Page 47 of California Waves

He asked if he could take a look around, then walked through her house, not like someone on a real estate tour, but like someone getting to know a person. He looked at the titles on her bookshelves—a lot of books on surfing and recovering from injuries, on positive thinking and sales techniques. There were a few serious novels in there, too, mostly because Erin pressed them on her, and then Mila would reluctantly start them and find herself so engrossed she couldn’t put them down.

He glanced at her with a laugh in his eyes. “Your bookshelf is a lot like you are.”

“Really?”

“Sure. A lot of lightness on top, but some deep, serious stuff underneath. And always a belief that everything will turn out right.”

She thought that was a pretty accurate description of her personality, and was impressed at how he’d pegged her so soon.

He rocked back on his heels. “The house suits you too. A lot of character, and it’s as much a part of Carmel-by-the-Sea as you are.”

Again, she was charmed by the way he’d phrased that. “The best view’s in my bedroom.”

He looked quite pleased to be invited into her bedroom. As they walked in together, and she saw it through his eyes, she said, “Of course, if you bought this house, you’d brick that window up so you didn’t have to look at the view.”

He winced. “Give me credit. I’m trying to get better.”

She touched his shoulder, then gripped it reassuringly. “I do.” As if to reassure him further, she gave him a steamy kiss, which made her want to rip his clothes off and push him onto her bed, but she stopped herself. It was time to surf and time for Hersch to get back in the water. The hot sex could come later. She picked up a board for her and asked if he wanted one.

“No board. If I get in above my ankles, I’ll call today a win.”

She agreed, understanding how important this was for him. She changed into her wetsuit right there in the bedroom, and he did the same. With some satisfaction, she noticed their kiss had aroused him as much as it had her. Then they headed out to the beach.

He was such a gentleman, he insisted on carrying her surfboard, which she found kind of sweet, considering she’d been carrying her own since she was five years old. She must have walked this beach, run this beach, and done cartwheels on this beach a million times. But she’d never walked it beside Herschel Greenfield.

When he put out his hand, she interlaced her fingers with his and was almost shocked at how comfortable it felt. As though they’d walked hand in hand for years, and yet, at the same time, it was all so very new.

She could sense Hersch already getting nervous as they approached the tide line. Rather than looking forward, he tilted his face toward the sky. She figured that was where he felt most at home. It was still early, still dawn, and the moon was a pale crescent. To distract him, she asked, “Do you know much about the stars?”

He looked puzzled by the question, but then pleasure overtook his expression. “I know a fair bit. Not as much as I’d like.”

“Do you have a favorite constellation?”

Now he grinned. “Favorite constellation? But they’re all perfect in their own way. The ancient Greeks gave us most of the names.”

She nudged him with her elbow. “Hersch, don’t answer me as a scientist. Answer me as a man who loves the stars.”

“Orion,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “It’s visible in both the north and south hemispheres and contains some of the brightest stars in the sky.”

She grinned and then couldn’t help herself—she leaned forward, tilting her chin a little, her mouth softening in invitation. When he kissed her, she felt the electricity, and the instant connection made her press her body hard against his. She just couldn’t get enough of him.

When they pulled away, Hersch took a deep breath and said, “You sure are good at making me forget my fears.”

She brushed his cheek with her fingertips, and then he kissed the tips of her fingers. They stood together at the water’s edge. Hersch looked out, a grim expression on his face.

“Remember how well you did last time,” she said. “You know as well as I do that your recovery is about putting the pieces together. I used to drive my surfboard down to the beach when I couldn’t surf yet and just sit there with it and watch the waves. It was my way of reminding myself that I’d get back there one day. That’s what you’re doing. Just taking it one step at a time.”

“When you’re with me, I feel like it’s possible.” With that, he took a step forward without her. The water rushed over his feet, but he stood strong. This time, she let him take the lead and watched as he steeled himself and moved forward another inch.

“You’re doing great,” she whispered. “I’m right here.”

Inch by inch, he kept going, and then to her delight, he made it in up to his knees. She strode out to meet him and took his hand. It was shaking. She turned him to face her and kissed him again, a passionate kiss that she hoped he would feel all the way through his being.

When they pulled away, he said, “I want to go in up to my waist, but I don’t think I’m ready.”

She wanted to hug him. “Don’t push it. You’ve already smashed this week’s record. Be proud of yourself. I know I am.”

He shook his head. She could tell he was both pleased by and disappointed in his progress. She knew exactly what that felt like, and her heart went out to him.

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