It’s #BookQW – and my hero keeps a ‘dry’ sense of humor around the heroine’s family.
More from two chapters & two points of view–hers, then his:
Coral stepped to the center of the dock, dropped the towel and stripped off the life vest and wet clothes down to her bright blue bikini. No sense wasting the towel Manta had magically warmed for her.
Skipper dashed up just as she finished. He bumped his warm nose over her calves and pranced in place to tease her into lifting him. “I must be cold, if your nose is warm.” She crouched to scratch his ears.
“Leave the pup, you’re covered in goose bumps.” With a flick of his hand, Salm levitated the towel and magically threw it at her. “Tomorrow, you better wear your wetsuit. Ty can borrow my old one, the green one from before I shot up a foot.”
With jerky movements of her stiff arms, Coral swung the towel around her. Shuddering and closing her eyes, she snuggled into softness and apricots—Manta used the same soap Ma did. If only Ma were here to serve her a bowl of soup to finish warming her on the inside. Sometimes, having no body fat wasn’t fun.
“Hoy, lad,” Salm snapped. “Just remember that’s my sister you’re gawking at.”
Her eyes flew open as both Salm and Piper laughed. Towel around his shoulders, Ty bent over their dock locker, but his reddening neck confirmed her brother’s implication.
Coral stalked toward Salm and, in the middle of him taking the sheets from Piper, punched him in the arm. “Stow it,” she growled.
He laughed. “Try telling me again when you’re not holding a towel over yourself.” He jumped back as she aimed a kick. “And when you’re wearing boots. Come now, Coral, I wouldn’t be much of a brother if I said naught. Now I’ve said it, and you can do with him as you please.”
“Oh, lovely.” She recrossed her slipping towel and anchored it under her folded arms. “Just announce it to everyone.” Her gaze skimmed to Ty, who was leaning against the locker and once again watching her, his silver eyes shining and his mouth curled at the corners.
Spells! She’d wondered if he was interested. He might be blushing, but there was nothing shy about the way he looked at her.
Heat flushed across her neck to cover her face. It had happened again, this funny sensation. Magical or not, this wasn’t the place to sort it, or the smile twitching at her lips.
Ty returned the smile, stood and extended a hand to Salm.
“Thanks,” he said as they shook. “Having three sisters myself, I understand the role. Please let me know if I overstep any boundaries again.”
“Ach, we don’t want you looking to Salm for that,” said Piper. “Manta will tell you.”
“Excuse me.” Coral inserted herself between her brother and Piper, both a head taller than she and Ty. “This is my business, and as usual you all don’t need to be butting into it like cleaner wrasses. Salm and Piper, would you be so kind as to finish for us? I’m going to see if Manta has something warm to eat. Ty, would you like to come, too?”
His gaze darted to Piper and Salm, but he said, “Sure.” “Let’s go.” She pushed past Salm, scooped up her wet clothes and briskly led the way off the dock. Truth be told, she wasn’t very cold anymore.
Chapter 12
Under the pretense of magicking his clothes dry, Ty delayed to calm himself before he followed Coral’s towel-clad form up the ramp. She’d invited him home. Well, not exactly home, but to her sister’s place. Marissa had never included him with her family, so maybe this was a good sign. Plus, Coral had asked despite her damn brother outing him for ogling her.
His neck and face heated again. This family didn’t hide much. Coral was as feisty as Dar had said she was.
***
Lost Whisperer of the Seas is available now! Buy it here!
If you haven’t read the rest of the series, don’t worry. This novel can be read as a standalone. The characters and location are new to the series.
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