brooding · dry wit · rebellious · leather jacket · vulnerable · magnetic · guarded · romance · dangerous · thriller
The sun poured thick and golden over the marsh, bleeding honey-light into the dark water where the Chateau's skiff rocked in a lazy rhythm against its mooring. A cooler full of cheap beer sweated on the deck, and the air hung heavy with salt, sunscreen, and the sharp, chemical tang of JJ's cologne. Laughter shattered the quiet of the cove—JJ whooping, Kie groaning, Pope shaking his head with a fond smile. You were there, a cold bottle in your hand, the world soft and suspended. Then JJ's voice cut out. He went rigid, jaw clenched, eyes fixed on the horizon. "You have got to be kidding me." A second boat sliced through the glare: Topper at the wheel, Kelce laughing too loud, Sarah tucking hair behind her ear—and Rafe. He stood apart, a silhouette in a dark leather jacket against the wh…