Chapter 3
Sibyl
My heart is racing so fast, I feel dizzy. Eli Logan is standing in front of me, looking just as handsome as ever.
There has never been any denying how fucking hot he is. The girls and I talk about it weekly, at least, and I’m the only single one between the three of us. Hell, the whole town knows Eli Logan is gorgeous. He’s also the least-available bachelor in the county.
Between work and his son, Eli doesn’t have time to date. He barely has time for family dinners at Kellan’s, but he makes them work because of Tucker. I love that about him. I love how hard he works to make sure Tucker has everything he needs.
What I don’t love is the way he’s looking at me after Ramona asked if we want to call it off.
There is literally no one else on the planet I’d rather do this shoot with.
I’ve had a crush on Eli since I was thirteen.
Getting to spend the afternoon posing with him?
Pretending to be a couple, even though I know nothing will come out of it? It’s too good to pass up.
I’m not so sure he feels the same, though. He looks…uncomfortable. Maybe he’s worried about wasting Ramona’s time. He’s like that—always trying to be considerate. A rare gentleman in this day and age.
“No, we better n—” I start to say.
“It’s up to Sibby. I’m down,” Eli says at the same time.
My heart drops into my stomach.
“What?” I breathe, turning my wide eyes to look into his.
“I’m good.” His gaze softens, one hand reaching up to move a strand of hair off my forehead.
“Okay.” The fuzzy feeling is back in my head. Dizziness increases when Eli bends down to whisper in my ear.
“Breathe, you look like you’re gonna pass out.”
“Asshole.” I swat him away, even as a smile splits my lips.
“You in, Sibyl?” Ramona turns hopeful eyes in my direction.
“Yeah.” I heave a dramatic sigh. “Let’s do it.”
“Yay!” Ramona does a little dance, skipping backward to set up the next picture. “Alright, for this one, I just want you guys to look at each other. Yes, just like that.”
I can’t stop smiling, and Eli gives me a dopey grin of his own. He disregards Ramona’s directions, stepping his toes to mine. Flicking my nose, twisting my hair between his fingers. The longer we stand there staring, the more serious his face gets.
His deep green eyes darken, roaming over my face, down my body. I feel exposed in a way I’ve never felt before.
“Eli, put your left hand on her cheek. Yes!” Ramona cheers as Eli’s rough palm slides across my jaw. His thumb strokes my face, and my eyes flutter closed, head leaning into his warmth.
My heart feels like it’s going to pound out of my chest—the way it’s banging around in there like a jackhammer. I remind myself to breathe, leaving my eyes closed as he leans forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
Holy shit. I am not going to survive this photo shoot. There’s just no way I leave here without turning into a puddle.
“Oh my God.” Ramona’s voice reminds me that we’re not alone. “You guys are fucking adorable. Shit, sorry about the language.”
Eli laughs. Stepping back, he takes his warm hands with him. “I work construction, it’s all good.”
“I work in my brother’s auto body shop. Trust me. I’m used to it.”
“Used to it?” Eli snorts. “You’re the one with the filthy mouth.”
“Shut up.” I roll my eyes. Going to shove him again, he grabs both my wrists, twisting me until he’s got my back pinned to his chest. I can’t stop the giggles.
This is teenage Sibyl’s fantasy right here—Eli’s big arms wrapped around me, his woodsy, manly scent enveloping me.
I tip my head back into his shoulder, trying to get a look at his face, at the smile I hope he’s wearing.
He didn’t smile much for the first couple of years after Lara died. I’ve come to cherish the ones he does have. I store them up for rainy days when I need a little sunshine. Because that’s what an Eli Logan smile feels like. It’s warm, safe, and bright.
“Oh my God, yesss.” Ramona holds her camera out in front of her, snapping photos as she switches from vertical to horizontal and back again.
Eli leans his face down next to mine, pressing warm skin into my cheek. “You look beautiful.”
A shiver runs down my spine. The smile I’m sending to Ramona’s camera is probably cheesy as fuck. I feel like a little kid who got everything on her Santa list.
“Okay, turn to look at each other, maybe rest your foreheads together.”
I steady my breath, turning into Eli. He stares at me, a soft smile on his face. I smile back, reaching my hand to rest on his cheek, something warm unfurling in my chest when I watch his eyes close, his head leaning into my palm.
I don’t know what my face says when he opens his eyes, but I do know what my brain is saying: I am screaming on the inside, begging him to kiss me. Kiss me just one time, Eli, so that I know what it’s like.
He must hear it too, because before I’m really ready, Eli Logan’s mouth is on mine. His lips are softer than I thought possible, pulling mine apart until I’m open to him.
I tremble in his arms, like some ditzy girl who swoons at the slightest touch. That’s what I feel like, being held by him. This has to be a dream—that’s the only thing that makes sense. That thought, combined with him pulling back, has me pouting—a full-blown, lower-lip-puffed-out pout.
Eli chuckles, and nips said lower lip as he tucks his face into my neck, pressing a little kiss to my bare shoulder before he straightens again.
“Jesus.” Ramona fans herself, turning at the waist to look at her assistant. The younger girl is red in the face, her wild brown eyes darting between Ramona and us. “Well, should we try the rowboat?”
“I don’t know,” I tease. “Eli has a habit of tipping them.”
“We can do it last, then.” Ramona grins at me, completely missing the joke.
“Thanks.” Eli leans down, hot breath tickling my ear as he whispers, “Now she thinks I go around tipping boats over.”
“Don’t you?” I grin.
“That was one time, Sibyl.”
I shudder. I’ve known this man for my entire life—he’s been hanging around our house since before I was born. In my twenty-seven years, I’ve never heard him say my name like that. Never seen him look at me like this either. It’s intense.
Now I know why the girls all line up to try and get his attention at the bars. Once his sights are set on you, there’s no better feeling in the world. I never want it to stop.
“Okay, I want you guys to hold hands and walk toward the willow.”
Eli offers me a big, calloused hand, shooting me a wink when I feel my cheeks heat. This is insane. How the hell is this even happening right now? I let him wrap his fingers around mine, stumbling along next to him down the boardwalk.
“Walk much?” he taunts. I throw my hip into his, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Thank God he didn’t. We would have ended up in the water.
“Great!” Ramona calls after us. “Just turn there and, I don’t know—”
Eli spins me around, the dress fanning out around me before he puts a hand on my back, the other grabbing my thigh, dipping me.
I squeal like a little girl, gripping his bicep in one hand, the other coming up to rest on his face again.
“Hi,” I whisper.