Free Someday Beach by Jill Sanders Page A

her league.
    “So, what do you do, Trilla?” She glanced around Cole towards the woman, who was trying to pout but ended up looking like she was smiling for a teeth-whitening commercial instead.
    “I’m a model.” She ran off a list of clothing lines that Shelly was all too familiar with, and instantly she knew where she’d seen her before. And it wasn’t in any magazine.
    Tyler. Her heart skipped a few beats. Please, God, don’t let her recognize me. She was thankful when no recognition crossed the woman’s eyes, and relaxed a little.
    “How wonderful,” she said quickly and leaned back so the woman couldn’t get a better look at her.
    “There they are,” Cole said, turning around and standing up. “Thought you two had gotten lost.”
    Shelly turned around and saw Marcus and another dark-haired man walk in and hug their brother. She didn’t think it possible, but Roman was even better looking than Cole. Then her eyes fell on Marcus, and it was impossible to break away. She watched the brothers walking towards her with the dying sun behind them and her breath caught. If only she had a camera to capture all the beauty.
    “Hi.” Marcus walked over to her and placed a soft kiss on her lips, no doubt staking his claim for his brothers to see. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling.
    “Hi, right back.”
    “I’m glad you’re here. We were just sending this guy off again.” He nodded to Cole.
    “Yes, so I hear.”
    “You two met?” He frowned a little.
    “About two minutes before you walked in.” She smiled and saw him relax a little.
    “This must be Shelly.” Roman walked over and took her hand away from Marcus’s and shook it lightly.
    “And you’re Roman.” She smiled.
    “Guilty. It’s good to finally meet you.”
    “Boys?” Wendy interrupted. “Your usual?”
    The two nodded. “Here’s your sister and soon to be brother-in-law now.” Wendy nodded towards the stairs.
    Shelly watched Cassey walk down the back stairs with a good-looking man.
    “That’s Luke, my sister’s fiancé,” Marcus whispered in her ear. “He owns the new hotel just outside of town.” She’d seen the large resort-like hotel and knew that Marcus and Roman’s construction company had done all the work.
    After the introductions were made, they moved over to a large booth near the back of the room. She hadn’t meant to be dragged along, but Marcus had taken her hand and she couldn’t help but follow.
    At first she felt like an outsider in the group, but by the time everyone’s food had arrived, she was starting to feel more comfortable. She found herself laughing at the jokes and stories everyone was telling.
    Marcus ordered her a very large, very delicious piece of key lime pie after he found out that she’d already eaten. She had to admit, it was the best time she’d had in a long while.
    *******
    It was killing Marcus to watch her. He’d seen both Roman and Cole eyeing Shelly as she nibbled—a little too seductively—on that pie. He was just thankful they were sitting in a large booth, or he would have been tempted to go over there and knock his brother’s heads together for staring at her so.
    Then again, he too found it hard to concentrate on the conversation.
    He wanted to taste those lips of hers again but had to settle for reaching under the table and holding her hand instead. He half-heartedly listened to his family talk about good old times and chuckled at some of the stories. He joined in the story telling, making sure to add some of his siblings’ most embarrassing moments into the mix. But his mind kept wandering back to getting Shelly alone.
    Finally, Cole stood up and excused himself and his latest catch, claiming their flight left early and they had to get some rest. Marcus knew that his brother had more than sleep on his mind.
    Shortly after, Cassey and Luke disappeared as well, but he knew that his sister wouldn’t call it quits for the night, either.
    He squeezed Shelly’s hand and