Page 20 of Tequila Lime and Sunshine

I laugh even though I know she’s probably not kidding. “I swear. And I won’t even try to block your kick if it happens.”

She nods and walks toward the ocean. She looks around to make sure the coast is clear before taking her tank top off and tossing it back toward me. Her curls cover most of her back, but it’s still sexy as hell. The moon is perfectly centered over her, giving her a magical glow. I could stare at her like this for hours, but she’s trusting me to help her.

I get the camera ready, waiting for her to get in position. When she decides where she wants to be, she looks over her shoulder, and I snap a picture. I wish I could keep that one for myself, but I won’t disrespect her privacy like that. I have, however, taken a mental picture to remember that look for the rest of my life.

She turns around and lifts her hands over her head. I take another picture. She looks down the shoreline to give me the perfect profile shot of her. It also lets me see she’s smiling. I love when Summer smiles and would do anything to see it. I capture another image.

“Hey, can I offer some suggestions?” I call to her.

“You are the professional,” she teases back.

“Reach down and splash some water up.”

She bends down. I tell myself not to look at her ass, but it’s nearly impossible in those tiny shorts.

The water flies into the air as I hit the button over and over. I hear Summer laugh as the water falls back on her. She does it again but adds a kick. Her laugh is infectious, and I can’t help but smile. Not that I haven’t been smiling this entire time like a goddamn fool.

I take a few more shots before she walks over to me with her arms covering her chest. I grab her shirt and toss it to her.

She turns around and slips it over her head. When she turns back, she asks, “Did you get the shot?”

My hand comes to my chest. “I’m offended you think I didn’t get the shot. I should delete these right now.”

She lunges to grab her phone from me, but I hold it higher out of her reach. “You know, people pay big money for me to take their picture, and I just took yours for free.”

She’s close enough that I can see her roll her eyes as she reaches for my outstretched arm. “Come on, Hawke. Let me see the big money shots you got.” She’s being sarcastic, and I fucking love it. She doesn’t give a shit about who I am or what my reputation is. To her, I’m just Hawke. The same kid who would pull her pigtails and run away like a little shit.

Most women I meet tell me what they think I want to hear. They try to boost my ego. In reality, that’s the last thing I want. I want someone who’ll be real with me. And no one is more real than Summer.

“Fine. One more picture, though.” I grab her waist and pull her into me. I flip the camera to selfie mode and focus it on us. She smiles big, and I snap it. Then I pivot her, kiss the side of her head and take the picture.

“That was two pictures.”

I pinch her side, and she jumps out of my grip. “Just wanted to make sure you had enough pictures of me to look at after this trip.”

“Aren’t you just the sweetest?”

I laugh and hand her phone back to her. “You can thank me later, Sunshine.”

She mutters something, and we take off toward the resort. She scrolls through the pictures as we walk.

Before we walk up the steps to the pool deck, I tug her hand. “Hey, do you trust me?”

She studies my face to figure out why I’m asking. “Theoretically.”

I chuckle. I take our phones and room keys and hide them in the sand. I grab her hand again and run us back to the ocean.

“Hawke, we aren’t in our bathing suits,” Summer calls.

“Oh, I hadn’t noticed.” I pull her closer. “Come on, live a little.”

She smiles that perfect smile and then follows me into the ocean without another word. The only light we have is from the moon and whatever lights are still on at the resort, but it’s perfect. We wade out until we’re deep enough to swim. It’s probably not my safest idea, but I’ve been wanting to go for a nighttime swim. This seemed like the best time.

She splashes me with the salty ocean water, and I pull her into me and take us both underwater. When we come back up, we’re completely soaked, and she’s laughing. I haven’t let her go, so she wraps her legs around my waist. She fits perfectly against me. It feels right to have her in my arms like this. She’s always felt right to me.

Her head is tilted back as she looks up at the sky. “It’s so beautiful out here.”

She might be talking about the sky peppered with stars, but all I can see is her. “Yeah, it is.”