Page 33 of Take Me Back
“He’s more scared of you than you are of him.”
I roll my eyes, but Dane can’t see my face to appreciate it. “That’s such a bullshit answer. People always say that when it’s not even true. You think it has enough brain cells to process fear? I don’t. That monster crab, which by the way looks like he stepped in thatTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtleradioactive goo and got supersized, isn’t freaking scared of shit. He’d probably be laughing with all of his crab buddies about how loud I screamed if he was capable.”
I turn toward the group of crabs. “Maybe you’d be scared if I were dropping you in a pot to eat? How about that?”
Dane chokes out a laugh, but I’m too busy giving the double bird to the crabs as they creep away.
“Yeah, run, you little multi-legged freak show. Now you’re scared. Right?” I turn back toward Dane as he chuckles. The glow of the flashlight gives me enough light to see his face, and his lips are indeed tilted up.
“They definitely know who’s boss.”
I lift my chin. “Obviously.”
He points the flashlight ahead of us on the path, and sure enough, several more crabs scurry out of the beam, some way too close for comfort.
I don’t think about it this time. I throw myself at Dane and climb him like a spider monkey.
“Shit. What are you—”
“They’re not scared of me,” I whisper, clinging to his shoulders. “But I might be the tiniest bit scared of them, even though they know I’m the boss.”
Dane shifts me in his arms and hefts me higher.
I’m not the lightest girl in the world, but it’s good to know he can still handle my weight. He spends plenty of time in the gym, so it’s not a huge surprise, but now I have to wonder if he’s working out withArianna.
I say the name in a snotty voice in my head. Petty jealousy. That’s all it is.
He said nothing happened, and I believe him. Dane wouldn’t lie to me.
If I actually paid closer attention to the things he told me, I wouldn’t have been quite so shocked, because I would have already been aware of Arianna’s existence.
I’m putting it out of my head. Over and done with. Buried.
At least I know I’m good at that.
Dane takes a step forward, and I wrap my arms more securely around his neck. He smells freaking amazing, and my thoughts from earlier come back.
My husband is hot, and it’s been way too long since I’ve taken the time to appreciate it properly.
The wind whips off the ocean in the distance, and a chunk of my hair escapes my messy bun and flies into my face. Dane tucks it behind my ear before clicking off the flashlight.
“Hey!” I grip him tighter.
“Look up.”
“What?”
“Just do it.”
My nature demands I ask more questions, but instead I follow his quiet order and look up.
“Oh, wow,” I whisper.
The clouds have cleared and stars, big and brilliant against the inky blackness, illuminate the sky.
I’ve never understood the wholediamonds in the skyanalogy living where I have. Stars are stars. Nothing incredible.
I’d never seen them like this before, though.
