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“And this one,” Derek began, wrapping his arm around Haven’s waist, “woke me up.”
“I’m so sorry.” Heat bloomed in Darcy’s cheeks as she set her backpack and rolling suitcase down beside the CR-V.
Carter grinned at her. “You can wake me up early anytime, especially if you’re inviting me to go to the beach with you.”
Haven and Derek agreed.
Darcy met Haven’s bright smile. “Are we ready to go?” she asked.
Carter pointed to his Suburban. “Wanna take my truck?”
“That reminds me,” Darcy said. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Why do you always call your SUV a truck?”
“Well, it’s a truck to me. It hauls all my stuff, but nothing gets wet in the back. Plus it will tow a trailer.” Then his crooked grin appeared. “And, you know, big vehicles are more manly, so that’s why they need to be called trucks.”
Darcy laughed. “If you say so.” She shrugged and handed him her key fob. “How about we take my car instead of your truck to save on gas? You can drive.”
“Sure.” Carter shrugged. “You know my Chevy is a gas hog.”
“We’ll drive Haven’s car in case we decide to head home early,” Derek said.
“All right,” Haven exclaimed. “Let’s go to the beach!”
Carter popped the trunk with the key fob, and he and Darcy set their bags in before he pushed it closed. They climbed in the car, and Carter adjusted the seat for more legroom.
“Do you know how to drive this thing?” Darcy teased as he hit the start button. “Or do you only know how to drive manly vehicles?” She couldn’t stop her grin.
Carter’s light-brown eyebrows rose as he met her gaze. “Boy, you wake me up early and then you pick on me, huh?” She spotted a flicker of humor in his eyes. “You’re awfully full of yourself today.”
She laughed and turned on the radio as he backed out of the driveway. “How about a country station?”
“Whatever you want to listen to is fine with me.”
Darcy found a country satellite station and turned the volume up before settling back in the seat and taking in his handsome profile. “What exciting plans did I keep you from this weekend?”
“Hmm. Let’s see.” He tapped the stubble on his chin. “Sleeping in, doing some laundry, seeing if you wanted to hang out again, and sleeping in some more.” He gave her a quick glance. “No matter what, I hoped to see you again.” He held his hand out to her, and she took it. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m just grateful you could fit me in your schedule.”
He laughed, and the sound warmed up her insides. This weekend at the beach would be one to remember.
***
Nearly four hours later, a gasp escaped Carter’s mouth as he nosed Darcy’s Lexus into the driveway of a sprawling light-pink beachfront home. He blinked as he took in the two stories sitting on stilts. With its large windows and white shutters, the house was at least twice as big as Shauna’s, he guessed, if not more so. He couldn’t imagine how much a home like that cost, and he couldn’t fathom ever being able to afford something so impressive.
“Endless Summer,” he finally said, reading the sign on the side of the home. “What a great name for a beach house.”
Darcy pushed the door open. “My mom loves it here. Well, they both do, and they couldn’t wait to retire and have their endless summer. Come on inside.”
Carter opened the trunk and slung her backpack and his duffel bag over his shoulders before lifting her small suitcase.
“I can take that,” she insisted.
He shook his head. “You just lead the way.”
Derek and Haven parked beside the Lexus, then climbed out of her CR-V. They gathered up their own luggage and met Carter and Darcy at the stairs to the front entrance.
The sky above them was clear, the sun was bright, and the air was humid. Seagulls flew by while calling to each other, and the sound of the waves pounding the shoreline echoed around Carter.
