Affair on the Beach

Chapter 15

In the three days that passed since Zander kidnapped me, I got good at avoiding Xavier. I woke up in the morning, had breakfast, locked myself in my room with a book, worked my shift at the Shack, returned to my room and started another book. Every time Xavier tried to talk to me, I dropped my gaze and kept moving. I couldn’t face him. After he brought me back to Hudson’s and I realized everything he did was one big manipulation, I couldn’t bring myself to face him, let alone talk.

Three times I tried to pack my bags and leave Maverick Bay and three times I unpacked again. I loved Xavier Solomon. That didn’t change. I loved him so much that it killed me not to speak to him or touch him. In the hours that passed in a day, my missing him increased tenfold. At one point, I wanted to run to his house in the night and bury myself in his skin. Every time I inhaled the summer breeze I ached for him. Every time my traitorous gaze found him on his surfboard on the water, I wanted to drop everything I was doing and wade into the water so I could kiss him.

On the second day, Hudson cornered me at the Shack and begged me to forgive Xavier. It was downright hilarious, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. I was still too confused. I didn’t know what to make of all that happened.

One thing I found surprising was Rony. She didn’t attempt to speak to me in the last three days. I wasn’t sure if her silence had to do with what Zander did, but I was thankful for it. She was an accomplice to Xavier’s plan, and I was partially mad at her too.

But as the sadness on Xavier’s face deepened with each day that I didn’t speak to him, I found my resolve cracking. It didn’t help that the heroes in every book I read since all looked like him. I saw Xavier as a vampire. As a dockworker. As an English lord. No matter how different the description of the hero was from how he looked, the face I imagined in my head was still Xavier’s.

I was sitting on one of the longue chairs on the third day reading a historical romance where the hero who had Xavier’s face was a bandit with a golden heart when I sighed. It had just reached the part where Xavier was helping the heroine—me—out of a mud pool she’d fallen into because she was trying to get away from him, when someone took a seat on the longue chair beside mine. I put the book down and stared out into the ocean. My companion and I sat in silence for what seemed like five minutes when she exhaled a long and heavy breath.

“I’m sorry that I lured you here under false pretences,” Rony said carefully, like she was afraid I would blow up on her.

It was the end of the third day and my anger had fizzled, so I couldn’t be angry at her even if I wanted to, but I did say, “You should be.”

“Do you know how Xavier looked when he told me about seeing you at the bookstore?”

My eyebrows arched. I wasn’t expecting the question. “What?”

Rony smiled in memory. “I’d never seen him so excited. You have to know that Xavier was the biggest bachelor I’ve ever known. He’d never been excited about anyone, let alone a woman. He really wanted to meet you, TW. I think he fell in love with you the second you bumped into him and picked up your book without stopping.”

I blushed, my heart, which I hadn’t felt in days, sputtered to life. “He told you about that?”

“He told me everything about you.” She locked gazes with me. “That’s why I said yes to bringing you here.” She reached out and took my hand. “Tamara, know that I would never put you in harm’s way. That I have your best interest at heart. I just wanted to give Xavier a chance by bringing you here. It was still up to you if you gave him your attention or not. So, no matter what you decide from here on out, I will support you. I want you happy.”

The sincerity of her words touched me deeply. “I’m happy that you brought me here, Rony,” I said around the lump in my throat.

She smirked. “Even after the Zander kidnapping? He’s an ass for doing that to you. Just so you know I’m never forgiving him.”

I shrugged. “I think he’s just really lost. He loves his sister very much.”

Rony frowned. “Don’t let him fool you. Believe me, I know.”

“Alright.” I didn’t want to argue.

“What’s with the face?”

My heart lurched painfully. “It’s only been a little over a week and I love him, Rony.” I studied the book on my lap. “How is that even possible?”

“TW.” Rony swung her long legs over the edge of the longue chair and gathered me in her arms. I went willingly into her hug.

She stroked my hair and said, “Tamara, you’ve read enough romance novels to know that when it comes to love nothing it rational. To explain why it happens when it does is pointless.”

“But this is real life,” I said to her shoulder.

“Remember your favorite excuse for reading those books?”

My breath hitched. How could I forget? “Most things in books are based on fact.”

“So why would it seem impossible that you could fall in love with someone like Xavier in less than a week? It’s not like you’re marrying him tomorrow, TW.”

My heart was beating so hard in my chest that it was almost painful. I pulled back to give Rony a kiss on the cheek then I stood up. She looked up at me expectantly. I smiled down at her, confident with myself again. She was right. Xavier may have brought me here, but he didn’t expect me to fall in love with him. I did that all my own. I had to find him. I had to tell him how I felt before it was too late.

“Come with me to the bonfire?” I asked, my smile stretching across my face until it hurt. Excitement pumped in my blood. I had to get moving, had to see Xavier again and tell him how childish I’d been acting for the past three days.

“I thought you’d never ask.” Rony mimicked my smile. “Wear that soft blue summer dress I got you. Matches his eyes.”

An hour later, wearing the dress Rony mentioned, I gave myself one last mirror check. I had my hair up in a ponytail that I curled with a curling iron. A little cheek tint, mascara, and gloss completed my makeup. And I put on sandals that matched the dress.

“You ready,” Rony said at my door.

I brushed my hands over the front of my dress one more time before I gave Rony a nervous nod and followed her out of the house.

The bonfire was in full swing by the time we arrived. The set up was very much like the one on the first night only with more surfers and much more drinking. According to my time check before Rony and I left the house, half the night in and a majority of the surfers were already drunk, especially the winner of the Invitational, who was currently sipping out of a massive trophy in the shape of a cup. I shook my head, a smile tugging at my lips. It felt good to be among people again and actually wanting to be there. Shutting myself away for three days showed me how much I was missing. My romance novels were a great escape, and provided much needed comfort, but at the end of the day, being with people, celebrating life couldn’t compare to flipping pages by myself.

The banner read Congratulations and Farewell, very apt, I told myself. Depending on how this night went, I would either be saying my goodbyes or congratulating myself. I preferred the latter. My arm was entangled with Rony’s when I stopped just at the entrance to the bonfire. The music was blaring, but all I could hear was my heartbeat. Rony was yanked back by my sudden lack of movement. She stared back at me, saying nothing.

“What if he doesn’t want to talk to me ever again after ignoring him for three straight days?” I voiced my main concern without meeting Rony’s shining caramel gaze.

“I doubt that,” she said.

I turned my head toward her. “You sure? I mean, he did bare his heart and soul to me and all I did was sulk about it. How’s that supposed to inspire forgiveness from him? After everything he’s done for me. Heck, he saved my life from Zander even if he said I wasn’t in any danger from his kidnapping.”

Rony rolled her kohl rimmed eyes. “TW, you should have seen how worried Xavier was when you wouldn’t speak to him. He was beside himself. If it wasn’t for the Invitational, he would have been three days drunk by now. I’m pretty sure you talking to him again will be a great relief. The last thing he wants to keep thinking is he screwed up his chances with you.”

My smiled faltered. Funny how we were worrying about the same thing. Letting go of a catch like Xavier was a foolish thing to do. My heart jumped at the pun. My merman. I may be in a hurry to see him tonight, but I wasn’t about to come running like a lunatic. I didn’t want to scare him off with my overenthusiasm. I wanted him to know how he made me feel.

“Maybe a beer to calm your nerves?” Rony suggested.

I shook my head. I needed all my wits to get through tonight. Confessing while drunk was the height of tacky. Plus, who would believe the drunken ramblings of a woman in love? Xavier had to hear me loud and clear as I was.

I gave the buffet a longing glance. The lettuce wraps were back. Oh, I really wanted one, but if I filled my stomach now, I might end up upchucking all over Xavier, and that wouldn’t be romantic at all. I was already too nervous as it was to eat anything, no matter how hungry I felt.

“Hey, Rony!” Hudson gathered his sister in a tight hug. “You managed to free Tamara from her self-imposed isolation, I see.”

Rony let out an un-Rony-like giggle. Too girly. I grimaced. Self-imposed isolation my ass. I tilted my head. Well, maybe.

Hudson put his sister down and kissed me on the cheek. “He’s been a grump all day, just so you know,” he whispered into my ear.

My stomach clenched. Xavier was in a bad mood? Oh, that didn’t inspire confidence. How was I going to confess if he wasn’t willing to hear me out?

Rony slapped Hudson’s toned chest. “Don’t scare the poor girl. Can you see she’s already nervous as a minnow? Go mix some drinks!”

I scanned the crowd of revellers. It seemed like twice as many people were attending the goodbye bash than the welcome one. How could I have missed this many people coming to Maverick Bay in three days? Oh, right, I was in bookworm hermit mode. Not my prettiest self. I was surprised I even showered. I took a step into the sea of people and left Rony and Hudson to their sibling banter. They seemed to be handling the Zander situation in stride. I really was sad for that guy. I secretly hoped he’d find someone, preferably not Rony.

As I waded through the blond surfers and bikini clad women in search of the one man who robbed me of breath and quickened my heartbeats at the same time, the DJ changed the music. Someone must have requested a slow song. Like a switch had been flipped, the partygoers went from rowdy to mushy, paring up into couples and swaying hip-to-hip. And like the parting of the red sea, it made my search that much easier.

I froze when I spotted the familiar ash blond hair, sexy as hell shoulders tapering down to a ripped torso, and the low riding boardshorts. God, he even made flip flops look sexy. Xavier had his back to me, talking to a couple of the non-drunk surfers. I inhaled deeply, galvanizing my resolve. My heart was pumping blood to my cheeks, warming them to crispy. I took a step toward the merman I still referred to as the god when I was feeling naughty in my head. In five steps, I was within reaching distance. Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling his muscled back flush against my curvaceous front. Xavier stiffed, and was that a gasp I heard? I smiled. Very promising. He wasn’t as grumpy as Hudson led me to believe.

I kissed the middle of his back and said in my sexiest voice, “Care for a dance?”

Xavier turned in the circle of my arms and cupped my face in his hands. He was kissing me soundly before I realized what he was doing. Then he pulled away and smiled that half smiled of his. Oh, what that smile did to my insides. I was melting.

“I’m sorry, Tamara,” he said in that s*x-in-the-afternoon voice of his.

I stared up at him, swimming in the Mediterranean blue of his eyes. “What for?”

“For bringing you hear under false pretences.”

“Oh so serious.” I touched the pucker his brow made. I brushed my fingertip over it until it smoothened and Xavier relaxed. He snaked his powerful arms around my waist, holding me close as we swayed to the music.

“Next time, I would appreciate a heads up when you’re planning something,” I said. I moved my arms from his waist to around his neck. “But after thinking about it, I don’t think anyone has gone that far just to meet me. It’s very sweet, in a manipulative stalker kind of way.”

“Ouch!” Xavier winced, tightening his hold on me, like it would take gale force winds to pry him away from me. I liked it. Liked the sense of possession the hold came with. “But I’ll take that. I should have just come up to you that day and introduced myself.”

I shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m kinda liking this way better.”

“You confuse me, Tamara Winters.”

“Get used to it. I’m a woman.”

He moved his hands up my curves. “That you are.”

I flushed. “Not in public, you naughty boy.” Ah, I missed him.

He frowned. “I aged a decade in three days. I don’t want to ever not talk to you again, Tamara. I can’t take it.”

I gaped. “Really?”

“Tamara.”

The way he said my name had every muscle south of my navel clench exquisitely. I can listen to him saying my name on repeat all day every day. I didn’t want to ever let him go. I couldn’t see myself returning to the life I once lived or didn’t live, according to Rony. Bless her.

Xavier looked into my eyes and said, “I’d never wanted anyone more than I’d ever wanted you, Tamara. You have to believe that.”

I gasped at his admission.

“I thought I would never find someone to share my life with, someone who makes me feel protective and who makes me want to provide.”

“The dresses and the whole rescue from Zander.”

He nodded. “I want to give you everything you might need in this world.”

“Not about the money.”

“No, never about the money. I want to give you more than that. I want to give you someone who will love you for the rest of your life. I want to be the person you carries your burdens with you. I want to be the one who you wake up with in the mornings and make you smile. When I didn’t find you in bed with me that night Zander took you, I damn near died.”

“How did you find us?”

He manifested a few of his scales on his arms discreetly. I looked down at the blue with their hazel glow. The same hazel as my eyes. My heart jumped. What could it mean?

“When a merman falls in love, his scales’ light takes on the eye color of the one he loves. Besides it announcing to the world who he belonged to, it also allows him to find her wherever she is.”

I touched the scales. The physical sign of his love for me. They were beautiful in the firelight. Then I moved my hand to his cheek, locking my gaze with his.

“Does this make you mine?” I asked brazenly.

He smiled that alluring half smile of his. “Yes, yours. That is, if you’ll still have me after what I’ve done.”

The uncertainty in his words wasn’t lost to my ears. My gut twisted. He was unsure of my feelings for him? This god of a merman? This perfect specimen wasn’t confident in the feelings he inspired in me? My head reeled. In his eyes I saw that I was wanted and he was afraid that I didn’t want him back. Oh, what a fool he was for thinking that, but I guess I couldn’t blame him. I did age him by not talking to him.

“You know,” I said, “I tried to pack my bags three times in the past three days.”

His eyes widened. “You were leaving.”

I shook my head, letting go of his cheek and returning my arm around his neck to join the other I already had there. Now was the time.

“Before coming to Maverick Bay, I occupied myself with reading romance novels. I hardly went out, and as Rony would tell you, she had to force me. Even when she managed to coax me out of the apartment my mind was half on the next book I was going to read when I got home.”

“The time I bumped into you,” Xavier said.

“To be honest, I don’t even remember bumping into anyone, much less you.” I bit my lower lip. “That was how bad I was, preferring the company of fictional men to real ones.”

“Is it bad to say that I’m happy to be your first?”

“Oh, don’t kid yourself.” At his inquiring frown, I clarified. “You might be my first physically, but in my head I’ve been with countless men.”

He growled and bent down, taking my bottom lip between his teeth. I felt his nibble between my legs. My knees lost their strength the instant he released me. If I wasn’t holding on to him, I would be sprawled on the sand right about now.

“Be gentle with me, Tamara. My heart can’t take your abuse.”

He had the most adorable pout. I rewarded him with a fleeting kiss, one that promised more carnal activities away from witnesses. His hands went to my buttocks and he squeezed hard, pushing me against his erection. I inhaled at the sweet friction. Good to know he still wanted me like fish needed water.

“You’re so much better,” I said.

He laughed. The rest of the tension I felt on his shoulders evaporated.

“When I came to Maverick Bay and saw you on the beach, I will admit it was lust at first sight,” I added.

His gaze grew mischievous. “Is that why you fainted?”

I poked him on his shoulder, aghast. “It was the heat!”

He gathered me close once again, his smile turning lusty. “Will you burn that tent please? I don’t want to see your luscious body covered up like that ever again.”

“Getting bossy on me already?” I arched my brow up at him. “Is this what I am to expect from you?”

His face softened. “You’re the one in charge here, Tamara. Haven’t you already figured that out?”

I couldn’t believe it. Me? In charge of this glorious man dancing in my arms? When my wonder eased I realized I liked the sound of that.

“What happens after Maverick Bay? We can’t stay here forever,” I said. Although, I was sorely tempted. The city had nothing on the crystal clear ocean.

Surprise colored Xavier’s features. “I think you’re forgetting that I live in the city. Our offices are there, Tamara. That’s how I met you.”

How could I have forgotten? I was too in the moment to remember that far. Then the music returned to its fast pace.

“Want to go somewhere more private?” Xavier’s lips touched my ear when he whispered the words, sending shivers to run down my spine.

In response, I took his hand in mine and pulled him away from the party.

We walked side by side, holding hands in silence. I liked that I didn’t need to fill the air with words when I was with Xavier. I was comfortable enough in his company that I didn’t need to try too hard. The discovery made me smile.

“I love it when you smile,” Xavier said. He stopped and faced me, his back to the row of beach houses. We were back to the spot where he first showed what he really was to me. The stretch of the beach where I burned my maxi dress.

“What else do you love about me?” I asked to tease him, but when his face grew serious, my heart stopped.

“What’s not to love?” he asked back. “Besides the physical, which we already established is delectable.” He kissed a trail down my neck to prove his point, causing desire to pool in my stomach. “I love how serious you get when you’re reading. I love the smile you get when you’re working at the Shack. I love how much you enjoyed surfing. I love how honest you can be. And best of all, I love how you make me feel about you.” He punctuated everything he said with a world-melting kiss.

“How do I make you feel?” I whispered. My heart was beating so fast, I thought it would explode. I was breathing harder now.

Xavier held my face in his hands and rested his forehead on mine. “You make me feel complete, Tamara Winters.”

My heart summersaulted in my chest. I completed someone. Like in all those books where the heroes find their heroines, I found my hero, or should I say, he found me. I felt a tear escape the corner of my eye. Xavier quickly kissed it away before kissing me again. I tasted the salt of my tear on his lips. He coaxed my mouth open gently. I was all too willing to let him in. I moaned into his mouth when his tongue met mine. If Rony had told me a week ago that I would meet the man I loved on a trip to the beach, I would have laughed in her face. But as I stood there on the beach, in the arms of a merman who orchestrated this whole trip with the help of my best friend and her twin brother, I believed in the reality of the moment.

I broke the kiss and smiled up at Xavier. “I love you,” I said.

He shook his head, his half smile stretching his lips. “Took you long enough.”

I laughed. “One week is long for you?”

He sobered. “Tamara, it took me a second to fall in love with you.”

Xavier held me close, his strong arms wrapped securely around me. I kissed him and he kissed me back. Xavier knew exactly what to say, and he beat any hero in the books by a mile. He was right, he was the fantasy personified, and I wouldn’t change anything about him.

“We’re going to miss the fireworks,” he said between kisses.

“There are fireworks?” I asked.

“At the end of every Invitational.”

I pulled back, incredulous. “You want to watch fireworks instead of making out with me?”

He grinned like a boy in a candy store. “Screw the fireworks then.”

This time, when he took my lips, I knew a book could only get me so far after experiencing the real thing.