Page 42 of On The Beach

"You should've seen Mick a few months back," Franco grinned, taking a swig of his beer. "Saved Trina's boy in this very place."

I raised an eyebrow. "Saved him?"

Cato leaned forward, a rare smile crossing his usually serious face. "Yep. Kiddo had a heart condition none of us knew about. Trina came out from the back one night, screaming that her son had collapsed. Mick was on him in an instant, like he knew exactly what to do. He got him stabilized, did CPR, and used the defibrillator we keep back here."

"Kept the kid breathing until help arrived," Franco chimed in.

I turned to Mick, who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but under the spotlight. "Wow!"

He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyone would have done the same thing."

"Oh, mi nah think so," Trina called, coming out from the kitchen with a tray of appetizers, her eyes glinting with gratitude. "If it weren't for Mick here, mi boy wouldn't be here today. Save his life, mi tell yuh."

I glanced over at Mick, who was suddenly very interested in his beer's label. He was downplaying it, but it was clear that what he'd done meant a lot to everyone here. I smiled at him, feeling warmth for this man who kept amazing me.

"Guess you're full of surprises," I said softly, meeting his eyes.

Mick smiled back, a hint of vulnerability in his expression. "What can I say? Ah am just a beach bum with good timing."

That night, we slept in a bed in Mick's hut.

"You date a lot back home?" he asked as he stroked my naked back absently.

We'd just made love, and I lay with my head on his shoulder, a leg thrown over his thighs. The post-coital intimacy wasn't new to me; but it was different with Mick because I was more emotionally involved than I'd ever been before. This man pushed all my buttons in the best way possible. I felt free with him, and I knew it wasn't just about being in Reef Harbor.

"Not a lot, but some."

"What does that mean?"

"If you give me your number of bedmates, I'll give you mine," I teased.

He slapped my ass gently. "That's not what I meant. I'm asking if you have someone special in your life."

"If I did, I wouldn't be in bed with you, Mick."

"I guess."

"What does that mean?"

He kissed my hair and nuzzled it with his chin. "My fiancée cheated on me, and it left me…and I know not everyone is like her, but it left me sore. But I know you aren't the type."

"Even though I lied about being engaged."

He laughed. "I had a feeling you were making that up."

I kissed his chest and then, because it was there, licked a nipple. "You date a lot?"

"I don't date."

"You have sex?"

"Yes."

"And take women out to La Mer Lunaire for dinner?"

"Sometimes."

"Was I too easy?" I felt vulnerable.

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