Eyes Like Those

by Melissa Brayden

  Autumn grinned. “Nope. Her heat’s next.”

  Isabel turned to Taylor and dropped her tone. “Told you we had time.”

  Taylor squeezed her hand, popped on giant sunglasses, and chuckled. “And what a time it was.”

  Isabel stole a kiss. She had to.

  The heat began a few minutes later, and they watched as their friend went to battle against the other surfers. While Isabel didn’t totally follow the scoring system, she could tell from the crowd’s reactions that Gia was in top form. “Whoa. She’s literally riding a wall of water. They’re going nuts for her.”

  “You don’t understand,” Hadley said, excitedly. “She’s pulling in scores she hasn’t seen in over two years. She’s rebounding. Say good-bye to number eight.”

  “She’ll be seventh in the world?” Taylor asked.

  “If she wins this, higher,” Autumn said, hooking her thumb at the sky.

  The announcer’s voice came over the microphone. “And Gia Malone forces a late heat lead change, ousting Elle Britton from the top spot in a stunning switcheroo.”

  They joined the roaring crowd, screaming for Gia. Autumn shook her head. “This is crazy. She’s going to be stoked. We need to celebrate with her tonight. You guys in?”

  “Of course we’re in!” Isabel said, over the crowd. The adrenaline hit she received from watching her friend do magnificent things was amazing. They stuck around until the end, when Gia was announced as the Open’s winner in an upset that had everyone talking.

  “I’m so glad we got to be here for this,” Taylor murmured to Isabel. “We should come to more of these.”

  “The more events where I get to see you in a swimsuit, the better.”

  They celebrated that night with Gia and the other surfers at an outdoor luau on a private section of the beach. Isabel and Taylor raised excited eyebrows at each other as they presented their VIP tickets to the party and were each awarded a lei upon entry.

  “You don’t know what it means to me that you guys were there,” Gia said, approaching their group with an ear-to-ear grin. She’d taken her hair down and traded her bathing suit for white pants and a crop top. She radiated.

  Isabel grabbed her. “Do you know how crazy that was? How exciting? How proud of you we are?”

  Gia laughed. “I agree about the crazy and exciting, and I’ll take the proud. I needed this.”

  A striking woman with a headset appeared and tapped Gia on the shoulder. “Hey, Gia, can we get a shot of you by the water? The sun is setting and it could be a nice way to cap off the day of the tournament.”

  “Sure thing, Jordan.” She turned back to her friends. “Be right back. Part of a documentary they’re shooting on the surf tour. I’m one of the surfers they’re featuring.”

  “Go,” Hadley said. “Be important. We’ll be right here drinking piña coladas and swaying to the music.”

  And that’s exactly what they did. Gia returned a short time later and they spent the evening dancing on the beach, and laughing, and talking about their plans for next week.

  “Who’s the hot producer?” Autumn asked, as she swirled her hips to Jimmy Buffett.

  “Totally taken,” Gia said, twirling Autumn easily. “I asked. Married.”

  “Lame. My life is boring.” Autumn pouted. “I need some action, some excitement, someone like that!”

  Isabel laughed. “Give it time. Eventually, the right one will surprise you.” She looked deeply into Taylor’s eyes as they danced, and she found herself undone once again.

  Taylor nodded, never taking her eyes from Isabel’s. “The love of your life could arrive at any damn moment.”

  Hadley sighed. “I love it when you two get all dreamy-eyed. Don’t you guys love it?” Hadley asked Autumn and Gia.

  “Yep,” Autumn said. “And since I’m jealous and alone, the next round is on me.”

  “They think we’re cute,” Taylor said quietly with a gleam in her eye.

  “Objectively, we are. Have you seen us?”

  She relaxed into a radiant smile. “A stunning couple, I’m told.”

  Isabel stared at her, lost in the onslaught of emotion that hit. “I love you,” she whispered in Taylor’s ear. “I really, really love you.”

  “Good,” she said, leaning in close to Isabel. “Because you’re all mine, and I’m all yours, and that is never going to change.” It was a common phrase from Taylor, and Isabel couldn’t hear it enough.

  “You know what?” Isabel said, inclining her head to the side. “You have a way with words.”

  Taylor laughed. “I’ve never heard that before. Not once.”

  As Isabel danced with Taylor in her arms, her heart swelled and she realized just how ridiculously lucky she was. With amazing new friends, a job she was thrilled with, and a woman she loved, she’d never felt more fulfilled. While there might be more shaking in the closet, the attacks were now few and far between. She kept her monthly appointments with Jim, a therapist who helped her learn better ways to cope. When those dark times came, however, she now had her friends to see her through. More importantly, she had Taylor. Though she still had work to do on herself, Isabel wasn’t alone, and she never would be again.

  “Here you go, buddy,” Autumn said, presenting her with a fancy-looking fruity drink and then handing one to Taylor.

  “Would you look at that?” Isabel said. “Now, that’s a pretty drink.”

  Autumn nodded. “Not as pretty as that married producer over there, but it’s all I’ve got.”

  “Hey-o!” Gia said, dancing with her drink over her head.

  But the best part of all of this? Isabel knew inherently that there were a million more moments like this one to come—with the people she loved around her. There would be more dancing on the beach, more Pajamas coffee, and more stolen mornings with the love of her life. She smiled at Taylor, who danced, carefree and beautiful. God, with eyes like those looking back at her every day, how could she go wrong?

  Isabel Chase was right where she was supposed to be.

  About the Author

  Melissa Brayden (www.melissabrayden.com) is a multi-award-winning romance author embracing the full-time writer’s life in San Antonio, Texas, and enjoying every minute of it.

  Melissa is married and working really hard at remembering to do the dishes. For personal enjoyment, she spends time with her Jack Russell terriers and checks out the NYC theater scene as often as possible. She considers herself a reluctant patron of spin class, but would much rather be sipping merlot and staring off into space. Coffee, wine, and donuts make her world go round.

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