Page 25 of Speechless
She grinned at my father, and he clutched a hand over his heart like she’d thrown a spear. “You wound me. If I wasn’t a chronic traveler, we never would have met.”
“That’s true. But now that I’m here and intend to stay, hopefully you’ll stay put too.”
“Only until it’s time for the next adventure, then I’m dragging you with me.” He tossed his towel and shirt onto a chaise and dove straight into the deep end.
Liz glanced at me and winked. “Don’t worry. I’ll do my best to keep him around.”
“I appreciate that, even if it might be a lost cause.” My father would never be one to stay in the same place for long. I’d accepted that a long time ago, no matter how painful it was.
“My son is a competitive surfer, so he’s about as far from me as you can get. But that’s the reason he travels.”
“Makes sense that this is home, then.” There were competitions up and down the entire western coast in the summer.
She smiled and picked up her book. “Most of the time. Anyway, they’ll be here soon.”
Dad sloshed out of the pool and grabbed his towel. “Feels amazing. I’ll go check with Val and see where they’re at with the food.”
“Sure.”
Liz looked at me like she saw the truth on my face, and I looked away. Any questions about that weren’t going to be answered right now. Pulling off the thin coverup I had on, I slathered the rest of my skin with sunscreen before going into the water. Down the steps, because I wasn’t planning on getting my hair wet.
I didn’t actually care about it being wet, but I’d learned the hard way to look my best when I was here. And with the drop I still felt, I didn’t have enough self-controlnotto snap if Val made a comment about it. I felt better than earlier, but I was still off.
Dad’s voice echoed again. “Yeah, it’s just out here. Make yourself comfortable. The food will be out in a little while. You bring your suits?”
“We did,” a rich voice laughed. “Though I’m sure that doesn’t surprise anyone, since Theo and I practically live in the water.”
Something about that voice…
Footsteps approached the gate, and Liz looked over, calling, “It was the water birth, wasn’t it? I cursed myself with a baby that’s half fish.”
“I mean, maybe, but I’d have to argue that I’m not a baby anymore.”
The gate clicked open, and I turned at the same as a wave of cinnamon and sugar reached me.
No.
I looked up at the four men who’d just entered the pool area. Even without their masks, I was pretty sure I would recognize them anywhere.
The Breaker Pack was here, and all we could do was stare at each other.
CHAPTER NINE
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BROOKS
No fucking way.
I mean, there was nofuckingway, right?
Of course there was a way, because the scent of water-drenched violets swirled around the four of us, and it was damn sure none of us would forget that scent now that it was branded on our brains.
Glancing over at Bastian, I found him utterly frozen, the same way he’d been last night watching her disappear out of the club. He didn’t speak unless he had to, but I knew my twin well enough not to need speech.
She knew, too. The shock on her face was plain. Also, the terror.
I got it. Telling our parents we met at a BDSM club wasn’t exactly how I’d envisioned this visit going.
