Page 14 of Griffin (Stone Brothers #5)

I looked at Shay. She nodded. "I don't remember the last time I had a s'more."

Stella clapped. "Then get yourselves set up. There are paper plates under the marshmallows."

Shay and I set crackers and chocolate bars on two plates and poked four plump marshmallows on two roasting sticks.

We headed toward the long stream of aromatic smoke curling up from the firepit.

A slight breeze was carrying it off toward the north along with a few red embers.

We sat on the south side of the pit to avoid the smoke.

Cut logs were arranged as benches in a circle around a pit made of cinderblocks and bricks.

Most everyone was inside or watching the skaters, so for the time being, Shay and I had the fire to ourselves.

She sat close to me, and I told myself it made sense because it was chilly out on the sand. "Your cousin is gorgeous," she said. "And was that your sister, Jules, sitting with you when I walked up? I recognized her from the pictures on the wall behind your dad's desk. She's incredible too."

"Yeah, that was Jules. And the guy next to me with shaggy, dark hair was my cousin and roommate, Crusoe."

"How many cousins and siblings?" she asked.

"Five cousins and Jules is my only sibling." We stuck the marshmallows into the flames. "I'm glad you came, Shay."

"Me too. I was about to settle into a long night of old movies and pumpkin muffins, but I decided to join the land of the living for a change. It's not something I do often." She said the last part so quietly I almost couldn't hear her over the crackling fire.

"Oh!" she gasped and pulled her fiery marshmallow free to blow out the flames.

"Do you want some new marshmallows? Seemed like there were a few extra."

She looked at me. "Uh, excuse me, but are you one of those steady and golden marshmallow types? I like them charred and gooey."

"Oh well, excuse me. My mistake." I pulled mine free to blow on it. "Guess I'm a charred marshmallow person too." We stared at the flames, watching as they lapped at our roasting sticks. "So, he's gone?" I asked.

She sighed quietly. "Supposed to be gone for two weeks. His schedule can change, so I don't count on it, but I never waste a moment thinking about him when he's away. It's as if he doesn't exist."

We each smashed two very charred marshmallows between crackers and chocolate and laughed about trying to eat them with dignity. They were a sticky, tasty mess.

Word got around that there was a limited amount of chocolate and graham crackers, so by the time we pushed the last sticky bits into our mouths, more people had joined us at the firepit with their roasting sticks.

I realized then, I wasn't in the party mood.

I was in the mood to get to know Shay better.

I was sure there were plenty of layers underneath the beautiful exterior, and I wanted to know all of them.

"Interested in a walk on the beach?" I asked.

"Absolutely."

It was a cool night but not so harsh as to require a coat. "Glad I opted for my thickest sweater," she said.

"Is it too cold?" I asked.

"No, it's refreshing. I love it. And those thin wispy clouds in that dark sky—" She looked over at me as we made our way across the sand toward the water.

"It's a perfect night for a walk on the beach.

" She winced and reached back to rub her hamstring.

"I'm going to regret my morning when I wake up tomorrow. "

"Your morning? Did you go for a run?"

She shook her head and stared out at the water. I already had her perfect profile memorized, the turned-up nose, the full lips and small chin, the dimple on her cheek.

"I pulled out my ballet slippers. I hadn't put them on for—" Her face dropped, and she kicked up some of the sand as she walked. "Not for a very long time."

"Ballet slippers?" I turned toward her and took some side steps. "So, you're telling me I'm out strolling the beach with a real live ballerina. Oh man, that is hot."

She laughed.

"No, seriously. Had a few not-safe-for-sharing dreams about being with a ballerina. Those costumes, the long legs and don't get me started on those dance moves."

"You're making fun of my dancing." Shay laughed and grabbed hold of my arm.

She didn't think twice about holding onto it, and I was glad.

After all, her fucker of a husband didn't exist right now, so we were just two people, enjoying each other's company.

At least I hoped that was the case. I was definitely enjoying having her by my side. Something felt really right about it.

"I'm not making fun. I seriously had a thing for ballerinas." I stopped and faced her. "Still do, apparently." Our gazes locked, and there was such a flurry of emotion in her expression, I regretted saying it. "Sorry. My mom always tells me I wear my feelings out loud. I guess she's right."

Shay reached up and touched my face. Instantly, I pressed my hand over hers to hold her palm against my cheek.

"You know, I think you're the reason I pulled on those slippers this morning.

I've been sort of plodding through my life, waiting for those moments when Tate was on the road, and then shrinking back into whatever was left of me as a person when he was back home.

I was good." Her gaze sparkled. "Dancing, I mean.

" The moonlight was just enough for me to see the pink blush on her cheeks.

"It was something I lived for as a kid and teen.

But after we got married, Tate told me it was a stupid, expensive and boring hobby.

My dancing had always been a part of my soul, a part of who I was, but he managed to crumple it down into a meaningless hobby.

I jammed my slippers into my drawer and cried about it for days. "

I couldn't stop myself. I pulled her against me and held her in my arms. "If I had someone like you in my life, I'd cherish every fucking minute, Shay. Every inch of you, everything you do, every smile, every laugh, every frown—everything about you deserves to be worshipped."

She blushed again and rested her face against my shoulder. "You sure know how to make a woman melt into a puddle of butter."

"I'm serious, Shay. You need to know that."

She sniffled and wiped her eyes, then lifted her head from my shoulder. "I'm starting to see it, Fin. When I danced today—" her voice wavered. "I couldn't believe how much I missed it. It's almost as if I cut out part of my soul to give up dancing."

"Would you show me a few moves?"

Shay shook her head and turned away. "You're just being?—"

"No, really, I would love to see you dance."

"The sand is too soft." She looked down the stretch of smooth wet sand.

The water lapped gently at the shoreline.

"This is crazy." She held my arms as she took off her boots and socks.

"Colder than I thought," she laughed wildly, then took off.

She raced along the sand, her feet barely touching the ground.

She jumped high, her long, thin limbs swirling around her to invisible music.

And she looked happy. She belonged in the air, defying gravity at every turn, her body turning and moving so fluidly she was a blur of long legs and arms. She turned and headed back to me, her feet and body moving so fast and her leap so high it was almost impossible to believe she was merely human.

She stopped with a final twirl and landed in my arms.

Cheers and claps rang out from the beach house.

An audience had gathered to watch her. She covered her face, embarrassed at first, then she opened her arms, stuck out a long leg and bowed.

Her audience clapped louder. She hurried to me and hid her face against my chest. "I didn't know they were watching. "

"Uh, that was fucking incredible, so incredible you brought the whole damn party outside."

She hid her face again, and I took hold of her wrists and uncovered her face. She peered up at me. "Hey, ballerina, you were meant to fly. Anyone who tries to clip your wings doesn't deserve to be part of your life."

Shay's eyes were glassy as she gazed up at me. Her arm circled my neck, and she hopped up and pressed her lips against mine. My arms wrapped tightly around her for the kiss, the kiss I'd been thinking about since I first pulled her out from the flock of hungry birds.