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“It’s my idea of a good day. Good food, soft couches, hot men. Can’t complain.” She shrugs, closing her eyes in contentment.
“Hot men, huh?” Raising my eyebrows, I pull my lips into my mouth and bite back a smile. Partly because I don’t want her to know how much she’s affecting me, but also because I know she’s about to sass me.
“Yeah, this guy at the conference is…smoking!”And there it is.
“It’s nice to have someone decent to look at while you’re working. I’ve got that with Carter.”
Lucy bursts out laughing as she shakes her head. “Ugh! I don’t want to go home. I’m not ready.”
“Then don’t. Stay here…”Forever, if you want.Whoa! Where did that come from?
Lucy smiles, completely unaware of my silent request to keep her.
“Unfortunately, my time is up. I have to check out in the morning. But don’t worry. I’m not going to disappear on you. In fact, I have a surprise that you’re going to love.” She’s full of confidence until the last word leaves her mouth. After that, her forehead creases, and she worries her bottom lip before releasing it. “At least, I think you will,” she continues, this time a little nervously.
“If it has anything to do with todaynotbeing the last time I see you, then I’m all for it.” As my words hit her, she relaxes into the seat. I’m not sure why she’s nervous when I’ve been like a damn moth to a flame around her. Surely she knows I’m not ready for goodbye either. But either way, I smile before pulling her to her feet for a kiss.
We spend the afternoon lazing around and finish the day off where our story began.
“Well, this is very romantic,” Lucy says as we walk hand in hand along the water’s edge, the sun setting on the horizon. She’s not wrong. It’s pretty epic. I’ve lived here for a few months and never once taken the time to appreciate how truly beautiful it is. Although, the vision beside me is even better.
“I have been known to find it in me, every once in a while. If I dig down deep enough.”
Lucy laughs, nudging me in the side. “I guess I should thank you then, for putting in the effort.”
“Only for you, Luce. Only for you.” I nudge her right back.
We walk in silence a little farther, ankle deep into the fresh waves, until Lucy cries out and practically leaps into my arms. “What was that?”
I fight to hold back a laugh as I catch her. “What was what?”
“Something swam across my foot.” She’s leaning away from my body, searching the water for the culprit, and when she looks back at me, I lose the battle, laughing out loud.
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you are not from the beach.”
She jumps out of my arms and positions herself at my side, away from the ocean. “Actually, you’re wrong. I grew up pretty close to the beach. Doesn’t mean I like things attacking me in the dark.” I feel something brush along my toes and know exactly what she felt. Reaching into the waves, I subtly lift the seaweed into my hand and hide it behind my back as Lucy continues her rant. “I mean, it could have been anything. And I, for one, don’t want to find out.”
“So you’re not interested in what I have behind me.”
Lucy freezes before her hand flies to my chest, stopping me from stepping closer. “Don’t even think about it.”
I couldn’t hold back my responding grin if I tried. “But don’t you want me to put your mind at ease?”
“Nope. I’m perfectly happy in my blissful ignorance.”
She takes a subtle step back, then another, and when I follow with my own step, she takes off in a run, giggling as she does.
Holding the seaweed in front of me, I make chase, catching up to her in an instant, but letting her stay ahead, enjoying my view from behind her. “I’m coming for you,” I joke, trying hard to keep my distance as she calls over her shoulder.
“Stay back. I don’t want whatever that is near me.”
I laugh out loud as I snap at her heels. “You really should take a look at it, Luce.”
She spins as she moves, continuing to jog backward. It’s dark now, so while her gaze is laser focused on the grassy mess in my hand, she hasn’t quite figured out what it is. Recognition hits at the same time she stumbles, and the laughter makes it hard for her to balance. I abandon the seaweed and leap toward her, catching her in my arms right before she hits the sand.
“My hero,” she laughs out, gripping my biceps for dear life.
“But also your tormentor.” I laugh back.
