Page 68 of Places I've Never Been

“Oh look, an outdoor shower.” Mattie laughed and whirled around with her arms stretched out wide. “I’ve never seen anything like this. Feel that air. This is pure magic. Who would ever want to give this up? Tina’s missing out.”

She looked so carefree and vibrant it was all he could do to keep his hands to himself instead of sweeping up and kissing her until they both ran out of breath.

There was magic in the air, all right, but he thought it came from the girl, not the place.

“Well, Coop’s the master of romance, so I’m not surprised he found this spot.”

“Shame he didn’t find the right person to share it with.” Mattie pointed at the hut. “What’s in there?”

“Not sure. Let’s check it out.”

They trudged through the sand and pushed the door open. A shelving unit along the back wall held stacks of towels, games, books, and supplies like bug spray and sunscreen. A battery-operated refrigerator was stocked with everything from water to a pitcher of something red. A door at the back led to a bathroom and shower.

“Look, they left paper and pens.” Mattie pointed at a writing desk in the corner, where someone had left a hand-bound notebook and several pens next to a hurricane oil lamp, a lighter, and one of the walkie-talkie island phones. “How sweet is that?”

“How did they even know to do that?” Adam stared around the small hut. Anything they could possibly want for a fun time at the beach was in here, along with other, more intimate things, like bottles of massage oil and several unopened boxes of condoms.

“I sang the second song to Abayomi. He likes what we haveso far.” She flashed him a smile. “He told me to remember that every ending is a new beginning, which I think we should work in somehow.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t want to think about the song right now. He didn’t want Mattie slipping back into work mode. “Let’s check out the cabana.”

Mattie slipped her sandals off and dug her toes in the sand as they walked. Her honey hair glowed in the setting sun, her tanned skin glinted from the heat, and his eyes followed the sway of her hips.

The cabana provided an oasis from the sea and sun. A long white cushioned sofa looked out at the ocean. A polished teak coffee table, carved with vines and flowers, stood in front of it holding an enormous picnic basket. A small cooler that probably held drinks sat under the table.

Underneath the canopy behind the sofa was a queen-sized daybed made up with white linens and covered with pink and white flower petals. Tiki lamps provided light in the corners, while ocean breezes invited them to linger.

He glanced at Mattie, trying to gauge her reaction.

Mattie ran her hand over the top of the picnic basket. “I bet there’s chocolate-covered strawberries in here.”

Her expression was thoughtful and a little distant. He wasn’t sure how to interpret that look.

“You’re probably right. Bet there’s champagne and tiny sandwiches. Tina loved stuff like that.”

“Well I can’t fault her for that.” Mattie tapped the top of the basket and glanced at the ocean. “Want to go for a swim before the sun sets?”

He seized on that suggestion with a sense of relief. “That’s a great idea.”

Mattie set her bag and shoes down next to the sofa and reached for the hem of her dress. She lifted it up and over herhead, revealing the colorful sports bikini underneath. Pink, blue, and yellow swirls burst like fireworks on a black background. It was bright and cheerful and perfectly Mattie.

Most of the women he’d dated wore the scraps-of-fabric variety that Tina favored. Instead of bits of string and goodwill holding it together, Mattie’s suit looked like something a professional surfer would wear.

Mattie dropped the dress onto the sofa, then caught him staring and laughed.

“Come on. The water’s waiting.” She took off running toward the water.

Adam ripped his shirt off so fast he thought he popped one of the buttons. He tossed it onto her dress and chased after her.

Chapter Seventeen

Mattie kicked into the water feeling so full of happy energy she wanted to sing. Something about the ocean stripped away all her concerns and inhibitions and left her full of joy.

She pushed into the waves until they swept past her knees, then turned to find Adam only a few feet behind her. He’d stripped off his shirt, revealing the tattoo on his tanned, very well-defined chest.

He looked every inch a rock star standing in the surf, wet from the spray. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to trace the edges of that tattoo and then run her hands over his chest.

From the hungry look in his eyes, he knew exactly what she was thinking. Their gazes locked. Tingles of awareness shot between her legs. She could feel the anticipation building.

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