Watching Oscar’s eyes light up as Garrett’s yacht pulls away from the dock fills my heart with joy. When Garrett asked if I wanted to sail with him over the weekend, I didn’t realize he meant for me to invite my family and friends to join in. But here we all are, sitting on the main deck in overstuffed chairs, watching the shore become smaller as we pull out from the bay into the ocean.

“What do you think, Oscar?” Garrett asks him. The two are standing at the front of the ship as Oscar points toward a few otters sunbathing on the floating buoys.

“It’s so cool. And this is your boat?”

“It sure is,” Garrett says with a chuckle. “And you’re welcome to use it whenever you like.”

“Did you hear that, Auntie Angie?” Oscar gives me a huge smile.

“I heard.” I raise an eyebrow, giving Garrett a stern look.

He just shrugs his shoulder before placing a hand on Oscar’s back and pointing toward another sight in the distance.

“This is really nice.” Emily is sipping a fruity cocktail from a tall glass as she leans against the chaise lounge where we’re seated. “Thanks for inviting us.”

“You know you’re always at the top of my guest list.” I glance across the ship to the spot where Syrus and Eli are drinking beers and talking about work. Syrus has hired Eli to work on a few special projects and Eli seems to be loving it. I almost wonder if Syrus is grooming him to take over some of the businesses that aren’t as conducive to being a married man. Like being a co-owner in a strip club and a high-rent brothel.

“How’s Eli handling things?” I ask, afraid of the answer. I was honestly surprised that he agreed to come on this weekend excursion with us, especially now that Garrett and I are officially a couple.

“He’ll be okay. He really cares about you, and I think he was hoping something would come of it.”

I sigh, still feeling some guilt over the whole thing. “I didn’t mean to hurt him.”

“Of course you didn’t. You can’t help that my stupid brother has a crush on you. He’ll be okay. I promise you that.”

“Thanks.” I squeeze her arm. Emily is more like a sister to me than my own has been. I couldn’t stand to lose her over something that happened between me and Eli, but I’d never ask her to choose me over her own flesh and blood.

“Ladies.” A shirtless and very tan Brenden comes walking toward us with a cocktail in his hand.

“Where have you been?” I ask as he pulls an ottoman over in front of us and sits.

A coy grin spreads across his face. “Never you mind.”

“You’re telling me later.” I point my finger at him to tell him I mean business, then I turn to my best friend. “Emily, this is Brenden.”

Brenden gushes as he sits by our feet. “Ahh…finally, I get to meet the beautiful Emily.”

She giggles as he takes her free hand and brings it to his lips. “The pleasure is mine.”

Syrus and Eli walk over immediately, noticing Brenden’s affectionate greeting. “Babe, is everything okay here?” Syrus gives Brenden a once over, obviously trying to hold back his jealous and possessive inner wolf.

I look at Emily, who simply rolls her eyes. “Yes, Syrus. This is Brenden, Angie’s friend. Brenden, this is my fiancé, Syrus, and my brother, Eli.”

Brenden stands, taking each of their hands in firm handshakes. Emily giggles as the two men seem oblivious to the fact that Brenden is checking them both out.

“Yes, her fiancé.” Syrus folds his arms over his chest like a caveman. “So don’t get any ideas.”

“I assure you,” Brenden says with a smile. “I’m not having any ideas about your fiancée.”

Mark steps onto the deck. “Hey, guys. I see you’ve met my new guy.”

“New guy?” Syrus asks, carefully studying Brenden.

Brenden isn’t wasting any chance at toying with the two men as he stretches his muscled physique before sitting back down between me and Emily.

Mark must notice the concerned glare crossing Syrus’s features because he lets out a hearty chuckle. “Dude, you don’t have to worry about Emily with this one… Just watch your own ass.” Mark slaps Syrus’s backside as realization dawns on Syrus that Brenden is gay.

“Oh… Sorry, man. I didn’t mean to make a big deal out of things.”

“It’s cool.” Brenden winks in Emily’s direction. “Something tells me things are big with you all the time.”

I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen Syrus so embarrassed as he slides his hand behind his neck. “I think I need another drink.”

Eli nods in agreement and the two take off with Mark back into the lounge where the bar is located.

“Brenden!” I howl out a burst of laughter.

Emily toasts Brenden with her glass. “I love him.”

“Told you,” I say to Brenden with a wink.

“You said I was bad, Ang… I’m just going with it.”

“Well, you have my permission to make him blush all you want.” Emily sits up and takes a sip of her drink. “It’s nice to see him squirm for a change.”

“Aunt Emily, look.” Oscar runs over wearing a white captain’s sailing hat with a gold anchor on the front.

“Hey, buddy. You look like a sailor now!”

Oscar takes off the cap and begins showing Emily the emblem as he explains what it means.

“Think I might have a minute?” Garrett comes up behind Oscar, reaching a hand out to help me stand.

“Go,” Brenden says. “We’ve got the captain.”

Oscar gives him a big grin, suddenly finding a new friend to impress.

Emily waves me away, so I take Garrett’s hand and let him lead me toward the back of the ship. The sun is beginning to set over the horizon, giving a golden hue to everything around us. “It’s absolutely beautiful out here.”

“Everything pales in comparison to you.” Garrett takes my hand as we step up to the railing and watch the waves roll around us.

“That’s really cheesy,” I say, catching his eye from the corner of mine.

“Doesn’t make it any less true.” He smirks, and his blue eyes take on that sexy look that sends a tingle through my body.

His eyes are lidded as he moves in to kiss me.

Because he knows I’ll let him.

His lips cover mine in warmth as his mouth presses against mine. Parting my lips slightly, I allow his tongue to explore me, massaging my tongue with his and feeling his arousal beginning to push into my hip. His manly scent and big muscles under my fingertips send butterflies throughout my stomach as a familiar tingle begins to make its way through my core.

He breaks away, breathing heavily. “I guess I shouldn’t have invited everyone along for the trip…”

I smile, understanding where he’s headed with this. “It might not seem like a good idea at this exact second, but I appreciate you letting me invite my friends to spend some time with you.”

Garrett’s eyes are intense as he turns to look at me. “I’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”

My eyes lock on his. His firm jaw and deep blue eyes cause my body to quiver with desire. We’re only interrupted by a double honk of the ship’s horn.

“That would be dinner.” Garrett sighs and holds out his hand for me. “Shall we?”

“Only if we can pick this up again later…”

“Count on it,” he says with a wink as he walks me back toward the lounge where dinner is being served.

A long table has been set for twenty. I still haven’t met all Garrett’s friends who were invited this weekend, but I’m sure I’ll like them just as much as he does. As everyone is taking their seats, I notice Brenden passing several open chairs to sit down across from Mark’s twin brother, Jason. I make a mental note to pay closer attention to whatever is going on there.

Garrett pushes my chair in behind me with the help of Oscar, who seems to be taking a cue from Garrett’s example. “Thank you,” I say to both of them before Oscar points toward Eli.

“Can I sit next to Uncle Eli?”

“If he doesn’t mind.” I glance at Eli, looking for his approval.

“He won’t,” Oscar assures me. “We’re buddies, and I’m staying in his room tonight.” Oscar takes off down the row of chairs to fill an empty spot next to Eli.

“He’s not staying with you tonight?” Garrett whispers into my ear.

“I thought he might want to stay with Eli tonight, so I might have planted that seed earlier.” I quirk an eyebrow, and Garrett’s face erupts with a knowing smile. He reaches for my thigh and gently brings his fingertips between the split in my wrap. I give him a pointed look as I push his hand away. “Later…”

The look of desire in his eyes is only lessened when Mark clinks a knife against the rim of his champagne glass. Everyone’s attention is drawn to him as he holds the glass up. “I’d like to propose a toast.”

Glasses rise around us as Mark continues. “To our generous host and his lovely mate…”

A fresh flush blasts across my features as I try to fight the nervousness from hearing that title used so casually. It’s taken us a long time to get here, and it’ll probably take even longer for me to accept that it’s real.

“Thank you for this wonderful weekend. I know the fun is just getting started.”

“Here, here.” Cheers ring out as the sound of glasses clinking fills the room. Even Oscar picks up his glass of milk and clumsily knocks it into Eli’s glass.

Dinner is served shortly after Mark’s toast. A fresh green salad followed by a main course of smoked salmon with glazed baby carrots and creamed potatoes has me completely full. By the time a cherry cheesecake is brought out for dessert, I feel as though I might bust out of the wrap I’m wearing over my swimsuit.

Once dinner finishes, people make their way back to the bar and the upper deck to take in the night sky. I keep my eyes on Brenden as he follows Jason to the bar and strikes up a conversation before the two of them head up the small stairs to the back deck of the ship. I’ll definitely have to ask him about Jason later. They would make a very good-looking couple…

Garrett places his hand in mine and pulls me toward the front of the room where he grabs a bottle of champagne and two glasses. I catch Eli’s gaze as we pass, and although I can see the sadness behind his eyes, he nods to me and mouths, “I’ve got him.” Then he points at Oscar, who’s starting to fade after his busy day of sun and helping to “drive” the yacht.

Leave it to Garrett to think of having something special planned for my nephew. If he’s trying to impress me, he’s doing a damn good job.

With my hand locked in Garrett’s, we take off toward the bedrooms. He guides me down a hallway before we come to the suite I used the last time I was here. He swings the door open and steps inside.

A confused look covers my face and Garrett quickly sets the bottle and glasses down before taking both of my hands in his. “Is everything okay, Angel?”

“Yeah, of course.” I shake my head and smile up at him. “I just thought I’d get to see your room tonight.”

Garrett chuckles, pulling me closer and giving me a kiss. “This is my room.”

“I…” Looking around, I can’t seem to grasp what he’s saying. “But this is where…”

A sexy grin pulls at his lips. “You don’t think I’d let you stay in any room but mine, do you, Angel?”

He’d given me his room.

He’d always been putting me first, even though I never realized it.

“I don’t understand.”

He cups my face with his strong hands as he drags a thumb across my cheek. “My Angel… Angie. I don’t know when I fell in love with you, but I’ve been here for a long time. Even before I knew you, truly knew who you were, I knew that I needed you in my life.”

He pulls me toward the bed as he places light kisses across my cheek and down my neck. My body almost gives in to his, but I’m able to break away as his knees hit the mattress.

Pushing him slightly, I force him into a seated position at the edge of the bed and then take a step back and swat his hand away when he reaches for me.

“What are you…”

“Hush,” I whisper, tossing my phone on the dresser just before a slow, sexy song begins to play.

Garrett’s eyes become heavy with lust as I start to move to the rhythm of the music. The tent forming in his pants proves to me that I’m doing something right as I pull at the wrap around my waist. With a flick of my wrist, it falls to the floor.

Garrett’s eyes rove my body as I touch the sensitive areas of my exposed skin with my fingertips. Of all the times I’ve danced for people before, it’s never been like this.

This time, I have a greater purpose and a larger end-game in mind.

This time, I’m completely present and aware of every sensation running through my body.

Because this time, I’m shaking my sass for my mate.