Page 17 of Queen’s Gambit

We quickly stripped out of our travel clothes and I put my bathing suit on underneath the summer wear. I was just slipping on my sandals when someone knocked. Fearing it might be my father, I took a deep breath and composed my face before opening the door.

My neutral expression melted at the sight of Eddie.

“Are you ready?” I nodded. “Here you go.” He held out two thick towels. “These are extra large beach towels.”

Handing one to Frida, I clutched the other to my chest. I wanted to hug Eddie again, but we didn’t dare anywhere that someone might see us. Slipping on my sunglasses, I followed him. Two guards stood waiting at the end of the hallway and fell into line behind Frida.

We walked out the back of the house and across the grass, so green it looked fake, before taking the stairs down to the beach. A couple holding hands greeted us cheerfully as they passed.

“I didn’t think there would be anyone else here,” I said.

“Why?”

I shrugged.

“My father would never let people this close to our home. He’d want to own the beach, too.”

“We do, but my papa allows the neighbors access. Everyone here is loyal to my family.” Eddie pointed at a large boat out on the water. “That’s ours. One day, I’ll take you on it.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “Something about the open water makes you feel free. You’ll love it.”

We each picked out a lounging chair and dropped our towels down.

“I’m going to stay here unless you need me,” Frida said and sighed as she lay down.

Kicking off my shoes, I wiggled my toes into the warm sand and watched them disappear. It was such a silly little thing, but this was so cool.

“Come on, we can walk the beach. The water feels really warm here.”

“Do you go swimming,” I asked, looking at the water shimmering in the bright light.

“Sometimes, but there is a lagoon not far away where dolphins play and I prefer going there.”

My mouth dropped open. “You swim with dolphins?”

Eddie laughed.

“I do. If your father allows, I can take you there.”

“Wow, I’d love that. I know how to swim, father had me learn, but I’ve never been in the ocean before.”

Even though I was used to guards, it was strange to look back and see two men dressed in suits following us while we wandered the shoreline. We stopped at one point, and the men turned their backs to us, searching for any potential threats. Eddie took advantage of the moment and linked our fingers for a few seconds. It wasn’t a lot, but I loved it.

We picked seashells, and Eddie pointed out the different homes, explaining who lived in each house. I’d lost all track of time, completely swept away by Eddie when we reached Frida and our chairs. Or, I had been until I spotted my father marching toward us.

“Oh no,” I said.

“It’s okay. We weren’t doing anything wrong.”

My father glared as he stomped right up to me.

“Yulianna, you do not sneak off without asking for permission.”

I looked around and then up at the house he’d just come from.

“Father, I didn’t think I had.” He narrowed his eyes, but I pointed to the house. “This is still Mr. Genovese’s property. Eddie gave me and Frida a tour. His guards were with us the whole time.”