Page 13 of Beneath the Surface

“My pleasure.” Nisha took the rock from Kannon and opened his coconut. “I wish we had a straw.”Two straws and one coconut. That would be lovely.

“That’d be cool.” Kannon wandered over to the shade of a palm tree. “By the way, did you know the guy who was giving the presentation?”

Nisha froze. “No, why?”

“I was just wondering. He seemed rather surprised when he saw you.”

“Oh. The hair attracts attention.” Nisha winked at Kannon.

“It’s gorgeous. It’s the first thing I noticed when Brooke introduced us. I love it, but I don’t think I could get away with dying my hair that color. The contacts are really cool too. Does all the attention not make you nervous?”

“Not at all. But I’m glad you like it.”Never crossed his mind it could be natural.

Once they’d finished he took the coconuts back to the islander, who bowed to him. Nisha fought to keep his face blank of emotions. Funny how the islanders always knew what they were, but this was one time he wished they hadn’t reacted to him. Kannon kept giving him odd looks.

Time to get his mind off what he saw.“Let’s drop by one of the gift shops and pick up some sunscreen.” Nisha took Kannon by the elbow and walked him back toward the resort. “You’re starting to get a little pink.”

CHAPTER FIVE

ALLTHOSEthingssoundedfun, but there was something else Kannon really wanted to do. “I’m going to be here a few days, so maybe we could do that stuff later. What I’d really like to do is… um… You’re probably going to think this is silly, but what I wouldreallylike to do is take a long walk along the beach with… with someone.”

Nisha shot Kannon a strange look. “We’re on a tropical island with sandy beaches, gentle breezes, warm weather, and beautiful blue water. Why would I think that’s silly?”

“Well, itiskind of silly because I have a slight—shall we say—fear of the ocean.” That wasn’t completely true. He wasn’t afraid of the ocean, he was afraid of what wasinthe ocean—his destiny.

“I see.”

“I really don’t want to get into why, but I’ve avoided the ocean for the last fifteen years,” Kannon said. “Now that I’m here, though, I suddenly find myself wanting to get closer to it.”

“Then a walk down the beach is exactly what we’ll do.”

Kannon followed Nisha down to where the water met the sand. He didn’t want tojustwalk down the beach—he wanted to walk down the beach holding hands with another man. Where had this romantic side of him suddenly come from?

He slipped off his sandals. Holding them, he walked closer to the water as a small wave hit the beach. It was almost as though the water reached for him. Entranced, he moved closer. The water rushed up and splashed on his ankles, and then flowed down and back over his feet. The waves swirled around his ankles.

“Nice, isn’t it?”

Nisha stood next to him, his sandals held in his hand too. It did feel nice, but more importantly, he’d managed to get in the water this time.

“Yes.”

“Well, come on, then.” Nisha took Kannon’s other hand, and they slowly strolled down the beach. “As we walk along, keep an eye open for seashells. Maybe we’ll go to that arts and crafts event later.”

Kannon looked down at their hands, and then back up at Nisha. “Um…”

“Problem?” Nisha asked.

Kannon waited until several small kids ran past them before he answered. “No, not so much a problem—more of a question, I guess. Nisha, exactly what’s going on here?”

“What’s going on here is I find you attractive.”

“You’re attracted to men?” There wasn’t anything about Nisha that shouted gay to Kannon, but he knew better than to judge a book by its cover. Through his life he’d met several men he wouldn’t have pegged as gay.

“Yes, I’m attracted to men, but I haven’t been serious about anybody in a long, long time.”

Kannon’s stomach rolled uneasily. “You’re looking for a serious relationship?”

“Am Ilooking? No. But I will say I know what I want, and I won’t let anything get in the way of my desires.”

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