Hammered (Blue Bay Crew #3)- Cathryn Fox Page 0,65
the blanket and I drop down next to her and sit cross-legged.
Liam hands me a stick, and I just look at it. He laughs. “For the marshmallows. When Tyler said you’d never been to a bonfire before, I didn’t believe him. I do now.”
All the kids laugh and I soak up the excitement in the air. “Just please tell me no ghost stories.”
“Nope, can’t tell you that,” Cora says, and I can’t help but smile as I gaze at Tyler. This was just supposed to be about sex. Damn my heart for not minding its own business.
16
Tyler
The smile gracing Haven’s face over the course of the night was more than I ever could have asked for. Every time I glanced at her, laughing, having fun with the kids and eating a ton of s’mores, it did something weird to my insides. The truth is, I love seeing her this happy, would love to make her this happy every day. She’s kind, giving and nurturing, and she deserves to be given those things in return. With shitty parents, it’s clear she can only count on her brother, and now of course, she can on me too.
Speaking of brothers. Christ, if mine could hear my thoughts, I’d have to cash in my man card. I don’t give a shit, though, I loved seeing her in her element with these kids, even when they were telling ghost stories. A small chuckle rises in my throat as I turn on the hose and extinguish the bonfire.
The kids are all in their tents, boys in one, girls in the other, and Haven is inside the cabin with my brother and cousin. They’re talking low, and for some weird reason, I sense it’s because they don’t want me to hear what they’re saying. Earlier, she went to my truck. I asked her what it was she needed, and she just brushed it off, saying she wanted to stretch her legs. I’m not sure why she’s suddenly being secretive. Is she up to something? Maybe the better question is, when the hell did I get so paranoid?
Oh, since you’ve started falling for Haven.
Shit.
I can’t go there. She’s not sticking around, and when it comes right down to it, I’m her bodyguard, not her boyfriend. Even though I’m played out, I’m not the kind of guy a girl brings home. Then again, maybe I am. I’m no longer in the cage, no longer on the road going from one fight to another, one girl to another.
I’m settled here in Blue Bay, ready to put my playboy ways behind me and start something real. Do I want that with Haven? Hell yeah, I do. Problem is, she doesn’t even know who she is, or what it is she wants in life. She’s as lost as I used to be. Maybe by the time the film shoot is over, she’ll know herself a little better, see how good we are together, and go after things that make her happy. I’m just not sure that’s me, or Blue Bay. I’m a guy who never taps out or goes down without a fight, so I plan to do my best to show her all the things she’d be giving up if she leaves here.
Smoke clouds the air as the fire dies, and I turn off the hose and reel it back up. I do a perimeter check to make sure everyone is in bed safe and sound, and glance at my own tent, which is set up between the boys and girls. I’d like to be snuggled in bed with Haven tonight, but staying outside is the responsible thing to do. Plus, I don’t plan to sleep much, not after Haven showed me the letter. Carter and Jared are inside with her, so I know she’s safe and I’m not a bit jealous that she’s deep in conversation with them, about God knows what. Nope, not jealous at all. Much. I mean, I know my family and they’d never break bro code, but a part of me doesn’t like the seriousness of their conversation.
I head inside to get ready for bed, and Haven grabs her phone from the table and shoves it into her back pocket as my brothers go silent. I cast them a quick glance. “What’s up?” I ask causally, even though my insides are tight. What the fuck is going on here?
“Nothing,” Haven says quickly, a big smile on her face as Carter and Jared just shrug.