Lucas caught ahold of Maryanne’s sweatshirt and flattened
her in the shallow pool underneath him as the surf thundered over them. Chilled
water and foam crashed overhead. He held on until the water rolled back. They hadn’t
much time before the next wave would hit. He scooped her into his arms and
jumped over the ridge of rocks away from the receding tide.
He laid her down on a sand dune. Her hair was plastered over
her face, and she moaned, holding onto the right side of her head.
“You okay?” Lucas swept her hair back. “Did you hit your
head?”
She blinked and rattled her head, her teeth chattering. “I-I
thought I fell into the water.”
“Almost, but I grabbed your hoodie. Are you hurt?”
Maryanne patted her body and sat up. “No, considering you
tackled me, I think I’m fine.”
“Well, it was either that or watch the wave roll you into
the sea.” He pulled her up. “We’re both soaked. Looks like you got the shower you
wanted.”
He wiggled her cheek to get her to smile.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and burrowed her face into
his chest. “You saved my life. I can’t swim.”
“Then you need to learn. I can teach you.” Lucas picked Maryanne
up and cradled her in his arms. A jolt pulsed through his heart. That had been
too close. He could have lost her today.
“Let me down. I can walk,” she chirped.
“What? And not let me play the hero?”
A smile brightened her face. “You are my hero. When I think
how you do those triathlons, swim in the ocean, bike hundreds of miles and run
a marathon, I can’t even imagine it. Must take real dedication.”
“Or I’m a masochist and love to suffer.” He made his way
over the dunes toward the tent. “At the end of the marathon, it’s about who wants
it more and who can suffer longer.”
“I started reading triathlon magazines after finding out about
you.” She stroked his left wrist. “You almost made the Olympic team. Must have been
a tough break.”
“It was. I tangled with another cyclist speeding downhill
around a hairpin turn. I tried to compete with it broken, but it was too painful
and I didn’t qualify for the team.”
“You’ll just have to try again.” She sounded confident in
him.
He set her down in front of the tent. “My family thinks
triathlon is a waste of time. That I should settle down and get a real job.”
She took his hand and cuddled against him. “I admire you for
going after your dreams. Nothing’s ever accomplished by settling down.”
The kiss came naturally. She understood him, accepted him,
and admired him. He let go reluctantly. “Change into something dry and I’ll be
right back.”
Lucas jogged back to his car and put on a pair of cargo
shorts and a t-shirt. When he returned, Maryanne was sitting on a towel in a white
bikini, finger-combing her hair. She stood and came toward him, holding out her
arms for a hug. He paused to calm his pounding heart. Her body was perfect.
Pert, cup-shaped breasts, a flat stomach and curvy hips, an hourglass shape.
Her skin was hot, and she’d put on perfume, bright, sunshiny,
and citrus. The urge to touch, stroke and caress her was overwhelming, but he
backed away and held out his hand. “Ready for one last walk on the beach?”
The sun broke through the morning fog, shining lambent and
soft. Lacy foam trailed over the damp sand. The water seemed calmer, inviting,
not quite as boisterous.
Maryanne slipped on her flip-flops and took his hand. “It’s really
peaceful out here. Thanks for bringing me.”
“I enjoyed having you too. Come on, let’s walk over to that
bluff. It’s high above the tides. I promise you won’t get swept away.”
“By the tide or by you?” She leaned close to him, but he bent
down and scooped her into his arms. She’d already swept his heart away. It
couldn’t even hold a steady beat with her around.
He nuzzled the side of her face and kissed her. There was no
place in the world he wanted to be but at her side. She wouldn’t take away his
dreams and tell him to get a real job. She only wanted love, and he, Lucas
Knight, could give it to her unconditionally.
His breath quickened as he lengthened his stride and ascended
the bluff. The wind whipped sand in his face and sprayed salt in his mouth. His
thigh muscles burned, but his chest expanded. He placed her on the highest
rock.
“That was some climb. You’re not even winded.” Her gaze fell
below his waist, and she giggled. “What are those lumps in your pants? Most men
only have one.”
He clapped his hands over the bulging pockets. “Oh, these?”
“What are you hiding?” she said in a lilting, teasing voice.
“Remember the glassmaking class we had?” He pulled out the
glass pumpkin and held it in front of her.
“My pumpkin?”
“Yes, it turned out so beautiful, as emerald as the sea.
Here.”
“I love it.” She took it from him. The glass sparkled in the
sunlight, green with specks of gold.
Lucas’ heartbeat accelerated. Her pumpkin did look better
than the heart he made. Would she accept it as a gift?
“What about your heart?” She tapped his arm. “Can I see it?”
“You’ll have to cut it out.” He clapped his chest. “And it’s
already yours.”
She held his gaze, her big brown eyes shining. “You really
mean it?”
“Yes…” He kissed the pulse point at her wrist and rubbed her
fingers on his cheek. “I want you to be my girlfriend.”
“Oh, Lucas.” She inhaled sharply, but didn’t pull her hand
away. “I thought—”
“I promise I won’t hurt you like those other guys, and we
don’t have to sleep together. I want to make you happy.”
After all, he didn’t want to pressure her into breaking her
vow. He’d show her how different he was. How he’d cherish her and make her feel
special.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, still holding onto her
pumpkin. “You’re so sweet, Lucas Knight. I’d love to be your girlfriend, and
I’ll take that heart of yours, all of it.”
Ebook Available At: Barnes & Noble (Nook), Amazon (Kindle) [US, India, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, Canada, Brazil, Japan], Smashwords, KoboBooks
Genre: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance
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