between them were still there, and they were hotter than ever. In those short minutes they’d talked, desire and memories had blazed through him, unearthing the well of emotions he’d spent years burying. It had taken all of his control not to sweep her into his arms, kiss that sexy spray of freckles across her nose like he used to, and then take her in the kiss he’d longed for since he’d left Pleasant Hill and try to erase their years apart.
As teenagers they’d been able to overcome just about any obstacle. But curfews, fights with parents, and boredom were nothing compared to the tragedy that had turned their lives upside down. He’d believed leaving town would save Carly from being sucked into the depths of guilt and despair that had consumed him after Tory’s death. After years spent wondering if he’d made a mistake, he needed to find out once and for all if she still felt for him what he’d never stopped feeling for her.
“Come on, Zev!” Jillian waved him over to the bonfire. “We’re toasting Knox and Aubrey’s engagement!” Graham’s business partner, Knox Bentley, had proposed to his girlfriend, Charlotte’s best friend, Aubrey Stewart, only moments before the beginning of Beau and Charlotte’s wedding.
Zev knew Jillian would pester him until he joined them, so he tried to push thoughts of Carly away and headed over to the patio as his brothers opened bottles of champagne. Cheers rang out as they filled glasses and passed them out. Rather than joining Jillian and his boisterous brothers, who had been needling him about Carly all evening, Zev hung back by Pepper, Sable’s sweet fraternal twin. Pepper handed him a glass of champagne, looking beautiful in a pair of jeans and a cute blue top.
“Thanks, Pep,” Zev said as Charlotte began a toast.
“Everyone knows that Aubrey and I grew up together in Port Hudson.” Charlotte beamed at Aubrey, who was as tall and blond as Charlotte was petite and brunette, and said, “Aubrey knows all my secrets.”
“Including the juiciest ones!” Aubrey chimed in, making everyone laugh.
“That is true,” Charlotte said. “Aubrey, you were the first person I told about my feelings for Beau, and you helped me so much in those early days, pushing me in your not-so-gentle way to just go for it when I was scared to death. Nothing could make me happier than knowing my best friend and her charming, handsome man have been touched by the magic of the inn just as Beau and I have. Here’s to Aubrey and Knox, who I hope will have a long, happy life together!”
Everyone cheered, and Jillian hollered, “Maybe you could toss some of your inn’s magic my way!” causing another round of laughter.
Zev tapped his glass unceremoniously to Pepper’s. She looked at him curiously and said, “You’re usually in the middle of all the action. You okay?”
“Yeah. Work’s just got me sidetracked.” It wasn’t a total lie. Between seeing Carly and being on the cusp of making the biggest discovery of his life, he didn’t know which way was up.
“Jilly didn’t give me any specifics, but she said that you found something off Silver Island. When I was developing the seizure alert necklace, it was all I could think about. You must be itching to get back out on the water.” Pepper was a brilliant scientist. Her sister Amber had epilepsy, and when Pepper was in graduate school, she’d developed a seizure alert necklace that she’d since patented and now sold all over the country.
Zev downed the champagne and set his glass on a table. “If it were any other night, I’d be on my boat with my team, pumped to get back in the water and see what other pieces of history we could unearth.” As Jilly sidled up to him, he said, “But I’m here for the next week, watching Beau and Char’s animals.”
“I’ve heard all about the Chickendales,” Pepper said softly. “Leave it to a romance writer to name her chickens after hot actors.” Charlotte had named her chickens after the actors in Magic Mike.
“When Zev’s not chasing chickens, he’ll be getting reacquainted with Carly,” Jillian said in a low, teasing voice.
Zev shook his head, though if he had it his way, he’d be doing exactly that.
“I did hear something about you and Carly having once been an item,” Pepper said inquisitively.
“It was a long time ago—” As Zev spoke, Bandit darted around the side of the house with something in his mouth, followed by Trace