Page 55 of Spring Break Fling

“Thought you might like a reminder of the night you made me actually enjoy an art exhibit. See you tonight, princess. –N”

I stared at the note, my heart doing an entirely inappropriate flutter.

“Well?” Tara’s voice broke through the haze.

I held up the frame so they could see.

“Oh my God,” Maddie said, her jaw dropping. “He sent you art?”

Rachel let out a low whistle. “This guy has game.”

Tara was cackling now. “Hannah, you’re toast. Just give in already. He’s clearly into you.”

I shook my head, even as my lips twitched into a smile I couldn’t fight. “It’s not… I’m not… Ugh, I don’t know what it is, okay? All I know is, I need to get through tonight without completely losing my mind.”

“Good luck with that,” Maddie said, smirking.

“Hey, just be careful, okay? We’re not saying you can’t have fun. But don’t lose sight of what’s important. You’re amazing, Hannah. Don’t forget that.”

I swallowed hard, nodding. “Thanks, Rachel. I’ll keep that in mind.”

After we hung up, I sat with the frame in my lap, tracing the edge of the glass with my finger.

I should’ve been angry. I should’ve been focused on revenge. But instead, all I could think about was how much I was looking forward to seeing Nikko tonight.

And that was terrifying.

18

NIKKO

The moon hung low over the horizon, casting a silver glow across the secluded beach. It was probably the most romantic backdrop I could have chosen. This place was something only locals knew about. There weren’t going to be a bunch of young kids trying to find a spot to have sex. Although there might be some adults trying to get a little action.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, her voice almost reverent.

“Yeah,” I replied, my throat suddenly dry. I wasn’t sure if I meant the beach or her.

I turned off the car and took a deep breath. What the hell was I doing? I couldn’t begin to explain what prompted me to bring her to a place that was reserved for couples. For people who were in love or hoping to be there one day.

Pushing that thought aside, I opened the door and climbed out. I popped the trunk and grabbed the bag I’d packed earlier. Diego would absolutely roast me if he knew about this. A literal picnic? Cheese and wine? It was dangerously close to romantic territory. But it wasn’t like I was going to start bragging about my private moments.

Hannah got out of the car and looked at the bag. “What’s in there? A tattoo gun? Some kind of bad-boy contraband?”

I smirked. “You’ll see. Keep your shoes on for now, princess. This sand is a minefield. You don’t want to step on a crab or glass or whatever.”

“Wouldn’t want that,” she said with a small laugh.

We made our way down the wooden path to the beach. A few stragglers dotted the shore, couples mostly, their murmured voices blending into the night. The sound of the waves rolling in added to the romantic atmosphere.

We walked down the beach in the soft sand until I found the right spot. It was far enough away from the other couples to give us some privacy.

“This will do,” I said.

“If this is where you plan on murdering me, just know I have some lungs on me,” she said. “The other people out here will hear me.”

I laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind—gag my victim.”

She rolled her eyes but I saw the playful spark in them. She had no idea how much I needed this. After working tirelessly to get the shop back in order after the break in and working double time to try to save some of our scheduled appointments, an evening on a beach with a beautiful girl was just what the doctor ordered.