“You do that. You’re starting to look like a beach bum.” Dustin went inside, and Trevor followed.
He went up to his tiny, rabbit hole sized bathroom and retrieved his towel and overnight travel kit he hadn’t unpacked since arriving in Summer Island. Well, except for his toothbrush and paste. With a lightness he hadn’t felt in a long time, he headed back outside.
The best part of the outdoor shower as opposed to his one upstairs was that it would allow someone bigger than a model-thin hobbit to wash themselves. And there was one good thing about living without any real crowds. You didn’t have to worry about indecent exposure. No one would be around to see anything.
He turned the lever to full blast and stripped off the rest of his clothes. The refreshing fresh water was warm but not hot. The pressure was better than inside, and it beat against his sore muscles. This was the life. Standing naked near the ocean without a care in the world. Sure, he was flying high on his sense of accomplishment, but there was something about the peace and quiet…
With his eyes closed, he relaxed into a state he could only describe as peaceful. He could’ve stayed there all day, but his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten anything but one hot dog and a few chips last night.
Last night… That had been a boat wreck on a jagged coral reef. How could he have been such an idiot? Julie wasn’t struggling with being alone because she had divorced someone. She was a widow. He’d been a fool and knew if his sisters were here, they would’ve clobbered him over his head with a curling iron.
He finished shampooing his hair, bathing, and shaving, but the entire time he thought about the beautiful, wounded woman who needed a hug, not a cross word or judgment. Of course, that’s what got him in trouble last time he’d noticed a woman. He’d fallen for the wounded girl who needed someone to take care of her. That was a dangerous job he wanted nothing to do with in the future.
That being said, he wasn’t going to hold back his business plan until she became comfortable with his goals. The woman hadn’t even listened to his ideas before she’d packed up and headed home the minute Wind and Dustin had finished eating.
He flipped off the water and snagged his towel. Still in deep thought about Julie and her issues, he stepped out while drying his grown-out, shaggy hair.
“Oh my! Sorry!”
Trevor dropped his towel at the screech of Julie’s voice. The woman stood there staring at him in all his bare glory. Her gaze traveled from his head to his toes before she squealed and turned, covering her eyes.
He snatched the towel from the ground and wrapped it around his waist.
“I’m so sorry. I, ah, didn’t mean to see you. I mean, I came to see you but not to see you.” She retreated while stammering on about seeing him.
“Wait. It’s fine.” Trevor felt the heat rising up his chest, and he didn’t think it was from the sun this time.
“I know. I didn’t expect you to be naked.” She kept her hands over her eyes as if to shield herself from his exposure. “What are you doing out here with no clothes on?” She twisted at her middle to half face him and peered through two fingers. She must’ve decided him in a towel was decent enough to face, since she dropped her hands to her side.
“I was taking a shower.”
Julie huffed. “I get that, but why’re you showering outside?”
“Why not? It’s nice out here, and I was dirty from working on an engine. Not to mention my bathroom’s too small up there.”
“Are you saying you’re going to make this a common occurrence?”
“Why not?” he asked, not sure why it was a problem except that she walked onto his land without announcing herself.
“Because you’re exposed to anyone who might see you.”
He shrugged and stepped toward her. But she shuffled back a step, her gaze stuttering on his bare chest. She blushed. When was the last time he saw a woman blush? Most of the ones he’d met were the aggressors. “Small town, remember? Only crazy ferret ladies might see me,” he teased, but held his breath, hoping she didn’t mind the humor.
She laughed, so he figured he was in the clear. “Touché’. That’s what I was here to talk to you about.”
“About being naked?”
“No!” She waved her hand in front of her as if to distract herself enough to pull her gaze away from his body. “I mean stop saying that.”
“It’s true.” He nudged closer. This time she didn’t back away.
“I actually came for two reasons. Have you seen Houdini? It appears as if he’s managed to sneak out somehow again. He was mad that I drank my coffee outside this morning instead of inside with him.”
“No, I haven’t. Sorry.” He was half sorry. That creature could steal something else if he came around. “And the second?”
“Oh, right. I’m here to talk about your plans for bringing in tourism to Summer Island. You were right, I don’t love change, but it’s for good reason. When you’re dressed, maybe we can talk and figure out a way to get some new tourism here that isn’t destructive to the town.”
“I can talk now.”
She shook her head. “No, not here. Not with you standing there…” She waved her hand up and down in front of him.
“Naked?”
That blush reappeared, and it dusted her high cheekbones. “Go get dressed, and then we can talk. I’m not a fancy businessperson like you, but I believe clothes are usually expected at meetings.”
“Is that what you want from me? A business meeting?” he asked, toying with her a little to try to see more of that blush.
“Yes. What else would it be?” Julie asked, her chest moving up and down a little quicker than before, and he knew he was getting
