbing lotion on her feet.

             
Both those bi
g blue eyes of hers watch
ed me intently as I went from rubbing lotion on her feet to massaging them. “
Mmmm
,
that’s nice. I hope you aren’t expecting a tip,” she said in a sleep
y
voice.

             
“I don’t work for free.”

             
“I’m afraid to ask what form of payment you accept.”

             
I could think of a few different things to say but I decided to be careful with my words. Eva had seen and heard enough stuff last night
as far as
I was concerned. I didn’t want her to think I was being serious.

             
“Are you getting hungry?” I
’d
decided to change the subject.

             
She sat up a little straighter and gave me a shy smile. “Yeah,
kinda
.”

             
I picked her foot up from it
s resting spot on my leg and laid it back down on the chair. “Let’s go eat,” I replied
,
holding a hand out to pull her up.

             
“Are we going back inside? Do I need to gather our things up?”

             
“No
,
we can leave it all right here. It won’t get touched. I know a guy,” I assured her.

             
A small frown puckered her lips. I decided what the hell. If she was going to
do sexy shit
like that with her lips
,
I was going to react the way I wanted.

             
I bent my head and pressed my lips firmly against hers before pulling that sweet bottom lip of hers into my mouth. Her hands grabbed
me
and she made a small surprised gasp. Smiling
,
I pulled back and winked at her before reaching down to take her hand.

             
“What was that for?” she asked a little breathlessly.

             
“You do sexy little frowns and pucker those lips of yours and I’m not
gonna
be able to ignore that.”

             
A slow smile spread over h
er face and she licked her lips.
“Oh.”

             
I led us over toward the Beach Shack, which was a walk up seafood po’boy place. They also had some of the best homemade fries I’d ever eaten.
             

             
“Cage, my da
y just got a whole lot brighter.
”
Rock’s cousin Jess
called out as she strutted
toward us in an American flag string bikini. Jess was trouble. I’d made the mistake of messing around with her one night just to get her off Marcus Hardy because she was upsetting Low. Jess did not understand a no-strings attached fuck. Rock and I had come to blows over it. After a few solid punches from each of us we’d both felt better and decided to let it go. It wasn’t like Rock didn’t know Jess
was
an easy lay.

             
“Jess,” I replied
,
threading my fingers through Eva’s. You never could tell what Jess would pull.

             
“I heard you were shipped off to the country for being a bad boy.”

             
Jess walked up to me and leaned in
to kiss
my cheek.

             
I moved
my head back away from her lips. “Yeah. I’m off on Sundays.”

             
Jess didn’t like being snubbed. She was a major brat when things didn’t go her way.

             
“You need to call me so we can catch up when you g
et back next Sunday. I miss you.” S
he dropped her voice to a whisper like she was sharing a secret between the two of us.

             
“That
ain’t
gonna
happen, Jess. I don’t intend to get in another tie up with Rock over you.”
Also,
you’re a crazy bitch.

             
Jess reached up and ran her fingernail down m
y arm, “
I promise not to tell him.”

             
I let go of Eva’s hand and slipped my arm around her waist. “Jess
,
this is Eva. Eva
,
this is Rock’s cousin Jess.”

             
E
va seemed tense and I hated
it was my fault that she felt uncomfortable. Would I ever be able to take her anywhere and not have some chick I’d banged show up? This sucked.

             
I brushed my lips against her temple. She eased some in my arms and leaned into me. That was better.

             
“So
,
are you like
,
in a
relationship
? “ Jess asked incredulously.

             
How the hell did I answer this question? Eva wasn’t some
random girl
I’d picked up for today’s entertainment.
But we weren’t in an actual relationship either.

             
“We’re dating,” Eva piped up.

             
Jess scowled,
“Cage doesn’t
date
.”

             
I opened my mouth to say something to stop Jess from going on and on about my bad boy code of ethics.

             
“Maybe he doesn’t date
you
but he is definitely dating
me
,
” Eva responded before I could say anything.

             
The heated annoyance of Jess’s gaze was
directed my way
. I could feel it but I couldn’t take my eyes off Eva. She’d handled the situation herself and the ridiculous grin on my face couldn’t be helped. Damn
,
she was sexy when she was saucy.

             
Eva tilted her head back to look up at me and I bent down and kissed the pleased smirk on her face.

             
“Unbelievable,” Jess replied in disbelief.

             
“Yeah, she is,” I replied
,
winking at Eva.

             
“Y’all have fun with that,” Jess said sarcastically before finally stalking off.

             
Packing up and heading back to the farm where she would be away from me most of the day wasn’t appealing. I wanted to keep her here with me.
Last night might have started out bad but it had taken a major turn for
fucking amazing
.

             
I threw our bags in the Je
ep and headed back upstairs to
help Eva who was determined to clean up before we left.

             
The strumming of guitar strings met my ears when I opened the door
to
the apartment.
A soft voice joined the unknown song. Eva could play the guitar? I closed the door quietly behind me. It wasn’t a song I was familiar with but I knew enough about playing the guitar
to know
that what she was playing wasn’t easy. I could play a few songs but my talent ended there. The
acoustic
guitar she’d
obviously
found in the corner of my room was one I
’d
won in a bet.
Krit
had been pissed when he’d had to give it up. But I’d wanted a guitar so I wasn’t about to let his sorry ass out of
the bet
.

             
The smooth sound of her voice had a country feel to it but not entirely.
Eva was musically talented. There was no doubt about it. If
Krit
heard her he’d have a damn orga
sm.
I didn’t want her to see me and stop but I couldn’t keep myself from getting as close to the bedroom door as possible. I wanted to see her like this.

             
Her head was bent and the curtain of her hair kept me from seeing her face.
T
he emotion in her voice spoke to me more than any visual. Leaning against the doorframe I crossed my arms and watched her hands fly over the strings. There was no mistake. She simply didn’t miss a chord. Her voice was so low I couldn’t make out the words but the ones I did hear tore at my soul.

             
Once the song came to an end she lifted her head and let out a long heavy sigh. “That’s only the second time I’ve picked up
a guitar since Josh’s death,” s
he said aloud then turned her head to look at me. The smile on her face wasn’t sad which was what I’d been expecting. She was happy. She had
recover
ed
something else Josh’s death had taken from her.

             
“How long have you played?” I asked

             
“Since I was five. The guitar has always fascinated me. Most musical instruments do but the only one I’ve ever learned to play is the guitar. I’ve always wanted to play the piano but my momma played the piano and seeing one just upsets Daddy. So, I never asked for one or expressed
interest in it.”

             
I was getting a piano.  It would be here the next time she came home with me. “You are amazing
,” I said and walked over to si
t beside her.

             
“Will you play another one?
I want to hear your voice this time.”

             
She ducked her head and blushed. “I can’t. I knew you were back there but I couldn’t see you. If you are where I can see you I won’t be able to play. You’ll make me nervous.”

             
“Hmmm,” I slid my hand inside the warmth of her thighs. “What if I bribed you?”

             
She giggled and shook her head. “No amount of kisses can get me to sing with you looking at me. I can’t. Maybe one day but I just can’t right now.”

             
“Are you
sure about that?
” I asked as I leaned in and pressed a kiss to the corner of her mouth.