She followed him through the dining room, which was littered with sleeping bags and camping pads various people had dropped off for the sleepover. She really should move them all into a pile in—“Oof!” She tripped over one, and Sawyer grabbed her elbow. As she righted herself, he slid his hand down her forearm, painting a swath of goosebumps as he went. He reached her wrist, rotated his hand so their palms were touching, and just…didn’t let go.

Everything about his hand was the opposite of her hand. Hers was cold, which she hadn’t realized until she had his warm one for contrast. His was big. Hers was small. His was rough. His hands hadn’t been callused when they were kids. She knew that because she’d spent hours holding them. She wondered how grown-up Sawyer had gotten all those calluses. Maybe the carpentry side gig?

Regardless, there was something about the juxtaposition between the callused, work-roughened hands and the silky, smooth beard she’d felt at the cove when they were swimming. She could imagine circumstances in which such different textures in such close proximity could be…interesting.

“Eve! Eve, are you in here?”

It was Maya.

She dropped Sawyer’s hand like it was a grenade.

“Oh my God! Hide me!” Maya came tearing in from the kitchen. “The auction is underway, and when Law was on the block Pearl kept trying to physically raise my hand for me—and let me tell you, that woman is stronger than she looks.”

Eve cracked up.

“Ha ha. I know everyone thinks it’s hilarious to stick us together because we hate each other, but it isn’t. Because we actually hate each other.”

Eve wasn’t so sure about that, at least as it related to Law’s feelings on the matter.

“Then,” Maya said, her tale of woe gaining steam, “I tried to distract her by saying that the whole concept of a bachelor auction was sexist. I mean, the women are supposed to make picnic ‘hampers’ to share with the men? What is this? The nineteenth century? Anne of Green Gables? But then she just agreed with me and told me they’ll do bachelors and bachelorettes next year, and she tried to appoint me head of the committee!”

Eve patted Maya’s arm. “What do you say we take one of Pearl’s pies upstairs and hide out until it’s over?”

“I say yes. I want to talk to you about this idea I have for a kids’ theater program. Or maybe a summer camp.”

Good. A little pie. A little chat about someone else’s life. She turned to Sawyer. She was aware that she was supposed to say something, but suddenly she did not know any words. There was another item for her list.

3. He made her forget how words worked.

“I’ll, ah, see you later,” he finally said.

“Right. Yes. See you later.”