Dylan did what he’d wanted to do earlier. He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her against him. She softly gasped. Her breath tickled his chin and her gaze dodged his, but she didn’t push him away. He could feel her heart hammering. Or was it his?

“What did you say?” he asked against her ear, using his entire well of willpower to keep his voice steady. She felt incredible in his arms. He turned his head to hear her answer.

She tapped his shoulder. “What’s your tattoo?”

He grinned. She had been admiring his tats this morning.

“Westfield Records’ logo.” His hand absently rubbed his left deltoid. Chase had come up with the concept, a vinyl record shaped like a compass with a W marking west and musical notes marking the other directions.

“And the sunburst?” She gestured at his chest.

“Always heading west. End of the day marks a new one on the horizon.”

“Wow, that’s meaningful.” She sounded impressed. “Any others?”

He showed her the single note on the inside of his right wrist, directly over his pulse. “Music is my lifeblood.”

“Mine too,” she whispered. She touched the ink with her fingertip. The contact rippled straight up the vein and burst through his chest. He sucked in air through his teeth. Her eyes lifted to his. “I don’t have any tattoos. Maybe I should get one.”

He would not, could not, suggest that he cancel his gig tonight and find a tattoo parlor instead. Talk about do something spontaneous. He easily pictured a musical note above her left ankle, or a matching note on the inside of her right wrist.

Noise on the shore caught Joy’s attention. Her gaze sailed to a young couple sunbathing. The woman was reading and the guy nursed a beer. He people watched, but his attention was on the woman by his side. His hand stroked the woman’s calf.

Joy stared at them long enough to be rude should they notice her before she bit into her lower lip and quickly looked away. She glanced at him, as if guilty she’d been caught watching the couple in the first place. “Have you ever been in love?” she asked, her tone hesitant.

Her question surprised him. Dylan let go of her waist. She watched him intently. He swallowed roughly. “Yes, years ago.”

“What happened?”

He’d fucked up, that was what happened. And he’d probably do it again if he weren’t so adamant about remaining single.

“She was a friend from home.” He dragged a wet hand down his face. “And that’s all you need to know.” Sonia wasn’t someone he talked about with others, and he felt especially uncomfortable discussing her with Joy. His own actions shamed him.

Hurt flared in Joy’s eyes.