Page 69 of Nicole's Shelter

Nicole chuckled as she slipped out of her flip flops. “I can’t wait to hear how that reunion goes.”

“Hang on. What do you know that I don’t?”

“I’m not so sure a girl ever really gets over her first love.” She snickered when he just stared at her, mouth agape. “Come on. You didn’t know they had a history?”

“The boss keeps his private life private.”

“Men,” she muttered. Clearly Rick was rehashing some of his old memories while they wandered down the beach. She wished she’d brought her camera along. Even in the low light, his square jaw stood out like sculptured marble.

She wanted to touch him, to trace those strong angles with her finger and feel the rough whiskers against her skin. The intensity of her attraction scared her and she forced her gaze to a raucous flock of seagulls partying in a puddle left by the outgoing tide.

“What about your first love?”

Nicole ignored the question as long as possible, but lifted her gaze to his when he squeezed her hand. She suspected she was staring up into the eyes of her first love and her previous comment would prove as true for her as it had for her friend. Rick wasn’t a man she’d forget.

“Clifton interrupted that.” She kept her voice light. “I had a crush on a guy that summer, but he didn’t see past my camera. Then I got swept away by WITSEC and making friends seemed like a risky proposition, forget about boyfriends.”

“Then who did you think about when you were posing as Nick?”

“Just because I haven’t been in love,” until now, she amended silently, “doesn’t mean I wasn’t infatuated with the unattainable guys in school.”

“Who would’ve been out of your league?”

She popped him lightly in the shoulder. “Stop it. Flattery isn’t necessary.”

“I’m serious. I bet all the boys were terrified of you.”

“You’ve got a rich fantasy life.”

“Well, that’s true too, but don’t change the subject.”

She blushed at the unspoken promise in his words and felt the heat rush all the way from her ears to her toes.

She was saved from a response by a big golden retriever racing into the flock of seagulls and sending them skyward in a comical symphony of barking and raucous calling. “The owner’s dog,” she explained to Rick. “He’s an absolute love.”

“Loves to cause riots at least.”

She smiled as the dog detoured toward them. “Only out here and only when it’s not crowded.” Kneeling, she exchanged kisses with the big guy. “It’s amazing that he remembers me.”

“Maybe you’re his first love,” Rick said, rubbing the dog’s ears.

“You’re not nearly as funny as you think.” They waved as the dog turned at the owner’s call and raced back down the beach.

Rick was staring at the sky. “When I was in high school, we used to get together for a bonfire at the beach after the last home football game of the season.”

“I bet the girls were all over you.”

“Oh?”

“The jaw, the serious eyes.” The shoulders too, but she kept that to herself. “Don’t tell me the girls didn’t follow you around like lost puppies.”

“Maybe. But I only had eyes for one.”

“Did she return your affections or do you pine for her still?” Nicole teased, clutching her clasped hands over her heart.

“Both. I suppose. I married her.”

Before the words left his mouth, she knew she’d crossed a line. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to dredge up old pains.”

---