Page 145 of Things I Wish I Said
The rhythmic sound ofthe water pounding the shore grows closer as we near Venice Beach. It’s crowded and hot, despite the time of day, but we manage to find a nice spot by the water. A wide stretch of sand meets the ocean with the picturesque Santa Monica mountains as a stunning backdrop.
Dropping the pool towels we borrowed from the hotel onto the sand, and the water we purchased at the pier, I tug my shirt off.
Ryleigh stares—gawks more like—her lips curving, a devilish glimmer in her eye, and I realize it’s the first time she’s seen me shirtless.
“Wow. That is . . . that should be illegal.” She bites her lip while I roll my eyes.
“It’s not like I’m the only good-looking dude with no shirt on.” I scan the beach and quickly realize I’m right.
“Maybe,” she says as she steps forward and slides a hand up my chest, her gaze hungry, “but you are the fairest of them all. Trust me.”
I arch a brow. “More Disney references?”
She lifts a shoulder. “You’re the prince in my story.”
My heart thumps, but before I can drop my mouth to hers, she takes a step back and tosses the Nike ball cap she always wears to the sand at her feet, followed by her shorts, then carefully tugs her tank top over her head, so as not to disturb her wig.
Whatever retort I had about the prince comment dies on my lips at the sight of her.
I thought her choice of sleepwear was hot, but this . . .
My gaze travels down the length of her in a hot pink bikini, and all the blood drains from my face, traveling south.
She ties the wig back in a knot at the back of her head, then bends over in the tiny swimsuit and snatches her ball cap back up before readjusting it on her head while I watch, transfixed.
Suddenly, it’s a thousand degrees warmer than it was previously, and I desperately need something to cool me off.
I uncap my water bottle and take a pull of the cool liquid as Ryleigh straightens and says, “I’m ready. Let’s get wet.”
I choke, a trickle of water entering my windpipe. Pounding on my chest, I try to clear it while I also try to erase Sinclair’s words and the image they conjure while she laughs her ass off.
Once I can breathe again, I shoot her a dirty look, then drag her down to the water. “Oh, you’re gonna pay for that one.”
“Am I? What are you gonna do?” she says, eyes dancing.
In one swift motion, I bend my knees and pick her up, one arm beneath her legs and the other beneath her shoulders while she squeals over the gentle roar of the waves.
Tearing into the waves, I don’t stop until I’m waist deep, then set her down, plunging her into the water where it rises above her chest.
“Is that all you’ve got?” Ryleigh splashes me.
“Better than what I want to do,” I say, gripping her waist.
“What do you want to do?” Her breathing slows, her voice breathless.
“Keep talking and you’ll find out.”
“Mmm . . . Sounds like a challenge,” she whispers against my lips.
Her breath fans over my mouth, and I close my eyes, prepared to erase the remaining distance between us when a giant wave blasts me in the side of the face.
I straighten, water dripping from my hair and nose, and rolling into my eyes.
“All’s fair in love and water wars,” Ryleigh shouts with a cackle.
My mouth drops, but the corner of my lips curve. “Is that so? Well, if we’re playing by those rules, then . . .” I lunge at her, even as she yelps and starts to run—I grab her from behind.
Lifting her up, I toss her into the water a few feet out and she plunges beneath its cool surface.
