Page 48 of On The Beach

Anna sighed, exasperated. "Yeah, well, falling in love is fine if the guy's got something to offer besides a suntan and a good time in bed. Sooner or later, you're going to have to ask yourself if he fits into your life or if you're just the latest tourist swept up by hislaid-back island charm. Maybe the guy will bore the hell out of you in the long term."

"Dustin bored the hell out of me in the short term," I countered.

"True. But the parents were impressed he was on MSNBC talking macroeconomic theories."

"Well, they can fuck him."

"Please do not suggest that, they might take you up on it."

We both shuddered at the thought.

"Look, you're going to come home, and that'll give you the space and distance from his magic dick, and then you can assess," she said understandingly. "If it's the real deal…well, we'll have to figure out how to build you a lab on Reef Harbor island, right next to the tiki bars and lizard race tracks."

My sister wasalwayson my side.

"You're right, who knows once I'm back with my lab rats…ah, I mean colleagues, this will feel like a dream I once had," I conceded.

"Or you'll find out that Mick Bottom…I can't get over that last name…is the love of your life, and you want to be his bottom line."

"Cute."

"I thought so."

We talked schedules, and she promised to pick me up at the airport; mostly, she confessed to wanting to get more dirt on my sexual escapades. She was, as a sister should be, proud of me for letting myself have the orgasms I deserved,finally.

After we hung up, I sat in the quiet of Mick's hut, the distant sound of the ocean through the window, wondering if Anna was right, and maybe this would all disappear once I stepped back into myreallife. But for now, I thought with a big smile, if this was a dream, I wasn't ready to wake up. I was going to enjoy the hell out of every minute of the time I had left on the island.

CHAPTER 15

stories from the bottom

MICK

Iwasn't the moonlit-walk-on-the-beach kind of guy—unless, of course, I was trying to charm my way into a woman's panties. But since Belle was already a sure thing, it was weird as hell to find myself strolling side by side with her down the beach like we were extras in some cheesy Hallmark movie. The sky had melted into a deep purple, stars starting to poke through one by one, and the night was warm, a gentle breeze rolling in off the ocean. Belle was quiet, her usual energy muted, her edges softened. I glanced over at her, watching as she gazed out at the water, her eyes distant, lost in thought.

How had this crazy fucking woman had such an impact on me?

Even during mymainlandlife, Belle wasn't the kind of person I went for. I liked my women non-nerdy and more sophisticated. I liked them experienced. I liked them polished. I liked them…easy.

Belle was, in some ways, so much like me with her passion for science and saving lives. How long before she got jaded?How long before all of this lost its appeal, and she went looking for an island to disappear in?

I didn't want that for Belle. I wanted her to succeed in her wildest dreams, whatever they were. I wanted her happy and satisfied. I also wanted her with me.

What. The. Fuck?

I wrapped an arm around her and kissed the side of her head. Yeah, this was the kind of shit I hadn't done with a woman since Mia. I didn't do romance. I fucked. Roll the theme music ofShaft.Who's the beach bum that's a sex machine to all the chicks? Mick. You're damn right.

I was too cool for the happily-ever-after shit.

But as the warm and soft woman next to me leaned into me, I was too hot and bothered by her to be anywhere near cool.

"This way." I nodded toward a hidden path that led up to a small, rocky cliff overlooking the beach. "Got something to show you."

She raised an eyebrow and looked pointedly at the blanket I had tucked under my arm.

"I promise it's not gonna be a crazy hill-climbing hike."

She smirked and followed me, her sandals crunching on the sand as we climbed to the top. When we reached the ledge, the view opened up, the shoreline stretching out below, moonlight glinting on the waves. I set down the blanket I'd brought along, and we settled in, side by side, looking out over the horizon as the stars filled the sky.

---