Page 58 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

His touch sends a jolt through me, and I look up to find him watching me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat.

“See? You’re getting it,” he says, his voice softer now.

“Barely,” I reply, but there’s a smile tugging at my lips. But as the morning goes on, I begin to feel more confident.

After an hour on the water, we head back to shore, where Max is already busy building a sandcastle.

“Come help me!” he calls, waving us over.

Nate and I exchange a glance before joining him.

“Prepare to lose,” Nate says, grabbing a bucket.

“It’s not a competition,” I point out, scooping sand into a pile.

“Everything’s a competition,” he counters, his grin boyish and infectious.

We spend the next hour building the most ridiculous sandcastles imaginable. Max declares himself the judge, awarding points for creativity and structural integrity.

“Yours is crooked,” I tease Nate, pointing to the lopsided tower he’s just finished.

“Yours looks like a blob,” he shoots back, his tone playful.

I laugh and flick a handful of sand at him. “You’re just jealous.”

Before I know it, he’s chasing me across the beach, both of us laughing like kids. When he catches me, he scoops me up and spins me around, our laughter blending with the sound of the waves.

We snack on the basket of food we brought, but as lunchtime arrives Nate loads us into the car for a short hop to a nearby fish place. Bellies full we return to our spot and take another spin on the paddleboards. Watching Max scoot around so skillfully on his board gives me encouragement that I’ll eventually get better. Next thing you know, Boomer will get his own board I think with a chuckle.

As the sun begins to set, the three of us sit together on the blanket, watching the sky turn shades of pink and orange. Max is leaning against Boomer, his eyelids drooping.

“This was fun,” I say softly, glancing at Nate.

He looks at me, his expression unreadable for a moment before he nods. “Yeah. It was.”

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, everything else fades away. The connection between us is undeniable, and it’s growing stronger with every passing day.

I don’t know where this will lead, but right now, I don’t care. All I know is that I don’t want it to end.

***

A soft knock pulls me from sleep, my eyelids fluttering against the faint glow of dawn creeping through the curtains. Before I can fully wake, the door creaks open, and Nate’s deep voice fills the room.

“Liz,” he says gently. “Wake up.”

I blink groggily, pushing myself up onto my elbows. “What’s going on?”

Nate leans against the doorframe, a blanket slung over one arm and a thermos in his hand. He looks annoyingly awake, his hair slightly tousled but his eyes bright.

“I have something to show you,” he says, his lips curving into a small smile.

“It’s barely morning,” I mumble, rubbing at my eyes.

“Exactly.” He steps into the room, setting the blanket on the bed. “Come on, you’ll like this. I promise.”

There’s something in his tone—anticipation, excitement—that stirs me enough to throw back the covers. “This better be worth it,” I say, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

“It will be,” he says, his grin widening.

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