Page 50 of The Heartbreak Hotel

Riley laughed, threw Ella a wink that made her insides clench, then grabbed her board and paddled out into the sea. The waves were only small in this area of the beach, supposedly easier for learners to grasp, but within seconds, Riley caught one, popping up onto her feet.

She weaved effortlessly over the wave, turning left and right, her hair flowing out behind her. The cocky bastard even threw a smirk in Ella’s direction, and she loved it. The woman was sexy as hell.

“Riley, look at me!” Pauline shouted, sliding onto the shore with the elegance of a sea slug. “Ahh!”

Riley glanced behind her, and her board slipped from under her feet, catapulting into the air. It spun and twisted before landing on top of her with a splash.

Shit.

Ella scrambled towards her in the water, breathing out a sigh of relief when her head popped up through the waves. The relief was short-lived when a groan left Riley’s mouth, and her hands flew up to cup her nose. Blood seeped through her fingers, trickling down her neck and into the water below.

Chapter Fourteen

Riley

“That wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.” Riley propped up the pillows in her bed and laid against them. Her blonde hair was still a little damp from the water and cascaded down her front, tickling her chest.

“Me neither.” Ella laughed, rolling onto her front and jiggling the mattress. “You just showed me how not to surf.”

“We skipped ahead a little. How to hit yourself in the nose with the board is supposed to be lesson three.”

Ella laughed harder, giving a snort, and the sound made Riley grin. She loved it when she did that. Ella covered her mouth with her hand and groaned. “Sorry, I’m snorting again.”

Riley grabbed her wrist and pulled it away, revealing Ella’s pursed lips. “I think it’s cute.”

Ella’s gaze combed Riley’s face. Then the corner of her mouth twitched. “Well, I think it’s cute that you tried to show off and failed miserably.”

“I must be spending too much time with you.”

Her eyebrows arched, her voice squeaking. “What does that mean?”

Riley struggled to bite back her amusement. “That your clumsiness is rubbing off on me.”

Ella dug her fingers into her ribs, scowling when she didn’t react. “Don’t tell me you’re not ticklish.”

“Nope.”

Ella’s hands pressed harder, searching up and down her torso for a reaction. When Riley continued to watch her with amusement, she grumbled, resting her hands on her stomach. Her pouting face was pretty adorable. Her deep brown eyes flicked to hers. “How are you feeling?”

Riley felt the bridge of her nose. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore. Just a little nosebleed.”

“It was quite a lot of blood.”

“I’ve had worse.” Memories of the accident tried to prise their way into her mind, but she pushed them away.

Not now.

Ella brushed her hands over Riley’s abdomen, grounding her. “Have you ever broken a bone?”

She swallowed. “Just once. Here.” She pivoted her wrist to show her the scar running down her skin.

“God.” She grasped it, tracing the white line softly with her fingertips.

Riley shivered at the touch. Screeches ripped through her eardrums. Glass smashing. Elodie’s scream. The wailing sirens. Heat spread up her neck. Her lips felt suddenly dry. She moved to sit up, but Ella stopped her.

“What do you need? I’ll get it for you.”

The kindness in Ella’s eyes pinned her for a moment, and she let out a breath. “I’m okay. I don’t want to be a nuisance.”