Page 52 of My Heart Still Beats
“So I bested you, bro?”
“You did. I’m not sure how.”
In truth, I’m not sure, either. I only know that I needed it.
I needed eleven minutes of a blank mind.
Because as soon as that warm towel is wrapped around my shoulders, the one image I’ve tried to block out is back in my head.
Tessa Logan.
Braden and I sit in our towels for fifteen more minutes until we’re warm enough to change into shorts and T-shirts. Then we head to the dining area for breakfast.
“I guess we’re the only early risers here,” I say.
Indeed, the dining room is vacant except for us.
“This is a vacation for everyone,” Braden says. “I imagine most of them will be sleeping in. We’re the only two idiots who will get up at six in the morning when we don’t have to.”
“Since we usually get up at four thirty, yeah.” I laugh.
We fill our plates with bacon, eggs, and potatoes, along with the local Jamaican breakfast, ackee and salt fish. The ackee comes from the inside of the ackee fruit and looks a lot like scrambled eggs.
Once we’re seated, servers bring us coffee and juice.
“Skye really appreciates you looking out for Tessa,” Braden says.
“There’s just something about her,” I say.
Braden looks at me sternly. “Don’t be thinking…”
I put my hands up in front of me. “For Christ’s sake, Bray, I’m not. Besides…”
“Besides what?”
“I ended things with Apple. No more friends-with-benefits. And no more gold diggers, either.”
Braden raises his eyebrows. “Are you saying you’re looking for an actual relationship?”
“I never thought I would. I mean, you know my track record with women. They all seem to be after one thing. But I’ve seen what you and Skye have.”
“But Tessa…”
“I’m not thinking of her that way.” I sigh. “At least I’m trying not to.”
“She’s off-limits,” Braden says in his big brother voice.
The voice that makes me want to punch him.
“I’m glad you’re no longer hanging with Apple, though. I’d prefer that we all stay as far away from the Ames family as possible.”
“Then you won’t want to know that I actually considered a relationship with Apple.”
He scowls at me. “Please be kidding.”
“I’m not kidding, but I don’t feel that way about her. She’s great, and she’s wildfire in the sack, but we’re just too different.”
“She did have one good quality.”
