Love After All

They found Chelsea and Molly by the pool. Chelsea’s bikini clung to her curves, and she’d braided her hair today. She looked damn gorgeous, and all he could think about was getting her naked—dangerous thoughts he shouldn’t be thinking in public. So he focused on the subject of the Jet Skis.

“You all up to some Jet Ski fun in the water?”

“Sounds great to me,” Molly said. “I’m baking here in this heat.”

“I’m up for it as well,” Chelsea said. “When are we going?”

Carter pulled out his phone. “We have a one o’clock rental. Which means plenty of time to grab an early lunch.”

“Perfect.” Chelsea got up and took Bash’s hand. “Which means we can go get in the water together.”

“Pool or ocean?” he asked.

“Either.”

The pool was crowded, so he walked her down the sand and into the water. She had no objections, flinging herself onto his back and squealing about how cold the water was.

“I thought you wanted to cool down.”

“I did. I’ll get used to it in a minute.”

Carter and Molly had come with them, so they all swam around, then got out to grab a snack and drinks before wandering down the beach to the Jet Ski rental place.

They put on their life vests, then Bash climbed aboard the Jet Ski, holding his hand out for Chelsea to climb aboard behind him.

She wrapped her thighs snug against him and put her arms around him, and then they were off. He started slow, until he got past the No Wake sign.

“Hang on,” he said.

He goosed the throttle and they went flying across the water. Carter came up beside him, and they headed out at a pretty fast pace. It was exhilarating, taking the Jet Ski up in the air and slamming down into the water.

“You okay?” he asked Chelsea.

“Fine. Just keep going.”

He grinned and gunned it harder, he and Carter racing around the waves, cutting corners and hitting it faster. He kept hearing Chelsea’s laugh, and the sound made him smile.

Their time went by all too damn fast. They made their way back and parked the Jet Ski. He held on to Chelsea’s hand as she slid off and into the water.

“That was so much fun,” she said, grabbing on to him to plant a wet, salty kiss on his lips.

He kissed her back, surprised as hell that she’d had so much fun. He’d expected her to hang on, but not say much. She’d full-on shrieked with laughter, yelling across the waves at Molly. She’d talked to him the entire time as well.

“So, you enjoyed it?”

“Yes. It was fantastic. I haven’t been on a Jet Ski in years. I’d forgotten how much fun that was. We should do it again.”

He looked at her.

“What?” she asked.

“You surprise me.”

“In what way?”

“I don’t know. You seem like … fancy clothes and high heels and makeup. Not wild hair and Jet Skis and water in your face.”

She laughed. “You have a lot to learn about me, Bash. Just because I said I don’t like camping doesn’t mean I don’t love the water—and everything having to do with the water. And just because I wear makeup and high heels doesn’t mean I can’t let loose and have fun.”

Apparently he had Chelsea all wrong. He had a lot of things wrong.

His stomach tightened at the realization that she was everything he’d been looking for in a woman. Or maybe he hadn’t been looking for her at all, yet here she was, a part of his life, despite his best efforts to avoid a relationship all these years.

“You’re right. You’re definitely a lot of fun.”

She grinned and squeezed his arm. “Of course I am. Haven’t you been paying attention?”

As she wandered off to catch up to Molly, he stared at her and realized two things.

One, he was in love with her. And two, he was in deep, deep trouble.

Chapter 32

They ate dinner at an amazing seafood restaurant overlooking the bay. Chelsea had decided she was going to get her fill of fresh seafood while she was here. Tonight she had amazing Chilean sea bass, cooked to perfection, along with the most delicious grilled vegetables she’d ever tasted. The restaurant also served knock-you-on-your-butt margaritas, and she’d had two of those.

“I think I want to live down here—forever.”

Molly slanted her a smile. “I’m sad this isn’t one of the places I ever chose to live and work. How could I have missed it?”

“I don’t know,” Carter said, “considering you’ve lived almost everywhere else.”

Molly stuck her tongue out at Carter.

Bash laughed. “It is pretty idyllic. There’s so much to do here. But all vacation spots are like that. Very little to do with reality, right? I mean, eventually we all have to go back to reality.”

“Shh,” Chelsea said, holding her hand palm out toward Bash. “You’re ruining my fantasy future, where I live on a boat, catch fish all day, cook and eat it, and don’t have to work for a living.”

“Sounds ideal to me,” Carter said. “Let’s make it happen.”

“I’m with you two.”

“Sure,” Bash said. “I’ll call your assistant manager and let him know he can take over all your stores. And their profits.”

Carter shot Bash a glare. “Buzzkill.”

Chelsea took another swallow of her margarita, then slanted a slightly cross-eyed look over at Bash. “Really. Where’s your sense of adventure?”