Page 42 of Knot Me In Paradise
“With what?”
“You.” I nod toward the beach access up ahead. “You show up out of nowhere, mouth off to strangers, bet lunch, and then throw a heat. Feels like there’s a backstory.”
She gives me a sideways look. “You like interrogating people?”
North laughs.
Ace says, “He’s serious, by the way. He’ll keep doing that until you either answer or hit him with something.”
“Good to know.” She glances at me again. “I’m not answering.”
“That’s fine. I’m patient.”
“That’s not the vibe you give off.”
“Ouch,” North says.
I grin. “You’ll come around.”
That’s the thing about the three of us. North is the easiest one to underestimate because he comes off as relaxed, but nothing gets past him. Ace is calm until he isn’t. Me, I’ve never seen much point in pretending I’m not interested when I am.
And right now, I’m interested. Not just because she’s gorgeous, though I’m not stupid enough to ignore that part. It’s the way she keeps pace with us without trying to prove anything. She doesn’t shrink when I push or when North pins her with that steady look of his. Most people adjust themselves around strong men. Adelaide doesn’t.
We hit firmer sand, and she shifts the board higher on her hip. My eyes drop before I can stop them. Nice legs. Delicious ass. Fucking gorgeous everywhere, honestly.
North chuckles my way. “Subtle,” he says.
“Shut up.”
Adelaide glances between us. “Should I be concerned?”
“Yes,” Ace says.
“No,” I say at the same time.
North adds, “Probably.”
She laughs again, shaking her head, and I swear the whole damn morning brightens by a notch.
Ace watches her when she isn’t looking. That part is obvious now. He’s not just curious; he’s far enough gone that finding her here knocked him sideways.
And honestly? Looking at her now, I get it.
We hit the road, the parking lot just beyond the palms, the ground already warm under our bare feet.
Adelaide stops and turns to face us, shifting her board under her arm.
Ace and North step back.
I don’t. The tail of her board swings past me close enough to make me feel the air off it. “Jesus.”
She doesn’t even blink. “You’re welcome.”
“I could’ve lost a nose.”
“You were standing too close.” She’s not sorry, not even a little. Morning sun is behind her, pink bikini barely holding those full breasts, hair still wet, mouth sharp, and I’m trying very hard to remember how to behave like a functional adult.
North adjusts his board under his arm, glancing her way. “We could all just go together to lunch. Save you hunting for parking.”
