Page 35 of Here & Now

“The kind who always has to be in control and doesn’t trust a woman driver.”

He laughed. “What kind of men have you been hanging out with?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’ll drive.”

“Fine.”

Her mood changes might have scared off some men, but not him. He liked that she didn’t hide her emotions. She was real and honest, unlike some of the women he’d been with.

A few minutes later, however, he tried to hide his emotions as she came to an abrupt stop mere inches behind the car in front of them.

She glanced over at him as he clutched the door handle. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He wouldn’t have described her as a horrible driver, just somewhat distracted. At least they weren’t on a major expressway, going eighty miles per hour.

The rest of the drive was uneventful and mostly quiet except for the wind rushing through the car. She seemed to prefer the outside air over air conditioning, since she’d rolled down both their windows when they’d first gotten in. He didn’t mind the breeze, but it made it more difficult to talk. Maybe that was the point.

Soon they arrived at Bowman’s Beach. Had it been earlier, it would have been difficult to find a parking space, but now more people were going than coming. The minute they stepped out of the car, she seemed more relaxed.

They strolled down the sandy path to the beach, and she paused at the wooden sign that gave a brief history of the area. It was the same one in the photo of her and her grandparents.

“God, I love it here,” she said.

“Me too. It’s one of my favorite beaches on the island.”

They crossed a wooden boardwalk that emptied onto the beach. Powdery white sand stretched in both directions, and the ocean waves lapped gently at the shore. The beach was wide enough that it didn’t feel crowded, and unlike other Florida beaches, it wasn’t crammed with hotels. Teeming with shells and seabirds, it was a nature lover’s dream.

“Which way?” he asked as they surveyed the scene.

“To the right.”

They took off their flip-flops, hooked them on their fingers, and set off. As they walked along the water’s edge, they veered around the shell seekers, whose eyes were glued to the sand, searching for the perfect specimen. Most of the visitors carried a bucket or bag to collect their treasures. The true diehards were waist deep in the water, waiting for the tide to recede and reveal the goodies left behind.

“Do you come here often?” she said.

“Sounds like a pickup line,” he teased.

“I’m sure you’re used to those.”

He glanced over and saw her smiling. “Why do you say that?”

“Oh, come on. Now you’re just fishing for compliments.”

He chuckled. “I’m curious what you think of me.”

Keeping her gaze straight ahead, she said, “I think you’re a young, single guy living on a tropical island teeming with women in bikinis. I think you and your buddy Marco could have your pick of women any night of the week, which makes me curious. Why did you come over tonight?”

He faltered for a moment. “Wow, you don’t pull any punches, do you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t like playing games.”

“Who said this is a game?”

She peered at him out of the corner of her eye. “Isn’t it?”

He stopped walking, forcing her to stop too. “Why is it so hard for you to believe that a guy might like spending time with you?”

“You?”