Page 65 of Five

Revving the engine, I curl into the water and maneuver in Jesse’s direction. Seeing us headed his way, the asshole turns and heads straight for us. I wince a little. That chop is going to kick. “Get ready,” I yell.

“I can’t let go!” Neve screams, tightening her arms. I feel her press her forehead into my back and laugh maniacally, then I take one hand off the handle to grab at the noodle.

“What are you doing?” she shrieks.

“Give me the noodle!”

She moves a fraction, and I slide the noodle free, just in time to swing it at Jesse. Somehow, I manage to make contact. He curses viciously as I disarm him of his own noodle. Jesse will have to make his way back to the dock for another before he can come after anyone.

With a whoop, I swing us toward Ollie.

“Still with me?” I call, squeezing Neve’s thigh.

She nods against my back. “I think I peed myself, but yeah. I’m here,” she says in my ear, breathless but exhilarated.

I laugh, loud and unrestrained. The girl’s got jokes.

We play for another hour before I catch sight of Remi waving his arms on the beach. Oliver’s already skiing in, done playing for a while. His schedule is flexible, but he is disciplined about getting his word count in each day.

“Dad says it’s time to come in,” I tease and head toward shore.

Despite everything, the mood is light as we eat lunch.

Neve helped Remi in the kitchen, and I’m glad they got their own bit of alone time to know each other better. There’s a little more ease between them now in the way they respond to each other.

I pat my stomach, scrounging for leftovers. “Damn, I’m still starving. Sure did work up an appetite out there.”

Jesse’s been silent throughout, but his smile is wicked as he throws out a cryptic tease that has us all speculating. “Well, that’s good, because what I have planned for tonight shouldn’t be done on a full stomach.”

What the hell is he up to now?

Sixteen

Neve

Mood:So,whatcomesnext?

Bent halfway over, I use one of the waiting beach towels to squeeze out the excess water from the tips of my hair. It’s slightly crunchy from our morning out on the water, and I figure I’ll leave it instead of showering it out right away. I’ve always loved the way saltwater gives my fine hair just a tiny bit of curl and volume.

Jesse and Cope are far ahead now, jogging their way up the path back toward the cottages. Oliver gives me a lopsided smile. “I guess I’ll see you later? I need to go get some writing done.”

“Absolutely,” I say. “I’ll see you in a little while.” He turns and makes his own way up the path.

Beside me, Remi stoops to pick up Cope’s discarded towel. “You ready?”

He offers me his arm.

Oh, yeah.I offered to help with dinner.

I’m wearing a pair of loose cotton shorts over my swimsuit bottoms, but nothing over the bikini top. I glance down at myself now, a question on my lips. “This doesn’t seem like enough clothing to cook anything in,” I say.

Remi waves his hand in dismissal. “Don’t worry about it. I’m just planning on prepping food for a hot pot tonight. I can use your hands to help chop up all of the vegetables.”

“I’m not sure what a hot pot is, but I’m happy to help any way I can.”

We begin to walk up the path toward the restaurant. A soft, warm breeze skims my skin and sets the gorgeous red blossoms around us to fluttering. This island is a little slice of paradise, a soothing balm to a soul that’s been through too much in the past week. I’m so grateful, all of a sudden, that Oscar and Caroline insisted I come.

“You’ve never had a hot pot? You’re in for a treat. It’s kind of like what they do at that fondue restaurant, with a simmering stock and—”