Page 73 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

“I’m perfect.”

He grinned, and her heart kicked hard. “Ready to go?” he asked.

“Yeah.”

“Hold on to me,” he ordered.

She gripped his magnificent bicep, and he guided her back out to shore. When they reached the dry sand, she smiled up at him and rested her hand on the muscled plane of his chest. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Then she threw herself into his arms and hugged him with all of her might. She closed her eyes and listened to the steady cadence of his heartbeat for a few moments.

Suddenly, a bark of laughter burst from her mouth. “I actually went into the water. I waded up past my waist. I can’t believe I did it.” She pulled him closer, and he rested his hands on her lower back.

“I guess that means you’re glad you did it.” His voice rumbled in his hard chest.

She reluctantly released him. “I am. I beat my fear, Cade. All because of you.”

“Pretty sure I just helped.” He touched her nose before turning to find her backpack and pull out the towels. They dried off and pulled on their clothes, the autumn beach air whistling across their skin.

“We need to take a selfie.”

“Another one?” he asked.

“Yes! This is a momentous day.”

“That’s two today, Everleigh. You’re approaching my lifetime selfie limit,” he said.

She fished her phone out of her backpack, and when he leaned down into frame, he rested his hands on her shoulders. A pleasant shiver traveled through her body. His smile was bright when she snapped the photo, and she wascertainshe hadn’t reached his selfie limit. In fact, he seemed to like taking photos with her more than he wanted to admit.

“How’d we look in that one?” he whispered in her ear, sending more chills dancing through her.

“Perfect,” she managed to say. While they headed back up the beach toward the boardwalk, she wondered if it was the right moment to ask about Declan. “Have you heard from your mom?”

His happy expression darkened. “Afraid not.”

“How about Declan?”

“Nope.”

She could feel the sadness radiating off him, and her chest ached. They continued across the boardwalk and down the street to his waiting motorcycle. He put on his helmet and attached the strap while she pulled on hers and climbed on the bike.

Before they pulled away, she spotted a large poster she hadn’t noticed on the front window of the bookstore. It advertised the Coral Cove Fall Festival on Saturday, and an idea overtook her. Cade had helped her today, and now she was going to help him.

She smiled as the plan took shape in her mind.

Chapter 18

Cade parked the motorcycle in the garage, and as soon as Everleigh disentangled herself from him, his body felt cold without her touch. He had relished every second she’d held on to him while they drove to and from the shops on Main Street. And holding her while they were in the water was almost too much for his heart.

Once again, he could feel himself getting too attached to her, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t resist her—her laugh, her kind and caring heart, her sense of humor, her fun-loving demeanor, her adorable antics, even dancing in the bookstore—not to mention how drop-dead gorgeous she was.

He had to evict those ridiculous thoughts from his head. Not only was he not interested in a relationship, but she was also planning to leave. Any feelings he developed for her would just send him spiraling with another broken heart, and he couldn’t survive that again.

Cade climbed off the bike and then held his hand out to her. She took it and allowed him to lift her off the seat. He enjoyed the feelof her soft skin. In fact, he would never get used to how it made his own skin heat up.

“That was so fun!” She struggled with the straps on the helmet. “Um, Cade? A little help, please?”

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