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“Yeah, totally. Slept like a lamb. Out like a light.”
I stopped myself before the babbling got really embarrassing and eyed the approaching waiter. I ordered my breakfast, trying not to feel self-conscious about how intently Dorian was staring at me. He was looking at me differently than he had yesterday, right? Or was I just imagining things?
“Why do I get the feeling you feel a little awkward about us having sex?”
I nearly spat out the water in my mouth. He chuckled as he watched me cover my mouth and managed to swallow the liquid threatening to burst from me.
“I’m not feeling awkward,” I squeaked.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
“Relax, darling. You’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about.” He grinned wickedly. “You were sensational.”
Okay, that wasn't exactly what I'd been looking for, but I couldn't deny that knowing he'd enjoyed himself eased some of my anxiety.
“As were you,” I said carefully. I half-expected him not to bring it up, the same way we hadn’t talked about the kiss on the beach. I couldn't be frustrated that he was treating this as an uncomplicated sexual encounter simply because I felt something.
“So, what are we going to do today?” Dorian asked, reaching out to butter another piece of his toast. “I was thinking about going down to the beach to try out the surf. What do you think?”
I couldn’t picture Dorian surfing. It was worth possibly making an ass out of myself to see. I was just glad that he was talking about we instead of him. “I’ve never surfed before, but I’m game to try.”
He took a bite of his toast, smiling. “I’ll teach you.”
Before the conversation could go much further, Enzo entered the dining room, saw us, and took an abrupt turn to go sit at another table. Dorian observed him with a scowl.
“I don’t want to pry…”
“But what the hell is his problem?” Dorian filled in. “Good question.”
He left it at that, so I presumed he didn’t know. I just hoped it didn’t have anything to do with me. The last thing Earl would have wanted me to do while I was here was cause a rift between the brothers. That wouldn’t give them warm fuzzies when they thought about the casino.
But, then again, when had I done something on this trip just because Earl would’ve wanted me to? He would be ecstatic, no doubt, to learn I’d slept with Dorian. But I hadn’t even considered Earl or the casino at all when I made that choice. That had been all me. In fact, I couldn’t remember even thinking about the Rock Bay since I arrived. It was like I’d forgotten what brought me here in the first place.
Besides, this couldn't be about me anyway. Sure, Enzo had essentially propositioned me the first night here, but he'd been drunk. He’d invited me here to be Dorian's date, after all.
I needed to stop thinking about Enzo and focus on having fun. I doubted I'd ever get back to Hawaii, so I was going to take advantage of the rest of my trip.
Which, apparently, meant I was going surfing.
* * *
On my third wipe-out, I was ready to give up altogether. I’d always been tenacious with activities I enjoyed, but I was finding it hard to enjoy being bitch-slapped by the ocean over and over again.
“I can’t do it,” I said to Dorian, scowling at the waves. “Why don’t I just go watch from the beach?”
He paddled over to me from where he’d been safely watching my latest attempt to stand. He looked like he belonged on the beach. His dark hair, tousled by the salty water, his beaming grin, the way the wetsuit showed off athletic build. He was born for this.
I, on the other hand, felt like a penguin on a surfboard. And that was being generous.
“You’re so close,” he told me with an encouraging smile. “You can’t give up now. I won’t allow it.”
“Oh, you won’t, won’t you?” I laughed.
“No, I won’t.” His eyes were dancing with amusement at my expense. “Now get back out there.”
It was hardly a pep talk, but seeing him enjoying himself so much was enough to get me going. I'd observed enough to know that his mild-mannered personality didn't mean he was laid-back. His intensity just boiled under the surface, always held in tight control. Knowing I could crack that control to get a genuine reaction meant more to me than it should.
I forced the thoughts aside as I paddled back out and waited for a baby wave to come by. Conscious of Dorian’s eyes on me, I concentrated hard on the instructions he’d given me. I paddled. I paddled harder. And then, arms burning like hell, I pushed myself up to a standing position.
