A Love Song for Always - Piper Lawson Page 0,31

does the same. “You’re here. How the hell did that happen?”

“Someone was persistent.” The crisp English accent is one thing, but King looks past my fiancé, his laser eyes finding me.

Tyler introduces me, then I let them catch up as I go over to Rae, who’s drawing in the sand with Sophie. They’re building what looks like a compound with outbuildings and a moat.

“What is this?” I demand.

“It’s Sand City. Less castle, more Coachella. There are ten stages”—Rae gestures to elevated flat platforms—“and a spot for camping.”

“And the truck parking is there,” Sophie points out.

“Right. That’s where you’re going to park when you get your license?”

“Yup. Rae’s going to teach me to drive.”

I notice Harrison watching Rae intently.

“What’s his deal?” she asks under her breath.

“Apparently, he had some big breakup and went from being front page of every tabloid and loving it to a near recluse.”

She doesn’t take her gaze from his. “Girl could do worse than shacking up with that. Long as the place she does it is big enough for him, her, and his ego.”

Guilt floods me. I need to tell her the truth: that Tyler’s friend runs the company she wants to hang by the toes.

But Rae finally seems as if she’s having a good time, and this would ruin it.

She shoves herself out of her seat, dusting off and heading across to where the drinks are.

“Thank you for coming,” I say to Harrison, who approaches but still watches Rae.

“You were obscenely persistent, but I couldn’t miss Tyler’s wedding. Who’s your friend?”

“I don’t think she’s your type.”

He cocks his head, amused. “You’d be surprised how many women are.”

“Exactly.”

The challenge on his face lingers as Tyler approaches, clapping Harrison on the back.

Harrison turns, starting across the sand to get a drink.

“I don’t know how the hell you made this happen. Thank you.” Tyler wraps me in a hug, his strong arms every reward I could’ve wanted.

“You really wanted him here,” I say against his bare shoulder.

I wish I could talk to Tyler about Rae’s situation, but I’m not going to drop this at his feet when he’s grappling with enough already.

He scans the beach behind us before grabbing my waist and backing me toward the water, an expression of mischief on his face.

“What are you doing?” I ask, already breathless.

He holds a finger to his lips as the water licks at my calves, then thighs, then waist. He tugs me out toward the catamaran and pulls me behind its shadow.

Then he kisses me, hard and deep enough the crystal waters and beautiful surroundings fall away and I’m drowning in him—his scent, his touch, his taste.

“There might be sea monsters,” I manage when he pulls back, and he snorts.

“I’ll protect you.”

“I’m serious. Beck already found them,” I laugh against his mouth.

“Beck who?”

Tyler’s chocolate eyes are almost black, his hair ruffled from the wind, and the turquoise ocean leaves trails of water that drip off his chin and bead deliciously on his shoulders, sparkling over the canvas of black ink that curls around his chest and arm.

He’s the most stunning man I’ve ever seen. And he’s mine.

Desire washes over me, through me, becomes part of me like the sea.

His scent is wild and familiar at once, the smoky cedar invading my senses. It steals the part of my brain reminding me we’re sharing this beach with a dozen other people.

My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging hard enough he groans. He pulls my hips against his, and the hard ridge of him through the shorts makes me ache.

This week, there’ve been moments he’s felt like a stranger. I feel like a traitor even thinking it when I know deep down he’s the Tyler I love. But between a few stolen moments, I’ve barely seen him.

Now, as if he’s thinking the same thing, he drags me back to him.

Nothing will come between us, say his lips, his tongue, his touch.

His fingers skim my ass under the bathing suit, making little shivers electrify me. Underwater, it’s even better. His touch is a shimmer, a promise, a tease I couldn’t ignore if I wanted to.

“You know what’s wrong with spending the afternoon on a deserted beach with your friends and family?” he murmurs against my ear. The friction of his lips leaves me shivering despite the warmth of the water, of his body.

“What?” My arms band around his neck, the buoyancy making it easy to hook my ankles around his waist. I’m reduced to a barnacle on this man, and I don’t even