Free Somewhere With You (Windswept Bay Book 2) by Debra Clopton Page A

hers?” He teased.
    “Yes.” Shar made it down to the ground and stuffed her hands on her hips. “I left for the good of the resort. If I see the lady, she might ‘oh honey’ me or ‘bless your heart’ me, and I might lose it. I might mess up the whole good PR we’re trying to get. Cali’s the good one at that. I only agreed to try to help because she’s got her wedding and then her honeymoon. I had to try. But ooh, I’m so not good at public relations.”
    “I’m sure it’s not as bad as you say.”
    “Oh. It’s bad—believe me. I’m trying to save the resort from losing money and its reputation right now.”
    She saw humor written all over his face. “Hey, don’t laugh. I do better with sea turtles and wildlife than being out there taking care of that kind of PR. If it wasn’t for Cali getting married, that would not be my job description. I’d be outside. I’m more of a behind-the-scenes girl. Cali and Jillian take care of the other stuff.” They’d reached the small bridge over the flamingo and swan lagoon that weaved its way through the resort. She started over it.
    Gage’s hand grasping hers, halting her. “I happen to think you’re pretty terrific.” He drew her into his arms.
    She sucked in a breath, finding herself in his arms. “The mural is right over there—” Her knees nearly buckled as she looked up at him.
    His lips hitched up at the corners. “I can’t help myself,” was all he said and then he lowered his head and kissed her.
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    It was a slow kiss that curled Shar’s toes and had her mind going all fuzzy.
    Her hands reacted by going around his shoulders so she could hang on to him as her knees melted out from beneath her. And they did. Her entire body turned to liquid as the kiss went on.
    “Well, hey there, sis.”
    At the unmistakable sound of her brother Jake’s voice, Shar broke apart from Gage and found Jake grinning at her. She tried to look as if she were in control. She was not.
    “Hey,” she managed. Jake was a dive instructor and owned a diving shop in town. Feeling as if she might break out in hives, Shar met his curious gaze head on. “What are you doing here?”
    His eyes crinkled at the edges with the want to smile. “I’m obviously not doing what you’re doing.”
    To her relief, Gage introduced himself and shot her a wink. “You must be one of Shar’s many brothers.”
    “Jake. I’m thinking I should be asking for your credentials and stuff because you know it’s not every day that I find a man all snuggled up to my little sister.”
    Shar cut him with a glare. “Excuse me, I can kiss whomever I want, wherever I want.”
    Jake chuckled. “Obviously. I’m just startled finding you in a public place, all smoked up with a guy.”
    She glowered at him. “Cut it out, Jake.” She turned to Gage to find him clearly enjoying the teasing that was going on. “Hey, you started this. My brother, one of the five, but maybe the nosiest of them all, wouldn’t be gaping at me like that if you hadn’t been kissing me.”
    “I don’t care who sees me kiss you,” Gage said.
    Jake interjected, “You are in a public place. I’m not nosey, just observant.”
    She ignored Jake and also ignored Gage’s statement, although she had to admit that she liked that he didn’t care who saw them kissing. “Jake owns a dive shop and I guess most of his business stays under water, so he has no one to talk to until he comes and puts his nose into my business. What are you doing here anyway?” she asked.
    “I had an errand to run.”
    She saw mischief written all over his face. “What kind of errand?”
    “Nothing in particular. Just checking on the wedding plans.”
    “Uh-huh. No funny business,” she warned. “You and your brothers better not be planning anything that will embarrass Grant or Cali. Or hurt the reputation of the resort. This is important.”
    He held up his hands. “I cannot believe that you would even think that