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“Sure beats staring at a computer screen all day, doesn’t it?” Aimee says. “Wait. Don’t answer that. For a second, I forgot how much you love working.”
“No, this is better,” I admit, taking a moment to close my eyes, tilt my face up toward the sun, and bask in its warmth. “Mmm. That’s so nice.”
“Come on, goofball,” Aimee says, laughing. “Let’s find a place to settle in.”
There’s a fair amount of other people on the beach, but we find a good spot and get comfortable. We lay out our beach towels, and even though I already put on sunscreen, I slather on some more just in case I missed any spots.
“Want any sunscreen, Aim?” I ask as I’m rubbing some into my ankles.
“Nope. All good. I’ve got something for you, though.”
When I look over at her, she’s holding out a plastic margarita glass that’s filled to the brim. Ah. Sothatwas what was in that cooler of hers.
“Thanks,” I say, laughing as I take it from her. “But, um…isn’t alcohol banned on the beach?”
“Don’t worry. It’s a mocktail.”
I take a sip. “Mmm. Best mocktail I’ve ever had.”
I’m taking another sip when something in my peripheral vision pulls at my attention. Orsomeonepulls at my attention, I should say. A very muscular someone. He’s running up the beach with adetermined stride, his broad, tan chest and sculpted abs bathed in sunshine.
I lower my drink, staring at the stranger as he continues to run up the beach. My mouth parts in awe as he comes nearer, every iota of my attention clinging to him. Either my brain is playing a trick on me right now or he’s actually running in slow motion. Everything about him is gorgeous—his jawline, his oceanic blue eyes, the way his sun-kissed hair is flying away from his face. Oh, God. And thatVbelow his abs. The way it dips into his red lifeguard shorts makes my pussy ache.
Right.Lifeguard shorts. That would explain the running. I try to shake myself out of my stupor, a difficult task given how hot the guy is. But I manage to do it. I return to reality, blinking as the rest of the world comes back into focus around me.
The lifeguard runs past us before rushing into the ocean, water splashing up around him as he dives in. I hear Aimee gasp as we watch the lifeguard swim out to save…a dog? Is that what’s happening right now?
“Is he…?” I glance over at Aimee and see that she looks just as confused. She shrugs, looking baffled, and I turn back to look at the water. Yep. Sure enough, he’s walking out of the water now carrying a drenched dog in his big, beefy arms. When he sets the dog down on all fours, it immediately shakes the water off its coat, causing the hot lifeguard to laugh and shield his face from the spray.
Then the dog—who is clearly not in any kind of distress—happily runs off down the beach.
“What did we just witness?” I murmur.
“No idea,” Aimee says, laughing. “I think he just rescued a dog that didn’t need rescuing? Oh, shit. He’s coming over here.”
She’s right. For some reason, the hot lifeguard is walking toward us now. Those incredibly blue eyes of his are focused on us. No, not even us. Justme.
And he’s…smiling at me?Why is he smiling at me?What the hell is happening?
Despite my best efforts to remain calm, the hot lifeguard’s smile makes me feel like I’m unraveling. He’s giving me the kind of smile you give a dear friend who you haven’t seen for years. Maybe he’s mistaking me for someone he knows. That must be it. That has to be it.
“Hi,” he says, his voice as gorgeous as the rest of him. Deep, velvety, smooth. And then he thrusts out a hand for me to shake. “I’m Theo. What’s your name?”
2
THEO
Wow, she’s pretty.Wow. I know it’s bad manners to stare, but…just…wow.
“Lindsey,” she says, and stares at my hand for a second before reaching up and shaking it. When her hand slips into mine, I almost groan, it feels that nice. She has such soft skin. I wonder how she gets it that soft.
“Lindsey,” I repeat, gently squeezing her hand.
“Yes,” she says, her eyes wide as she looks up at me.
“And I’m Aimee,” says the woman next to her, thrusting out a hand.
I shake Aimee’s hand, smiling at her, too. Aimee’s hand is just as soft, but it doesn’t make me feel anything. It’s just, you know, a hand.
