by Alicia Rae
“I swam a bit in school, but I didn’t continue after that. Training for the Army has kept me in shape. What about you? Did you play any sports in school?” he asked while scooping sand off to the side.
Our outer legs were just barely brushing each other as we continued to dig.
“I didn’t play sports in school, but I’ve always enjoyed running on my own. It helps me clear my mind. I love to be outdoors, so I run outside, rain or shine, a few times a week.”
“So, what are your hobbies? How do you stay busy?” Kyle asked curiously. He pulled me closer, wrapping his arm lightly around my body.
“When I’m not writing, I’m usually taking pictures. I really enjoy the different outlets of creativity each one gives me. It would be hard if I had to pick between the two."
“That makes sense. I believe everyone has layers to who they are.” His eyes drifted out to the ocean, embracing the scenery.
“I believe that, too.”
We fell into a silence while gazing out at the water. My thoughts drifted to Kyle’s intentions of wanting to spend time with me. He deserved my honesty. He had been so kind, and it wasn’t fair to bring another person down with me.
Feeling the need to be truthful, I glanced in his direction, and he turned to face me.
“I need to be honest with you, Kyle. I’m still trying to sort out many things in my life. I’m not really sure that it’s fair to drag someone else along for the ride.”
I could see the tension in his shoulders as determination set in his eyes.
“I can’t walk away, Lily, so please don’t ask me to. I can’t explain what’s happening between us any more than you can. I just know that it feels right. Whatever you’re going through, we’ll work through it together.”
I paused, knowing that he was right, but it didn’t make the situation any less frightening. I was taking a chance that I wasn’t sure I was mentally or emotionally ready for.
“Okay.” I let out the breath I’d been holding. “I can try.”
An adorable dimple appeared with his breathtaking smile, and then it was replaced with a frown. “While we are on the topic of us, I wanted to know where you stand with Luke. Is there anything I need to be aware of?”
“Luke? Of course not. We’re just friends.”
“Maybe on your end.” Kyle hesitated. “Lily, he doesn’t give off the friend vibe,” he stated dryly.
“Luke’s just protective.” I shrugged. “We’ve been friends since I moved here, and he looks out for me. I only care for him as a friend, nothing more.”
Kyle visibly relaxed as he stretched out his muscular long legs. “Good. He seems like a nice guy.”
“Luke’s great, really.” I was confident Kyle would come to realize over time that Luke and I were just friends. “So, did I do a good job at snorkeling?”
“I didn’t have to rescue you, so you did great,” Kyle said, clearly amused. “You must be in great shape to handle the waves the way you did. Hopefully, you can make it back.”
I was hoping so, too. Snorkeling was indeed a lot of fun, but I was sure my muscles would protest tomorrow.
We fell back into an easy silence of shell-hunting, sun tanning, and just enjoying each other’s company. Swimming had been exhausting, even with flippers, and I was glad when we made it back to the boat.
My stomach whirled with butterflies as I showered before my date with Kyle. Even after spending all day with him, it still felt like it was not enough. I simply wanted more. As the water poured down my body, I thought about how perfect the day had been. Kyle had so easily made me laugh, and I had forgotten things I didn’t want to think about. Although I could relax around him and just be myself, I worried about letting someone in too close. I felt as though things were moving fast, and I needed to be careful. I still had many things to work on for myself.
I loved my family dearly, and they had all been taken from me. I was terrified at the thought of opening my heart again just to lose someone dear in the end. Life was unpredictable. I wanted to spare myself from any more heartbreak. My heart was at its limit, and it couldn’t endure any more sorrow without shattering completely.
However, instead of pushing away from Kyle’s forwardness, I kept finding myself drawn to him. I wanted to spend more and more time with him, and I wasn’t quite sure how to process that yet. Maybe time would tell.
And my body…had a whole other response to him. Every time he was near me, my body wanted to pull him closer. I was experiencing new sensations that I had never felt before. No man had ever made my every nerve ending feel alive with a simple touch.
I headed to the back of my closet and pulled out my black mid-thigh silk dress. It fit the curves of my body perfectly. I chose a pair of black Louboutin pumps that I had bought during a major shopping spree the day my first book was published. A bit excessive, I know, but every girl has a weakness somewhere. My weaknesses are shoes…and purses…and cameras…and…well, no need to list more.
I wore my sun-bleached blonde long hair down tonight. I even lightly curled the ends to feel more dressed-up. I kept my makeup light with just cover-up, mascara, and blush. I had always wanted to use different colors of eye shadow to accent my very blue eyes, but every time I’d tried, I always made myself look like a clown. So, I decided to keep my look natural and fresh.
The doorbell rang ten minutes to six. Kyle would, of course, be prompt. It must be the military side of him. As I opened the door, I was once again astounded into silence. The man was positively drop-dead gorgeous. He was wearing what looked like an Armani custom-tailored suit that fit the curves of his shoulders and biceps perfectly.
His vibrant eyes bore into mine. “Lily, you look…stunning.” Kyle pulled me in and placed a soft kiss on my cheek.
My brain was still trying to kick into gear. I didn’t know what was sexier—Kyle on a beach in his swim trunks…or a man who knew how to dress in a suit. Damn.
“You look…stunning, too.” My breath hitched in my throat, causing my heart rate to quicken.
The man was always intoxicating, slowly working into my system and taking over all my senses. He came in closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. My body melted as he moved his right hand under my chin to tilt my head up to his. His thumb slowly brushed over my lower lip.
“I’m going to kiss you, Lily. I don’t think I can wait any longer.” His eyes darkened with sincerity and desire as he brought my face to his.
His lips were warm and soft as he moved them over mine. I leaned up on my toes and put my arms around his neck to be even closer. A low moan escaped my lips just as my nipples tightened from pressing up against his firm chest. Kyle’s hand moved to grip my waist firmly as he parted my lips with his tongue to deepen the kiss.
His firm length pressed into my stomach as we caressed each other’s mouths. Kyle lit me on fire as he conquered my body equally with dominance and tenderness. His body radiated power and control, and my body willingly surrendered to his.
He reluctantly pulled away. “You are not only beautiful, Lily, but you are so damn sexy,” he said. He kissed my cheek, clearly fighting for control. “Let’s head out before I change my mind and decide to have you for dinner instead,” he growled in my ear, making my whole body shiver.
At this rate, I would soon eat him for dinner.
As we walked out to his parking space, I noticed a sleek brand-new blue Ford Shelby Mustang convertible. Wow.
“Nice Shelby.” I tilted my head toward him. “Although, I pictured you as more of a truck guy,” I said playfully.
“This one is just a rental, but I have a black one at home.” He unleashed a boyish grin that was both adorable and sexy. “And yes, I also have a truck. A man has to have his toys.”
The restaurant had to be a five-star place. I almost felt underdressed as Kyle told the gentleman we had reservations. The lighting and scenery were very romantic, and the room was not too terribly crowded. My heart grew a little fonder at seeing Kyle trying and
succeeding at being romantic.
The waitress seated us across from one another, and I felt myself grinning like a schoolgirl. It was all so perfect and romantic with elegant china and candlelight.
After looking at the menu, Kyle ordered a prime rib while I decided on a lighter chicken dinner. As I handed my menu to the waitress, Kyle added a berry red wine. We both dug in as soon as our plates were brought out. Our hunger was no doubt from our day’s vigorous activities.
“So, what made you pick Florida after you left Colorado?” Kyle asked curiously before he took a sip of his wine.
I shifted my legs under the table, not knowing how much to elaborate. “I’m not sure really,” I answered, my fingers making small circles around the rim of my wine glass. “When I left Colorado, I just drove, not knowing where I was going to end up. I had my clothes, my car, and a map. I just knew that I needed time. As a child, I always loved visiting the ocean with my family. Even as a little girl, I had images of me sailing the ocean while writing without any time restraints. The ocean air, warm sand, and waves just seemed to pull me in. So, I guess to answer your question, the sunny beach made me pick Florida,” I said, pondering over my thoughts.
“Have you ever traveled anywhere else?”
“When I was younger, I took short trips with my family to Hawaii, parts of Nevada, California, and Tennessee.”
“Where have you been in California?”
“When we were teenagers, my sister and I got to go to Disneyland with our parents. Then, we continued our road trip up to Lake Tahoe for a few days before heading back south through Yosemite. It was a great road trip. It’s one of my fondest memories.”
“Did you like Lake Tahoe?” he asked with a neutral look on his face.
Hmm…don’t overthink it, Lily. “Yes, the mountains were beautiful with all the pine trees and crisp air. It was peaceful and quiet with breathtaking views. What about you? Travel any place exciting?”
“As a kid, not much. In the Army and for real estate, I have traveled quite a bit.”
“Do you like traveling?”
“Sometimes. I’m hoping to be able to cut back a bit as soon as I have a few more loose ends tied up. I actually fly home tomorrow for a few days to close out a deal I’ve been working on.”
The waitress arrived soon after we’d finished our dinner. She brought out the desserts we had ordered earlier. My slice of red velvet cake and his chocolate cake looked delicious. I quickly grabbed my fork for a bite as he thanked the waitress.
“So, are you going to ask if I’m coming back?” he asked.
I could hear the amusement in his voice.
“No,” I said.
I could tell by the look on his face that he knew I was lying.
He leaned over, dug his fork into my cake, and took a bite. “Liar.”
His deep chuckle made me want to shiver.
“Don’t ever play poker, Lily. You wouldn’t be good at it.” He smiled.
Before I could respond, he reached over again. This time, his fork had a mouthful of his chocolate cake, and my lips automatically parted for the delicious-looking bite. After he gently stuck it in my mouth, his thumb came up to rub the frosting off my lip, and I moaned in pure delight. As I tasted the creamy chocolate frosting on my tongue, I knew I had died and gone to heaven.
His eyes darkened with hunger, and his jaw clenched at my moan, making my insides churn.
“You drive me crazy, Lily,” he said quietly, shifting in his chair. “Even just eating cake, you make me hard.”
I blushed at his comment. “I’m sorry. Chocolate is my favorite.”
The waitress arrived with our check, abruptly ending our conversation. Kyle quickly handed her cash with a hefty tip, so we could be on our way.
On the way back to my cottage, we kept the conversation going, each of us eager to know the littlest things about one another.
Kyle took my hand in his as he helped me out of the car, and we walked side by side up to my cottage. The side effects of our very adventurous day were beginning to take its toll on me. As we approached the door, I gradually slowed, opening my clutch in search of my keys.
Kyle lifted his hand. “Can I borrow your phone?”
I eyed him curiously. “Sure.” I pulled my cell phone from my bag and handed it to him.
At the same moment I retrieved my keys, Kyle’s own phone vibrated from his pocket.
He returned my phone. “Here. Now, you have my number, and I have yours.”
“Thank you,” I replied.
“You’re welcome.” Kyle gathered me in his arms until no gaps were between us. His smile was affectionate and tender. “Kiss me.”
All else was forgotten, except those two words.
Leaning forward on my toes, I tied my hands around his neck and drew his lips to mine.
His kisses stirred a yearning in my soul. All the pain seemed to blur away while a new longing filled with hopes and dreams took its place. His mouth embraced mine, leisurely caressing, as he carried me deeper into unfamiliar parts of my heart. I gripped him tighter, not wanting to let him go, as my insides tingled and burned.
Kyle ended the kiss and ran the backside of his fingers down my cheeks. I already missed the taste of his mouth on mine.
“See you Saturday.” He bent forward and kissed my cheek one last time.
“Good night, my beautiful Lily,” he smiled tenderly.
“Good night,” I murmured.
As I turned to walk into my apartment, I gave him one last smile while trying to clear the fog in my brain from that oh-so heart-melting kiss.
I needed a good rest and clear mind before I began writing today, so I treated myself to sleeping in on Thursday morning. At ten, my doorbell rang, waking me up from a deep dream. With my body still heavy from sleep, I quickly put on my robe and walked to open the door.
“Good morning, ma’am. I have a delivery for a…Lily Tidsdale,” a man said way too brightly.
I glanced at his hand, and my eyes widened at what he was holding. “That would be me.” I smiled, trying to hold myself back from jumping up and down like a teenage girl.
I signed for the delivery, and he handed me a very large vase of wildflowers. My heart was beating double-time as I thought of Kyle. I quickly pulled out the card that Kyle had written on.
My heart be still. It was almost too much to process. My gaze roamed over the wildflowers and the distinct vase. It was a dark bronze that shimmered in perfect contrast to the red poppy. That was when I noticed the sand dollar tied around the vase. It was from the beach.
I was amazed at his thoughtfulness and how attentive he was to our conversations. The man had definitely paid attention to detail. I was too shy to call him, so I decided to text him instead.
Thank you for the beautiful wildflowers and for our date. I thought it was perfect, too.
I went to take a warm bath to ease my muscles from yesterday’s swimming excursion. My body felt like I had been hit by a truck…no, a semi. As the tub was filling, my phone vibrated with Kyle’s quick reply.
You’re welcome. I wish I were in Florida, so we could continue with date number two. What are your plans for today?
I wasn’t going to do much today besides write a scene in my book and maybe clean. I stepped into the tub with my phone. The warm water instantly soothed my sore muscles.
It’s raining right now, so I’m soaking my sore muscles in the bathtub. Then, I’m thinking it’s a couch-and-laptop-writing kind of day.
I laid my head back to rest. I had some serious writing to do today if I wanted to reach my goal, and I needed to make decisions for a character in my book. It was a good thing I had the whole day open with no distractions. I smiled as my phone beeped again.
Wait a minute. You’re in the bathtub right now while texting me? How am I supposed to concentrate when you tell me things like that? If I fly back right now, will you let me rub soap on your body?
I giggled at the thought of teasing him so ea
sily. Men. I’d just said I was taking a bath. He’d totally missed the part where I insinuated that he had kicked my butt yesterday. Instead, he had gone straight for the naked-in-the-tub thought. So, I decided to play with him.
Of course not. I barely even know you. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure I massage all my sore muscles for you…especially my upper thighs. They are tightening with need.
I thought of how attuned to my body he already was as I began to wash myself. He could flip my switch in seconds and have my brain in a complete haze.
Just. Got. Hard. And I have a meeting in ten minutes. I’m going to return the favor to you when I get back, and your whole body will be tightening with need. *mischievous grin*
I could picture Kyle’s grin in my mind, and it brought a smile to my face. This man was definitely getting to me.
Promises, promises. Time to start work ;)
I quickly drained the tub. Playtime was over, but I was silently counting down the time until I would see Kyle again.
My day flew by with writing. Once I put my mind into my story, my imagination just took over. I could zone the whole world out and focus solely on my book. It was coming together just as I’d planned, and I was very happy with today’s progress.
For dinner, I fried some chicken and rice while taking a bit of a break. I decided to put on Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble,” and I danced around my kitchen in my PJs and socks.
After dinner, I went out to my patio, and I watched the moon illuminate off the waves. It was a cooler night, so I covered my skin with a light shawl. My mind quickly veered to a time when my sister, Annie, and I had chased each other up and down the beach. We had worn glow-in-the-dark sticks around our necks, wrists, and ankles, putting on as many as we had talked our parents into buying at one time. As I pictured the memory, I couldn’t see a whole person. It was only a shadow with faintly glowing lights running at me.