Page 12 of Beach Bum Billion-Heiress
After she pulled the shirt over her head, she hopped up on the countertop and leaned back casually on her arms, like the sight of her in one of my shirts was no big deal. In reality, my heart was doing that weird flutter thing again, knowing it was of no significance that she's in my shirt. The girl was cold, she needed some dry clothes. But the primal, masculine side of me was happy, gloating over this accomplishment, like I had some sort of ownership over her.
"All right, lifeguard, what's your deal?" Her sassy question pulled my mind back to the present conversation.
I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes, the hostile stance a last-ditch effort to create a barrier against her charms.
"This shop may not look like much, but it's value isn't in the walls, the dock, or even the equipment we rent. This building was built in 1971 by my father, with his own two hands. He'd just graduated high school right here in HB and had a dream to own his own business. He worked his ass off to get this business off the ground. I grew up helping him run The Shack, my earliest memories are with him at this dock, showing me how to be safe on the water, and fix boat motors. Every local knows my father, knows The Shack, and every surfer that came through HB for competitions would come here to shoot the shit and get the lay of the land. It's not just a rental shop. It's a landmark. A legacy." I finally took a deep breath. "I can't--I won't sell it. Period. End of discussion."
Sage sat with all that for a moment, then nodded slowly, her face serious. Hopping down from the counter, she stepped closer, laying her hands on my arms. Her eyes warmed to a rich, caramel color, looking up at me like she could see into my soul. It was disconcerting. I hadn't had anyone really look at me like that since my dad died.
"Thank you for explaining. I understand where you're coming from, wanting to preserve the wishes of your father. But I also think he wouldn't have wanted this place to feel like a noose around your neck. He would have wanted you to fulfill your own dream, not live out his. I buy this place, you suddenly have time and cash on your hands. Think about what you could do with that."
She stepped even closer, her chest brushing against my folded arms, no longer chilled, but bringing a strange heat to the small space. Her voice dropped lower, turning this conversation more intimate than two relative strangers should be. "What doyouwant, Jax? What do you dream of doing?"
As I lost myself in her eyes, I felt the pull again. The lure of all the things I could do if I wasn't chained to The Shack. I gave voice to my desires for the first time, sure the guilt would kick in the minute the words left my mouth, but it wasn't enough to hold back my confession. "I want to travel, see the world. I live in paradise and I want to see every other wonder the world has to offer. I want to find a woman to share my life with and have the time to give her the attention she deserves, and to support her in her own dreams. I want to live life on my own terms."
I reached up and brushed some hair back behind Sage's ear, not even thinking about what I was doing. She smelled of flowers and sunshine, like the freedom I craved. The skin on her cheek was soft against my fingers, bringing my hand back to cup her jaw, holding her beautiful face. Her lips parted and I couldn't rip my gaze away from my new target. I felt my body leaning in, powerless to stop the inevitable. I wanted a taste.
Sage lifted up on tip toes, her hands drifting to my chest and gripping my t-shirt. Her lips were just a whisper away from mine, her rapid breaths fanning across my face. I could feel her heart racing as she pressed up against me, the gentle thud in her chest hypnotizing me. There was no other explanation for it. All rational thought of how we got here and what the hell we were doing floated away, drowned out by our heartbeats.
My lips just touched hers in the briefest of feathery touches when the door to the shop opened, the bell above the door ringing out like a fire alarm. We both jumped, my hand dropping from her face. She stepped back, the spell now broken.
I rushed behind the counter, my hand on the back of my neck. Several customers walked in, looking to check their equipment back in, not be the audience for a make-out session between the owner and a half-dressed customer. I snuck a quick glance at Sage. She swiped her keys and receipt off the counter, her cheeks flushed and her head down.
Before she could escape out the door, I called after her, not ready for her to go. "If you want to take another board out, call me first, okay?"
She didn't bother looking at me, just nodded and walked out.
Fuck.
I knew this would end badly.
