Sydney waggled her eyebrows. “Well, it looks like you’ve had a change of plans.”
June smiled, although she didn’t feel the sincerity of it. “Painting my nails would be great, Maria, thanks.” It seemed she was going to the bonfire; there was no question about that. “You guys are coming with me, though. Even if you’re both taken, there’s no way I’m going alone.”
“Deal,” Maria said, linking her arm through June’s and guiding her inside the bungalow. “Let’s put those flowers into water, then get you prettied up.”
June released a small laugh, but it felt forced. Then she realized why her emotions were swinging so far back and forth. She really liked Lance. There was no other explanation for why she’d told him things about her ex she hadn’t shared with anyone else. And the fact that she’d felt so hollow this afternoon could only be because she’d felt bereft at the thought of not seeing him again. Which meant that spending a second evening with him would only make her heart break more completely when the Maui fun came to an end.
As she sat down and waited as Maria painted her nails, she felt like she was on the outside of the bungalow looking in at the three women and the train wreck that was about to happen to her own heart. The thought of seeing Lance again made her heart race in a way she hadn’t remembered ever happening with other men she’d dated. Maybe it was because she knew how it felt to be in his arms and kissing him, and she also knew she’d felt a connection that she hadn’t felt with anyone else. She worried that this was all too good to be true.
Regardless, if she didn’t go to the bonfire, she’d regret it. And besides, even if she curled up to read her Regency romance, she’d have trouble concentrating, knowing the man who’d brought her tropical flowers this afternoon was just down the beach.
An hour later, June walked between her friends as they headed toward the bonfire pit area of the resort. They’d looked at it on the resort map and had decided to walk. The setting sun had finally dipped below the horizon, and millions of glimmering stars had pushed their way through the darkening sky. A light breeze cut across June, gently blowing her new dress.
“These shoes are ridiculous,” June said as they reached the stretch of sand leading to the bonfire pit.
“But they look fabulous,” Sydney said, causing June to snort.
June might show up wearing the wedge sandals, but she didn’t think they’d stay on her feet for long.
Several dozen people were already gathered. A couple of long tables had been set up with food, and on the opposite side of the fire, a trio of men stood, playing soft tunes on their ukuleles. A few couples were dancing, and laughter floated toward the three friends on the warm breeze, with the ocean pulsing slowly in the background.
The scene couldn’t be more romantic. June released a sigh, wondering where Lance was. Then she saw him.
Lance was standing beyond the bonfire pit, closer to the ocean. He wore plaid shorts and a dark button-down shirt that blew against his chest with the wind, making the outline of his sculpted body quite clear to all who were looking. Which included June. He stood with his hands in his pockets, gazing out over the crowd, as if he were searching for someone.
Then his gaze locked on June, and she felt her breath catch at the smile that appeared. Just for her.
Her heart was beyond skipping. It was racing now.
“He’s got it bad for you,” Sydney pronounced. Before June could respond, Sydney grabbed Maria’s arm. “We’ll catch you later, June. Have a great time.”
And then her two friends walked away, leaving June standing by herself as Lance strode toward her. June didn’t know where to look, so she let herself watch Lance. He seemed to have no problem watching her. Lance didn’t act like he was in a hurry, but his walk was definitely purposeful.
When he reached her side, June opened her mouth, intent on thanking him for the flowers. Lance leaned down and kissed her cheek. He lingered there, as if relishing being near her. June found she absolutely could not form a sentence.
“How have you been?” he asked in that low voice that made every part of her body tingle. His blue-green eyes were filled with interest and something else that June couldn’t quite identify.
She had to push out her words. “Good. We went shopping today.” Involuntarily, she looked down at her dress, and Lance’s gaze followed. “Brightening up things to go with the island atmosphere, I guess.” She was rambling, definitely rambling.
“You look beautiful,” Lance said, the corners of his mouth lifting.
June had been complimented by men before, and for the most part she’d accepted the compliments even though she knew she wasn’t the stunning visage of Sydney or the natural beauty of Maria. But when Lance spoke to her that way, she believed that he believed in what he was saying. She felt that she was truly beautiful to him. And her heart only melted further, for better or for worse. “Thank you,” she said in a barely-there voice. “The sandals will have to go.”
He chuckled and leaned toward her. “Want to dance? Shoes are optional.”
She slipped her shoes off, then smiled up at him. His hands moved around her waist, and he pulled her close, right there where they stood, and started swaying to the music. June was reminded of the night before when they’d danced in the restaurant. But this was somehow better, because his arms were now familiar. And she knew what it was like to kiss him, and now that anticipation thrummed through her.
As June relaxed in Lance’s arms, she told herself to enjoy the moment. Even if she never saw him again after this vacation, she could tuck this memory away and relive it when she was back in her lonely Portland apartment with the rain droning on her windows. This moment of dancing on the Maui beach barefoot might never happen again in her lifetime.
“Thanks for coming,” Lance said, his voice low in her ear.
“Thanks for inviting me,” June said.
Lance chuckled, drawing her a bit closer. “We’re so polite and proper.”
June found herself grinning. “We’re very polite and proper.”
“Hmmm. Maybe we should change that up,” Lance said.
June drew away from his tantalizing warmth and soft breath on her neck. “What do you have in mind?”
“We could go for a swim,” Lance said, lifting his brows.
“But it’s dark.” The light from the bonfire cast its glow onto the gathering, yet beyond the firelight the ocean looked dark and mysterious.
“You can’t spend a day in Maui without getting wet.” Lance released her, then stepped away, holding out his hand.
He was waiting for her to give her permission, she realized. He also had an adorable smile on his face. She really couldn’t resist, and she knew her girlfriends wouldn’t blame her either—wherever they’d gone to.
She lifted her hand and placed it in his.
June placed her hand in Lance’s as the people around the bonfire danced and ate delicious Hawaiian food. The Maui resort was like a lover’s paradise, and June used that as the reason why her heart was thumping so hard. She might be indulging in a vacation fling with a man she’d met a couple of days ago, but with the moon hanging low over the ocean a short distance away, and the band’s ukulele music softly playing in the background, June could hardly blame herself. Her heart was another matter. She might regret every moment of tonight on the flight back to Portland in a couple of days. Vacation romances didn’t transfer to the real world.
Lance’s invitation to wade into the ocean beneath the night sky would probably never happen again in her life, so as Lance drew her toward him and tucked her arm beneath his, she leaned into his warmth. She enjoyed how he was several inches taller than she, and how his muscled and lean body was also comfortable to nestle against. She’d also enjoyed the way he’d kissed her last night and wouldn’t mind a repeat tonight.
“There’s nothing like Maui on a warm night,” Lance said, his voice soft as they walked toward the water, skirting the bonfire gathering. Soon the sounds of the ocean
waves drowned out the ukulele music and the dancing guests.
“Mmm,” June said, feeling as if she was in a half-dream state. It was quite remarkable, really, that she and Lance had hit it off. The closer they grew to the water, the cooler the air became. Goose bumps broke out over her body as they walked in the cooling wind, and she nestled closer to Lance. He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her; the curves of her body seemed to fit perfectly against the planes of his. “What if the water’s cold?” she asked.
“I’ll keep you warm,” Lance said in a teasing voice, and June’s goose bumps disappeared as heat flashed through her.
The first step into the water shocked her skin. The water wasn’t exactly cold, but it wasn’t warm either.
“How far out are we going?” she asked.
Lance looked down at her, his blue-green eyes nearly black in the moonlight. “Not far, but you’re going to get pretty wet.” He released her and tugged off his shirt, then tossed it toward the dry part of the sand. “Do you want to take anything off?”
“No,” June said immediately. She enjoyed seeing Lance’s torso in the moonlight, but she wasn’t removing any clothing. One of them had to stay sane.
“Come on,” Lance said, grasping her hand and leading her further into the water.
The next wave hit her knees, soaking the hem of her sundress and Lance’s shorts, but he kept moving. Strangely enough, the water was warmer the deeper they moved into it. But it was disconcerting to be walking in such dark water that was constantly moving, and June’s imagination jumpstarted as she visualized the many sea creatures that could be swimming toward her at this moment.
“Uh, Lance?” she said, grasping his arm. “What if there are sharks?”
“There aren’t any sharks,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. “I wouldn’t have taken you boogie-boarding yesterday if there were.”
“What if sharks are nocturnal and come close to shore at night?” she pressed.
Lance turned to face her, one hand sliding to her waist. “All the surfers who get bit are surfing in the daytime. So I think—”
“Wait,” June said. “Pretty much all sea life is always swimming, so they’re all nocturnal, right?”
Lance moved his other hand to her waist. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She knew he was secretly laughing at her, but he was being nice enough not to do it out loud. Just then, something slippery brushed the back of her calf. June screamed and launched herself against Lance, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. “Something touched me!”
Lance nearly staggered backward in surprise, but he was able to remain upright while at the same time wrapping his arms about June. “What the—”
“Something touched my leg!” June said, panic still pulsing through her. “A fish, or a shark, or a—”
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Lance said with a laugh. “I’ve got you. I’ll keep you safe.”
“It’s not funny,” June said. “Get me out of here.”
But instead of wading back to the shore, Lance moved horizontally from the spot they’d been standing in, taking her even deeper into the water.
“Lance...” June said, still nervous but starting to relax as Lance placed a soft kiss on her neck. She was practically draped all over him, and there weren’t many other places for his lips to be.
They were waist deep in the water now, and the gentle sway of the ocean buoyed them up and made June feel like her body was suspended. As the swells undulated around them, June was repeatedly pressed against Lance, which she didn’t exactly mind. If she hadn’t been so scared when the slippery thing touched her leg, she might have been embarrassed about how she’d leapt onto Lance. Her legs and arms were still wrapped around him, and it appeared he didn’t mind either.
He continued kissing her neck, and a soft moan escaped her lips. She’d never felt so... connected, or content. Even though the ocean dangers still lurked all around them, she believed that Lance would keep her safe, or at least rush her to a hospital if needed. She let herself relax and smile as Lance moved his lips to her jaw, kissing her lightly, and then finally capturing her mouth with his.
She kissed him back, slowly, the water both warm and cool about her body, creating a delicious contrast. Her body itself was definitely warm now. After several moments of kissing, Lance drew back, his breath heavy.
“I think sharks are actually nocturnal,” he said, leaning his forehead against hers. “But I’ll still keep you safe.”
“That’s a pretty bold statement,” June said, not sure if she should laugh or tell him she was running to shore.
“My failed marriage taught me that sometimes I need to be bold,” he said in a quiet voice, sounding serious. He ran his fingers along her cheek while gazing at her intently.
June couldn’t see his eye color in the moonlight, but the seriousness of his gaze seemed to release a burst of butterflies into her stomach.
“If I may speak boldly, June,” he started, “I really like you. Which might be quite obvious by now.”
Goose bumps broke out on her skin. “Quite,” June said, her voice a near whisper.
“I’m hoping we can see each other after Maui.”
It was more than June had hoped for, and suddenly she didn’t know how she felt about that. She’d let herself abandon some of her normal reserve since she’d been convinced she wouldn’t see Lance after this vacation. But now... her heart tripped. “I’d like that too.”
“Good,” Lance said, kissing her lightly, then drawing away again. “I’m not really a one-night-stand type of guy, and when we were dancing last night in the restaurant, I knew I didn’t want to say goodbye to you.”
“I don’t want to say goodbye either,” June said, both relieved and nervous. Was this really happening? Was her vacation crush the real deal? She couldn’t let herself overthink it. After all, they were in an amazing location, and her body was intertwined with his. Physical attraction could be clouding her common sense.
He pulled her tightly against him, kissing her hard. She became absolutely lost in everything that was Lance, and if it wasn’t for the threat of swimming sea life with sharp teeth, she probably wouldn’t have left their ocean sanctuary.
“Come on,” she said, when she had the strength to draw away. “Let’s go get dry.”
He arched a brow, making her blush. But instead of protesting, he drew her along with him until they were both walking out of the surf, hand in hand. He snatched up his shirt and their shoes, and they continued to walk in the direction of the bungalows.
“Cold?” Lance asked, as June shivered involuntarily. He draped his dry shirt over her shoulders, then wrapped his free arm about her.
“Thanks,” she said and nestled her head against his shoulder as they slowly walked. The ocean breeze cut through the dampness of her dress, but the warmth of Lance’s shirt and his body heat made her feel as if the temperature had never been more perfect.
Today was the day June would be leaving paradise. They’d had a wonderful vacation, and June was missing Lance, but not regretting their time together.But now, at the Maui airport, Sydney and Maria both confronted June.
“So you gave him your phone number?” Sydney asked, her usually flawless lips pulled into a concerned frown.
“And you have his number?” Maria asked, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at June with her deep brown eyes.
“Yes,” June said. “We have each other’s numbers, and he said he’d call, all right?” She was feeling put on the spot because she didn’t want to tell her best friends everything. June supposed it was her own self-defensive act in case Lance didn’t call. Or if he did, and they discovered that their interest in each other and fast-moving romance was just an island vacation thing, and didn’t transfer into their regular lives.
“When does Lance go back?” Sydney asked, her voice a bit calmer now.
“Tomorrow,” June said. “So I probably w
on’t hear from him for a few days while he’s traveling and getting back to his job.”
“I really really hope Lance is the decent guy we all think he is,” Maria added.
“Me too,” June said, trying to smile at her nosy friends. “But you guys are stressing me out by overanalyzing everything.” She might be lecturing them, but she was lecturing herself too. There was nothing she could really expect from Lance over the next day or two as they were both traveling. So she might as well relax and enjoy the last few hours with her best friends before they all had to dive back into regular life. And there was Sydney’s wedding to look forward to in a few months, and Maria’s possible engagement announcement.
“You’re right,” Sydney said, her smile genuine. “Let’s forget men for the rest of the day. I’m already starting to miss you guys.” She looped an arm through each of June’s and Maria’s, and they walked together to the boarding line, where they’d catch a commuter plane to Honolulu, then connect to their regular flight back to the mainland.
Two hours later, they were settled in their 747 flight and crossing the Pacific. They chatted for a while, mostly about Sydney’s wedding plans; then Maria dozed off. June took out her Regency romance that she’d started to read on the vacation, before Lance had distracted her from all reading endeavors.
For the next hour she read, but eventually she realized she hadn’t been paying attention to the plot. She couldn’t stop thinking about her own life’s plot over the past week with Lance. Last night, he’d kissed her goodbye, then held her for a long moment. She’d allowed herself to fully enjoy being with him and not let worries creep in. But now she couldn’t stop them. She turned back several pages of her book and started to read again.
But the images of Lance and the memory of his words, their interactions, the way he held her hand, and how it felt to kiss him, continued to bombard her. She shut the book with a sigh and closed her eyes. She had no choice but to let the memories take over and play themselves out. She missed him more than she wanted to admit to herself, and it hadn’t even been a full day since she last saw him. What was Lance thinking about her? What were his true feelings? Because June was starting to realize that she’d fallen a little bit in love. And hopefully, if Lance didn’t return her feelings, there was still time to fall back out.
The Falling Series Box Set Page 11