Read Online Riptide Love ( by Melissa Lopez - Free Book Online Page B

around. His brother Miller and his cousins, like many on the outback, used planes instead of autos.
    “He’s a kid.” De turned to face him.
    In his mum’s arms Nate swiveled his head back and forth.
    “Pig’s arse, I’m no kid.” Travis faced only Ethan. “Big M didn’t say a thing about this .” He thumbed toward the pair beside him. “Not a damn word.”
    “He said a bad word.” Wide-eyed, Nate grinned.
    “I can’t do this.” De clasped his arm sending a wave of arousal along his nerve endings. Sweat beaded her forehead. “I can’t.”
    “Listen.” He rested his hand over hers only to have her pull away as if he’d burned her. He clenched his teeth. Every time he’d touched her since the night in Nate’s room she’d reacted as if he was contagious. Every bloody time. She acted as if his touch repelled her. Not that he blamed her. He’d fucking abandoned her.
    Christ, how would he ever make it up to her? To Nate?
    “This wasn’t part of the deal.” She clutched Nate even closer.
    “Come on, De. We’ve only got six days.” And half the day had been spent on a commercial flight into the interior of Oz. He got between De and Travis. “I swear Travis is a good pilot. Licensed and everything.”
    “Damn straight.”
    “He said a bad word again.”
    “Oh, God.” De hefted Nate higher.
    Ethan put his back to his cousin. He tried to give them a little privacy as he massaged her shoulder. He didn’t like to see her afraid. “Luv, I swear Travis is a fine young man.” At seventeen Travis was a man if a very young one. “I swear he has a good head on his shoulders. I’d never put either of you in danger.”
    Long lashes lowered to shield her gaze.
    “What do you think, mate?” He turned to Nate. “Want to go for a ride?”
    “I like planes.” Nate wiggled, but De held him tight.
    “You really trust…”
    Chest constricting, he cut her off. “Yes I do. I’d never put either you or Nate in jeopardy. Not ever.” Damn, did she not trust him at all? His teeth clenched—he couldn’t take looking at the emotions swimming in her gaze. Maybe her reaction, her fear had to do with more than just Travis. Maybe she was worried about the trip in general.
    “Okay. Okay.” She shifted Nate up on her hip. “You swear…”
    “I swear, luv.” He crossed his heart.
    “Oh, God…let’s go before I change my mind.”
    He helped her get Nate settled onboard the four-seater. Miller had sent Travis with the roomiest of his birdies.
    “This is bull.” Travis was tight-lipped when he strapped himself into the pilot’s chair. “Big M didn’t say a bloody word about… her. ”
    “Respect your elders.” Ethan buckled himself in. “Just get us in the air, mate.”
    Travis scribbled something on the back of his flight log and tapped it for Ethan to read.
    Leaning over he read his cousin’s note.
    Is that ankle biter Miller’s?
    The world closed in on him. Fuck. Others would wonder the same thing. But he knew Nate was his. There was absolutely no doubt for him. If there’d been the slightest chance De’d been pregnant with Miller’s child, Miller would’ve gone after her. Instead his brother had held his head proud and like with everything else hadn’t said a bloody word about De to anyone.
    Bugger me. He had so much to explain. Ethan shook his head before bringing his gaze up to meet the young man’s head-on. “No. Now get this birdie in the air.”
    “Fuck. I swear you all think I’m an idiot.” Travis passed around headphones before he booted up the plane. “No talking until we’re in the sky. Got it?”
    Knowing the instruction was meant for De and Nate, he glanced back and pressed a finger to his lips. “Just for a few minutes. Travis needs silence to talk to the tower.”
    Nate grinned excitedly. “I like planes.”
    Travis snorted. “I’m carting an ankle biter around.”
    Take off went without a hitch. Besides De entertaining Nate with toys and little games, the flight was