I finally hit a switch so she could see where she was going. "Masyn's room is on the right. Check the dresser-I'm sure there's something in one of the top drawers.""She has her own room?" "More often than not, she stays here on the weekends." "And you're sure she won't mind me wearing her swimsuit? That's kind of personal-like sharing panties.""If she cares, I'll buy her a new one. Your other options are swimming in your bra and underwear...or nothing at all. Take your pick." We didn't have to get in the pool, but the cool water and a beer called my name. After a day like this, there was no place I'd rather be. And since Peyton didn't argue or take me up on another suggestion, I went with it."I'll see what she has."That's what I thought. "I'm going to put on some shorts. Meet me in the kitchen once you've changed."I closed the door behind me and went to my room. Early June was the perfect time for swimming at night. The water was warm, the air wasn't sweltering, an

I snatched another beer while I was inside. When I returned and sat next to her, I pulled up an image of the wild fig trees in South Africa near Echo Caves. "Looks like an ordinary fruit tree, right?" I was about to get all philosophical-not really my cup of tea, but this was one thing I firmly believed. I'd heard it years ago, and it had stuck with me."I suppose. I don't see a lot of those in the city.""Point is, it doesn't look like anything great. I mean it's a big tree, but what you see above the surface isn't what makes that tree so different from any other. To anyone who doesn't have knowledge of just how special it is, it looks like any other tree."She nodded, even though the confusion in her expression indicated she didn't have a clue where I was going with this. "Roots. That's what makes it extraordinary."Her brow quirked and her head tilted to the side. "Most trees have root systems that spread out like a fan under the dirt." I talked with my hands to indica

Ty set his beer on the workbench and stepped to the door Masyn escaped through to yell, "Masyn, get your ass out here.""Jesus, Ty. Leave her alone." I should have kept my damn mouth shut. I wasn't any better than Beau."Nah, fuck that. She doesn't need to be anywhere near that cum stain. And where the hell were you, Lee?"The door burst open with a fiery Masyn blowing through it just as I said, "Since when is it my job to babysit?"Without turning away from his sister, he answered me. "Kindergarten. Own it." Then he lit into her. "Why the hell would you be alone with Toby fucking Hayes-ever?"She glared at me-not Beau-assuming I'd given Ty the insider information. I had, but that was beside the point. Beau could do no wrong. "I hate you, Lee.""You do not. You're just mad that I was with Peyton. Next time one of our friends stands his bride up at the altar, I'll make sure to keep you around to handle phone calls and deal with nosy guests."Beau raised his brow and stated

I'd searched for Masyn after I left Ty's house last night. Every place I could think of that she might be was a miss. No one had seen her, and she hadn't gone home-I dreaded hearing what rumors got stirred up about my frantic search for her. It was too much to hope that she'd gone to my house to wait for me to show up. I gave up around eleven, knowing I'd see her in the morning at work, although trying to sleep was as fruitless as my search for Masyn. I tossed and turned all night worrying about her. In all the years I'd known her, I'd never seen her act like this about anything. She went with the flow, regardless of who was involved-the more, the merrier. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what her aversion to Peyton was. There was no way she was jealous, and I refused to believe Beau's theory might hold water, because if it were true, then I had bigger fish to fry than Peyton Holstein. The time clock glowed when I punched in a little before six. My shift didn't start for an

Beau knocked on my door. "You ready? I got everything in the truck."I swung the door open to let him in while I grabbed my keys and phone. "Did you find a swimsuit?""For Peyton?"I nodded and prayed Masyn had some hideous thing I'd forgotten was in the drawer. "Yeah, although I doubt it's what you're hoping for.""Two-piece?" I questioned."Yeah. Why does it matter? No guy in their right mind would encourage a woman to wear more on the water, or hell, anywhere for that matter."I glared at him like he was an idiot. He was an idiot. We didn't have heart-to-hearts about me drawing our initials and flowers around Masyn's name on napkins at the bar, but that didn't mean he didn't know what I hadn't confessed. He just chose to ignore it because Masyn did-salt in an open wound kind of thing. "I'm surprised you'd want to see your ex-fiancée's sister half-naked and wet. Isn't that incestuous in some twisted way?""Gross. I don't have any intention of touching her. That do