Chapter 35
Brothers are pains in the ass even when they’re not your brothers.
Hazel
“This is the best idea,” Sadie squeals.
I chew on my bottom lip. “It’s not going overboard?”
Scarlett snorts. “You told the man you love you don’t trust him to stick around. This is not going overboard.”
“I didn’t say those words.” She lifts an eyebrow and I sigh. “Fine. I pretty much said those words.”
Sadie motions to the surf shack. “Thus, the grand gesture.”
I frown as I watch the flurry of activity happening around the shack. Balloons are being blown up, strings of festive lights are being strung up, and funny signs are being hung up.
“This is too much. What if he doesn’t want the surf shack anymore?”
Sadie scrunches up her nose. “This is weird. What happened to my overconfident sister?”
I point to Scarlett. “She’s right there.”
Sadie elbows me. “I meant you. Ms. I Will Have My Own Business, I Don’t Care What Anyone Says.”
I shrug. “I don’t own my business anymore. I officially start at Hideaway Haven Resort on Monday.”
I can’t make up my mind how to feel about my new job. Excited? Sure. I won’t get the chance to work with NFL players with any other job. Sad? That too. I’m going to miss my cute little practice.
Scarlett wraps an arm around my shoulders. “I’m proud of you. You didn’t give up on your dream to be a physical therapist. Trust me. I know how hard it is to hang onto your dreams as a girl in this family.”
Sadie nods. “As do I.”
Dakota and Blossom hurry to us. “Rhett messaged. They’re nearly at the boardwalk now.”
“Time to get into place,” Blossom adds.
I study the shack, which is hardly a shack anymore. It’s more of a mini beach house now. Will Miles like it? My stomach gurgles and I slap a hand over it to calm it down.
Sadie threads her arm through mine. “Let’s go.”
We follow Dakota, Blossom, Paisley, Harper, and Sloane as they march through the sand to the beach near the boardwalk. By the time we arrive, the Raider brothers are already on the boardwalk. Guessing by the way they keep shoving each other, they’re giving each other shit. Nothing new there.
Sloane herds me to the back of the group. “Stay hidden until I give you the signal.”
I duck behind my sisters to watch. The group of brothers turns their attention to us and Harper waves to them.
“It’s time,” Sloane urges.
What’s the worst thing that could happen? I’ll humiliate myself in front of the entire island. I can handle humiliation. It wouldn’t be the first time.
I step out from behind the group and make my way to the front. Miles spots me. He kicks off his shoes before hurrying toward me.
“What are you doing here?”
I bite my bottom lip and gaze up at him from beneath my lashes. “I have a surprise for you.”
“I love surprises.”
“I hope you’ll love this one.”
He grasps my hand. “If it involves you, I’ll love it.”
“Really? You’re not still mad at me?”
He snorts. “Guessing by the thousand messages I’ve sent you in the past three days, I’m not mad anymore.”
“I wouldn’t say it was a thousand messages.”
He grins before clearing his throat and wiping all mirth from his face. “I’m sorry. I overreacted. It's my job to support you. I shouldn’t have pushed you to accept the position at the resort. If you want to accept the job at the VA hospital, you have my support.”
“Well, crap. I guess I shouldn’t have accepted the position at the resort.”
His blue eyes sparkle as a smile spreads across his face. “You took the position at the resort?”
“Hudson made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
“You’re staying?” I nod. “Whoop! This is the best surprise!”
He grasps my hips and lifts me in the air but I tap his shoulder. “My job situation isn’t the surprise.”
“It’s not?”
“Nope.”
“What’s the surprise?”
“You’ll have to let me down so I can show you.”
He drops me to the ground. “Oof!”
“Oops.” He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to drop you.”
He totally did. Miles is a little kid when it comes to surprises. His excitement pulses in the air. This is why I wanted to surprise him. Not because I need to do some grand gesture. But because it makes him happy and I want to make the man I love happy.
I hold out my hand. “Let’s go.”
He threads his fingers through mine. “Lead me away, Blaze.”
I giggle. “Where shall I lead you? To the haunted cave?”
He shivers. “Do not make fun. Smuggler’s Grotto is seriously haunted.”
“The only people haunting the grotto are your brothers.”
“No. I swear I heard Margaret Hale yelling at the pirate Black Jack.”
Of course, he did. Because his brothers made a spooky recording and played it in the grotto. But I don’t have time to argue about the Lover’s Curse now. We’re nearly upon the surf shack.
“Close your eyes.”
“If anyone kicks me in the balls while my eyes are closed, I’m exacting revenge.”
“Don’t be a baby. Close your eyes.”
I wait until his eyes are closed before continuing toward the shack. I stop a few feet away.
“Okay. You can open your eyes now.”
His eyes fly open and he scans the area. His brow wrinkles. “We’re at my surf shack.”
I motion to the Miles Beach House sign. “Not your surf shack anymore.”
He steps closer. “This can’t be my beach house. I’m selling the shack. In fact, I got an offer yesterday.”
“Guess who made the offer?” I tap my chest.
“You made the offer? But why?”
I roll my eyes. “Duh. You love this shack. You were only selling it to prove to me you were serious about staying on the island.”
He scratches his beard. “Figured me out, did you?”
“Of course. I know you. I love you.”
“You love me?”
I can nod. I already said the words. He knows I love him. There’s no reason to be scared. And yet, my body is frozen in place.
He palms my neck and draws me near until his body heat surrounds me.
He leans down and whispers in my ear, “There’s no reason to be frightened.
I’ve got you, Blaze. I’m not going anywhere.
You have my word. I’ve learned from my mistakes.
I was a fool to not come running back to you the second after I returned from Hawaii.
I don’t plan to spend another minute without you, let alone several years. ”
I melt into his arms. “I love you, surfer boy.”
“And I love you, Blaze.”
His lips mold to mine and I open for him.
He thrusts his tongue into my mouth and I moan as his wild ocean taste hits me.
It’s addictive. And I don’t ever plan to kick the habit.
This man is mine and I’m not letting him go.
If he tries to leave me again, I’m clinging to him like a barnacle on a boat.
The crowd bursts into applause. There’s clapping and catcalling until Miles wrenches his lips from mine.
“Let’s get rid of them and celebrate our love alone with just the two of us.”
As much as his idea appeals, it’s not happening. There’s no way to get rid of the Raider brothers once they’re at a party. And this is a party.
Kai slaps Miles on his back as he passes us, carrying a bottle. “Told you we were drinking moonshine at the shack today.”
Zane holds up a bag of chips. “And eating.”
Miles groans. “There’s food and drink. We’re never getting rid of my brothers now.”
“There’s more than food and drink.” I tug his hand. “Let me show you the rest of your surprise.”
“There’s more?”
I fling the door of the shack open. “Ta-da!”
He scans the room and his eyes widen. “Holy smugglers. This is amazing. It really is a beach house.”
“A mini beach house.”
The sand has been replaced with hardwood floors. The kitchen has been spruced up to include some shelving. I already added some plates and mugs. And where there once were rows upon rows of surfing equipment is now a little living area with a sofa and some chairs.
“I can’t believe you did all this work in three days.”
“I had help.” I never could have pulled off this surprise without his brothers. It’s amazing how well they can keep a secret when they have an incentive. I doubt Miles will be happy with the incentive I offered.
Miles steers me toward the living area. “I’m looking forward to christening the sofa.”
I drag my feet. “Not now. Your entire family is here.”
“They’ll leave if we ignore them.”
“Um…”
He sniffs. “Do I smell fire?”
“It’s the barbecue.”
He lifts his eyebrows. “The barbecue?”
“For the party, I promised your brothers for helping me.”
He mutters some swear words under his breath. “They’re not leaving, are they?”
I shake my head. “The christening of the sofa will have to wait.”
He tugs on one of my curls. “I’ve waited years for you to admit you still love me. I can wait a few hours until my brothers are gone.”
“Are you two done making out?” Zane shouts into the shack. “I need to get the meat out of the refrigerator.”
“Yes!” I answer at the same time Miles yells no.
Zane skips inside. “Now you know how it feels to be interrupted.”
Miles glares at him. “I’ve never interrupted you and Sloane.”
Zane grabs the tray of hamburgers and hot dogs from the refrigerator. “I didn’t say you did.”
“You…”
I shackle Miles’s wrist before he goes after his brother. “This is a party. No fighting.”
“Fine,” he pouts. “But you owe me.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “However will I pay?”
He palms my cheeks. “We have the rest of our lives to figure out a payment system.”
I grin. “Yes, we do because you are not leaving me again. I won’t let you.”
“Don’t worry, my bloodthirsty Blaze. I don’t plan on leaving you until the last breath leaves my body.”
“I love you, surfer boy.”
“And I love you.” His mouth melds to mine and I melt into him. It’s only been three days, but I missed my surfer boy. I wrap my arms around him and he presses his hard length into my stomach. My panties dampen in response. Maybe it is time to fool around on the sofa after all.
“Stop making out!” Kai shouts through the window.
Miles tears his mouth from mine. “I love you, but I hate my brothers.”
I bury my face in his chest to hide my laughter. This is where I belong. Where I’ve always belonged. I just needed to get over myself first. Mission accomplished.