Chapter 9
Tyson glanced at Jenna in the passenger seat of his truck. She’d worn her chestnut hair up, highlighting her long, graceful
neck. Her skin was sun-kissed from the last few days at her new job, adding a touch of pink to her cheeks. Or was that makeup?
Or maybe it was just the lighting of the golden hour. Whatever it was, she looked really pretty.
“What?” she asked.
He jerked his attention back to the road. “Nothing.”
“Do I have chocolate on my face or something?” She flipped down the visor. “This thing with Gordon had me stress-eating Oreos
this afternoon.”
Why had he been staring at Jenna? Noticing the way the light looked on her skin?
Weirdo.
He gave his head a shake as Jenna flipped the visor back up. They were headed to Chatties for seafood and a favorite local
band playing there tonight. “Seth and Alex said they might stop by.”
“Oh good. It’s been like two years since I’ve seen your brothers.”
“What? Really?”
“We keep missing each other. What have they been up to lately?”
“Alex still works for the bank, and Seth has been building his marketing business. He’s handling The Sand and Saddle’s account and doing a great job. Business has increased by 28 percent.”
“Wow, that’s great. Your parents must be thrilled. Is he still the consummate bachelor?”
“Some things never change.” The middle Parker brother had gotten their dad’s good looks—black hair, blue eyes, chiseled jaw.
Seth had always been popular with the women, and his affable charm and salesman personality assured he never lacked for company.
Tyson maneuvered carefully around a boy on a scooter. Church Street was coming up on the left. Ty gripped the steering wheel
even as his palms turned sweaty. Andre Wallace had been conscious briefly when the team arrived on scene. Just long enough
for Ty to memorize the fear and shock in his liquid brown eyes. The image haunted Ty every night.
“Hey, you missed your turn.”
His pulse was thrumming like crazy. “It’s okay. I’ll take Maddox.”
“You might be better off turning around.” She was right. This time of the evening Maddox would be backed up with traffic.
But Church Street was no longer an option. “That’s okay.” He continued along Ridge Road until they came to Maddox, where he
turned.
“Mom sent me the article about the accident. Sounded like it was a bad one. Were you on the scene that night?”
He shouldn’t be surprised she’d put it together so quickly. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not sure how you guys deal with all that stuff. It must be a heavy load to carry sometimes.”
Usually he just talked to the other guys about it, blew off steam in the weight room or on the court. This time was different,
though. He couldn’t play enough basketball or lift enough weights to rid himself of this. The guilt was eating at him and
he didn’t know how to shed it.
“He was so young. That must make it even harder.”
“Seventeen. Just getting started in life.” A lump swelled in his throat. Andre had been on Chincoteague vacationing with his
family. His parents had gone home to plan a funeral for their son—all because Tyson had been too distracted to think straight.
Tyson still hadn’t escaped the dark cloud when they got a table at Chatties almost an hour later. Summer, with the arrival
of tourists, made most restaurants overcrowded. But this establishment, being upstairs with discreet signage, was lesser known
by tourists. The clamor of chatter and clattering silverware filled the dimmed space. Muted TVs offered baseball and trivia
games. Onstage, a band set up and readied to perform.
He and Jenna ordered their favorite seafood platters, and while they waited for their food they talked with each other and
their neighbors. When the food came, they dug in. By unspoken agreement, Jenna forked his hush puppies and he stole her oysters.
Chincoteague oysters were renowned worldwide for their unique salty flavor, but Jenna wasn’t a fan of oysters in general.
Twenty minutes later they were making good use of the lemon-scented towelette when Alex and Seth ascended the stairs.
Seth beamed. “Jenna!”
She popped up from her seat and Seth engulfed her in a hug. She laughed when he lifted her clean off her feet. “It’s been
too long.”
Seth’s hands looked big, one splayed across her sun-kissed shoulder and the other planted in the small of her back.
When he set her down again, she embraced Alex, whose hugs were, like the man himself, much more reserved. His light brown hair had an enviable wave on top, and he wore a couple days of stubble, which practically amounted to a beard.
Ty greeted his brothers.
“Sit down, you guys,” Jenna said with the ease of someone who’d spent half her childhood playing Super Mario on Wii with them. “We’ve already eaten, but go ahead and order some dinner. It’s on me.”
Seth grabbed a seat to one side of her while Alex grabbed the other.
“No way,” Seth said. “I never let the ladies pay.”
“Jenna’s not a lady,” Alex said. “She’s family.”
“Gee, I’m not sure if I should be insulted or flattered.”
“Dude, your game needs some work.” Seth turned a smile on Jenna. “Thanks for the offer, but unfortunately, we can’t stay long
anyway.”
“We’re helping a buddy set up a new TV system,” Alex said. “Well, I’m helping him. Seth will mostly just stand there and look
pretty.”
Seth smirked. “I am the good-looking one after all.”
Tyson couldn’t let that go. “You’re the charming one. I’m the good-looking one.”
“Hey, what am I?” Alex said.
“The smart one,” the other three said in unison, then laughed when Alex scowled.
Jenna patted Alex’s arm. “You’re good-looking too. You’re all too handsome for your own good.”
Trinity came to take Alex’s and Seth’s drink orders. They chatted amiably for a moment, then she glanced shyly at Tyson. “Is
Luke coming tonight?” Though her tone was casual, the hope in her eyes gave her away.
“I don’t think so. But I’ll let him know you asked about him.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I’ll be right back with your drinks.” She dashed off toward the bar.
Grinning, Tyson pulled out his phone and texted Luke. I’m at Chatties and Trinity just asked about you. You should come down.
His text came in seconds later. Really? What’d she say?
Just wanted to know if you were coming tonight. She was all flustered and blushing.
No, she wasn’t.
I’m telling you.
I wish I could come but I’m babysitting my nephew, and my sister won’t be home till late.
Can’t say I didn’t try.
“Are you seeing anyone these days, Alex?” Jenna’s question pulled Tyson back to the present.
“He’s head over heels with Suni Moore,” Seth said.
Alex shot his brother a disgruntled look. “We’ve only been dating a few months.”
“Oh, I remember her,” Jenna said. “I always liked her. She used to work at the bakery.”
“She still does.” Tyson thought they made a good couple. Suni was outgoing and expressive, a perfect foil for his more introverted brother. “We’re not sure how she puts up with him.”
Alex rolled his eyes, then addressed Jenna. “You’ve been scarce lately. I can’t even remember the last time I saw you.”
“Oh, you know me. I’ve been busy rejecting marriage proposals and getting fired.”
Seth grinned at her. “You don’t seem too sad about either. You were too good for that loser anyway.”
“She’s working for Miss Molly now,” Ty offered.
“Seriously?” Alex undid the top of his button-up. “You moving back to the island?”
“It’s just temporary. Kayak tours don’t pay much more than they used to, and I’ve still got to make a living.”
Seth nudged her. “You could do that here as well as anywhere. You’ve always had a great head for business.” He winked affably.
“All that and good looks too. Ty didn’t mention you got so gorgeous. You keeping her all to yourself, bro?”
Heat flared in Ty’s cheeks. But he just sat there like an idiot because he couldn’t seem to get his tongue and brain on the
same page. Thankfully, the lead singer grabbed the mic and introduced the band, capturing their attention.
As the band kicked off the first song, Jenna chatted with his brothers, but Ty was too far away to catch what they were saying.
He texted Luke a bit more about Trinity and also sent a text to a recent B and B guest who’d left her designer sunglasses
behind.
A few songs into the set, Alex wandered off to talk to a friend from work while Jenna headed to the restroom. Seth watched
her weave through the tables on the way to the far corner. Ty didn’t care for the gleam of interest in his brother’s eyes.
And he liked it even less when Seth turned to him and said, “Is Jenna seeing anyone these days?”
“She just came out of a serious relationship, remember? Why do you ask?” Ty’s tone all but dared him to declare a personal
interest.
He lifted a shoulder. “Just curious.”
Tyson frowned. Seth was the last thing she needed right now. “She’s practically our sister, Seth.”
Seth’s blue eyes twinkled. “Speak for yourself.”
Tyson pressed his lips together even as he squirmed at his own statement. Because he’d once put his lips on Jenna in a very
unbrotherly way.