Page 56 of Spring Break Fling

After laying down the blanket, I motioned for her to sit while I pulled items out of the bag: a bottle of red wine, two glasses, an assortment of cheeses, some grapes, and a small loaf of crusty bread.

As I set up our makeshift table, she pulled her knees to her chest, watching the waves crash against the shore. There was something incredibly intimate about sharing this quiet moment with her. It felt like we were the only two people in the world.

She glanced over and saw the spread. Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Is that a bottle of wine and a cheese board?”

“Don’t act so surprised,” I said, pulling out a corkscrew. “I’ve got more tricks up my sleeve than just tattoos, you know.”

“Clearly,” she said. “This is really nice, Nikko. I didn’t expect this.”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, even though her smile was doing something dangerous to my pulse. “I’m full of surprises. Never think you know me.”

She kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes in the sand, a carefree gesture that seemed so unlike the buttoned-up, work-focused woman I’d first met. We settled in, sipping wine and nibbling on cheese and fruit as the ocean stretched out before us.

“So,” I said, leaning back on my elbows. “What’s going on in that workaholic brain of yours?”

Hannah groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Don’t make me talk about work. These dates are already making my job harder.”

“Harder how?”

“I can’t focus,” she admitted, lowering her hands to reveal a sheepish smile. “My friends are ready to stage an intervention.”

“Why?”

“Because I never have a hard time focusing. Like you keep saying, I’m a corporate climber. I’m here for work.”

“What kind of work?”

“I’m trying to land a new account for my marketing agency,” she said. “I put together an amazing pitch. This is my first big one on my own. My boss and the rest of the team thought it was great. It’s kind of like auditioning. But the other day when I delivered my pitch to the clients, I wasn’t at my best. Someone kept me out too late and the whiskey left my brain feeling like cotton.”

I chuckled. “Oops.”

“Yeah, so, I’m busting my ass trying to get things back on track.”

“Maybe you need another vacation,” I suggested. “Take a break, breathe a little.”

“Maybe,” she said, her gaze drifting to the water. “But I don’t want to talk about work tonight.”

“Fair enough,” I said. “What should we talk about then?”

She grinned, her eyes sparkling. “How about them?” She nodded toward a couple walking along the shoreline, their hands clasped tightly.

“What about them?”

“Who do you think they are? What’s their story?”

I squinted at the couple, then shrugged. “Easy. Bank robbers. On the run, hiding out in this beach town until the heat dies down.”

Hannah laughed, her head falling back. “Seriously? You think everyone’s a criminal.”

“Not everyone,” I said, smirking. “Just most people. What’s your take?”

“They’re in love,” she said simply. “He proposed last week, and they’re here to celebrate. She’s nervous because he’s been acting strange, but it’s only because he’s planning a surprise wedding next month.”

I stared at her, one eyebrow raised. “That’s a lot of backstory for two random strangers.”

She shrugged, smiling at me. “I guess I just believe in happy endings.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected.