Stranded in Paradise (The Blake Boys Book 13) by Rhonda Laurel Page A

few more logs on the pit to keep the fire going. The outdoor setting was romantic, but it was getting chilly.
    “Dinner’s ready,” he called out but didn’t venture near that side of the deck. The last thing he needed to see was Autumn rinsing herself off under the shower.
    She sauntered into the house wearing her sundress and her hair tied up in a loose topknot. She’d gotten some color in the hours they were on the beach. She looked adorable and his heart skipped a beat. She was killing him.
    She took a seat at the table. “Smells delicious.”
    “I found some wine.” Jared set a plate in front of her.
    Autumn looked at him. “Why do you have a sourpuss on your face?”
    He knew just how to get rid of it. He inserted the corkscrew and yanked on the cork.
    He shrugged. “Don’t mind me. I’ve been told I look perpetually serious.”
    “You need to relax.” She poured him a glass of wine. “Take a page from your sister’s book. Morgan’s very funny and has told some amusing stories about you. She and Michelle are hilarious when they’re together.”
    “Two smarty-pants peas in a pod. Michelle should be a standup comedian.”
    “Michelle is very pretty. You two ever?” She waggled her eyebrows.
    “No!” Jared replied.
    “What? She’s very attractive. She’s been best friends with your sister for a long time. It’s a not a big leap to think something could have happened between you two.”
    “It’s not that. Michelle is like a sister to me. The second I met her, I knew I had another little sister in my life.”
    “She calls you her big bro.” She smiled.
    “OK. I have a question for you. You and Summer were doing some weird three-way dating for a while. Did the two of you ever think about sharing Bo?” He grinned. His friend had been plenty vague during the time he’d met the sisters. Bo had been equally complimentary when he’d talked about either of them, and it seemed as if he hadn’t really known which sister he’d liked. No one had really known what was going on until the day Bo announced he’d fallen for Summer.
    “The idea of a threesome intrigue you?”
    “I have to admit Bo was spinning his wheels. Poor guy didn’t know what to do, but it sure looked like he was having fun entertaining two beautiful women.”
    “It was nice spending time with him, but it was clear that he liked Summer.”
    “How could you tell?”
    “You can tell when someone’s heart is talking to yours. It’s not something you can point out, it’s a feeling.” She scrunched her nose.
    “Bo and Summer are great together. He’s a good guy. He was a little shy and reserved when we first met, but he’s really blossomed since he’s been in a relationship.”
    “Summer too. Before Bo, I couldn’t get her out of that virtual reality testing chamber. She was always so painfully shy when we were growing up. Now she’s content and is more comfortable in her own skin. People don’t understand that being a twin is difficult. They assume the two of us are interchangeable somehow. Like we can switch personalities on a whim. I was more extroverted, and she disappeared in the background. So I started getting noticed for the both of us.” Autumn sipped her wine.
    “And now you’re the center of attention wherever you go.”
    “Side effect of my master plan.”
    “Well, it’s only partly your fault,” he said. “You’re stunning. It’s hard for a man to concentrate when you walk into a room.”
    “You included?”
    Jared put his elbows on the table and leaned in until he was a few inches away from her face. “I wish I were immune, but I’m not.”
    “Scared you’ll lose that super-serious persona?”
    “I’ve worked hard on this brooding thing. It works for me.” He winked.
    “It is a nice complement to the hunky, sensitive vibe you have going on.”
    Jared leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips at first. She tasted like wine and their dinner. Her lips were just as supple as the rest of