Page 22 of Tempting Me (The Asher Family #3)

I can’t think. I can't do anything but grab my own hair and tug as I let him own my entire body. He pulls one nipple into his mouth and then the other.

“Shit, shit,” he says and then stills, letting out a low groan.

It isn’t until his thumb brushes against my cheek that I realize my eyes are closed.

“Are you okay?” he asks when I look up at him.

I nod. “Better than okay.”

And it’s the truth.

Now, I just have to figure out how to never let this feeling go.

I walk into The Marina an hour later than usual that morning.

Grace is just pushing her breakfast plate away when I join her at the bar.

“Oh, look who it is,” she teases. “I want to be shocked that you’re late, but I know you and you know who have been working late on this place.

I have to tell you, Shay, the dining room looks beautiful.

I can’t wait for the new tables and chairs to get here so you can open it up again.

I also wanted to ask about the deck and why the side is now blocked off and… why are you looking at me like that?”

She points her finger at my face.

“Are you okay?”

I smile so big, my cheeks start to hurt.

“What? Oh my gosh what? ”

“I …” I look around to see where Carl is. “Luca kissed me.”

“Last night?”

I shake my head.

“Earlier this week, but again last night, and this morning after we woke up, we…” I scrunch my nose as I wait for the details to click into place with her.

Her eyes widen, and she slaps the countertop. “Yes. I knew it. Oh my gosh, finally. How was it? Good? I bet it was good.”

“It was.” I let out a sigh. “I’m ruined Grace. Ruined.”

“Ruined. God, I hope I can refer to sex that way someday.”

“I’m in this whole different world with him. I don’t worry about anything, and I just get to be me. I mean, Grace, the ideas he has for this place are so good. I finally found someone who believes in it as much as I do, and it’s a really nice feeling.”

“Hey, I believe in it.”

“You know what I mean. He’s here and helping me and adding to my ideas, and it’s like I have a little team that motivates me, and then when we aren't working we are ... well. I can't believe this is my life right now.”

“I love this for you.”

“I’d love it more if I didn’t have to keep everything a secret.”

“So don’t.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Well, you could,” she says and gives me that look. You know, the one that says I control my life and can do whatever I want because I'm a grown-up .

Nowhere does it say that I own The Marina, though, because I don't, and until I do, I can’t risk my parents selling it to someone else.

“Good morning.” Linc Collins strolls into the room as if it’s an everyday occurrence. He looks at Grace's breakfast plate. “I should start coming here for breakfast more often. I forget how stunning the view is.”

We all glance out the back window, and while they are enjoying the landscape, I’m trying to run through any positive reason Linc would be here in his work attire with his work bag slung over his shoulder.

I want to demand he leave, because his presence can’t mean anything good, but he’s only here to do his job, and I can’t fault him for that.

“What brings you in today?” I ask as calmly as I can.

He has no expression on his face when he says, “I’m getting pictures for your parents.”

“Pictures?” I repeat.

“They still haven't confirmed if they want to sell, but they want to be ready.”

I can’t believe this.

My parents have called Linc more than they have me in the last three weeks. I should be the one they share this information with first.

A heads-up would be nice.

“Sure. Make sure you get pictures of this dining room. It’s freshly remodeled.”

I stand with jerky movements and take my place behind the bar and cross my arms.

“If you want good pictures of the main hallway, come back next week when I’m finished painting them. If you want a picture of the cabins, that will be another month.”

“Shay,” Grace says softly.

“I know you’re just doing your job, Linc, but this is … wrong.”

He nods and takes a step back.

“I’ll tell them my schedule is busy this week.”

“And next,” I say with more snap than I want. So I take it down a notch when I add on, “Please.”

He nods and then waves goodbye as he leaves.

“That was unexpected,” Grace says slowly.

“How could my parents do this? Why wouldn't they call me first?”

“You heard him, Shay. They haven't decided yet.”

“They keep calling him, Grace. That’s basically saying that their minds are made up and the only reason they haven’t signed the dotted line is because they said I had till the end of the summer.”

“Which is still six weeks away.”

I glance out the window at where we used to hold live bands and grill food and people would be having so much fun that we had to ask them to leave well after closing.

The indoors might not be fully accessible yet, but the beach is always ready.

It’s time to buckle down and be smart.

The Marina needs my full focus.

I can’t be caught doing anything that could cause my parents to change their minds sooner than later.

I just hope that chance will still be there when the summer is over.