Inked Obsession (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,45

things is right. Only if you try to do it to them, it’s too much.”

“I forget you’re the youngest of seven,” I said with a laugh.

“Pretty much,” she said, shaking her head. “Seven kids. I have no idea how my parents did it.”

“I always say it was enough with five of us,” I added. “Of course, there were two sets of twins.”

“We only have one set.”

I frowned. “Did I know that?”

“Maybe. Annabelle and Brenna know, so I assumed the rest of you did, as well.”

“We are a pretty big group that seems to know every secret about one another.”

Eliza shook her head. “Not every secret. You sure kept yours well.”

“Well, I’m not going to do that again.”

We ordered our brunches and drinks as the waiter came by, and then continued our conversation. I felt more comfortable than I had in a long while. Was it the place? Maybe. I had a feeling it had more to do with the woman in front of me. And that might complicate things more than it should.

“Are there specific things you wanted to see here?” she asked.

“Not really. I was sort of forced here, and I kind of just wanted to be on the beach.”

“Me, too,” she said. “I think seeing the ocean and sitting around doing nothing but maybe reading a book sounds like what I need to do. Of course, then I’d probably end up in my thoughts all day, and that might be too much.”

“If you want, we can force each other into conversation if we get too lost in our heads.”

She grinned. “So, you’re going to be my vacation buddy this whole trip?” she asked, her tongue flicking out to lick her lip.

I swallowed tightly, my cock getting harder. “Vacation buddy, that sounds great.”

It was probably a mistake. No, it really wasn’t a mistake.

Because I had done my best to never think about Eliza this way. Only I didn’t think I could help it.

Here I was, about to spend the rest of my vacation—however unplanned—with the one woman who kept filling my thoughts. The one I probably shouldn’t have. Yet, she relaxed me. Even as she set me on edge in a completely different way, I could breathe around her.

I honestly didn’t know what that meant.

Chapter 13

Eliza

Why was I nervous? I shouldn’t be nervous. I’d had meals with Beckett for most of the day and the day before. We’d shared meals at home before, as well. Just because we were somewhere different and at a nicer restaurant that served wonderful fish—at least according to everyone that we had talked to—didn’t mean things were changing. This wasn’t something different. Wasn’t special. It wasn’t a date.

Why then did it feel like I was telling myself those things for no reason? As if I were trying to make myself believe it.

I looked down at the soft wrap dress I wore, the silky black fabric clinging to my skin in some areas but flowing in others. I’d stuffed it into my bag at the last minute before I came here. It was just in case I needed something comfortable and pretty for an evening out. One where I had been planning on eating alone. Maybe drinking a bottle of wine by myself and going to sleep early, cuddling a pillow. Only in my wildest dreams would I have ended up wearing it for dinner with a man. Let alone him.

I hadn’t planned on going to dinner with anyone for the evening. And yet, here I was, going to dinner with Beckett Montgomery.

It wasn’t a date. I swallowed hard. Or was it? No, it couldn’t be.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my war with my thoughts. I looked over at the screen.

Annabelle: Did you have the grouper yet? What time is it there? How do I not know time zones?

Brenna: I think her reservation was later, right? So, she hasn’t eaten. Let us know how it is. I’m kind of jealous of all the photos you’ve been sending.

I had sent them all photos of the beach and the resort. None of Beckett. Of course, they would figure out that Beckett was at the same resort. They would ask him, and they would find out that Brenna’s best friend and Annabelle’s brother was here. It was weird not to mention it, but I hadn’t yet. It felt as if it’d be even weirder out of the blue. And, obviously, he hadn’t said anything yet or even talked to his family because they hadn’t asked either.