Page 38 of Suddenly Beck

‘You wish,’ both Jesse and I say simultaneously.

‘They do that all the time.’ Quinn laughs when Nat stares at us curiously. ‘Joss and Juni do it too, it’s a twin thing.’ He shrugs. ‘I hear you’re working at the restaurant. Georgie’s been raving about the Crab and Avocado Tacos. I’m definitely going to have to swing by and check them out before I head back to Uni.’

‘Uh, thanks.’ Nat flushes under my brother’s praise.

‘I’m Jesse.’ My twin reaches for Nat, studying him with interest as he takes his hand. ‘Sorry about that.’ He waves absently in the direction of the car. ‘That was more for his benefit than yours. It’s our duty to piss him off at every available opportunity. It’s the rules.’

‘There are rules?’ Nat’s mouth quirks.

‘There are, and they are many and varied.’ Jesse nods sagely. ‘And can change at a moment’s notice. Keeps things fresh and interesting. You’re lucky Deak’s not here, otherwise things would really get out of hand.’

‘Deak?’ Nat’s brow raises questioningly.

‘Deacon James,’ I supply helpfully. ‘He’s Jesse’s best friend. We all went to school together. Me, Jess, Deak and Ryan, and we’ve been inseparable since.’

‘Not all of us,’ Jesse mutters under his breath.

‘Yes, all of us,’ I remind him softly. ‘Deak’s still on a piece of umbilical bungee, no matter how far he gets from home, it’ll only stretch so far then it catapults him back to the bay.’To you…I almost add, then think better of it, knowing my brother won’t want to hear it. ‘Where is he at the moment anyway?’ I ask.

‘Saint Tropez.’ Jesse shrugs, although it’s not as casual a gesture as he might like, I know him too well. ‘They’re getting ready for the Giraglia Cup.’

‘He races?’ Nat asks curiously.

‘Boats.’ Jesse nods quietly. ‘He’s always loved living fast and loose. He only knows how to live his life at two speeds, a hundred knots and stop… and he doesn’t stop too often. He loves being on the water, and as far as he’s concerned, the faster the better.’

‘Sounds exciting,’ Nat murmurs as he studies Jesse, and I can tell he’s seeing what I do. Nat maybe quiet, but I’m beginning to realise he’s extremely astute.

There’s a loud, happy bark, and as we look up, Ursula comes bounding out of the house joyously, her golden fur glowing in the bright sunlight. Only, instead of heading for me, her actual owner, she hones straight in on Nat.

He grins widely, hunkering down and rubbing her coat until she collapses to the floor in hopeless delirium, wagging her tail ecstatically as he strokes her.

‘Hey, beautiful.’ He smiles as she leaps up smothering him with licks and kisses, not that I can blame her. I’d love to lick every available inch of that man.

I look up to find my twin watching me intently, and I turn away from his gaze. Other than Ryan, he’s the only other person who knows about Florence, and the last thing I need right now is their speculative glances and well-meaning interference.

‘Looks like you’ve stolen my brother’s dog.’ Jesse grins as he turns back to me. ‘See that, Beck, she prefers a complete stranger to you.’

‘He’s not a complete stranger, she’s met him before,’ I huff.

Jesse raises a brow sensing a story, so I quickly change the subject. ‘Thanks for taking her this morning.’

‘No problem.’ He shrugs. ‘She’s actually really good with the other animals. We’ve got a two-year-old lab recovering from surgery, and she just lay down with him to comfort him. I’ve never seen her so still before.’

‘You’re a vet?’ Nat glances up at Jesse pushing Ursula’s nose away from his face gently as my dog continues to try to maul him in hopeless adoration.

Jesse nods. ‘You’re good with her,’ he remarks. Urse is usually great with other animals, but people find her a bit much.

‘She’s gorgeous,’ Nat beams. ‘I always wanted a dog, but I wasn’t…’ he breaks off and shrugs.

I’d be prepared to bet the commission on my next sculpture that he wasn’t allowed one when he was younger. Reading between the lines, his dad sounds like a controlling prick and a complete snob. Anyone who’d rather take his eight-year-old kid to some crumbling old Babylonian clocktower rather than sea world is not someone who’d allow his kid to have a dog who’d probably chew on the furniture and shit on the rugs.

‘We should probably go in,’ Jesse suggests, whistling for Ursula. ‘Mum will be wondering where we’ve got to.’

Nat naturally gravitates toward me, and I try to ignore the low hum of awareness in the pit of my belly whenever he’s near. Without thinking, I reach for his hand, towing him toward the house and the bear of a man leaning comfortably against the doorframe, watching us as he sips slowly from a beer bottle.

Ryan’s gaze flicks to our joined hands, and my brain is telling me I should let go. As Ryan’s gaze trails lazily over Nat, his eyes flare in appreciation, and I find myself tightening my grip.

‘Hey.’ Ryan lifts his chin a fraction in greeting, and he smiles slowly at Nat, his voice a low inviting rumble that instantly pisses me off. ‘Ryan Callahan.’ He switches his beer to his other hand and reaches toward Nat.