Page 113 of One Sweet Day I Found You

Twenty-Eight

A gull raced across the late-afternoon sky as ripples of white crashed softly against the sand. Courtney leaned back on her elbows and dug her bare heels into the white sand, adjusting the bikini top straps that were tied behind her neck. Nick lay stretched out on his back on a blanket next to her, sporting a pair of red swimming trunks. A hint of coconut came from the sunscreen they’d applied.

It was just over a week since Nick’s parents had left, and Nick had one of his only Saturdays off for the whole summer, so he and Courtney had decided to make a day of it. They’d invited the group along for a few hours to soak up the sun on the sandy coastline of Door County’s eastern shores.

“I’ve got to leave soon, but who’s up for one more dip in the water first?” Angela sat up from her blanket. She and Marcy both worked the evening shift that night and had driven out together.

Jake—a friend of Tom’s—hopped up, tall and toned, with locks of wet hair swept back across his head. “I am!” Before she could answer, he hollered, “Race ya!” and made a beeline for the water.

Angela, in a black-and-white two-piece that flattered her long legs, jumped up and took off after him. Jake beat her to the water and proceeded to duck out of sight. When Angela reached the depth where he’d gone under, he shot up out of the water and grabbed hold of her waist, then dunked her. She came out splashing him until he picked her up and threw her in. Angela finally squeezed her arms around his neck and pulled him close, and he dunked them both.

“I’m not sure if she’s trying to threaten the guy or make out with him,” Tom said.

Several people laughed. “Hope you’re not jealous, Tommy boy,” Nick said.

Tom snorted. “Oh, come on. Ang and I are just friends. She’s allowed to play with any of the kids on the playground.”

Nick grinned. “Okay, sure.”

“No, really.” He turned to Gia, voluptuous and bikini clad in white. “Now, ifyoujumped on Jake, I might get upset.” He smiled big and made eyes at her.

Courtney knew he was teasing but Tom had been flirting with Gia all day. Courtney cocked an eyebrow at Gia.

“Is that right?” Gia glanced back at Courtney then shot Tom a mischievous grin. She certainly didn’t seem to mind the attention.

Tom winked, then moved in closer to Gia to chat.

Kira turned over to lie on her front, grinning. “Will you all keep it down? Little too much chatting going on over there. Aussie, Nickle, will you tell them to keep it down?”

Everyone laughed. Marcy turned over and pulled her hat over her pale and freckled face. “What she said.”

Nick turned to Courtney and held out a hand. “You want to take a walk, Aussie?”

“You know it, Nickle-ode-eon.” Courtney allowed him to pull her up as he laughed. On her feet, she reached up on tippy-toes and planted a quick kiss on his lips. Nick linked his hand with hers. “We’ll be back. Don’t wait up.”

“All right, but watch out for sharks,” Tom joked. Courtney heard Gia giggle.

Nick laughed and gave Tom a thumbs-up.

Courtney squeezed Nick’s hand as they made their way down the beach. “You still owe me that ride through the woods, you know. I promised Beecham I’d write the story about the bike trails.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Nick nodded and gave it a thought. “How’s this Wednesday? I have the day off.”

“Wednesday would be great.”

“If I don’t get called in on a rescue, that is,” he teased.

“You’d better not!” She laughed and kicked some sand at his ankles as they walked.

He laughed. “I’m only kidding. Sort of.”

“I know.” She took his arm in hers.

He reached down and gave her a peck on the lips while they walked. “Can’t wait. You’re gonna love it.”

After the visit and the string of surprise announcements at Victoria’s last week, Nick had been able to switch shifts with Marcos so he could take a little time off to spend with his family for the short time they were visiting. They’d invited Courtney along on their outings, too.

Dr. Bingham took the six of them to dinner one night at the steak house where Marcy worked, and the next day they rented a pontoon boat from the local marina that had comfortable seating and a sunshade. Nick gave them a scenic tour of the area from the lake, including a lighthouse in Headland State Park and some of the islands that lay just a few miles off the coast of Heritage Bay. They’d finished off the day by bringing take-out to Victoria’s so she could join them for dinner.

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