Page 13 of Spring Break with a Slap Shot

"Are you finally going to spill the beans about what happened between you and Dakota? The sexual chemistry has been off the charts, and you've been so tight-lipped about it." Marina asks.

I chuckle. "Well, the first night, I ended up sleeping in his room."

Marina squeals, clapping her hands excitedly. "I knew it! Tell me everything!"

I grant her wish, leaving out the actual bed scene of the event, of course. After that, and when she ran out of questions, I close my eyes and enjoy the sounds of the beach.

A coolness drapes across my skin from a sudden blockage of my personal sunshine. Reluctantly, I peel open one eye and squint up at the towering figure looming over me.

"Miss me, Miss Green Eyes?" Dakota asks with that relaxed drawl of his. Wow, once again, there he is looking like a Greek god.

"How did you know?" I quip, shielding my eyes with a hand as I sit up.

"How about you and Marina join me at my favorite spot on Love Beach? It's down by the marina."

Marina sits up next to me. "What's so special about your 'favorite spot'?" she asks, a hint of skepticism in her tone.

"Guess you'll have to come and see for yourself," Dakota winks, extending a hand to help us up.

"Give us a sec to grab our stuff and then clean up," I tell him.

"Take your time," he assures us, flashing a toothy grin before heading back toward the house.

As soon as we get back to the house and have a quick shower, Dakota drives us to the marina.

He parks his car, and we walk up to a dock that houses yachts. Marina and I follow closely behind as he leads us to a secluded area a little way down to a bench. When I look up to the horizon, there’s a breathtaking view of the ocean.

"This is amazing," Marina gasps, taking in the scene. The water sparkles in shades of blue and green, dotted with boats and yachts of all sizes.

"Right?" Dakota grins, clearly pleased with our reaction. "This is my go-to spot when I need to clear my head or just take a break from everything."

We find a comfortable spot on the few benches overlooking the water, and Dakota pulls out a small cooler from his bag. He hands each of us a cold drink and we clink bottles before taking sips.

"So," Marina starts, leaning back against a rock. "Why did you bring us here?"

Dakota smiles softly, looking out at the water before turning back to us. "I just wanted to show you guys another side of me," he says, his eyes meeting mine briefly before flicking away.

"I know you both think I'm just some jock who only cares about hockey," he continues. "And while that may be true most days, there's more to me than that."

"You seem to be surprising me every day," I admit, liking how endearing he is being.

He scratches the back of his neck nervously and smiles. I stretch my legs out, feeling the wooden dock slightly bounce.

"Love Beach seems to have the best weather." I change the subject to a lighter topic, my eyes tracing the horizon where blue meets blue. "It's like it knows how to put on a show for the tourists."

"Is that the tourist talking or the meteorologist?" Dakota teases, lounging beside us with his hands behind his head.

I chuckle, shaking my head. "This is Mother Nature's handiwork." I watch a seagull glide overhead. "Actually, my fascination with weather started with something much less serene—tornadoes."

"Tornadoes?" Dakota echoes.

"Yep," I confirm. "Growing up in Oklahoma, you learn to respect their power. I saw one rip through our town when I was eight. It was terrifying... and mesmerizing. That's when I knew I wanted to study meteorology. To understand these forces, to predict them, maybe even save lives."

"That's intense," he replies, his gaze meeting mine.

"Life often is," I answer simply.

Marina's phone buzzes. She frowns at the screen, her expression quickly shifting from relaxed to concerned. I recognize that look, and it's not going to be good.

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