Page 31 of Escape to the Sun

7

It had beena week since she’d had her late-night swim with Ash, and although every morning Heather had woken to the sounds of the waves outside her window and the birds in the trees behind her bungalow, in the last week, her morning routine had changed a little bit. Now, as well as listening to the peace of Casa del Sol, she woke up with a fire deep inside her that only Ash had been able to quench. Or maybe he just fueled the flames? Either way, she liked it.

She stretched her arms up over her head and let those sounds of peace and tranquility wash over her before she slipped out of bed to sit on the swing over the deck. It was the perfect way to start her day, and she didn’t think she was ever going to tire of it.

Although, she could think of a few other perfect ways to start her day. All of which included waking up to Ash, his hands on her body—touching her, stroking her…

“Mmmm.” Heather squeezed her eyes shut and let her mind drift for a few minutes.

The night of the swim, and every night after that they’d spent together, Heather almost invited Ash to spend the night in her bungalow. But every time, at the last minute had changed her mind. Not that she didn’t want to sleep next to him, his arms holding her close, her head on his chest. Oh yes, she wanted all those things, but it was too soon. And they’d been having such fun together, she didn’t want to ruin it by moving too fast.

She stretched her body, reaching her arms over her head and squeezed her eyes shut again. Her body came alive with the simple memory of his fingers touching her, coaxing things out of her that she didn’t even know she was capable of feeling. It was hard to believe that she’d allowed herself to let go so completely.

Was it?

Maybe not. After all, she’d been surprising herself a lot lately. And maybe Ash was able to stir things in her she’d never felt because she was finally allowing herself to be open to those things.

Maybe. Whatever it was, she liked it.

A lot.

With one more stretch, Heather left the comfort of her bed and moved outside to her swing. She’d come to love the morning ritual, if it could be a ritual in only a few weeks. Either way, it was her time to sit and reflect before things got busy. And after her romantic nights with Ash, she certainly had a lot to think about.

She felt almost like a teenager using the word romantic, even in her thoughts, but there was no other word for it. Everything with Ash had been romantic, in a way she’d never experienced before. Heck, she thought she was beyond romance.

She didn’t need it. She never had. Joe certainly hadn’t been romantic. Once upon a time, she’d liked his realism. At least that’s how she used to think about it. Excuse it.

The truth was there was no romance with Joe because there’d never been any love. Not like there should have been.

But that was over.

She should be sad or heartbroken or…something. But all Heather could feel as she swung gently over the ocean was relief. Her body was still deliciously sore from Ash the night before, but she knew their coupling had nothing to do with how she was feeling about her marriage dissolving. Although, one certainly wouldn’t have happened without the other.

Things had a funny way of working out.

Not that anything with Ash was worked out. Heather laughed at herself. She’d never been the crazy type who assumed there was a relationship just because there’d been sex. Besides that, she didn’t want or need a relationship of any kind.

She laughed again and tossed her head back, letting the feeling fill her.

“I love that sound.”

Ash’s voice startled her and she sat up as she twisted around in the swing.

“Good morning, beautiful.” Ash leaned up against the side of the bungalow, a single orchid in his hand. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She smiled. “You didn’t. Come sit.”

He crossed the deck and caught her by the waist in mid swing. She tipped her head back and he kissed her thoroughly before he tucked the orchid behind her ear. “You’re beautiful.” She thought he’d kiss her again. Instead, he released her with a gentle push so she could resume her swing. “Although I’m a little disappointed by your sleeping attire.”

Heather blushed and looked down at her old Mickey Mouse T-shirt.

“That mouse wouldn’t stand a chance if I was lying next to you.”

She turned and gave him a wicked smile. “But you weren’t.”

“I wasn’t invited.”

Heather shrugged casually. “Maybe one day.”

---