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The salty ocean air and sunscreen mingled together, creating a one-of-a-kind scent. He inhaled deeply, loving the combination the way some people enjoyed the smell of flowers, and considered his next move. They’d gotten past the initial uncertainty bothering her when she’d arrived. However, the comfortable companionship they usually shared remained elusive. Eventually it would return, but it would take time and patience.
He hadn’t anticipated her disbelief or her insistence he had love confused with some other emotion. In hindsight, he should have. He’d never shown her anything but brotherly affection. He’d discussed his past relationships with her the same way he would with his sister. A man didn’t do that with the woman he loved.
The past no longer mattered. He couldn’t change it, so he’d move on from it.
Inviting her over today had been his first step in convincing her he’d been an idiot all this time. Alone on the beach, away from distractions, they could both relax and not worry about her parents or the media. The longer he managed to keep those two things away, the better.
“Are you going to sit there all day?” Brooklyn called as she exited the water and paused to wring out her ponytail. She’d jumped in the ocean not long after they’d walked on the beach, leaving him to think and watch her. Neither of which he minded.
“I’m enjoying the view.”
She cast a quick glance over her shoulder before looking at him again. “You see it every day. And the water is perfect today. You don’t know what you’re missing.”
Propped up on his elbows, he followed her movements across the sand from behind his sunglasses. Today she wore a dark-striped Brooklyn-style swimsuit. Although technically two pieces, it covered her figure as well as any one-piece would—her other favorite style of swimwear. He knew why she preferred them, although he considered her reasons absurd because she’d rock a bikini, which was an opinion he’d always kept to himself.
He waited until her toes, with their bright purple-painted nails, touched the edge of his towel before he responded. “Wasn’t talking about the ocean view.”
Brooklyn managed an eye roll but nothing else because he tugged her arm, bringing her down next to him. Wet skin pressed against his bare chest, heating it rather than cooling it off. “Whatever you were about to say, I don’t want to hear it.”
“You’re too bossy.” She swallowed, her gaze dropping to where their chests touched before her eyes snapped back up to his face.
“Perhaps. But I like getting what I want.”
“Please. Tell me something I don’t know about you.” She moved the hand resting on her thigh and brushed it along his arm and up to his shoulder. “I bet you can’t.”
“Are you daring me? We both know that’s not a good idea.”
“More like stating a fact. I know everything about you. There’s nothing you could share I don’t already know.”
Soft fingertips made circles on his shoulder, the innocent touch conjuring up all the ways he’d rather have her touching him. Ways that would have to wait until another time.
“You sound confident, but are you willing to test your theory, risk being wrong?”
“What do you think?”
“Okay then, how does this sound? If I share something about myself that you don’t already know, I take you shopping for a new swimsuit. And not only do I pick it out, but you have to wear it next time we’re on the beach like this or out on the water.”
“And if I already know what you share with me, what do I get?” she asked, sounding too confident.
“What do you want?”
She didn’t even pause to consider. “I get to do the same. And I already know just the kind I’ll get.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “In case you’re curious about what I’m envisioning, picture the men’s Olympic swim team.” She gave his shoulder a pat. “One of those tiny swim briefs would look great on you while we’re out here. Don’t you agree?”
“Only if you plan on making sure I get covered in sunscreen.”
“To see you in one of those, it’d be worth it. Shopping is going to be so much fun. Maybe I can find a pink one. No, even better, neon yellow.” Brooklyn moved away from him and rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait. I’ll go this week and pick one out.” Her smile widened. “Okay, I’m ready. Out with it. Tell me something I don’t already know about you.”
The last thing he needed was a yellow—or any other color—swim brief. Since he wouldn’t be losing this particular bet, her threat didn’t bother him. “I’m allergic to pomegranates and grapefruit.”
She shook her head, her smile fading away. “What?”
“If I eat either, I break out in a rash all over my body. Not only does it itch and burn at the same time, but it looks horrible.”
“Pomegranates and grapefruit. Seriously. You’re going with a supposed allergic reaction.”
“I can prove it, but I’m warning you, I’ll be a miserable grouch for days. You won’t want to be around me. No one will.”
“Don’t tempt me. I thought you were going to share some deep dark secret. Like you sucked your thumb until you were ten or you wet your pants in the first grade. Even telling me you were deathly afraid of clowns would’ve been better than allergies.”
