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“Today was…” Zane started to say.
“Today was what?”
He slanted her a look she found difficult to read. And to her astonishment, she wasn’t letting this go and now she’d caught him off guard. “Unusual for me.”
“It was for me, too,” she said softly.
It seemed they both needed to let that sink in, since neither said anything more. Tall light posts with scrolled ironwork glowed along the boardwalk, allowing Sophie a peek at the charming beachfront houses to her right. Most were quiet, but voices and music trickled out of a few.
“My father and I didn’t get along,” Zane said, his voice tempered now. “The only thing that kept me clearheaded was surfing. Next came my sister and mom. Bryce and Danny.”
“I didn’t realize you guys went back that far.”
He turned his attention toward the sea, something Sophie noticed he did a lot. It seemed to come as naturally and be as important as breathing.
“Was your dad against your surfing?”
“Not at all.”
“Jealous of the time you spent in the water instead of with him?” A large number of people spilled out of a house and onto the walkway, and Sophie had to dodge a couple of giggling girls.
Zane briefly put his hand on her lower back and upped their pace. “Definitely not.”
“I don’t understand, then.” She wanted to add that being at the top of his sport was amazing, and what father wouldn’t be proud of his accomplishments, but she’d already gone gaga over him at lunch and didn’t want to dothatagain.
His shoulders stiffened; tension rolled off him. “You always this nosy?”
“You always this evasive?”
“When it comes to my father, yes.”
She put a hand on his arm. The muscle there went rigid. “I’m sorry.”
He looked down at her, and she wasn’t sure what he saw, but his muscles relaxed. “I don’t like talking about him.”
“Okay,” she whispered. At his admission, her thoughts fast-forwarded to tomorrow night. “I don’t know if Danny or Bryce mentioned it yet, but I’ve arranged a small cocktail party and Q&A for you tomorrow. I’ll be sure the topic of your dad stays off the record, but are there any other questions you don’t want to answer?”
“Will you be there?”
At his softened gaze, she knew she’d do whatever she could if… “Do you want me to be?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She’d spoken to her boss on the phone earlier and filled her in on the extra events for Zane. Thrilled Sophie had nabbed the opportunity, she wanted no expense spared and Sophie’s full attention on Zane.
Talk about a no-brainer.
With the movie venue owners and their staff two days into the running of the film festival and very much on the ball, it freed Sophie to be where most needed.
And she most needed to lick—stick!—close to Zane.
“Then I’m good with any other questions.”
They entered her hotel lobby, and as she did every time she was in the reception area, she inhaled the citrusy floral and dried-in-the-sun driftwood scents. The dash of coconut was a bonus.
Tango happened by and sent a huge smile her way. She delivered one back, his warmth and kindness another gift from White Strand she’d always remember. When she’d told him about her surf lesson, he’d taken her aside and told her if anyone messed with her again to let him know and he’d take care of it. She’d giggled because really? This big, bad ex–football player was on her side, and she’d never been taken under someone’s wing like that before.
Right now, Tango shot daggers at Zane, and she once again let free a nervous giggle. Was he worried about her being with the surf god?
