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“Come on, baby,” Aiden’s deep voice said softly in her ear. “We’re going to miss the sunrise.”
Waking up naked next to him, her body deliciously sore in all the right places, coupled with the idea of the watching the sun come up over the ocean, brought a smile to her face.
“I’m up,” she croaked as she took a full-body stretch. “Just let me brush my teeth.”
Dakota came out of the bathroom and slipped on a bra, then quickly threw on the grey cotton pajama shorts set she’d brought.
He smiled when he read the saying written on her tank top in white letters.
“Good vibes only.”
“It’s the only way to be.”
Aiden quietly opened the bedroom door, as if cognizant they were the only two in the house who were probably awake, then reached for her hand.
As they walked through the house, he pulled a blanket from a basket by the couch in the family room, and they slipped out the back door leading to the ocean. The dawn’s light made it easy to maneuver their way to the beach.
They stood looking out at the Atlantic’s horizon where the sun would soon make its appearance. He wrapped the blanket around him, then pulled her back to his front to envelop her in both his embrace and the blanket. The clean smell of his deodorant wafted to her nose.
“I was just teasing you about yoga, by the way,” she murmured as she rested the back of her head against his chest.
“I know. But I am glad we got up for this.”
“This is my favorite time of the day. Everything is peaceful and quiet, and it seems to hold so much promise.”
He kissed her temple.
“You really are sunshine and rainbows, aren’t you?”
She looked back at him with a smile.
“Why, that almost sounds like a compliment.”
His arms tightened around her as he whispered in her ear, “It is.”
****
Aiden
After watching the sunrise, the two of them got dressed and strolled along the beach until they came to the local coffee shop.
There, they got their caffeine fix on the patio and ate pastries as they people-watched and chatted about their own lives.
She was as much of a hippy as he was a conservative curmudgeon. It was a good thing they’d agreed to this being a weekend-only fling, because there was no way they’d work long term.
But being around her for the last twenty-four hours, he’d felt lighter than he had in years. She had this uncanny ability to see the good in everything.
When he’d first met her, he’d used it as evidence for his daughters, and maybe himself, why he’d never ask someone like her out. Now he just thought it was adorable.
It made him want to shield her from anything bad.
Which was silly. She was a grown woman who’d raised a daughter. Aiden had no doubt she’d seen and been through her share of crap. Yet, she still remained positive.
“I still think you should give meditation another try. Or at least yoga. Preferably both. Especially with your line of work.”
He felt himself scowl defensively. “What does my job have to do with anything?”
“Everything!” she said with her chipper laugh. “It’s stressful, right?”
