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“Look at you, rule-breaker,” he tells me. “You’re going to get us in so much trouble.”
“This was your idea,” I point out, still laughing at the whole thing.
“I’ll never admit it,” he quips as the boat starts finally heading off the pier. “Now, come sit with me. I’ve got a surprise for you when we get there.”
The wind starts blowing softly on my face and the sun beams on my skin but it’s rather a comforting feeling. I lay my head against Dan’s shoulder and after intertwining my hand with his, I shut my eyes, savoring the present moment. This is too perfect to even be real, and yet, here I’m going to a secret bay with my brother’s best friend. I can only hope Andries will never find out.
After just ten minutes, I hear the engine stop, and the boat coming to a halt. Without so much of a breeze, the sunlight on my face intensifies to a point that it makes it unbearable.
“Here we are,” Dan whispers in my ear, before kissing the top of my head.
Opening my eyes wide, I straighten myself and stand in awe at the beautiful bay in front of me.
Our secluded little cove is cut deep into the cliff, so it’s surrounded on almost all sides by towering black rocks. Despite that, when we step off the yacht and into the sand, it's sugary, white, and soft on my feet. Palm trees ring the beach, and the cove is far enough back that the waves are small and placid. It’s truly a secret paradise just for the two of us.
A few staff members are setting up a lounge area for us farther back in the sand, with a huge beach blanket, towels,and what looks like champagne. It’s shaded by an enormous umbrella, and I can even spot crystal flutes waiting on us.
“What is this!?” I gasp, whipping around to face Dan, who looks obnoxiously proud of himself.
“A date.”
“Dan…” I turn in a circle, kicking my sandals off as I do so. “This is more than just a date. This is…this is…”
“All for you,” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around me from behind and kissing my hair. I lean back into his embrace with a happy exhale.
“No one has ever done anything like this for me. Ever.” My heart feels like it’s swelling in my chest, emotions swirling in me so strongly that if I had any doubt whether I was falling in love with Dan or not, there is no question at this point. I’m absolutely smitten.
I turn in his arms, ready to tell him that I love him, but he looks playful, mischievous even, and it gives me pause.
“What exactly is it you are thinking about right now…?” I ask as he backs away from me and toward the crystal-clear turquoise water.
Cut off on all sides by the towering, jagged rocks of the bay, it feels like Dan and I are completely alone, even as the staff members bustle around the sand putting together our beach picnic.
“Get in the water with me,” he coaxes, already pulling his shirt over his head.
Dan shoots a brilliant smile at me over his shoulder, looking so tan and handsome that it makes my heart skip a beat. “What are you staring at? Let’s go.”
Nervously, I glance back at the five or so staff members still putting our things together. “I didn’t bring my bikini.”
Right as I’m speaking, Dan shimmies his linen shorts down his muscular legs, standing near the surf in only his black briefs. He looks back at me again, laughing, “Yeah me either. Let’s go!”
Hesitating once more, I finally give in, pulling my sundress over my head and letting it fall to the sand. I had only put on a white lace bralette this morning, with matching panties, wanting to be comfortable, but as I follow Dan at almost a run, I’m wishing for just a little more support.
Just as I catch up to him, Dan turns quickly and grabs me by the waist, spinning me around and growling playfully. I squeal, and he lowers me just enough to kiss me on the mouth before sitting my feet back in the sand. I blink up at him, lips curling in a smile, but as quickly as he had grabbed me, Dan is off again, running into the water, arching his arms over his head, and diving, as slick and graceful as a seal, beneath the placid waves.
Huffing, I contemplate waiting on the shore and refusing to play his game, but I can’t help but be charmed and amused by him. Dan seems to feel so free in his exuberance, and here in this private cove, it feels like we’re a normal couple. The hindrance of having to pretend like we’re only friends is gone, and it makes me understand why he’s so playful and makes me want to join him, even if he is being silly.
Resigned, I follow him into the water. It’s as warm as ever, and I cut through the salty water without anything slowing me down. Having swam out far enough that the water is to his waist, Dan is waiting on me, beads of water sparkling in his hair.
“Took you long enough,” he says as I finally reach him.
“I didn’t know it was a race,” I counter.
He’s so much taller than I am that the water is nearly to my shoulders. Dan takes me by the waist once more, pulling me toward him. “Less about it being a race, and more about how badly I know you wanted to get to me and put your greedy hands all over me.”
I try to wiggle out of his grasp, pretending to be offended, but he holds fast. Just like he had said, the staff back on the beach completely ignores us, and at this distance, it’d be hard for them to see what we’re doing, anyway.
“Keep acting like this and I’ll never touch you again!” I threaten, even as he runs his hands up my back soothingly.
