Rip Current

by Jill Sanders

  Moving around in her kitchen quietly, he made scrambled eggs, French toast, and bacon. It must have been the bacon smell that finally caused Wendy to walk out of the bedroom wearing a tight little shirt and shorts, making his mouth water.

  “Morning.” He smiled over at her while trying to keep his eyes from zeroing in on her breasts. Man, why had he believed he’d been an ass man before?

  “Morning.” She groaned and glanced up at the clock on her wall and groaned again. “It is still morning.”

  He chuckled. “I know. Sorry.” He scooped a spoonful of eggs onto a plate for her. “You can go back to bed.”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Not knowing there’s bacon in here.” She sat down at the table and tucked her legs underneath her.

  He smiled and set a plate in front of her. “There’s more than just bacon.” He leaned down and kissed her until he felt her melt under his lips. “Mmm, now that I’ve had dessert.” He smiled, then made himself a plate and sat next to her.

  “This is really good,” she said after a bite.

  “Thanks.” He scooped up some eggs and enjoyed the spicy flavor. He loved adding salsa to almost everything.

  “I have never had salsa on eggs before.” She glanced at him.

  He chuckled. “My brothers got me started on it years ago.”

  “Oh?” She glanced at him in question.

  He smiled. “Marcus decided they were going to play a trick on me. One morning they piled a heap of salsa on everything on my plate.” He shrugged his shoulders. “They had no clue that I’d love it.”

  She smiled. “Backfired, didn’t it?”

  He nodded. “So, now they even have it on their eggs and fries.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “I’ll have to try that too.”

  He smiled. “Better than ketchup.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m a ketchup-aholic.” He chuckled. “So, what are your plans for the day?”

  He thought about it. “First thing I’m going to do is turn off my cell phone.” Her eyebrows shot up in question. “So, Marcus can’t recruit me again today.” She smiled. “Second thing, I’m going to grab my paddle board and head out.” He looked over at her. “Want to join me?”

  He watched her head tilt and her eyes move back towards the clock. Then she sighed and looked around. “Sure, why not. I’m not working until six tonight.”

  He smiled. “Perfect. I’ll clean up while you get ready.” He reached over and took her empty plate.

  “You’re going to do dishes?” She shook her head as she got up. “I just can’t get used to a man who does dishes,” she said as she walked out of the room.

  He smiled and watched her leave. Maybe he hadn’t completely changed from an ass man yet, he thought as he watched her walk away from him in the tight shorts.

  ***

  By the time, they hit the water it was almost eleven. The sun was high and the heat level was higher. He carried the long board through the hot, white sand as Wendy followed him with the paddles.

  “It’s a green day.” She nodded to the beach flag. “I love green days.” She sighed and jogged a little to catch up with him.

  He looked over and frowned. “Yeah, I guess.”

  She chuckled. “I bet you love seeing the red flag fly.” She shook her head.

  He smiled. “Red means waves.”

  “It also means dangerous currents.” She shook her head. “You know, the kind that can drag you under or out to sea.”

  He shrugged. “Green is boring.”

  She chuckled as he set the paddle board down next to the calm water. “Not everything boring is bad.”

  He shrugged his shoulders and took the paddles from her. “I suppose.” He set the paddles down and then pulled her next to him. She looked sexy as hell in a green bikini with cut-off shorts. She’d pulled her hair back and it hung over her shoulder in a sexy twist. “But I live for danger.” He leaned down and kissed her lips, feeling the familiar zing jump through his body. He usually got the same feeling riding down a big wave during a storm. Smiling, he pulled back and picked up the paddles. “Well, come on.” He handed her one. “Let’s get out on the calm, boring water.”

  She chuckled and nodded then followed him out into the warm water.

  By the time they pulled back onto the beach, he had to admit that it hadn’t been boring out on the water with Wendy. They had laughed, joked, and talked more than he ever had with a woman.

  Of course, they’d ended up in the water when he’d tried to push her playfully in. He’d been surprised that she’d easily sidestepped his move, and they’d both gone flying off the board into the water.

  “You have some moves,” he admitted when they finally pulled the board back onto the sand.

  She smiled. “Thanks, you’re not so bad either.”

  He chuckled. “You should see me on a smaller board.” He glanced at the calm water and nodded. “And on bigger waves.”

  “I have.” She frowned and glanced away from him.

  “And?” He tugged her into the sand and sat down next to her.

  She shrugged her shoulders and put her knees up to her chest. “You’re a great surfer.”

  “But?” he prodded as he used his finger to turn her face towards his.

  She shrugged her shoulders again and then sighed. “Why do you surf the storms? I mean…” She shook her head. “The one in Australia last year.” She leaned back on her hands and watched a group of teenagers playing in the water.

  “Australia was a blast.” He smiled.

  “Yeah.” He heard the disappointment in her voice.

  “Hey.” He pulled on her until she was almost in his lap. “I wasn’t in any danger.”

  “Right,” she said dryly, holding her hands between them on his chest.

  “It was a small storm.” He smiled. “Besides, that shot Carl took of me made the cover of three magazines.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, but I saw what it did to Cassey.”

  He tilted his head in question. “She worried the entire time you were gone. Not to mention Roman and Marcus.” She sighed and ran a finger down his arm. “I can tell that they can’t wait until you retire.”

  “Retire?” He laughed. “Me retire? Yeah, right. I’m never going to retire.”

  He thought he heard her sigh, but he was too busy kissing that sweet mouth of hers to be sure.

  Chapter Ten

  Working at a bar had its ups and downs. The ups… it was great money. The downs… you had to work and put on a smile no matter how bad you felt. Wendy’s heart just wasn’t into working that night. Especially since Cole had mentioned that he had some things to do that night and wouldn’t be in. Not that she was expecting him to come in and sit in his sister’s place every night.

  But after the statement he’d made earlier, she was seriously beginning to doubt why she was with him. After all, she knew exactly what she was getting into with him.

  Had she really expected him to change that much? He’d been living on the edge for so long before she’d met him, there was little she could do to change that part of who he was. Nor would she really want to. After all, he was really a great surfer.

  She’d watched videos of him often enough to know that he was one of the best in the water. He’d won more trophies than any other surfer in the last ten years. He even had a surf move named after him.

  She sighed and finished an order for a large family that had come in an hour before sunset. There wasn’t a band playing tonight and the place seemed so dull.

  She supposed she understood what Cole meant when he said boring isn’t fun. After all, she lived for the nights when it was standing room only around the bar—loud music pumping, people yelling their orders. She even kind of liked watching a fight break out. Not that she was into violence, just drama.

  Sighing, she leaned against the bar and thought about how boring the rest of the night was going to be. There were less than a dozen tables occupied, and glancing out th
e windows and seeing the perfect sunset, she doubted there would be a huge crowd coming in anytime soon.

  She watched Cassey walk down the stairs and frowned when she noticed the worried look on her boss’s face.

  “Hey,” she said, handing over a cold can of Coke, Cassey’s favorite drink.

  “Hi.” She picked up the can and took a large sip. “Slow night, huh?”

  She nodded. “It should pick up this weekend. You know, for the Fourth.”

  She nodded. “Yeah, we’re expecting record crowds. Luke’s hotel is completely booked.”

  “Wow.” She whistled.

  “I’ve got the schedule pinned up.” She nodded towards the back hallway where a bulletin board sat with the schedule. “Sorry, I’ve got you working a double.”

  She chuckled. “I did ask for it, remember?”

  “Yeah, but that was before…” Cassey dropped off and took another sip of her drink.

  “Before I started seeing your brother?”

  Cassey nodded and looked away.

  “You don’t have to warn me again about him.” She leaned on the counter. “I know what I’m getting into.”

  “I know.” Cassey sighed and sat on a stool, then rested her elbows up on the bar and put her chin in her hands. “It’s just that… Well, Cole isn’t like Marcus or Roman.”

  She chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, he’s nuts.”

  Cassey rolled her eyes. “Not what I meant.”

  “Don’t worry, I’m very guarded.”

  Cassey reached over and touched her hand. “I’m sorry. I won’t pry. I love Cole. Very much. But we’ve all learned to put up with… that side of him.”

  She smiled. “The side that wants to do everything he can to kill himself?”

  Cassey nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. He’s nuts.” They both laughed.

  By closing time, her feet and back hurt so much that she rushed home and jumped in a hot bath. The entire night her mind had played over and over the conversation with Cole and the one she’d had with Cassey. By morning, she had barely gotten enough sleep and was pulling herself out of bed for the early shift she had. Okay, so early to her was starting work at one in the afternoon. Still, it was hours earlier than she normally went in since Alan had taken the next two days off. There were other bartenders, but she’d been trying to save up and needed the extra cash.

  When she walked in, her eyes hidden from the bright sun in the darkest sunglasses she owned, she was shocked to see her sister sitting at the bar with a drink in her hands.

  “Willow?” Her sister turned around and set the almost empty drink down. Rushing over, she took Willow’s shoulders and almost fell over when she collapsed against her in tears. Wendy looked at the new bartender, Steven, behind the counter and frowned at him, making a mental note to show him the difference between a fake ID and a real ID.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, pulling her sister towards the back break room.

  “It’s… It’s Jake. He…” Willow swallowed and closed her eyes.

  “Who’s Jake?” she asked, pushing her sister into a chair.

  “My boyfriend.” She glared up at her.

  “Oh.” Wendy felt relieved to know the guy’s name again. “What about him?”

  “He’s gone into the army.”

  Wendy sat down next to her sister and waited. “And?”

  “And nothing!” Willow shot her another look.

  “Well, isn’t that a good thing. I mean…”

  “No, it’s not a good thing!” Willow stood up and crossed her arms over her chest as she walked the small room. “He’s leaving for basic next week.”

  “Honey, I think boot camp will be good for Jake.” She pulled on her sister’s arms until she sat down again. “Besides, you’re too young to…”

  “What?” Willow glared at her. “Jake and I are in love. Just because you don’t know what it’s like doesn’t mean other people can’t enjoy it.”

  “Willow,” she warned.

  “I don’t care.” She tossed off her hands and stood up again. “We’re meant to be together.”

  “Then why did he join the army without asking you first?” she burst out. The second the words left her lips, she regretted them.

  Willow turned and glared at her. “He had to.” She bawled. “It was that or…”

  “Prison?” Wendy leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “No! His parents were going to cut him off. Financially.” She frowned down at her fingers.

  Wendy laughed. “Really? He chose going into the army over getting a job and working?”

  Willow just glared at her some more as Wendy shook her head and walked over to stand in front of her sister.

  Willow was about two inches taller than Wendy. They both had the long blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and skin that belonged on models. But where Wendy had been forced to be more levelheaded, Willow still acted like a spoiled child. Wendy blamed herself for that. Everything Willow wanted as a child, Wendy had bent over backwards to get her. That was, until she reached her teens.

  Then something had shifted in the relationship. Wendy had started treating Willow like a sister instead of her responsibility, and Willow had started to turn away. It had been shortly after their father’s death, so Wendy didn’t know what the real cause was, only that they had grown apart.

  “I’m sorry about Jake. But a little time apart won’t damage a relationship that is meant to be.”

  Willow looked at her and sighed. “You’re right.”

  “Now, since you’re down here…” She glanced over at the schedule and frowned as she calculated. “How about a quick lunch with your sister?”

  Willow glanced at her phone, then back up. “I can’t. I’m supposed to be at work in two hours.”

  “Then why did you come here? Instead of my place?”

  Willow sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I thought you’d be working.”

  “You could have called.” She put her hands on her hips.

  “I didn’t want to bother you.” Willow turned and started to pick up her purse.

  “Willow.” She waited until her sister turned and looked back at her. “Someday we’re going to have to talk about this.”

  Willow’s eyebrows shot up, and she slowly nodded when she understood. “Not today. I have enough going on right now.”

  Wendy nodded and sighed. “Soon, okay? I miss my sister.”

  Willow turned and walked out of the break room without another word. Wendy sat back down. She felt like crying. Why would her sister come to her for advice on her love life but not open up to her about their relationship?

  She sat in the break room until she felt like she had everything back under control, then went out to start her shift and yell at Steven for giving her nineteen-year-old sister a beer.

  ***

  Over the next few days, Cole was completely busy. Not only did he have family obligations, but he had work as well. He had a new contract with a big swim clothing company that had a new line of shorts they wanted him to model. He spent two whole days in a photography studio outside of Panama City that he always used, feeling like he was on display.

  Every chance he had, he would text or call Wendy. He could tell by the tone of her messages that something was up, but every time he asked, she would sidestep the conversation.

  Finally, early Friday, he drove over to her place and knocked on the door. When she didn’t answer, he walked down to the bar and grill.

  Seeing her behind the counter in a tight black tank top with at least a dozen guys hovering around her did something to him. She was smiling and laughing as she flipped a bottle over her head and caught it upside down as the liquor poured into the glasses on the bar top. All of the men cheered and clapped, sending more deadly waves of jealousy shooting through every vein in his body.

  When he walked up to the bar, he thought he had himself back under control, until one of the men reached across and took her hand in hi
s. He pushed his way through the group of men and bumped the guy aside with his hip.

  “Oops, sorry,” he mumbled as Wendy’s eyes moved to his. He saw her frown a little as she was pouring more drinks.

  “Hey!” the guy, who was apparently very drunk, said loudly before turning to look at him. Cole could tell the second the guy recognized him and groaned inwardly knowing what was coming next.

  “You’re Cole Grayton.” He almost yelled it over the music.

  “Yeah.” He nodded and turned to Wendy to try and head the guy off by ordering a drink. But he wouldn’t be that lucky.

  “Hey, look,” he called out to his buddies. “This here”—he threw his arm over Cole’s shoulder and turned him away from the bar towards his friends—“is Cole freaking Grayton. Best damn surfer in the states.”

  “So, did you get us our beers yet?” one of his friends called from the back of the group.

  “Shut up, Jeff,” the drunk guy called back. “Hey, man, I’ve watched every one of your competitions. I’m a surfer myself.”

  “That’s good.” He tried to remove the guy’s arm from his shoulders, only to have the man grab him again. “I’m buying you a drink.” He shook him and turned back to the bar. “What are you having?”

  Cole sighed and shook his head at Wendy. It was hard to stay mad at a guy that was this drunk, especially when he was a fan.

  The next hour was a blur of drinks. Every chance he got, he would look Wendy’s way. She seemed very busy and looked like she was loving it.

  Finally, after the large crowd of people left, he could talk to her. There were still plenty of orders for her to fill, but in between, she would stop off and lean on the counter.

  “So, how did the shoot go?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Okay. I have a box of new shorts to wear.” He smiled.

  She laughed. “Good, maybe now you’ll throw away those ugly green ones.”

  He shook his head. “Those have taken me through everything. I wouldn’t have won my first Junior ISA award without them.”

  She shook her head and sighed. “Seriously?”

  “Speaking of which, I’ve got this thing next week and was wondering if you wanted to go with me.” He leaned closer to her and reached out to take her hand in his.