Seaside Kisses: A Sweet Romance (The Seaside Hunters Book 4) by Stacy Claflin Read Free Book Online Page A

Rafael.
    "Don't ask," Rafael said.
    Jake shrugged. "Okay. We're going to hit the hoop. You guys want to join us? Zachary's already outside."
    "What are the girls doing?" Rafael asked.
    "You have to ask?" Jake asked.
    "Talking weddings and babies," Brayden said.
    "And you guys didn't want to join them?" Rafael asked, chuckling.
    "Jake did," Brayden teased.
    "Funny." Jake shoved Brayden.
    Rafael rose. "You coming?" he asked Cruz.
    "Hold on. You wait."
    Rafael groaned.
    "What?" asked Jake.
    "I'm drawing Rafael's tat."
    "You're getting a tattoo?" Brayden asked, wide-eyed.
    "Yes," Cruz said.
    "No," Rafael insisted. "I only asked him what he thought I should get. I never said I was actually getting anything."
    "Done." Cruz put the pencil down. "What do you think?" He shoved the pad of paper at Rafael.
    It was actually quite remarkable. The picture was a partially bloomed rose with an unnatural amount of thorns on the stem. A bit of blood ran down over the thorns, finally dripping off at the last one.
    "You like?"
    "Maybe."
    "That's actually awesome," Jake said. "I could see that on you, Raf."
    "Where?" Rafael asked, not on board.
    "Your arm?" Jake asked.
    "Upper or lower?" Brayden asked. "I could see it on the lower part, underneath. Then when he rolls up his silk shirts, it'll show."
    "Oh, I like that," Jake said.
    "Dude, yeah," Cruz said. He stared at Rafael. "You'll be my first customer, right?"
    Rafael looked between his brothers. They all appeared to like the idea.
    "Maybe," he said, turning to Cruz. "But you need to get your tattoo parlor first."
    "I'm workin' on it."
    "Better make it happen before I change my mind."
    Cruz's eyes widened. "So, you're on board?"
    "I said maybe."
    "Yes. I finally talked one of you into it." Cruz raised his arm.
    Rafael gave him a weak high-five.
    "You can do better than that, bro."
    Shaking his head, Rafael slapped his brother's hand hard.
    "That's better. Now who's ready to play ball?"
    They all made their way outside where Zachary was already warming up. They broke off into their typical teams—Brayden and Rafael against the others. Though, now that everyone was grown, it wasn't as fair as it once had been. Brayden and Rafael had to work extra hard, and still fell short.
    "Next time, we get Zachary," Brayden said.
    "Not a chance," Cruz said.
    Rafael sniffed the air. "Do I smell peaches?"
    "Mom's famous cobbler," Jake said.
    Zachary threw the ball into the garage, and they all fought to get inside first.
    "Boys," their mom said, shaking her head. "You should know I make enough for everyone."
    After another hour of laughing with his family, everyone made their way out. Rafael hung back, not ready to go back to his big, empty house just yet.
    "Want some help cleaning up?" he asked his mom.
    "The girls already did most of it for me, but thanks."
    The dishwasher dinged, announcing a load of clean dishes. "I'll get those. Go watch the news with Dad."
    She gave him a hug. "I won't argue with that."
    Just as Rafael was putting away the last clean dish, Zachary strolled into the kitchen. "You're still here?"
    "Thought I'd help Mom."
    "Yeah? How are you doing? You seemed distracted during dinner."
    "Did I?" Rafael asked. "Probably just thinking about everything to do before the grand opening."
    "Not still thinking about LA?" Zachary asked. He was the only person, other than Brayden, who Rafael had talked to about what had happened with Kristine and Tony.
    He shook his head. "I've moved on."
    "Good. Well, like Jasmine said, she's on board with whatever you need. She'll give away up to five free sessions for your door prizes. You know what I was thinking?"
    "What?"
    "A huge grand prize. Have a raffle, sell tickets, and one winner gets the motherlode."
    "That's not a bad idea. I could use the raffle money to get the place decorated."
    "Or set up a website."
    "I already have one."
    "No," Zachary said. "I mean where you could sell the clothes online."
    "That sounds like a lot of work."
    "And suddenly you're