“I got it, you enjoy your day with Briar,” he says before turning to me. “Don’t let him corrupt you too much, and if he gets to be too much, just call me.”
He takes my phone from the table and taps his number in. “I’ve put us both in there; Travis and Cole too. Not that you need theirs, but just in case.”
“Just in case doesn’t even sound ominous…” I say cautiously. “Does your dad really need you? We can go out on the boat another time.”
“Not a chance,” he says, smiling down at me. “Have fun, just not too much.”
He leans down and kisses the top of my head. “I’ve got to take the car, but use the service to get home if I’m not back.”
“Will do,” Sawyer responds, bumping fists with Asher before he leaves.
Soon after he’s gone, Gino appears with the lobster rolls, and after a few minutes, Sawyer is back to his playful self. We finish eating and I concede that the rolls really are amazing, despite having nothing to compare them to.
“To the boat?” Sawyer asks hopefully. I nod, wanting for some reason to keep that playful joy in his eyes.
“To the boat.”
* * *
We’ve spent the day out on the water, sailing to nowhere, and we’re finally heading back now that the sun is setting. Sawyer got a call from Asher about half an hour ago and only just returned, but since I’ve been standing here staring out over the water in a trance, I can’t complain.
“Thank you for today,” I sigh softly, smiling back at Sawyer as he presses against my back. Leaning against the railing, looking out over the water, I find a little bit of peace once again. “It’s a shame Asher had to leave so quickly. Is everything okay?”
“Mhmm,” he murmures into my ear as he wraps his arms around my waist. “Everything’s fine, Beautiful. But thank you.”
He presses his lips against the soft skin behind my ear before making his way down my throat, and I tip my head to the side, giving him better access. Should I be questioning this new side of him? Probably, but I saw him go toe-to-toe with Travis, I’ve seen the way he’s been with me today, and there’s something so genuine about him that I don’twantto question it.
I just want to be and let it be.
His fingers trail up and down the bare skin of my ribcage, my bikini and denim cutoffs giving him plenty of access to my skin.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asks quietly, and I shake my head. Maybe I should, but I don’t. I’ve spent the last few weeks walking on eggshells around him—around all of them—and I’m ready to let go.
“Good.” He smiles into my neck.
I let out a squeal as he bends down and picks me up, caveman style, tossing me over his shoulder.
“Put me down, Sawyer!” I squeal through my giggles. All he does is laugh in response and spank my ass.
I adore how playful he is, even when I’m hanging upside down, apparently.
“Sawyer!” I squeak when he tickles the bottom of my feet, but his mischievous laughter keeps any seriousness out of my voice as I squirm in his grip.
“Captain, no disturbances!” he calls out, and I cover my face with my hands. I’d almost managed to forget about the crew since we left the dock. I bounce on Sawyer's shoulder as he walks across the deck, but I keep my face covered because the heat in my cheeks has to have me looking like a freaking beet.
The sounds of doors opening and closing are all that accompany the slap of his feet against the floors until I’m being flung from his shoulder. I bounce on the soft bed, letting out another squeak, hating that I’m obviously becomingthatgirl, because apparently that’s the version of myself that Sawyer brings out.
It must be that excited golden retriever energy of his. It's infectious.
Enough to even make me forget about the twinge in my back from the bruising.
Except, when I look up, he looks anything but playful.
His light-green eyes have darkened to emerald and he looks at me like I’m his prey. My mouth waters as I take in the sight of him in nothing but his board shorts, his blond hair pushed back, and every chiseled inch of him on show for me.
“Tell me to stop, Briar. This is the last chance.”
My heart pounds in my chest and I shake my head. “Not going to happen.”