Page 105 of What Started In Deception

Long ago, they’d both taken showers, washing off the sunblock, saltwater, and sand. Now he wore khaki shorts and a blue linen button-down while Lydia stood next to him in a strapless navy romper that looked fantastic.

“Hi.” She smiled up at him. “I know I’m being rude, but come watch the fireworks with me.”

He winked. “You’ve got it.”

“I guess I’ll see you kids tomorrow,” James said.

“We’ll see you at breakfast,” Lydia called as she moved them toward the stairs and the beach. “They’re going to start soon,” she told Ty. “I set up a blanket for us farther down on the sand.”

“Sounds good,” he said, trying to remember the last time he’d bothered to watch the fireworks. Probably six or seven years ago. Usually, he passed on the occasion. The traffic was always a mess, and there was always another case to work on, but tonight, he got to celebrate the nation’s birthday with a beautiful woman. His beautiful woman for the next week or two, even if the whole thing was bullshit.

“Right here,” she said, stopping next to the blanket away from the crowd.

He sat down, happy that Lydia snuggled herself in the V of his thighs like she did every night.

She looked back at him. “Is this okay?”

He nodded, wrapping her up, feeling her soft skin against his and her silky hair touching his cheek. “I’d say it’s perfect.”

“We need a picture.” She held up her phone, framing them in the shot as the first firework exploded, casting them in a blue tint as they both grinned.

He looked at the picture as she did. “I think this one’s my second favorite out of everything that we’ve taken.”

She nodded as she turned slightly between his thighs. “I’ll send it to you.” She attached it to a text, sending it to his phone. “There you go.”

“Thanks.”

She nodded as she smiled at him, holding his gaze as another firework exploded—a group of white and gold that filled the sky, accentuating her stunning face. Her eyes left his, darting to his mouth in the next wash of color before they met his again.

He clenched his jaw, wanting nothing more than to close the distance between them and press his lips to hers—to taste her again. But he couldn’t because he damn well knew that kissing Lydia right now would have nothing to do with the case, and that couldn’t happen.

Stroking his knuckles along her jaw, he winked. “Snuggle up with me, Lyd.”

She nodded as she settled back against him.

He exhaled a long breath as he wrapped her up in his arms, nestling his cheek against hers—the best he could do when he craved so much more.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Lydia walked with her arm locked through Ty’s as they made their way back toward the compound in the dark. The stars twinkled, and the moon shone brightly as the waves crashed against the sand in the distance.

They’d managed a walk by the water every night that they’d been in Shoalmans Bay. She loved that showers would come next, then their snuggle session on the couch—their cozy evening routine.

She sighed as she looked up to the sky, resting her head against his shoulder, more than happy that they were taking their time when the warm breeze felt soft and perfect on her skin. “It’s amazing how quiet everything is when the beach was so alive with the holiday yesterday.”

Ty hummed his agreement as he nodded. “I think it’s crazier that the compound feels so empty with your gram-gram, aunt, and uncle gone. The place is massive, but surprisingly, three people leaving makes a big difference.”

She grinned. “They have a big presence while they’re here.”

He nodded. “That they do.”

She wrapped herself tighter around him. “I think Gram-Gram’s going to miss you. She seems pretty smitten.”

He smiled. “I think she likes that I remind her of your dad.”

“Occasionally, you’re as funny as he was.”

He huffed out a pained laugh. “You’re bad for my ego, Lyd.”