Page 51 of Blame It on the Bikini
"My aunt put weed in the brownies so her friend would feel less nauseous. You weren't supposed to get those brownies. You were supposed to get the regular ones." She paused. "You're high, Grayson. That's why you're barefoot and everything is wonderful."
"That's not true. I feel fine. Completely relaxed."
"Exactly. When was the last time you walked barefoot in the sand, talked to seagulls, and ate chili fries?"
He frowned as her words sank in. "Are you saying you drugged me?"
"Not on purpose. I'm sorry. I've been trying to tell you since I found you on the beach, but I didn't think you could hear me or understand what I was saying."
"So, I'm high," he said. "Huh. That does kind of seem right. Because I do like to wear shoes. And I don't usually talk to birds."
"Are you mad?"
"I feel too good and too full to be angry. I might be later," he said honestly. "I don't know. It's hard to say."
"Fair enough. Do you want to walk back?"
He nodded. "I definitely need to walk off the chili."
After throwing away their trash, they grabbed their shoes and started walking back along the beach, the glorious colors of the sunset starting to fade. By the time they got back to Ocean Shores, Grayson's high would be fading, too, and nothing, including her, would seem as amazing as it had before.
But as Grayson took her hand once more, she decided to savor whatever time they had left. They walked in companionable silence, and when they finally made it back to the beach in front of Ocean Shores, the last bit of sun dipped over the horizon.
Grayson stopped near the water's edge. Letting go of her hand, he put his arms around her.
They gazed into each other's eyes for a long minute. "Lexie?"
"Yes," she said breathlessly, knowing what he was asking her.
He leaned down and covered her mouth with his, and she sank into the hot, salty, sexy kiss that completely consumed her. Closing her eyes, she pressed her body closer to his as they kissed again and again as dusk settled over the beach and they lost themselves in each other. She didn't care who else was around, what anyone thought. All she cared about was being with him in this moment, a moment she didn't think she'd ever forget.
Later, she would tell herself it wasn't real, that it was created by her aunt's brownies. But it felt real now, and the connection between them, the chemistry, was unbelievably strong.
She liked this man—too much. She didn't know how it had happened. There were so many reasons why it shouldn't be this way, but it was. And she was loving every second of it.
Of course, it had to end, because they had to breathe, and they had to go inside. They had to go back to being who they were. They stared at each other for a long minute, with unspoken words flowing between them.
And then he took her hand again, and without a word, they walked up the beach, across the path, and into the Ocean Shores complex.
The beautiful silence between them was instantly broken by laughter and talking as the Friday night pool party was in full swing.
Before anyone saw them, Grayson pulled her under the nearby stairwell. "I can't talk to anyone right now, Lexie."
"I understand. I'll tell them you have work to do."
"How many people know I'm high?"
"My aunt, Margaret, and Emmalyn. They were there when Josie realized I'd given you the wrong plate."
He groaned. "Great. So basically everyone."
"Probably by now, yes," she admitted. "I am sorry about the brownies, Grayson. I wanted to do something nice for you, and I messed it up. Don't blame Josie. She told me which plate to take; I just forgot. I wasn't paying attention."
He gave her a small smile. "You're very protective of people: your friends, your aunt, even me. You came looking for me because you thought I might be in trouble."
"I wasn't sure how much you'd eaten or how you were feeling, but yes, I did want to make sure you were all right. And I suspect that your rather low level of anger right now will rise as the high wears off. So I hope you can remember that I'm really sorry."
"That's not what I'm going to remember most, Lexie," he said, gazing into her eyes. He took a quick look around, then planted another brief kiss on her lips. "Goodnight."
