Page 8 of Hot Kisses

Leaning against the nearest tree, I watch her until she catches the wave she’s been waiting for. My grin is back as she rides it effortlessly toward the shore, diving off at the last moment before resurfacing and climbing back on the board.

An earthquake couldn’t have moved me from that spot as she paddles out again. Clad in a bright yellow bikini, she rivals the sun. The next wave she catches, my breath freezes in my chest as I take in her lush curves. It’s not just her incredibly hotbody, but her mastery of the waves that has the front of my pants getting tighter. I can still feel her fingers on my shoulders, and I want more.

I need more.

There are calls I should return. I still have to get the deed for this beach reviewed. Yet, here I am watching Clarice surf.

She was right about the waves picking up and soon they’re giants, the water subtly darkening even though the heavy clouds are still far off on the horizon. Her next wave is a monster and I lean forward as she stands on her board, rising onto its crest. She wobbles a bit, then tumbles backwards into the water.

Panic hits me, at the same moment a beam from the construction site next door crashes into place. Heart pounding, I search around for a lifeguard to take notice that she hasn’t come up yet. There aren’t any. I’m already kicking off my shoes and leaping toward the water when her sleek head pops up from the thrashing surf.

Shaking her dark hair out of her face I can see her laugh as she reaches for her board and climbs back on it. It’s another few moments before my heart stops its wild racket, but my fear doesn’t subside. I wait for her to head in so I can tell her how dangerous it is, but the gorgeous maniac paddles back out. More than anything I want to be out there next to her, enjoying those waves. And keeping her safe.

My phone alarm goes off, reminding me of the flight I’m about to miss and I lean back against the tree, trying to get my worry under control. There’s no way I could ever convince her to take up a safer hobby. It’s clear what a free spirit she is. I’d never want to dampen that spirit.

It’s also clear she’s a strong swimmer, and I need to get myself together. This woman has completely taken over my life with just one smile and a fifteen minute massage.

Tomorrow. I’ll see her again tomorrow. And I’ll make sure she’s feeling the same way as I am.

Chapter 5

Clarice

“Are you sure you know where you’re going?” Brian asks.

“Don’t you worry, I know every inch of this coastline.”

I sneak a peek back at him, looking even more scrumptious in jeans and a close-fitting black t-shirt than he did in his tailored suit. His scruff is dialed up to eleven, and the way it brings out his rugged jawline affects me more than I want to admit to myself.

He’s going to turn my beach into another overpriced condo development. He’s my enemy. I shouldn’t want to walk closer to him so that our hands brush. It’s bad enough I kept checking out his ass before getting pissed at myself and scuttling ahead of him. It’s also irritating that I keep wishing I’d worn a cute sundress instead of my normal shorts and tank top.

He’d said, “You look amazing,” when he rocked up on the sand, and that deep, rumbling compliment keeps rolling around in my memory. It made me want him to see me looking really nice.

Which is stupid. I need to run him out of town so I can get back to figuring out how to save the beach. I’ve already decided the 10k that Uncle Oliver is giving me from Grandpa’s life insurance is going to a lawyer to get to the bottom of what’s going on.

We make it The Hole, a series of caves that stoners and riff raff like to hang out in, away from my beach.

I stop at the low jetty and point to it. “This is where the private land ends.” I innocently lead him over it. “This other side is owned by the county. You can see it’s unswimmable here because of the rocks, but these caves are pretty interesting.”

Even though it isn’t ours, Grandpa and I would come once a week to keep the area nice. I haven’t had a chance to do it in almost a month, and I definitely didn’t make an effort knowing I was taking Brian on this tour. As expected, inside the caves there’s a distinct whiff of weed and stale beer. The rocky ground is littered with crushed cans, broken bottles, and cigarette butts. I make a point to step on a chip wrapper so that it crinkles loudly in the quiet cave.

He raises an eyebrow at me as I wave my hand around like a game show host. “Technically no one is supposed to come here, so the county doesn’t maintain it. Of course, you can’t keep people out and it’s a big party spot. Litter, loud music—”

“Clarice,” he says, stopping me with a stern look.

I keep going. “I think people do drug deals here, too sometimes. This would be your nei—”

“Clarice,” he says again more forcefully.

I shake my head. “Who wants to live next to a place like this? And there’s nothing you can do, it’s been like this for ages. I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting into.”

His slow smile has me looking away. He’s onto me. He knows exactly why I brought him to this rank spot. He doesn’t know I’m exaggerating about the worst of it, and I can’t let on.

Before he can tell me he sees through my scheme, there’s a crack of thunder out on the water. A chill breeze blows into the caves and I grab his hand.

“We’ve got about four minutes to get back before it’s dumping on us,” I say, taking off. “That’s another thing about this place. The weather is unpredictable.”

Neither of us wants to wait out a storm in the garbage dump I’ve let the caves turn into so we race over the jetty and back along the beach toward the parking lot. We’re not halfway when the sky opens up.

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