Betrayed (Whiskey Nights #4)

by Suzannah Daniels

  We watched people dance as we ate. When we were finished, the deejay played a slow song.

  “I should probably get Joseph. Seren’s had him a long time.”

  Pax glanced over to the table where Cade and Seren had been sitting. “Seren eats it up. Besides, it’s not like they’ve had him the whole time. Baby J’s been passed around like a football. Look at him.” Paxton nodded toward the table. “He’s got a half dozen babes ogling him, kissing his cheeks, and telling him how handsome he is.” Paxton shot me a lazy grin. “The kid’s got a good gig.”

  I smiled. “I’m sure he’s loving all the attention.”

  Seren’s eyes met mine, and she waved. She whispered in Cade’s ear and said something to the girls sitting at their table. Then, Cade and Seren stood and headed our way.

  Strawberry-blonde curls dangled around her shoulders as she approached us. “Come on, y’all. Let’s dance.”

  “I’m good,” Pax said. “But y’all go ahead.”

  “Oh, Paxton,” she scolded. “Don’t be a party pooper.”

  I wanted to ward her off before she pushed the issue. “We should probably get Joseph and head back to the room.”

  “He’s in good hands,” she promised. “Just one dance. Come on.”

  Cade motioned toward the dance floor.

  “Oh, all right,” I finally agreed. “If Pax is up for it.”

  He scooted his chair out, the legs scraping across the concrete, and held his hand out to me. I slipped my hand in his and let him guide me to the dance floor.

  “One more for old times’ sake,” Pax said softly, so that only I could hear.

  “Old times’ sake,” I agreed.

  Dancing with Paxton was much different than dancing with Mercury. I was completely comfortable with Pax. When his hands gripped my hips or skimmed across my bare skin, it made my heart beat faster, not because it was awkward but because I reacted to his touch in a way that I had never reacted with another man.

  Our bodies pressed together gently, and his close-cropped beard tickled my temple. I closed my eyes, letting the rest of the world melt away, letting the years that had separated us dissolve into nothingness. We had been so happy then.

  My arms encircled his neck, and his hands slowly rose along my sides until his thumbs stopped just below my breasts. My nipples ached to be touched, and I found myself wishing we were alone.

  Everything about him enticed me: his scent, his touch, his voice. It was as if he was created with the sole purpose of tempting me.

  I knew dancing with him wouldn’t be a good idea.

  When the music stopped, he didn’t immediately let go. His fingers remained splayed along my sides, his thumbs skimming in a slow caress.

  He breathed in deeply, held me close a moment more, and then released me. “I guess you need to get Joseph.”

  Swallowing hard, I nodded.

  “I haven’t talked to Hawk and Amber yet. I’m going to see if I can find them.”

  He walked away, and I followed Cade and Seren back to their table and collected Joseph. Showing Joseph the moon, I headed toward the beach side of the pool and stood at the far wall, watching the ocean and listening to the waves.

  Joseph’s head started bobbing, and I tried to convince him to lay his head down. Deciding there was too much activity to succumb to sleep, he chose to fight it instead. Over the next few minutes, he continued to fuss, rubbing his eyes with his tiny fists.

  I tried to rock him in my arms, but it only made him angrier. A moment later, Paxton was at my side. “You need to go back and lay him down?”

  “Yes. He’s exhausted, but there’s so much going on here, I can’t get him to quieten down.”

  “Come on, I’ll take y’all back to the condo. He’ll probably fall asleep on the way.”

  “Probably so,” I agreed, following Pax through the waning crowd.

  ***

  The next afternoon, we met Cade, Seren, Mason, and Lexi at the beach. We were all staying in the same building, so it wasn’t difficult to spot them as we walked over the wooden walkway from our condo to the sand.

  Even though it was October, the weather was perfect for hanging out at the beach, and the fact that it wasn’t crowded was a bonus. The guys sat in the sand with Joseph, building the perfect sandcastle while the girls watched and chatted about the wedding.

  “Am I the only one who cried?” Lexi asked.

  “I cried like a baby,” I confessed. “Especially when I saw Hawk losing it.”

  Seren dug her sunglasses out of her bag and slid them on. “He adores her.”

  “One of the cutest couples ever,” Lexi said.

  “Look at them.” Seren nodded toward the guys, clad in swim trunks, as they sculpted a huge moat. “I’m not sure who’s enjoying the sand more, the baby or the grown men.”

  “My gosh,” Lexi said. “How big is that castle going to be?”

  I smiled as Joseph sat in the middle of them, slapping his hands against the sand. “You know men. The bigger, the better.”

  “Watch Joseph,” Seren said softly. “He loves the sand.” She sighed, and then I thought I heard a sniffle.

  I couldn’t see her eyes, but I thought I heard it again.

  “Are you okay?” Lexi asked, echoing my thoughts.

  Seren’s lips trembled, and she pursed them. She sat quietly a moment while Lexi and I waited for her response.

  “I just want to have a baby so badly,” she said barely above a whisper.

  Lexi patted her knee. “You will. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”

  “Watch Cade with Joseph.” Seren lifted her glasses, propping them up on her head as she wiped away a stray tear. “He’s going to make such a good dad.”

  Cade was covering Joseph’s hands in the sand, and then Joseph would lift them up and giggle.

  “I think I might be pregnant,” Seren whispered. She held her finger to her lips. “Don’t say anything to Cade. I don’t want to get his hopes up before I’m sure.”

  “You think you’re pregnant?” Lexi mouthed the words, making no sound.

  Seren shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, and I want it so much that I’m terrified to take a test. I just don’t think I can handle it if I find out I’m not.”

  Lexi crossed her fingers. “Oh, I hope you are.”

  “Me, too,” I agreed. “I know how much it would mean to you, and I would love for Joseph to have a playmate.”

  Seren took a deep breath. “I’ve been trying to take my mind off it, not even worrying about whether I am, but it’s so hard.”

  “Hey, Flanagan,” Cade hollered to Seren. “Baby J wants you to play in the sand.”

  She sniffled once more. “Oh, he does?”

  Cade nodded, turning his camouflage hat around, so that the bill would block the sun. “He wants to dig a deep hole and bury you up to your neck, so he can throw Cheerios at you and see if you can catch them in your mouth.”

  She laughed, lowering her sunglasses back in place. “He’s welcome to throw Cheerios at me, but I think I’m going to skip the buried in the sand part. It might make me a bit claustrophobic.” She walked over to Joseph and sat in the sand, joining Cade as they played with my son. Joseph loved them, and they were great with him. They definitely needed a child of their own.

  Paxton scooped sand up with Joseph’s red plastic bucket, and Mason started forming mounds for the castle.

  “Look who the biggest kid is of all,” Lexi said, pointing at Mason as he started sculpting out the shape of the castle.

  “Guys never really grow up, do they?” I asked.

  “Absolutely not. But then again, I think it’s one of the things that makes them so much fun.”

  We watched them a while longer.

  Lexi lay back on the blanket, propped up on her elbows, soaking in the sun. “How’s it going with you and Pax?”

  I frowned. “We’ve decided it’s best to be friends.”

  “Is that what you want?”

 
; Tough question. “No. Yes.” I could feel her eyes studying me from behind her sunglasses. “I do love him, but maybe too much has happened between us, maybe we’re too different now.”

  Lexi grunted. “Different isn’t necessarily bad. Look at me and Mason. Our personalities are quite different, but I think it’s one of the things that makes us work well as a couple.”

  “Our main difference seems to be children. I want them. He doesn’t. That’s a pretty big difference. An irreconcilable difference.”

  “Yeah, I could see where that might be a problem. But I gotta say, he doesn’t seem like he minds children.”

  “He has definitely warmed up to Joseph, but that’s still not the same as being willing to raise him. Besides, that’s not the only thing. It’s okay, though. I think I’m finally coming to terms with it, and we have agreed to remain friends, which is an improvement.”

  “Well, I hope things work out for you, whatever proves to be best for you and Joseph.”

  “Thanks.” I glanced back at the castle, which was quickly becoming a monstrous undertaking. Scanning the horizon, I enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my skin, the balmy breeze as it lifted my hair, the soothing sound of the ocean. “I think I’ll go for a swim. You want to go?”

  Lexi shivered. “No way. Too cold for me.”

  “I’m at the beach. It just doesn’t seem right if I don’t get in the ocean at least once.” I stood and removed my cover-up.

  Paxton

  Tunneling out an entrance with my cupped hand, I was bound and determined to make an epic sandcastle, so I could take pictures of Baby J on his first visit to the beach. I wanted the day to be memorable, at least for his mother, and I knew the best way to do that would involve her son.

  When Jess stood up, I immediately watched her, expecting her to join us. Her back was to me as she pulled the cover-up over her head. Her silky hair cascading over her back as it fell back into place. Her blue tropical-print bikini hugged her tight little ass, and it instantly made me wish we were on the beach by ourselves.

  Thankful that I was wearing sunglasses, I watched her as she walked down to the water, and I was a bit surprised to see her wade in. The breeze carried her laughter to shore, and Mason turned to watch her, his hair brushing across his shoulders in the wind. “She’s going to freeze her ass off.”

  Seren glanced in her direction. “She’s definitely braver than I am. I think I’ll stick to the hot tub.”

  We all turned our attention back to the sandcastle.

  I scooped the sand from the tunnel and slung it out to the side, smoothing the area inside the moat with my hand. “What do you think, Baby J?”

  I scanned the water, watching Jess as she swam out deeper. I was impressed that the cold water hadn’t deterred her from swimming.

  Cade was holding Joseph now.

  “Put him by the castle. I’m going to take some pictures.” I jogged over to the blanket and grabbed my phone. After walking back to the castle, I took photos of Baby J, some when he was by himself and some when he was with Cade and Seren.

  “When Jess gets back, I’ll take some of her with Joseph.” I walked back over to the blanket and tossed my phone on it.

  “Grab my phone, love,” Mason called to Lexi. “We’ll get him to take one of us.”

  Lexi handed me Mason’s phone, and I took a few shots of them together. When I finished, I handed the phone back to her.

  I scanned the water again, searching for Jess.

  “Where the hell did she go?” I asked.

  By the time everyone else looked out at the ocean, she had surfaced.

  “She’s right there.” Cade pointed.

  “I see her.”

  Cade and Seren played with the baby. Mason answered his phone, and Lexi walked up beside me, using the flat of her hand to shield her eyes despite the fact that she was wearing sunglasses. “She’s going out kind of far. There aren’t any sharks out there, are there?”

  “Not likely.” Her distance from shore made me uneasy. After motioning for her to swim back in, I was unsure of whether she’d seen me. Her head bobbed below the water. She resurfaced and started swimming in our direction.

  I watched her a few more seconds, only to see her head bob below the surface again.

  Lexi gasped, and my heart sank to the pit of my stomach as I scanned the surface for her.

  “She’s making me nervous,” Lexi said. “Is she okay?”

  She resurfaced again and started swimming frantically toward the shore, making no progress.

  “Shit, she’s stuck in a current.” With my heart pounding in my chest, I sped toward the water. If she could just keep her head above the surface, I would be able to reach her.

  A huge wave curled towards her, crashing over her head. I kept my eyes zeroed in on the last spot I’d seen her as I high-stepped through knee-deep water.

  My heart thundered.

  I couldn’t see her.

  Damn, where was she?

  I scanned the surface, my legs navigating the cool water.

  Her head bobbed up again, and a wave crashed against me, interrupting my momentum. Another wave rolled toward me, and I dove over it, the temperature of the water barely registering as my body surged in her direction. When I surfaced, I noticed she had been carried farther out. The more she tried to swim back toward shore in the direction she came, the more futile her efforts would be.

  The ocean could be cruel to casual swimmers who were unaware of her chicaneries. Jess wasn’t the first swimmer caught in a riptide who believed she could swim back to shore the same way she’d been carried out. Eventually, she would tire, unable to keep her head above water. But there was no way in hell I would let the ocean claim her as its next victim.

  My arms sliced through the water as I kept my eyes focused on her. I knew that a current had the potential to carry her away faster than I could swim, but I used it to my advantage, allowing it to propel me. As I glanced up, I could see her struggling to keep her mouth above the water, and even though she was still moving away from the shoreline, I knew I’d gained some ground.

  I thought I heard her scream, but if I did, it was cut short by her efforts to tread water.

  Her head bobbed below the surface again, and I knew she was panicking.

  I pushed myself harder as I waited for her to surface. Another wave rolled toward me, and I took a deep breath and dove under it, continuing to push toward Jess.

  When I surfaced, my eyes stung, and the taste of the briny water assaulted my tongue. I caught sight of her, relieved to see that I was closer to her now. Terror struck her face, the same terror that seized my heart. I ignored my heavy breathing and forced myself to dig deep and push harder.

  If anything happened to her….

  I kicked with all my strength, cognizant of my form as I tried to swim as efficiently as possible. I knew she was tired, and I knew what the ocean did with swimmers who had depleted their energy.

  Please don’t go under.

  “Stay with me, Jess,” I called, too breathless to say more.

  She tilted her head back, trying to keep her face above the surface.

  Just a little more.

  I thrust my arms into the water, my eyes never leaving her.

  I allowed the tiniest moment of relief to flow through my body as I finally reached her.

  “Max,” she whispered, unable to say more as she reached for me.

  Panicked, she grabbed my arm with both of her hands, trying to use me as a buoy. She pulled me under, and I twisted out of her grasp before we both drowned. With one hand following the length of her body, I dove farther down and using my hands, I turned her until her back was to me. I surfaced just behind her. “It’s okay, babe. I got you. Just relax for me. Let me do the work.”

  She started to panic again.

  “Relax, Jess. You trust me, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” The word came out in a rush.

  “Then just relax. I won’t let you go, I promise.” I
talked to her in the most soothing voice I could muster, considering my heart hammered against my rib cage and the fear that she would drown before I could reach her hadn’t yet subsided.

  Moments of my lifeguard training flitted through my mind. I cupped my hand around her chin and started swimming with the current until her body had risen to the surface. Then, I repositioned my arm, crossing her chest and gripping her beneath the opposite armpit. “Just relax,” I said. “I’ve got you.” I began swimming parallel with the shore until the current weakened enough that we could break free. I allowed myself a deep breath, knowing that the worst was over now.

  She was exhausted and scared, but she was fully conscious. With my hip positioned below her back to keep her afloat, I scissor-kicked as I scanned the shoreline.

  “We’re out of the current,” I said, trying to ease Jessica’s fears. “You’re safe now.”

  I angled in toward the shore, and I saw our friends, along with a few other beach-goers gathered together.

  As I approached the shoreline, Cade and Mason waded into the ocean, ready to help me, if needed. Once I could easily stand, I released Jess, then lifted her into my arms and carried her to the shore.

  “Is she okay?” Cade asked.

  I nodded, bending down, so I could gently deposit her on her feet. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I embraced her, holding her trembling body.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, sniffling.

  Leaning back, I could see that her eyes had filled with tears. She pulled me closer, burrowing in my chest, her soft sobs muffled as her body melded with mine.

  “Shh,” I whispered in her ear, stroking her hair. “You’re okay now.” I pressed my cheek against her temple, wanting to envelop her with my strength, to provide her the comfort that she so desperately needed.

  When she had regained some of her composure, she pulled back and wiped away her tears. Our eyes met, a connection unlike any I’d ever experienced, the kind of connection that could only accompany a brush with death.

  Jess was swept out of my arms as Lexi helped her to the blanket that had been spread out on the sand in front of us. “Sit down and rest,” Lexi instructed her. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”