Meet Me at the Beach (Seashell Bay) by V. K. Sykes Read Free Book Online Page B

were old friends, and he wouldn’t take kindly to Aiden beating her.
    Despite the noise and catcalls, Aiden’s hand was steady as he tossed his dart to score the double he needed. Justlike that, the match was over, and Lily was on the hook for his beer tab.
    Small price to pay.
    “Yes!” Bram leaped out of his chair, knocking it to the floor. Once he finished pummeling his brother on the back, he swung around to sneer at Morgan and Micah. “How about that, huh? A Flynn wins!”
    Aiden hauled him back. “It could have gone either way, bro. Lily just missed by an eyelash. She’s a great player.” Then he flashed her a seductive smile, turning her brain to fish bait. “Want to go again, Lily? Get your revenge on the city slicker?”
    Morgan jumped up from her chair and whispered urgently in Micah’s ear. Clearly, she’d figured out that Lily had tossed the game and wanted to keep Micah from acting like a bull-headed deputy.
    “What? Now you want to stick me with Bram’s beer too?” Lily said, struggling to find a light note.
    Aiden shook his head. “No, and you don’t need to buy mine either. I just like spending time with you. I always did.” His voice was deep and sincere, a quiet undertone cutting through the raucous bar.
    Lily was afraid she might melt on the spot, just when she most needed to focus.
    “If you really want to give me a chance to get even, I just got another idea,” she replied, trying not to sound breathless. She told herself the tight feeling in her chest was only about the crazy plan she was about to drop on him. “Are you up for a
real
challenge?”
    He gave her a lazy grin that curled its way right down between her thighs.
    Lord, the man could smile.
    “Lily, have you ever known me to back down from any kind of challenge?” he asked.
    She’d been counting on that, but not on the predatory heat in his gorgeous, dark eyes. He looked as if he was hoping she would suggest a wild night of strip poker as her next challenge. Now
that
would be a disaster. Getting a look at Aiden Flynn’s naked body would be as dangerous as going out on the
Miss Annie
in a winter gale.
    Bram was practically standing on his tiptoes behind his brother as he strained to eavesdrop. Micah started to move forward and Morgan scrambled after him, ready to run a little interference.
    “You always loved watching the lobster boat races, right, Aiden?” Lily asked.
    Every summer, up and down the Maine coast, various harbors hosted the races. Aiden’s father had often raced his boat, though never once had the bastard allowed either of his boys to go with him. He’d been determined, she suspected, to keep any glory to himself.
    “Sure,” Aiden said, suddenly wary. “Who doesn’t?”
    Lily gave him an easy smile. “Well, the Seashell Bay races are this weekend, and I’ll be racing my boat.”
    When Aiden’s jaw tightened, she knew he’d caught her drift. “So?” he said.
    “So, even though it hasn’t raced in a while, I figure your dad’s boat might still be one of the fastest out there. Right, Bram?”
    Bram looked as stunned as a deer caught in headlights. “Uh, you know Dad can’t race anymore, and neither can I.”
    “No, but this big, strong
professional athlete
surely can,” Lily said, pouring on the sugar. “Do you think you could beat me, Aiden? Could you outrace a girl?”
    Aiden let his thoughtful gaze roam over her. As always, he wouldn’t rush to answer. “Let’s just say for a moment that I agree to this little idea of yours,” he finally said. “What kind of bet are we talking about? What would I win when I whip your butt?”
    Oh, I think you’d like to spank my butt, wouldn’t you?
    Lily forced that too-enticing image from her mind. “Well, I was thinking the loser could grant the winner a wish. Say, something that involved a
personal service
.” She tried for as much sexual innuendo as she could without going completely hot with embarrassment, hoping he would take the