by Rebecca York
She had a point. “That’s a huge stretch.” He couldn’t break it down.
“The entire east coast? I can see that.” She tilted her crown of braids. “How about just Florida then?”
“That’s still a lot of coast…” But when he and Toby had gone swimming with the garbage bags it had been on the Gulf. He hesitated, running the pros and cons of the argument back and forth in his head.
“Reaching more people means more clean coastal areas,” she nudged.
“You’re right. It’s not just about aesthetic, but marine life.” He tapped the table. “I’d like to hear the campaign before I commit,” he countered. Maybe Toby could be his front man.
Again, she reached for her phone and stopped midway before settling back with a frustrated growl. “Later. My favorite pick to pair you with is a makeup company called Satin Scrub…they want to relaunch their facial scrub with a new image. They don’t have any harmful ingredients—like plastic—in their product, and it’s really good.” She touched her cheek.
He reached out to touch it too. Very, very soft. The tip of his finger caressed her lower lip. Her eyes darkened. He shifted uncomfortably on the bench seat. They’d have to go swimming in a very cold spot of the Intracoastal soon or he might explode like a randy kid.
She sipped her champagne, her cheeks flushed. “If you give me the okay, I’d like to reach out to Georgette who created it. They need something grassroots, like what you naturally do, to give them visibility in the market. I’ll have her send some samples. Your mom and sisters will love it.”
Serenity was a marketing machine and he could see himself getting caught up in her excitement. “I’d be willing to learn more.”
“Awesome!” She popped the grape into her mouth and chewed, then sipped, darting glances at his mouth before meeting his eyes. “I’ll shoot her a message later. You wouldn’t believe all the hoops she had to jump through to get her scrub approved for commercial sale, but she believed in her product. Started small, selling out of her house, and then fairs, and now, well, she wants to launch into the mainstream.”
His logical mind searched for flaws or weaknesses. “What does she get out of it? Are we supposed to pay her? That doesn’t seem right.”
“No, no. It doesn’t work like that. You build each other up on social media and you both rise to the top.”
“Even though I don’t have a product?”
Serenity scooted closer to him. He smelled her shampoo and she suggestively gripped his biceps with a squeeze. “You are what people will follow. A man who believes in saving marine life and clean coasts. A fireman, beach patrol, a pillar in his community...trust me on this, you’re perfect. You walk the walk and consumers can tell the difference between a phony and the real thing. That’s why I’m willing to take the risk of putting you with another business I believe in.”
He sat back, his mind expanding to what might be. “How will we know if it’s working?”
She folded the tip of a napkin and leaned forward. “You’ll be surprised—pleasantly.”
Serenity was very confident. He scratched his jaw and leveled his gaze at her. “Nothing too intrusive, all right? It has to be real.” He didn’t care for the feeling that what he liked to do might be spiraling out of his control. But was his discomfort worth reaching the entire coast of Florida?
Yes.
“That’s what folks love about you, Ryker. You are genuine. We can start with updating your Facebook page,” she rolled her green eyes, but he could see that she was teasing him, “and go from there. Now, if for whatever reason Georgette and Satin Scrub aren’t on board, I can find you another sponsor.”
“Will you be here to handle this stuff?” What he really wanted to know was how long she was going to be in Lauderdale by the Sea. He was falling for this new version of her, never mind the accessories. He saw glimpses of Serenity, her essence, before him now as she worked with him in her own way to make a difference for something he believed in.
“I don’t have to be in the same state, or even on the same beach, since Tiffany lives here…but other than New Year’s Eve for an event I’m hosting, I’ll be around for a few more weeks.” She set her hand down.” It depends on Tiff and junior—what she needs.” Her hand rested next to the platter of fruit, just brushing the side of his, and that little touch set the rest of him on fire. Did she feel it?
That wasn’t very long if he had any intention of making a move. Of apologizing for being a teenaged know-it-all, and wrong besides. “It can all be done on the phone?”
“Yep.”
“And what if I can’t do it? What will that do to you?”
“You’ll be fine.”
“But?” Worst-case scenario.
“I’ve built my business with a solid reputation, not just in my followers, but my sponsors, and other clients.” She shrugged the silken blue caftan settled around her body. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take on you, Ryker.”
She believed in him, as a person. He hoped that was just the beginning of something more. He got up and held out his hand to her. “We’ve got a deal.” He wouldn’t let her down again.
She threw her arms around him to hug him. God, that hug. Nobody hugged like she did—with her whole body. She fit against him like blanket. Tall, the top of her head reached the bottom of his chin, and her soft hair was a sensual caress.
“You won’t be sorry,” she said with a grin, pulling back, but still clasping his shoulders.
He wanted her so badly that he took a step to the side before she would know it. He wasn’t a jerk trying to get her in the boat just to get her clothes off. He wanted more, and he couldn’t have it at all until he’d apologized to her.
“Are you ready to hit the waves?” She tugged his hand toward the stairs leading up to the deck.
“Serenity, I…” He knew that he risked ruining what was happening now if he brought up the past.
She brushed her thumb over his knuckles. “What?”
He couldn’t do it. She was too sweet—too vital. She was here. “We have to talk about something.”
Her green eyes glittered as she faced him. “Does it have to do with the past?”
“Yeah.” And it could really screw up his immediate future if she slapped him and stormed off the boat.
“Listen, if I can’t use my phone, my camera, let’s not live in the past either, all right? We’re not the same people we used to be. You’ve grown into an incredible man, and I really like who I am now too.”
Ryker swallowed, seeing the wisdom in her words.
“I’d like to live in the now,” she said softly. “For us to be friends at least for the day, or while I’m here.”
If he brought up his dumb motives for breaking heart, he doubted that would bring a fun mood to the party. He would have to suck it up by himself for a while longer. Keep the peace. He’d brought it on himself, anyway.
“All right. Let’s just enjoy the day.”
Serenity kissed his lips quick and hard—a deal sealed with a kiss. “Hey, can I steer the boat?” She raced up the stairs to the upper deck, her caftan flying.
She’d once been as comfortable behind the wheel of his old junker, the Angle Fish, as he’d been but since they were just in the now, he followed and whistled. “You have any experience?”
Serenity leaned back on the console and gave him a sexy wink.
“Oh, yeah. I was taught by a master.”
He could have kissed her then but decided to let the day linger lazily, to savor the feelings before she left him, again.
Chapter Eight
Ryker drove the boat to their special cove on the Intracoastal. South Florida had a series of connected waterways and he and Serenity had discovered this particular beach while searching for private getaways to be teenagers alone, in love. The circular area had a ten-foot sliver of fine white sand shaded by mangroves and palm trees. A big green iguana dozed on a piece of driftwood. The December air was not as heavy with humidity as if
it was in the summer—this was heaven, mostly due to the woman at his side.
Serenity had tossed her caftan aside to reveal a bikini top and short-shorts—she lifted her face to the breeze and laughed softly. “This is great, Ryker. Thanks.”
“Happy to be here.” Her strawberry blonde crown of braids glistened like gold and showed her delicate profile.
She glanced at him and then turned back to the calm waters of the Intracoastal.
“This is perfect,” she said.
“I’ll drop anchor.” He turned the engine off.
“Need any help?”
Her voice had a seductive quality—no matter their promise to stay in the present this beach had always meant sex for them. “I got it,” he managed, his throat thick.
Serenity kicked off her shorts and curled her toes over the edge of the boat to jump in. She splashed and surfaced. “This is so much warmer than LA. That ocean is cold—it was a shock to my system the first time I ran in—not realizing that it was frigid.”
“I’ve heard that.” Damn but she was hot, floating backward, slender shoulders visible in the light green water. Ryker pulled his t-shirt over his head and dropped it on the captain’s chair.
He didn’t miss her admiring glance which made all the hours at the fire station’s gym worthwhile.
Ryker jumped in too, the temperate water reaching his chest, the saltiness splashed his face. Serenity wasn’t paying attention to him, so he studied her slender body stretched out, knees and toes and chin up to stare at the sky. It was peaceful and relaxing to be here.
Together. Back in high school they’d planned a future here…and then she’d gotten the surprise full scholarship, meals and boarding, in LA—based on her essay that he’d helped her with on community. She wasn’t going to go, but he couldn’t keep her tied down. This was small town life and she’d obviously thrived in the city.
“So,” he said, swimming toward the deeper water where it was even cooler, hoping to chill out his libido. He didn’t deserve her. The need to be honest burned under the surface, souring the day for him. “I hope you like Publix subs.”
Serenity splashed the water as she twirled to face him. The sun through the branches made patterns on her skin. “Italian? Oh, yeah. They don’t have Publix in Cali. And please tell me you got Lays chips?”
He chuckled. “I remembered.”
“Merry Christmas to me. Oh, so Tiffany has just been full of surprises.”
“Oh?” Ryker treaded water, his arms circling next to him.
“Not only does she want me in the delivery room with her, but she’s having a party Christmas Eve, and I’m to be bartender.” Her body bobbed as she kicked her feet to stay afloat.
“Sounds fun.”
“Want to come?”
“Tiffany asked already, but,” he didn’t ask if she remembered, sticking to the rules of the day, “that’s when my family celebrates Christmas.”
“Ah.” She scooped a wave of water at him flirtatiously. “Why are you so far away?”
For your own good, he wanted to say. Instead, he stroked toward her.
She grinned. “That’s better.”
“Why?”
“So, I can see you.”
He stared into her green eyes, memorizing the exact shade of jade for later. After he ruined things. “I like looking at you, too.”
She held out her hand for his and entwined their fingers. Her skin was oh, so soft.
He pulled her close, and she paddled around to his side, then splashed him.
He splashed her back, noticing crystal droplets on her mink eyelashes.
Serenity blinked and one fell down her cheek. He gently swiped it away.
“What are we doing?” she whispered.
“Getting to know each other,” he answered.
“I like that.” She swam to the far side of the boat. “Shall we explore?” He wanted to explore her, her mouth, her body—but he realized that wasn’t what she meant. He didn’t blame her for pulling away. He hadn’t been good to her. How to show her he’d changed?
“After you.” He’d follow those long legs anywhere.
***
Serenity glided through the semi-murky water of the Intracoastal, searching for tiny fish or snails. This place was unique in its marine ecosystem and people like Ryker, who genuinely cared, made sure that they were preserved. One person could do a lot…especially when that someone was Ryker. California had some amazing areas too, but this was special. “Have you ever seen a sea lion? In the wild?”
“No.” Ryker swam next to her like a work of art, his upper body buff and tan.
She’d been trying to distract herself for hours when what she’d wanted since he’d first dropped anchor was to take their beach towel to the sugary white sand and put out the fire he’d built within her—without even trying. “They’re kinda like manatees, but cuter.”
“How can anything be cuter than the baked potato of the sea?”
She grinned, then pointed to an egret roosting in the mangroves. “This place is worth preserving, Ryker, I gotta say. I’m excited about helping you reach more people with the campaign I’ll put together.”
His strong legs scissored beneath the pale green water as he passed her to examine a large hunk of white coral. “It will be a new experience for me, but if it helps, then yeah. I should do it.” He stood, his back a wealth of muscles that she wanted to spend hours learning by touch.
Languid and relaxed, she allowed herself to float and stared up at the variegated mangrove leaves each the size of a tea saucer, and beyond that the aqua sky of South Florida. The air was much crisper and cleaner than LA, and even Malibu, where she lived. This was home. It always would be. She realized that now. It was probably why she hadn’t bothered to buy a plant, or get a cat or a dog, or a man that might keep her where she didn’t want to spend forever. She had to know why he’d sent her away.
“Ryker?”
Suddenly he was right by her side.
She squealed with laughter, then his hand snaked around her waist—tugging her to him.
This was serious, then. Her legs wrapped around his hips, on their own accord. Her fingers traced up the hard muscles of his chest, one palm resting above his fast-beating heart, while the other curved around his shoulder.
She’d been the one to suggest being in the present, thinking they’d stick to safe topics, like setting up his social media and getting the ocean clean. Instead, they’d just been in sync, swimming and relaxed in a way she’d never found with someone else.
They stared into each other’s eyes, and she knew he was trying not to compare their teenaged selves with who they were now.
His eyes darkened to deep blue. “Screw it—I can’t pretend that I didn’t mess up, really bad, by breaking up with you freshman year. I’m so, so sorry.”
Her eyes smarted. “Why did you do it?” Her heart ached in her chest as the rush of all those horrid feelings bombarded her senses.
He closed his eyes then opened them—his jaw hard, his nostrils flared. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
She pushed away from his body, struggling to find balance in the water by digging her toes into the sand. “What? What do you mean?” The worst pain she’d ever had in her life, caused by the only man she’d ever loved, had been on purpose?
“You didn’t want to go. I didn’t want you to feel trapped here, just because it was what you knew…I was what you knew.” He pressed his palm to his chest. Water dripped from his fingers. “I can’t make love with you until you know that—I want you, so much, but no lies. No secrets.”
He’d been keeping a big one all this time. “You should have let me decide my fate.”
“I feared you would have regrets later if you didn’t go then.” Ryker raised his palm, his body as rigid as a statue. “You remember that saying, if you love something, let if free?”
No, no, no. She trembled in the water and rubbed her arms. Goosebumps dotted her flesh.
She launched herself across the three feet of water that had been separating them. He’d been stupid. Wrong. He’d torn her apart—but not because he hadn’t loved her. That she hadn’t been good enough. All those shameful doubts she’d carried around lifted. Knowing that she might regret this later, Serenity gave herself permission to touch Ryker one more time. She’d sort the rest out tomorrow.
She slowly caressed his shoulder, up the side of his neck, and dug her fingers into the hair at his nape. Serenity tugged his head down for a kiss.
His mouth was warm, firm, pressing against hers to tease and tempt. She licked the corner of his lip, tasting salt, tasting a Ryker from both long ago and now.
She groaned, turned on by his fingers outlining the waistband of her bikini—she could feel, from the way she had her legs wrapped around his hips, that he was turned on too. That was so Ryker to want to clear the air before being intimate—the heart nurtured as well as the body.
The hard length of him nestled against her and she rocked slightly—teasingly. He deepened their kiss, claiming her mouth, cupping her butt to center her on the erection straining his swim shorts.
“You want to take this on board?” he whispered, nuzzling her ear, which drove her wild.
There’d been times when they hadn’t bothered but now that they were adults…she rocked against him, her feminine places pulsing with need.
“I want to take my time,” he said, drawing back reluctantly. “To show you…”
She read his apology in his gaze and accepted just that. Anything more, she couldn’t fathom. “All right.” Her breaths came in gasps, as if she’d sprinted a mile, and her eyes were nearly crossed. Ryker knew just how to make her come alive.
They swam with steady strokes back to the boat, and she climbed the metal ladder first. Ryker “assisted” with his hands covering her backside as she ascended first.
She reached the deck and offered her hand, then when he was on board too, she leapt into his arms. Prepared for her, he twirled them toward the stairs leading down to the cabin.
