Page 58 of Love on the Line

He chuckled, and his chest vibrated against her cheek, causing more shivers. “I don’t think you look in the mirror much, which is why you have no idea how sexy you are.”

All that mattered to her was that he thought so.

He gave her a squeeze. “What do you like to do at the beach?”

“Read.” The word came out before she even had a chance to think.

He smiled down at her. “Let me rephrase that. What would you like to do today at the beach, unless you brought a book?”

If she had, it would’ve been the Kama Sutra. What the hell? Now she was picturing erotic positions with him on the beach blanket. His naked body over her, under her, twisted around her. Her thighs tightened.

“Did you?”

“Huh?” Focus. What had he even asked her?

“Bring a book?” An eyebrow peeked over the top of his shades.

“Oh, no. Let’s ah…take a walk. Cool down a little and maybe look for shells.”

A bemused grin on his face, he took her hand. “Sure. Cool down. Didn’t realize how hot you were.”

Damn Wyatt. He knew exactly what he did to her. And now his warm hand caressed hers with every swing of her arm. Kinda nice. Contact with no sexual agenda. Except what went on in her dirty little mind.

She glanced at the ocean as they walked. The waves rhythmically rolled in, crashing and receding. Creamy foam eased across the beach, stranding tiny clams that flipped sideways and dug down into the sand.

Wyatt glanced at her. “How’s your student? The one with leukemia?”

“As good as can be expected. He’s been doing the chemo, but it’s tough on him.” An ache gnawed in her chest. “I’m going to be tutoring him from here on out at his home.”

“Wow, I guess I never thought of that. He would be too sick to go to school.” Wyatt shook his head. “All the medical expenses, parents’ time off work, private tutors, it’s gotta be financially crippling.”

“Oh, I’m not charging anything.” She couldn’t imagine adding to their burden. “They have four kids. The mom’s a bus driver, and the dad’s an EMT. They’re hurting.”

Wyatt stopped, his hand jerking her to a halt.

“Something wrong?” She faced him.

He slid his sunglasses to the top of his head and cupped her chin with a hand. “Do you know how special you are?”

He stared down at her, the ocean reflecting in his eyes, turning them almost blue. She squirmed under the intensity of his gaze. “It’s the least I can do. He’s my student, and I don’t want him to have to repeat the year and lose all his friends.”

Wyatt tucked her hair back and held his hand there. “This is what I’m talking about. As busy as you are, you’re making time for him and not even charging for it.”

Her scalp tingled under the heat of his hand. Comforting and warm. “I just hope we can raise enough money through the walk-a-thon to make a difference.”

“You’re one determined lady. I’m sure you will.” He slid his sunglasses back down. Taking her hand again, he resumed walking. “Heard any more from your interview?”

“Only that it’s down to me and one other candidate. I should know soon. I’m hopeful.” If she got the position, she’d be grounded in Maryland. A knot formed in her stomach.

Wyatt squeezed her hand. “By the way, my lacrosse team thinks you’re the bomb now.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, that was such a flub-up. Bringing dirt pudding cups with gummy bears to high school boys? I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“They loved them. Those guys all try to be tough, but inside they’re still kids.” He shook his head. “Of course, I had to confiscate the extras when they started flinging the worms at each other.”

Anne laughed and stepped over a clump of seaweed. “I didn’t see that.”

“They saved it for the locker room.” Wyatt bent and studied a shell, then tossed it. “Not much on the beach with the tide so high right now.”

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