by Lucy Kevin
Maybe it was the kiss that had spun her around and around so that she couldn't think straight anymore, but instead of finally saying no, she asked, “What will you be filming tomorrow?”
“Kiteboarding.”
“I've never done that before.” But she'd wanted to.
“Good. I love watching you discover something new. So, would you like to come down and try it? Or,” he added with a wicked lift of his eyebrows, “does it not fit into that safe statistical model you have of the world?”
Despite the fact that she knew he was teasing her, she had to know, “Are you calling me a coward?”
“You're one of the strongest, bravest women I've ever met.” He moved closer again, close enough that his lips were almost against hers as he said, “And I can't wait to go kiteboarding with you tomorrow.”
One quick but oh-so-sweet kiss later, she was left standing alone in the middle of her grandmother’s lawn, able to think about nothing but kiteboarding, Nicholas and two kisses that had somehow felt more adventurous—and wonderful—than anything she had ever experienced before.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
What was she doing?
Rachel had asked herself that question half a dozen times the next morning while she was on her way down to the beach where they'd be filming the next segment. Common sense had dictated that she should stay home, and not just because of the risks involved in kiteboarding.
Because how could so much revolve around Nicholas already when he'd been on the island less than a week? And how could she already care so much? She'd barely been able to sleep the night before because she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about his kiss.
It had been so sudden. So perfect. She knew she'd never forget the way Nicholas’ lips had tasted. The way his muscles had felt pressed against her. How good he'd smelled, as if he'd just come out of the ocean. And how steady she'd felt when he'd been holding her in his strong arms.
And then, he'd challenged her. Dared her not to say no to this new challenge—obviously knowing she wouldn't be able to turn away from his dare. Especially not when she'd always wondered what it would be like to go kiteboarding.
“Hi, Nicholas,” she said as she approached him on the beach. “What do you need me to do for the shoot today?”
He didn't answer right away, simply smiled at her as if he'd never been happier to see anyone in his life. “You’ll need a wet suit. After that, I’ll run you through the basics of staying on the board and catching the wind with the kite. It’s fast and feels a little out of control, but a lot of fun once you get going.”
Ever since she’d met Nicholas, Rachel had felt as though her entire life had begun spiraling out of control, moving far too fast. Yet, amazingly, when she didn't overthink everything, it felt right. And she'd definitely had fun, too.
While she changed into the wet suit, her nerves slowly built. They would be going at high speed on open water with nothing but a kite to help them control what they were doing. Hit one wave wrong, catch one gust of wind that wasn’t quite right, and the results could be disastrous. She’d looked up the statistics last night, of course. Broken bones, unconsciousness leading to drowning, concussion…there were so many things that could potentially go wrong.
A week ago, Rachel would never have agreed to do this. Yet now, it felt as if her old instincts had started to come out of a long, dark hibernation. The same feeling of determination she’d had climbing the cliff face was with her right now, telling her to ignore the risks for once.
And the truth was that she wanted to do this, even though it was dangerous. She wanted to feel as alive as she had on top of the cliffs with Nicholas.
As alive as she’d felt when he’d kissed her.
“Are you ready?” Nicholas asked. From the way he was watching her, she knew he wasn’t just asking about the kiteboarding.
Rachel couldn't have held back her answering smile even if she'd tried. “I’m ready.”
They started out slowly and carefully, just the way Nicholas had approached every one of their adventures together. As he showed her how to securely strap herself on to the short board and then how to stand up so that she was balanced, he assured her, “This part isn’t quite as hard as when you’re surfing, because you’ve got the force of the kite to brace against. The trick is adjusting to the wind.”
It was a relatively calm day, but even so, she could feel the wind ruffling her hair, reminding her of its power. Next, he showed her the proper way to hold the kite and how to use it to catch the wind, explaining that she'd need to learn to feel which way the wind was blowing and then use the gusts that were there rather than trying to force the board to go in the direction she wanted.
It was hard work, but that was also the beauty of it. There was no time to think about anything else while she was out on the water. For the moment, everything came down to the wind and the waves—actually, the wind, the waves and Nicholas.
And it was awesome.
He kept pace with her, shouting instructions above the noise of the sea. “You’re doing great. Now try turning.”
As Rachel followed his directions, the speed of the board was terrifying and incredible all at the same time. She skimmed the tops of the waves until she finally lost the breeze and fell into the water.
She swam back to the support boat and the film crew, then asked, “How was that?”
The camera operator gave her a thumbs-up. “We’ve got some great shots.”
Nicholas hauled himself into the boat just behind her. “You're amazing, Rachel!” The way he was beaming at her told her that he truly meant it.
After they filmed her a few more times, the production assistant asked Nicholas if he could get back into the water alone so that they could film some solo shots where he showed the viewers just what was possible for an expert.
Thrilled to finally get a chance to see him in action, Rachel watched from the boat as he caught the wind and stepped off the boat, skimming straight over the waves as naturally as if he were simply strolling along the street. Running, actually, because he moved fast enough to use the waves like ramps to send him high into the air. The kite became a parachute for the seconds he hung there, giving him time to execute some very impressive spins and flips. He turned and twisted like an acrobat while he was airborne, until it seemed like he couldn't possibly land on his feet. And yet, he did every single time, never even seeming to lose speed.
A split second later, though, the wind caught him, and she gasped as it snapped Nicholas sideways, ripping the board out from under him. He hit the waves at an awkward angle, the board coming free of its safety straps and bouncing up as he slammed into the sea.
Rachel was in the water before she realized what she was doing, swimming out toward Nicholas. What if that board had broken one of his bones or knocked him out? Would she have the strength to drag him back to the waiting boat if he was unconscious?
She would find the strength.
“Nicholas?” She was panting both from swimming so fast and being so frightened for him. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He was holding on to his board and the lines from his kite now. “Come on, let’s swim for shore. The boat can follow.”
Nicholas swam with the ease and power of someone who had grown up playing in the ocean, and fortunately Rachel had too, so she was able to keep pace. When they finally came up onto the small beach, Rachel could finally see the damage Nicholas’ board had done. There was a gash along his arm that might need stitches, but he didn't seem to have any broken bones and was moving easily enough. Thank God.
“It’s the board,” Nicholas explained. “I designed it with lighter materials and a rounded edge so it's less of a danger when something like this happens.”
“You designed it?”
“With the money I earn from competitions and endorsements, I figure why not invest it in designing safer gear for extreme sports?”
Just when she thought he was done surprising her, he did it agai
n. And every time she tried to deny their connection, she was only drawn to him more.
“Thank you for coming in after me,” Nicholas said in a grateful voice that made her feel warm all over, despite being soaking wet with cold ocean water. “It really meant a lot to me that you jumped in and swam to me to make sure I was all right.”
When she’d thought that Nicholas might be hurt, she had gone to him instinctively. Naturally. And she would do it again in a heartbeat, even though he hadn't needed her to do anything. “You had everything under control.”
Nicholas reached out to put a hand over hers. “But it’s really nice to know that you were there in case I didn’t.”
The boat pulled up onto the beach, and as soon as the crew took one look at Nicholas’ arm, they declared filming was done for the day. “You need to get to the doctor.” Kenny, the camera operator, said. He looked a little green at the sight of blood. “We’ve got all the shots we need, although we might edit out the last one.”
“Actually, I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't,” Nicholas said. “People need to see the dangers of what we're doing as well as seeing the fun parts.”
“You both were great today,” Candice, the production assistant, said. “All three days we've filmed, actually. I'm all but certain that we have everything we need to convince the network that they have a hit show on their hands. So you have my permission to head over to the doctor now.”
“You’re all heart,” Nicholas said with a grin.
* * *
A short while later, Rachel was standing beside Nicholas while he checked in with the nurse at the front desk of the medical center. When Nicholas told her that he'd gotten his injury while kiteboarding, the woman remarked, “That sounds like a very dangerous hobby.”
“If you know what you’re doing like Nicholas does,” Rachel told the nurse, “it's not as bad as you think.”
It wasn't long until he was called in to see the doctor, fortunately. Rachel tried to catch up on her work emails on her phone, but she couldn't concentrate. Not when all she could think about was Nicholas.
A short while later, he came back into the waiting room, his arm bandaged and a smile on his face. “Don’t we have to pick up Charlotte soon?”
We. He’d just accepted that if Rachel needed to pick up her daughter, then of course he would go with her. Rachel never ceased to be amazed by that. “Charlotte has ballet class today, so Emily drops her at the studio after school, and then Paige brings her back to Grams’ house, where she stays and has a girl's night with them all. It's something really special they do together every week.”
“Does this mean you have the rest of the day to yourself?”
She should have told him she had work to catch up on. Or at least made some excuse for why she couldn't spend more time with him. But Rachel had already spent too much time trying to fight the obvious attraction she felt for Nicholas, and she didn't want to keep fighting anymore. Especially when she’d heard his crew say that they had all the shots they needed. A day, maybe two more, and Nicholas would be gone.
Knowing she'd regret it forever if she missed this one chance to know the joy, and the sweet pleasure, of being with him, she nodded and told him, “And the night, too.”
They drove back to her place in silence, then walked hand in hand up to her front step, where he pulled her against him for a kiss. One that was so sweet, and so passionate, it left her hungering for more. Much more.
And yet, instead of rushing her into bed, he said, “All along, you've been so determined that this wouldn't happen. Are you sure you want to be with me? Because if you don't, somehow I'll find a way to make myself leave.”
It was so sweet that he was concerned for her, but just this once, Rachel didn’t want to be careful. If this night was all that they had left, then she wanted to spend it with Nicholas. She wanted to give herself—give both of them—this gift. Something incredibly special to remember.
“If this is going to be our last night, then I want to spend it with you.”
“This isn’t going to be our last night together,” he promised her as he drew her even closer. “Just the first of many.”
She kissed him again then, before she could let herself believe in more than just this one night. She knew better, knew how hard it was for some people to stay in one place. One night would be enough. It had to be.
She took hold of his arm, pulling him inside, kissing him again as the door swung shut and she led him back toward her bedroom. It had been so long since she’d let a man be with her like this. So long since she’d dared to make a connection. But, oh, how she wanted to be with him.
And as she kissed him hungrily—and he kissed her right back with just as much need—Rachel finally let her self-control go.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Rachel woke with Nicholas asleep beside her, his arm curled around her as if to hold on to her for as long as possible. Gently, and with great reluctance, she lifted his arm so that she could get up and shower. Frank wasn't expecting her at the office until later in the day, and Emily would take Charlotte to school from Grams’. Which meant Rachel could take her time, luxuriating in the feel of the water as it hit her skin, all the wonderful memories of the night before making her blush.
Nicholas had been perfect. Rachel had expected the night to be good. But it had been more than just their attraction sparking into flames, far more than just one wonderful night with a gorgeous man.
It had felt like they belonged together. As if everything between them ran far deeper than just their physical connection. And by the time they had fallen asleep in one another’s arms, it had been hard for Rachel to know where she ended and he began.
By the time she finished showering and went to get dressed in the bedroom, Nicholas was practicing yoga in a pair of board shorts. He straightened when he saw her and smiled. “Good morning.”
Yes, she thought as she echoed his greeting, it certainly is.
“I have to stretch every morning,” he explained, “or I won’t be able to do everything I need to on my surfboard. Feel like joining me?”
“From where I’m standing,” she replied with a slightly wicked smile on her lips, “watching is working pretty well.”
Laughing, Nicholas kept going for another minute or two before putting on a shirt. “Should we head to Ava's to pick up Charlotte for school?”
“Emily will take her in.”
“I'll miss seeing her this morning,” he said, and she could see that he genuinely meant it, “but in that case, how about I take you out to breakfast?”
“We could have breakfast here,” Rachel offered.
“We could, but since I’m guessing you do that every day, let’s do something different.”
When he reached out to take her hand and led her toward the front door, she could see he wasn't going to take no for an answer. Honestly, Rachel didn’t mind. It had been so long since she’d eaten out anywhere, and for breakfast? Had she even done that since Charlotte had been born? Rachel tended to leave spontaneous things for later in the day. So much later that they often didn’t happen.
“I'm trusting you,” he said as they began to walk into town, “to steer us away from any tourist places. I want to experience what it's like to truly be a local.”
“I knew you wanted me for something,” Rachel replied with a laugh.
“I want you for a lot more than that,” Nicholas assured her.
And it certainly seemed true that he wanted her for a lot more than just a handy local guide to the island. She still could hardly believe the way it had all happened. If Morgan hadn’t been ill, Nicholas would have just been some stranger in Grams’ house, busy with his TV shoots and then gone as quickly as he’d arrived. Instead, they’d had a wonderful few days together, Rachel had been given the opportunity to revisit some of the excitement she’d had when she was a kid, and Charlotte was happier than ever.
As for last night? Rachel would always be grateful for the precious hours she'd
spent in Nicholas' arms.
Just like he liked to say, things had worked out. For the time being at least.
In town, Nicholas pointed out the really cool sign of a local art studio that featured a couple of whales chasing each other. How had she not noticed it before? Well, for today at least, she was really enjoying the sights and sounds of the island waking up. The artists coming out into the morning sun to check the light and set up their easels. The tourists starting to get out and explore the island, cameras in hand, eyes bright with anticipation. A couple of fishermen hauling in their early morning catch. It had all been here before, but she felt like she was seeing it for the first time.
“This is so nice,” she said softly, loving the feel of her hand in his as they walked.
“I love walking around exploring the places where I surf,” Nicholas said. “I’ve never understood people on the surfing circuit who just go from the airport to the beach and back again when they could be slowing down and enjoying things.”
“After seeing you kitesurfing yesterday,” Rachel said with a smile, “it's hard to imagine you slowing down. Especially when there’s always another wave coming.”
Nicholas reached out with his free hand to brush a lock of hair back from her cheek and slide it behind her ear. She was tingling all over by the time he replied. “Hanging out in the deep water without being in any rush until a great wave finally comes along, and then enjoying riding it for as long as you can, is actually what surfing is all about.”
“But what about when you're surfing competitively and the good waves don't seem to be coming?”
“It isn't always easy to be patient while you wait for something amazing to come along, but in my experience, it's always worth it. And always loads of fun, too.”
For so long, she’d been so busy with work, Charlotte and family, that her life had become one long loop on a never-ending replay. But ever since Nicholas had arrived, she hadn’t known from one day to the next what life would throw at her. It should have been terrifying. In fact, there had been a couple of moments when it had been terrifying. But there had been far more moments when excitement—and pleasure—had overridden everything else.
