Page 38 of Flirting with Trouble

Butterflies swarm in my chest at the sound of his deep voice. “Pretty great. I’ve got my toes in the sand, and I’m done working for the day. I can’t complain.”

“And you’re talking to me, taking pretty great right up to fantastic.”

And just like that, I’m grinning like a fool again. “So humble.”

“Come on. You know you missed hearing my voice.”

“Did I?” I tease, running my fingers through the sand.

“Well, I missed hearing yours, and it would suck if I was alone in that.”

I did miss hearing it, and I miss him, too, but I can’t bring myself to admit it. “Yes, it would.”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say it. I know where we stand.”

“And where’s that?”

“I don’t want to embarrass you or anything, but I have a feeling you’ve been doodling my name during your meetings.”

God, this guy. “Is that so?”

“That’s not all. I think you snuck out to the beach because you can’t get that picture of me in my wet suit out of your mind.”

“That is an unforgettable picture, but I love the beach.” I gaze out at the water, unwilling to confess that I wish he were there with me. “What’s more relaxing than the sound of the ocean?”

“I can think of a few things we’ve done that leave us both incredibly relaxed.”

“Wells,” I warn, but a laugh slips out, betraying it.

“Sorry, did I stumble onto another thing we’re not admitting? No worries. So, you love the beach, huh?”

“More than you can imagine.”

“Don’t be so sure about that, sweet thing. I can imagine big beach love. It’s one of my favorite places, too. Hold on a sec.”

I hear him moving the phone around, and then a text chimes through. I open it and see a picture of his long legs crossed at the ankles, his bare feet resting in the sand, and just beyond, the waves are crashing against the shore. It’s dark there, and I realize I haven’t thought about the time difference even once when we were playing those games. We stayed up until after midnight my time, which was after three in the morning for him, and he was still up bright and early starting new games and sending me pictures.

I don’t know how to process that, so I shelve it for now to pick apart later and say, “You’re at the beach, too?”

“Yup. I watched the sunset.”

I wouldn’t have figured him to be a sunset watcher. In my head he’s always out having a good time.

“I knew we were made for each other,” he adds casually.

“You and your lines,” I say lightly, digging my toes into the sand. “Millions of people love the beach.”

“True, but they’re not you and me. Can we switch to video chat? I miss your face.”

My thoughts stumble, and those butterflies take flight again. “I guess.” The video call rings through, and I take a deep breath before accepting it. It’s dark there, but his handsome face appears, and the happiness staring back at me makes my traitorous heart leap.

“There you are,” he says with the same awe as he did the first night in the hotel, and it warms me all over. “How is it possible that you got even more beautiful over the last few days?”

I roll my eyes and look away shaking my head, unable to stop smiling.

“That only makes you cuter. Are you trying to distract me?” he teases. “Now I can’t remember what we were talking about.”

I meet his gaze again, and he’s looking at me so affectionately, I feel my cheeks heat. “Would you stop?”