“Let’s make sure you take it easy for the rest of the day, okay?”
“Okay, Dr. Gage.” Her button nose scrunches up with a light laugh before she asks, “I just realized that I don’t even know your last name or what you do for a living. Are you an actual doctor? Because that would be slightly embarrassing while also very convenient.”
“No. I work with Conner, remember?”
“Good point,” she concedes, her face threatening to blush all over again.
Giving her a break, I explain, “I handle marketing, while he does a lot of the finances for Guttenburg Enterprises.”
“Ah, yes. Now I remember hearing something about that. What’s your last name?”
“White. Yours?”
“Daniels.”
“Well,” I offer her my hand. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Nora Daniels.”
“You too, Gage White. So, have you ever swam with dolphins?”
“Actually, no. Would you think I’m less macho if I admitted that I’m excited to try it? It’s always been on my bucket list.”
“If anything, it only makes you sexier. In fact, it’s a very Cancer thing to do. We like to talk about our feelings.” She presses into my shoulder, playfully.
“Oh, no. That means you’re rubbing off on me.”
With another light laugh, she whispers, “Now if only I could get you to rub one off on me.”
“Did I just hear an innuendo come out of that pouty mouth, Nora?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m beginning to think that I’m rubbing off on you too.”
She grins. “I think you might be right.”
9
Nora
The entire atmosphere screams paradise. From the tall palm trees to the white sandy beach, I’m in heaven. Plain and simple. With a sigh of contentment, I let the water lap at my ankles then drop my head back toward the sky.
Hello, sunshine. How I’ve missed you.
“Never took you for a beach kind of girl, but now that you’re in your element, I can see it,” a deep voice rumbles behind me.
I peek over my shoulder and catch Gage checking out my butt. “You just like me in a bikini.”
“Every guy on this beach likes the sight of you in a bikini. Trust me. But I like the smile on your face too.” Inching closer, he grabs my waist with a gentle but firm grip. The intimate touch makes my stomach tighten, and I catch myself glancing down at it for a quick inspection. Long, calloused fingers with trimmed nails. Weathered skin that hints at how capable and hard-working they are. I’ve always been a sucker for a strong set of hands.
Licking my lips, I peek back up at him. There’s a confident smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth as he pulls me closer to him. I’m pretty sure it’s permanently etched onto his face, and I kind of love how contagious it is.
“Someone’s confident this morning,” I razz while a swarm of butterflies assaults my stomach.
“Well, I am wearing the red pin that says I’m off the market for the time being. I might as well soak up a few of the perks, right?”
“Oh, so this little presentation has nothing to do with the fact that I was helping a few single guys find their way to the scuba diving meet-up point a few minutes ago?”
He growls low in his throat before bending closer to my mouth. There are still a few inches of distance, but the space is closing a little bit more as every second ticks by.
“Did you just growl at me?” I laugh.
“Maybe.”
Another inch closer.
“Do you think girls like it when you growl at them?”
Chest rumbling, he presses his forehead to mine. “You tell me.”
“Pretty sure when you look at them like…,”––I lick my lips. Again.––“That, you can do whatever you want, and they’d be cool with it.”
“So, if I kissed you right now…?”
“I mean, I’m wearing your red pin, aren’t I?”
He grins. “Good answer.”
There’s an electric pause before his breath fans across my cheek, and I’m positive I’m about to melt into a puddle at his feet if he doesn’t kiss me. Right. Now.
“Nora! They need you to sign something before we can get started!” Gem shouts from a little bungalow on the beach as the water laps around our ankles.
Another growl. But this one is much lower and filled with so much disappointment and sexual frustration I could drown in it and die a happy girl. There’s just something about the rush of adrenaline pulsing through my veins at the knowledge that this guy wants me.
Me.
Sweet, shy, Mama Two, Nora Daniels. Is wanted by a man who is practically sex on a stick.
Shaking off my insecurities the best that I can, I pat his cheek. “And that’s what Gem calls cockblocking. You’ll have to return the favor the next time she and Conner are in the same room. Wanna come with me or…?”
Rearranging himself through his board shorts, he mutters, “I’ll be right behind you.”
“Like tonight? Or…?” I razz, surprising myself with the innuendo I just tossed at him.
With another groan, he smacks my ass, and I squeal in surprise before scampering toward the bungalow to stay out of his playful reach.
“Don’t tempt me!” he yells at my retreating form.
Ditto, I want to return, but I bite my tongue. He’s way too tempting for a girl like me. Especially when we’ve both gone to so much trouble to set up certain guidelines that guarantee this little relationship will dissolve as soon as our ship docks in Fort Lauderdale. The thought is bittersweet because even if he wanted something with me, I know I wouldn’t take him up on it, no matter how strongly I could feel about him.
Nope.
After signing the paperwork, a super sweet girl named Aayla with long, black dreadlocks and a kind smile leads us down a boardwalk. My flip flops slap against the wood paneling that surrounds a massive water enclosure where dolphins are playing peekaboo with the spectators between the soft waves.
“Are you excited?” Gage murmurs beside me. The guy is so enthralled with my reaction to the beautiful
