Page 38 of The Surfer

James never stood a chance.

Cove’s punched James? Because he insulted me?

I’m in shock.

That’s until Cove turns to me and takes my hand in his, pulling me away from the scene, pulling me back towards the car.

Cove’s big hand is warm against mine. He’s so big, so strong. And I realize then that this is the first time Cove has touched me. He hadn’t shaken my hand when we are introduced, but now my hand is within his. My stomach flutters.

Holding tightly onto my hand, Cove pulls me back to his car. We jump into the vehicle in a rush. My heart’s beating heavily. Once in the car, Cove immediately hits the pedal and we zoom screeching out of the parking lot, Cove traveling at such fast speeds I’m worried we’ll be pulled over by a cop.

I don’t realize I’m breathing shallowly until I’m safely reclining in the leather car seat racing away from the beach. I face Cove sitting in the driver’s seat next to me.

The man is a perfect picture of calm restraint, his hands smoothly operating the steering wheel and the stick, his eyes scanning the road. He doesn’t seem perturbed by what has just occurred. He doesn’t seem fazed that he’d just actually punched someone in the face.

“What happened?” I ask him through my shallow breaths. “Why did you do that for?”

Cove doesn’t take his eyes from the road. “I didn’t like what he said about you,” he replies softly, under his breath. “I hated what he said about you. You’re not a slut and you’re not ugly, so he had to pay for what he said about you.”

He punched James for me?

Cove doesn’t look concerned. He turns the car onto another winding road, heading up over a hill. His driving is immaculate, even though he’s going at super-fast speeds.

He was defending me?

“Aren’t you worried about him?” I ask, trying to slow down my hasty breathing. I close my eyes and focus on my heartbeat. Everything’s happened so quickly and I’m still processing it. “Aren’t you worried about repercussions, or about the police? Or what people will think of you?”

Cove laughs. A deep laugh, as if I’ve said something stupid. “Ripley,” he says. “I’m the bad boy of New Water, my image is already tarnished, and my reputation is already ruined. There are no repercussions to worry about. James will be terrified of me. Plus, if he does pursue me, he’ll have to deal with my family if he gets the police involved.” Cove turns to me and smiles.

The cocky bastard.

The handsome cocky bastard who’s punched a guy just because he insulted me. My common sense is telling me it’s stupid to find that behavior chivalrous, but my heart is finding it very sexy. Cove’s risking arrest to defend my honor.

It’s kinda hot.

Plus, Cove has said I’m not ugly. That’s the best thing he’s said to me so far. It’s a big improvement over what he’s said over the last few days. I mean, it isn’t exactly Shakespeare or anything, but it still makes my heart skip a few beats.

No. Cove is still Cove. Yeah, he might’ve punched a guy for calling me a slut, but he’s still the rebel bad boy. He’s still a heartbreaker. He doesn’t care about me, he doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

But it’s still kinda hot how he protected my honor from James like that.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask.

He turns the car right onto another road. We zoom along the asphalt. There are no other cars on this road, and I realize we are heading further out of town, further up the coast. “We’re going to a secret beach that no one else knows about except for me,” Cove replies.

“A secret beach?”

“Yeah, no one knows about it, not even Sandy. I used to go here as a teenager. It’s a bit out the way but I’ll find it. I just want to get away from the crowded beach.”

“You’re taking me to a secret beach?”

This is crazy.

“Yeah. But don’t worry, this place will be better for your surfing lessons anyway.”

“Oh, great.”

I’m going to an empty beach with Cove. Him and me. Alone.

Cove turns back to me and looks at me deeply with his bright blue eyes. “No one will find us here.”

We will be completely alone.