Hard To Handle (Teach Me Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

couldn’t seem to pull his gaze from Laney. Her hair was twisted up in some sort of classy tousled look, glints of golden strands strewn amongst her brown hair. She wore a halter-style dress that showed off her graceful, slender shoulders. She had some eye makeup that made her hazel eyes more attention getting. And her lips were painted a soft shade of pink, making them look unbelievably kissable.
    “Let my arms be your shelter and my heart be your home …” Zach heard the vows Mac and Raine were speaking to one another, but his gaze had somehow become locked with Laney’s.
    They both stood there on that beach, on separate sides but each one supporting their friends. It was as if, for one moment, the two of them were calling a truce; not one born from the need to accomplish lesson plans for work or to appease their friends. No, this was an unspoken agreement. As if they both understood the beauty of what they were witnessing there on that beach.
    Laney’s lips tilted up, offering him a small, genuine smile, and he felt himself return it with a quick wink.
    It was in that very moment that Zach knew he was witnessing something utterly beautiful.

C HAPTER S IX
    T HE CELEBRATION WAS OFFICIALLY IN full swing as everyone chatted on the large decks overlooking the ocean. Guests were indulging in food and drink, trading stories or just basking in the joy of being part of Raine and Mac’s special day.
    The sound of a clinking glass quieted the guests’ chatter and Foster spoke to announce that he had a speech prepared.
    Oh, boy. This should be interesting .
    Foster cleared his throat. “Most of you know that Mac and I went through BUD/S together and ended up on the same team. We survived a lot of tough sh– er, stuff. We used to joke around, making ‘forecasts’ when we were on deployment. Like, when we were over in Iraq or Afghanistan, we’d forecast there was a ninety-nine percent chance a dust storm would occur, that it would be over a hundred degrees that day … or that Hendy would get one of his lady friends to send him a bunch of hot, naked pics.” He held up his hands. “Sorry, Ma. But it’s true.”
    “Lies! Those are lies, Momma K.! I’m still a virgin and pure as newly fallen snow!” Hendy called out in mock outrage, laughter from everyone following.
    “As I was saying,” Foster turned his attention to the newly married couple, “I had ‘forecast’ of my own, from the start, about these two. They are two remarkable individuals who complement each other beautifully, and let’s be honest, there’s really no one else who could put up with Mac.” Laughter followed this remark as they all knew how stubborn Mac could be.
    “You can get it annulled, gorgeous! Come to your senses and marry me instead!” Hendy’s voice rang out.
    “Hendy.” Mac’s tone was stern, but even Zach could see the corners of the man’s lips twitching.
    “Yes, sir,” came the immediate, subdued response from his friend.
    “Please, raise your glasses in a toast to many, many years of happiness for Raine and Mac.” Foster raised his glass, giving a quick nod to Mac before adding, “You did good, man.”
    “To Raine and Mac!” everyone toasted.
    Zach sipped his champagne and attempted to discreetly check on Laney’s location. He spotted her just as she set her drink down after the toast, turning to make her way down the steps of the lower deck, heading in the direction of the walkway to the beach. Before he could proceed to follow her, Foster sidled up to him.
    He held out his palm. “Pay up, buddy.”
    Rolling his eyes, Zach pulled out the ten dollar bill from the pocket of his khakis. Slapping it into his friend’s palm, he muttered, “I really didn’t see that one coming.”
    Foster shrugged. “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” Then he walked off, most likely to collect from Lawson, as well.
    Turning his gaze toward the lower deck and finding no one, he looked further and saw a familiar figure