Read Online No Sweeter Love (Sweeter in the City Book 3) by Olivia Miles - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Olivia Miles
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you?” she asked, looking up at him.
His mouth quirked into a lazy grin. “Easy. They’re my family, not yours.”
Ethan took more than half an hour to primp in the bathroom—nearly twice as long as it had taken Claire, who had shaved her legs and washed and conditioned her shoulder-length hair. And applied makeup.
When he finally emerged, he looked barely any different than when he’d entered. Claire pursed her lips to smother a smile. She loved Ethan, God did she, but the truth was there was a reason why Ethan could never settle down and fall in love—he was entirely too self-focused.
“If I’d known it would take you half the day, I would have skipped my shower,” she quipped.
“Hey, you thought this afternoon was bad? You haven’t seen the rest of the Parker clan. They can’t wait to get their hands on me, to look for any reason to criticize. Do I have any nicks on my face? I shaved in a hurry.”
She stood and peered at his chin. It was a very nice, strong, square chin. His body was still warm from the shower. His skin smelled like aftershave. She frowned. What was wrong with her?
“No nicks. Smooth as a baby.” Well, not really. More like perfectly manly and sort of sexy and . . .wrong. She really needed to get out there again. Clearly, she was ready.
He looked down at his white linen shirt, frowning. “Should I tuck this in?”
“If you’re tucking in that shirt, then I’m changing my dress,” Claire said, adjusting the back of her earring.
“Sorry. I just . . .I get nervous around these people.” He ran a hand through his hair, dragging in a shaky breath.
Claire laughed and reached over to take his arm. “These people are your family. How bad can it be?”
***
Fifteen minutes later, she knew exactly how bad the night might be. As they approached the spot of beach where a bonfire was already crackling and glowing, the music seemed to stop, and slowly, face after face stopped their conversation to stop and stare.
It seemed that the novelty of her arrival hadn’t dimmed since this afternoon. If anything, it had spread to dozens of more people, who were now practically pushing each other aside to have a good look.
Claire felt her stride falter, and she didn’t dare look at Ethan, who had stopped talking and was no doubt following her gaze.
“Here goes nothing,” he muttered, and all at once, Claire felt his warm, smooth palm slide against hers.
“What are you doing?” she asked in panic, snatching her hand back. She stopped walking, aware that as she did so, every person on the beach was piquing with interest, craning their necks to see the lovers’ quarrel that was unfortunately out of earshot.
He gave her a mild smile. “Claire, if we’re going to make them believe we’re a couple, we have to act like we’re a couple.”
She chewed her bottom lip. He had a point there. “Yes, but holding hands. It’s so, so . . .” She hadn’t held hands with anyone since Matt.
“Would you rather I put my hand around your waist?” His lips twitched, and Claire realized he was having fun with this.
“I’m glad to see this is so easy for you!” She folded her arms across her chest defensively, but he just gave her a rueful smile in return.
“Lighten up, Claire. You know what your problem is? You take life too seriously.”
“I do not!” she scoffed, but she did. She knew it. And leave it to Ethan to keep saying it.
“I mean, if you’re worried I’m going to take advantage—”
“Ethan!” But now it was her turn to laugh. She did, but then remembering this ruse, turned from him, frowning. She hadn’t thought ahead this far. She hadn’t assumed there would be touching, or . . . She groaned.
“Look, it’s a beautiful night. We’re on the beach. We’ll have a couple drinks, make a little small talk, and then we can go back to the cottage and put a big wall of towels between our two bodies.”
“Ethan . . .” She sighed.
“Is it so hard to pretend to
His mouth quirked into a lazy grin. “Easy. They’re my family, not yours.”
Ethan took more than half an hour to primp in the bathroom—nearly twice as long as it had taken Claire, who had shaved her legs and washed and conditioned her shoulder-length hair. And applied makeup.
When he finally emerged, he looked barely any different than when he’d entered. Claire pursed her lips to smother a smile. She loved Ethan, God did she, but the truth was there was a reason why Ethan could never settle down and fall in love—he was entirely too self-focused.
“If I’d known it would take you half the day, I would have skipped my shower,” she quipped.
“Hey, you thought this afternoon was bad? You haven’t seen the rest of the Parker clan. They can’t wait to get their hands on me, to look for any reason to criticize. Do I have any nicks on my face? I shaved in a hurry.”
She stood and peered at his chin. It was a very nice, strong, square chin. His body was still warm from the shower. His skin smelled like aftershave. She frowned. What was wrong with her?
“No nicks. Smooth as a baby.” Well, not really. More like perfectly manly and sort of sexy and . . .wrong. She really needed to get out there again. Clearly, she was ready.
He looked down at his white linen shirt, frowning. “Should I tuck this in?”
“If you’re tucking in that shirt, then I’m changing my dress,” Claire said, adjusting the back of her earring.
“Sorry. I just . . .I get nervous around these people.” He ran a hand through his hair, dragging in a shaky breath.
Claire laughed and reached over to take his arm. “These people are your family. How bad can it be?”
***
Fifteen minutes later, she knew exactly how bad the night might be. As they approached the spot of beach where a bonfire was already crackling and glowing, the music seemed to stop, and slowly, face after face stopped their conversation to stop and stare.
It seemed that the novelty of her arrival hadn’t dimmed since this afternoon. If anything, it had spread to dozens of more people, who were now practically pushing each other aside to have a good look.
Claire felt her stride falter, and she didn’t dare look at Ethan, who had stopped talking and was no doubt following her gaze.
“Here goes nothing,” he muttered, and all at once, Claire felt his warm, smooth palm slide against hers.
“What are you doing?” she asked in panic, snatching her hand back. She stopped walking, aware that as she did so, every person on the beach was piquing with interest, craning their necks to see the lovers’ quarrel that was unfortunately out of earshot.
He gave her a mild smile. “Claire, if we’re going to make them believe we’re a couple, we have to act like we’re a couple.”
She chewed her bottom lip. He had a point there. “Yes, but holding hands. It’s so, so . . .” She hadn’t held hands with anyone since Matt.
“Would you rather I put my hand around your waist?” His lips twitched, and Claire realized he was having fun with this.
“I’m glad to see this is so easy for you!” She folded her arms across her chest defensively, but he just gave her a rueful smile in return.
“Lighten up, Claire. You know what your problem is? You take life too seriously.”
“I do not!” she scoffed, but she did. She knew it. And leave it to Ethan to keep saying it.
“I mean, if you’re worried I’m going to take advantage—”
“Ethan!” But now it was her turn to laugh. She did, but then remembering this ruse, turned from him, frowning. She hadn’t thought ahead this far. She hadn’t assumed there would be touching, or . . . She groaned.
“Look, it’s a beautiful night. We’re on the beach. We’ll have a couple drinks, make a little small talk, and then we can go back to the cottage and put a big wall of towels between our two bodies.”
“Ethan . . .” She sighed.
“Is it so hard to pretend to
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