Flashed

by Zoey Castile

  She stands there, and there’s a back and forth between Lucky and the guys. When she returns, she’s got a smirk on her face.

  “What just happened?” Faith asks.

  “I just arranged a water volleyball competition for your hand in marriage,” Lucky says.

  River cackles as Sky nearly chokes on her beer. Before she can get more riled up, Lucky comes clean.

  “I’m kidding, jeez. We’re all playing. Losers have to streak down the beach.”

  We all glance toward River. She takes a puff of her cigar and considers this. “Then we’d better not lose, ladies.”

  And we don’t. Leti is our ringer, crushing them at the very end of the game.

  At sunset, as we’re all full of food and drinks and joy, the guys run across the beach stark naked while we hold their clothes and cheer. I keep my eye on the shamrock tattoo on Patrick’s ass until he returns and we have to hand back their clothes.

  Hutch walks back over to River and takes her back to the room to get ready for dinner.

  The guys all stop and lie down on the sand in weird poses. Mari seems to know what’s going on because she snorts behind her hand.

  “Hey Lena,” Vinny says, brushing his hair back.

  “What?” I ask, waiting for the prank.

  “Paint me like one of your French girls,” Aiden says in a high-pitched voice.

  Patrick growls. “I hate all of you.”

  The two of us linger on the beach after the others have gone. The sunset bleeds pinks and purples on the horizon.

  “I love you, Lena,” Patrick whispers in my ear. “I never want you to doubt that. I will love you as long as you let me.”

  When Patrick kisses me, his lips are salty and soft. When I tell him that I love him, I feel complete, certain that our story might have started in an empty house, but we made it home.

  I pull back and say, “Forever, then.”

  Acknowledgments

  As always, this novel is possible because of Natalie Hor-bachevsky and Sarah Elizabeth Younger. Your insights and wine-infused outlining has been pivotal for this series. I don’t know what I’d do without your guidance and faith.

  To my editor Norma Perez-Hernandez for championing these characters and their stories, and for believing in me. Thank you to the wonderful Kensington team, who work so hard turning my words into real-life books, Paula Reedy and the production team, the sweetest publicity squad: Jane Nutter, James Akinaka, Lauren Jernigan, Alexandra Nicolajsen, and Vida Engstrand.

  To the romance community, especially Rebekah Weatherspoon, Sierra Simone, Sarah MacLean, the wonderful organizers at Lady Jane Salon, and Romance Twitter, who stands up for what they believe in. You inspire me. Here’s to a brighter day and HEAs for all.

  Finally, my love goes out to romance readers, especially those of you who have come back for Pat & Lena’s story. I’ve never known such passionate readers. Never let anyone shame you for what you love. It is important and it is worth it. Thank you for keeping romance alive.

  Zoey Castile was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. She started writing in her teens and pursued that love in her studies at Hunter College and the University of Montana. For nearly a decade, she worked as a bartender, hostess, and manager in New York City’s nightlife.

  You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ZoeyCastile