Summer Surrender (Phases Series, Book Six) Read Free Page B

need to bring anything.”
    “Not true,” Josiah interrupted. “You’ll need your swimsuit. The cookout’s on the beach. Also, I’m pretty sure Danny’ll have the hot tub open. Right?”
    Daniel nodded, his eyes never leaving hers.
    The last thing she wanted to do was parade her so-not-bikini-ready-body in front of these two, not to mention the rest of the people there, but she could at least go and have a supper with them.
    “Not sure about the bathing suit, but how about if I at least bring some wine?”
    Josiah shrugged. “Fine by me if you wanna swim naked. In fact, I encourage it. And,” he continued before she could get a word in edgewise, “I’m sure Dan would encourage and appreciate it, as well.”
    She couldn’t bring herself to look at Daniel. Ignoring her burning cheeks, she held Josiah’s gaze. “You’re incorrigible.”
    He grinned at her unrepentantly. “Yes, I am.”
    Daniel shifted next to her, and she turned to look at him. He scowled at his friend then dropped his dark gaze to her. “Bring whatever you’re comfortable with. We’d just like to see you there.”
    She nodded. “I’ll be there.” And who knew. Maybe she’d bring her suit. It wasn’t as if she would see any of them after the summer.
    “Oh hey, I almost forgot. This came for you,” Josiah said, handing her the box he’d been holding.
    She looked at the shipping address. Her research supplies had arrived.
    Both men walked toward the door. Josiah grinned and waved. “See you tonight, sweet cheeks.”
    Daniel rolled his eyes and paused. “Oh, by the way, I invited Maggie, Lucas and Quinn. They’re friends of ours, too, and I thought you might be more comfortable with them there.”
    She smiled gratefully. “Thank you. It’s sweet of you to think of that.”
    She sighed as he left. Not only were they gorgeous, but nice, too. Perfect fantasy material. And they would be fantasy only. It made sense to her that Maggie would attract two guys. She was sweet and funny—not to mention gorgeous. Hollis couldn’t imagine a world where guys like Lucas and Quinn would be attracted to someone like her. Well, she could. That’s why it was a fantasy. It was never going to happen. She did her best to push those thoughts away. She had a project to put into action.
    A few hours later, she was on her way to the address Daniel had given her. She’d set up the trail cameras that had been delivered. She’d placed one near where she’d seen the huge lynxes, another further down the lakeshore and two more in the woods across the road. Whenever something moved, the habitat cams would record it and send the images back to her computer via a secure wireless system. The recording devices were almost perfectly camouflaged. They’d be difficult for a human who didn’t know they were there to spot. An animal wouldn’t notice them at all. She couldn’t wait to see what kind of images she’d get. Besides setting up the cams, she’d managed to make a fruit salad, chill a couple bottles of wine and get ready for the party—all since she’d gotten home from work.
    Her stomach fluttered nervously as she pulled up to Daniel’s house, a modest two-story that sat even closer to the shores of the lake than her home for the summer. He had no neighbors for miles. There were already almost a dozen cars in the driveway and front yard, but she relaxed a little when she saw Maggie’s car. Parking, she slung her tote bag over her shoulder, wincing when the wine bottles clinked together. She should have done a better job wrapping them in her beach blanket.
     
    Daniel shaded his eyes against the evening sun as he noticed Hollis making her way around the side of the house, and he relaxed a little. He’d been worried that she wouldn’t come. And half afraid she would. He glanced at where his brother leaned against the railing of the deck, watching her with a barely civil stare.
    Don’t be an asshole, he projected into Dylan’s head.
    Daniel left his