Page 46 of My Heart Still Beats
So I decide to ask her nicely.
“Would you please accompany me to the beach?” I say with a smile.
She sighs and then holds the door open. “All right. Let me get my suit and my coverup on. Wait here.”
“I’m right across the hall from you. Just knock on my door when you’re ready. I need to get my trunks.”
She nods.
I return to my suite and hurriedly put on a pair of navy board shorts. I throw a light-blue T-shirt over my head, grab a towel, and slide my feet into my flip-flops.
Then I wait outside my door.
A moment later, Tessa emerges—
And I nearly lose my breath.
Her hair is now in a sleek high ponytail that falls down her back, and she’s not wearing a white bikini. No. It’s royal blue, and she looks like a fucking model. Her coverup is simple black mesh, and she holds a white towel from her bathroom.
I can’t gawk at her. That will make her uncomfortable.
“You look amazing.” I hold out my arm. “Shall we?”
I don’t expect her to take my arm, so I’m surprised when she does.
We say nothing as we walk to the elevator, descend, and then walk out the resort the few steps to the beach.
The sun is going down, and we pass Betsy and others. They’re having a drink at the beachside bar.
“Tessa!” Betsy waves us over.
Tessa and I head to the bar.
“Hey, you guys,” Betsy says. “Frankie makes a mean margarita, Tessa.”
“I’m sure he does, but I think I’ll stick to water.”
Betsy frowns a bit but then says, “Of course.”
“I’ll try a margarita,” I tell the bartender. “And I’d like an ice water for the lady, please.”
“Coming up, Mr. Black.”
Frankie pours a glass of water and mixes my drink quickly. I hand the water to Tessa and hold up my margarita. “To an amazing evening.”
Betsy and the other girls join in, giggling.
I take a sip of the margarita. The combination of salt, lime, and tequila is a little too much for me.
Margaritas are okay, but I may as well be drinking limeade with some salt. I’d much prefer a Wild Turkey.
“Shall we?” I say to Tessa again.
I hold up my arm, but this time she doesn’t take it. She does, however, follow me away from the others.
Tessa and I dump our towels and then walk along the shoreline, away from the commotion.
The sun is setting, and its tangerine-and-purple hues over the horizon are mesmerizing. The rays cascade over the rippling blue of the ocean.
