He patted her affectionately on the shoulder. “I’ll let you handle that one. I’ve managed to stay under her radar today, and I’d prefer to keep it that way.”
“Chicken.”
“Hey, if it keeps me from being her next prey, you better believe it. Have fun. I’ll talk to you later.”
Leah resisted the urge to stick her tongue out as she watched Curt walk away. They might both be adults, but sometimes her brother could still be as annoying as when they were children.
As she approached Gavin and Tasha, Leah considered the best way to extract him. Countless times in the past she’d thought it was a shame Gavin didn’t have a special person in his life. Once or twice she even considered setting him up with either Courtney or Juliette. And since he wasn’t trying to get away from Tasha, it was possible he wanted to get to know her better. If that was the case, she shouldn’t interfere. Instead she should go and visit with some of the other party guests and let things between Gavin and Tasha develop.
Unfortunately, the idea of them together had her mentally screaming. Leah didn’t know who the right woman for Gavin was, but she knew it certainly wasn’t Tasha Marshall. Since Gavin didn’t know Tasha, it was up to her to save him. After all, friends should look out for each other. If she found herself in a similar situation, she hoped Gavin would step in and help her out.
“Hey, Tasha,” Leah greeted, stopping next to Gavin. She didn’t pause to think before putting an arm around his waist. She felt Gavin’s back stiffen, but he didn’t pull away. “How have you been? I don’t think I’ve seen you since my uncle’s New Year’s Eve party.”
Tasha offered up a less than enthusiastic smile. “I’m well. I’m moving to Manhattan at the end of the summer. Until then I’m staying on Martha’s Vineyard.”
“Lucky you. I haven’t been to the island in ages.” Leah glanced in Gavin’s direction. His expression didn’t suggest he was annoyed by her sudden interruption. “We should try to get over there before it gets too cold. Sara will let us use her and Christopher’s house for a weekend. They hardly ever visit the island.”
Gavin didn’t hesitate to nod. Perhaps catching on to Leah’s plan, he put an arm around her, causing her heart to flutter wildly in her chest. “Sounds like an excellent idea. I’ve never been there.”
What the heck? This was Gavin. Her friend. Nothing more, nothing less. Her heart shouldn’t be doing a tap dance routine against her rib cage.
Leah cleared her throat and tried to think up an appropriate response. “Really? Never? You’ll love it. I’ll call Sara tomorrow and see when we can use the house.”
They chatted for a few more minutes before Tasha left them alone, no doubt in search of a single Sherbrooke male. The moment they were alone, Gavin moved so they faced each other. Although they were no longer touching, her skin tingled where his arm had been.
“Friend of yours?” he asked, nodding in the direction Tasha had walked.
“More like a family friend. Her father is Senator Richard Marshall. He went to school with my dad and uncles. I’ve known her forever, but we never spend time together except at parties like this.” Leah’s eyes locked with his. Before this moment, she’d never wished she could read someone’s thoughts. Now she’d pay anything for the ability.
“Gotcha.”
At the single-word response, Leah’s eyes dropped to his lips, and she wondered how he’d react if she kissed him.
Before it registered what she was doing, Leah stepped closer. “She usually pours herself all over any single male named Sherbrooke, but I think you were her prey for today. A fact Curt is very happy about, by the way.”
Gavin’s hands slipped up her arms, bringing her closer and eliminating whatever space remained between them. “I’m glad you rescued me then.” Gently, he brushed several loose strands of hair back behind her ears. “It’s a little crowded up here. Do you want to go for a walk on the beach?”
“Love to.” Was that really her voice? She sounded breathless.
He smiled, causing the simple tap routine her heart was doing to change to something that would make the world-famous Rockettes jealous. Without another word, he took her hand, sending a warm shiver up her arm and straight through her body.
Neither spoke as they made their way off the deck and down to the sand. With lunch being served, most of the guests had deserted the beach. Left off-balance by the emotions floating around in her body, Leah shot a few glances in Gavin’s direction, hoping for some clue as to what was going on in his head.
Had he felt the pull between them on the deck or had she imagined it?
At the moment, all she could see was his profile, and it wasn’t telling her anything. On the deck, though, his expression had suggested he wanted to kiss her. And although she shouldn’t want him to kiss her because they were friends and friends didn’t kiss, she couldn’t think of much else.
“I spend so much time in an office, I sometimes forget how much I love the outdoors.” He stopped not far from the sandcastle they helped Reese build earlier. Although the buckets and shovels were still near the structure, at least for the moment the girl was gone. Leah guessed she’d gone up to get lunch along with the other party guests. “If not for you, I’d be sitting inside an office right now. Thanks again for inviting me,” he continued.
Gavin released her hand. The loss of physical contact was an unpleasant jolt to her system. Leah was about to reach for it again when he moved, blocking the view of everything but him. Face-to-face, he settled a large hand on either side of her waist, and an almost tangible energy buzzed between them.
He’s got to feel it too. I can’t be the only one.
She fought the urge to reach out and trace his lips with her finger and instead curled her hands into fists by her sides, perhaps the safest place for them at the moment. “I’m glad you came.” Much like on the deck, she barely recognized her voice.
Slowly he lowered his face toward hers. “Trust me, there is no other place I want to be.” He brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was gentle and undemanding, yet it sent her emotions into a whirlwind, and she reached for him.
Kissing Leah with an audience in the background hadn’t been his plan. Instead he’d hoped to get her alone, perhaps right before he left for his hotel tonight, but when she put her arm around him on the deck, every one of his well-thought-out ideas jumped out the window along with much of his self-control. Getting her at least somewhat alone took center stage in his mind. Since the beach was temporarily deserted, it seemed like the best spot.